Uzhaippali(1993)
Uzhaippali is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by P. Vasu. The film stars Rajinikanth in a dual role as Tamilarasan and Tamilazhagan, alongside Roja, Radha Ravi, and Visu. The story follows a young heir who survives a poisoning attempt, loses his memory, and grows up as a hardworking labourer. When he recovers his past, he must confront his greedy uncles who stole his family's wealth. The film was produced by Vijaya Productions, marking their comeback after a 20-year hiatus. It was praised for its emotional storytelling and Rajinikanth's performance. The film ran for over 100 days in theatres despite a distributor boycott. It was released on 24 June 1993.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 24 June 1993
- Director
- P. Vasu
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 28m
- Rating
- 4.2/10
Storyline
A young boy is forced to drink poison by his greedy uncles and thrown off a cliff. He survives but loses all memory of his past. Years later, he lives as a simple stage performer named Tamilazhagan. When the same uncles hire him to pretend to be a lost heir, he unknowingly steps into his own identity. He must recover his memory and fight for his mother's property.
“The harder you work, the richer you become.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Uzhaippali
Cast reunions in this film: Goundamani & Ilayaraja (75 films together), Ilayaraja & Charlie (59 films together), Rajinikanth & Ilayaraja (58 films together), Ilayaraja & Vijayakumar (44 films together), Ilayaraja & Radha Ravi (37 films together), and Nizhalgal Ravi & Ilayaraja (34 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Uzhaippali' is a Tamil word that means 'hard worker' or 'laborer', reflecting the protagonist's identity.
- This was the first Tamil film where actor Rajinikanth played a character who works as a coolie (porter) as his main job.
- Director P. Vasu and Rajinikanth collaborated again later for the blockbuster comedy 'Chandramukhi' in 2005.
- The movie was released the same year as Rajinikanth's iconic 'Baashha', but had a very different, more dramatic tone.
- Actress Roja, who played the female lead, was a popular heroine in Tamil cinema at the time, known for her dance performances.
- The plot involves a 'lookalike' or impersonation theme, a concept that has appeared in several Indian films from that era.
- Despite the action and revenge story, the film ends with the hero rejecting wealth to stay a common laborer, a rare moral choice for a mainstream hero.