Raja(1999)
Raja is a 1999 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film directed by Muppalaneni Shiva. It stars Venkatesh, Soundarya, and Abbas in lead roles. The story follows Raja, a petty thief who falls in love with Anjali, a governess, after a robbery goes wrong. He changes his ways to support her singing career while hiding his feelings. The film is a remake of the Tamil film Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998). It won three Filmfare Awards South including Best Film, Best Actress, and Best Music Director. Raja was a blockbuster at the box office, running for 100 days in 71 centers. The film is available for streaming on Prime Video.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1999
- Director
- Muppulaneni Siva
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 46m
- Rating
- 5.3/10
Storyline
A petty thief named Raja and his friend Balu hide in a house after stealing a temple idol. The governess Anjali locks them in the kitchen for a week. Raja falls in love with her and decides to change his life. But he discovers Anjali loves another man and hides his feelings. He helps her become a famous singer while keeping his love a secret.
“A thief's heart finds its queen”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Raja
Cast reunions in this film: Tanikella Bharani & Brahmanandam (86 films together), Brahmanandam & Chandramohan (31 films together), Venkatesh & Daggubati Venkatesh (29 films together), Brahmanandam & Daggubati Venkatesh (22 films together), Soundarya & Brahmanandam (19 films together), and Venkatesh & Brahmanandam (16 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director Muppalaneni Shiva was also a popular actor in Telugu cinema, known for his villain and character roles.
- This movie marked the Telugu debut of actress Simran, who played the female lead Anjali, after her success in Tamil films.
- The soundtrack by composer Koti became popular, with the song 'Chilakkamma' achieving significant airplay on radio stations.
- A key filming location was the historic Charminar in Hyderabad, used for a major song sequence in the movie.
- The film's plot revolves around a mistaken identity during a robbery, a common theme in late 1990s Telugu comedies.
- Actor Rajendra Prasad, who played the titular role Raja, was known for his comedy films, making this dramatic role a slight shift.
- The movie's release coincided with a period where Telugu cinema was experimenting with more urban, crime-based narratives.