Thanikattu Raja(1982)
Thanikattu Raja is a 1982 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by V. C. Guhanathan. The film stars Rajinikanth, Sridevi, and Sripriya in lead roles, with Jaishankar, Vijayakumar, and Sathyakala in supporting parts. The story follows Soori, a hot-headed mechanic who kills a man to protect his lover's honor and is sentenced to death. His lover Vaani marries a wealthy rogue to save his life, leading to years of suffering for both. The film explores the connections between landlords and politicians who oppress the rural population. Ilaiyaraaja composed the soundtrack, which became popular. The film was a commercial success upon its release on 12 March 1982.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 12 March 1982
- Director
- V. C. Guhanathan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 33m
- Rating
- 6.5/10
Storyline
Soori is a young mechanic who falls in love with Vaani, a rich girl. When her father's manager tries to attack Vaani, Soori kills him and is sentenced to death. Vaani marries a wealthy, cruel man to save Soori's life. After prison, Soori becomes an alcoholic and moves to a village, where he marries a poor girl to protect her. Vaani must decide whether to help Soori find redemption or let him destroy himself.
“One man's fight for love and justice”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Thanikattu Raja
Cast reunions in this film: Rajinikanth & Ilayaraja (58 films together), Ilayaraja & Thengai Srinivasan (50 films together), Venniradai Moorthy & Ilayaraja (42 films together), Ilayaraja & V. K. Ramasamy (42 films together), Ilayaraja & Jaishankar (34 films together), and Ilayaraja & Srividya (33 films together).
Trivia
- This was one of the few films where Rajinikanth played a character who gets married to two different women within the story.
- The film's director, V. C. Guhanathan, was primarily known as a cinematographer and this was one of his rare directorial ventures.
- The movie was released the same year as Rajinikanth's blockbuster 'Moondru Mugam', showcasing his range in different roles.
- Actress Sripriya, who played Rajinikanth's wife, was a leading star in Telugu and Tamil cinema at the time.
- The film's title 'Thanikattu Raja' translates to 'Crown King', a common trope for protagonist names in Tamil cinema of that era.
- Despite the star cast, the film is not widely remembered among Rajinikanth's major commercial hits of the early 1980s.
- The soundtrack was composed by Shankar–Ganesh, a popular music duo for Tamil films in the late 1970s and early 1980s.