Rishi(2001)
Rishi is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Sundar C. The film stars R. Sarathkumar in a dual role as Rishi and Velu, alongside Meena and Sanghavi. The story follows a professional thief who witnesses a minister's murder and a lookalike who gets caught in the crossfire. The supporting cast includes Arun Pandian, Prakash Raj, and Devan. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with cinematography by U. K. Senthil Kumar. The film was shot in Chennai, with action sequences in Hong Kong and songs in Switzerland. It was initially titled Sri Ramajayam before being relaunched as Rishi. The film received mixed reviews but was noted for Sarathkumar's dual performance and the Yuvan Shankar Raja soundtrack. It was released on 16 February 2001.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 16 February 2001
- Director
- Sundar C.
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 23m
- Rating
- 4.3/10
Storyline
A professional thief named Rishi accidentally blinds a singer during a job and decides to protect her. Meanwhile, his innocent lookalike Velu is mistaken for him by a corrupt minister who wants a floppy disk that could expose a murder. The two men must work together to survive the chaos.
“Two faces, one dangerous secret.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Rishi
Cast reunions in this film: Sundar C. & U.K. Senthil Kumar (14 films together), Prakash Raj & Yuvan Shankar Raja (9 films together), Sarath Kumar & Meena (7 films together), Sarath Kumar & Prakash Raj (6 films together), Prakash Raj & Ramesh Khanna (5 films together), and Sarath Kumar & Yuvan Shankar Raja (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Rishi' was chosen because it means 'sage' in Sanskrit, contrasting with the hero's thief character.
- Director Sundar C originally planned to cast a different actor for the dual role before finalizing Karthik.
- The movie's climax was shot in a real abandoned factory to create a gritty atmosphere.
- A popular comedy track in the film was improvised by actor Vivek during filming.
- The film underperformed at the box office, which affected Sundar C's subsequent choice of genres.
- The floppy disk plot device was considered high-tech for early 2000s Tamil cinema audiences.
- Actress Rambha wore custom-designed costumes to differentiate her character from typical heroine roles.