Rudhra

Rudhra
Rudhra
	Poster
Directed by	Sasi Mohan
Screenplay by	K. Bhagyaraj
Story by	Ilavarasan
Produced by	V. Viswanthan
Starring	K. Bhagyaraj; Gautami; Lakshmi; Mansoor Ali Khan
Cinematography	V. Ramesh Babu
Edited by	M. V. Natarajan
Music by	Gangai Amaran
Production; company	Sree Rajeswari Creations
Release date	5 November 1991;
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Rudhra is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Sasi Mohan. It stars K. Bhagyaraj, Gautami, Lakshmi and Mansoor Ali Khan.^[1] The film was one among the Diwali releases of 1991. The bank robbery scenes of the film were inspired from that of the American film Quick Change (1990).^[2] The core plot was inspired from the French film Nikita.

Plot

Mayaandi, a dreaded criminal, escapes from prison and guns down Rudhra's entire family. Rudhra learns the truth but the police can do nothing because Mayaandi returns to jail after the murder and has an alibi. She receives a letter her police officer father, sent before his death. He uncovered links between Mayaandi and several powerful prominent people—including police officers and politicians. Rudhra discovers a video cassette with the proof and gives it to the DSP only to discover he is part of the cabal. He attacks Rudhra and she kills him in self-defence. The police arrest her and the incorruptible DSP Lalitha investigates the case. The cabal again pursues Rudhra upon realising that the video cassette they took from her was not the incriminating one. She doesn't know the location of the original cassette but shares the entire story with Lalitha. The two women collaborate when they realise the police department can't be trusted. They also bring in thief Madurai to help them uncover the conspiracy.

Though Madurai was reluctant at first, but later with his tangent view on the issue helps Lalitha to resolve. They find the corrupt officials and their link with Mayandi. Rudhra fell in love with Madurai. Madurai also reciprocates.

All three were trapped by corrupt officials and Mayandi in an abandoned building. How Madurai rescued himself and other true forms part of climax.

Cast

K. Bhagyaraj as Madurai
Gautami as Rudhra
Lakshmi as DSP Lalitha
Mansoor Ali Khan as Kedi Mayandi
Senthamarai as the corrupt DSP
Delhi Ganesh as DCP Sundararajan
Nalinikanth as ACP Mohan
Major Sundarrajan as Judge (guest appearance)
T. S. Raghavendar as Rudhra's father
Typist Gopu
Kamala Kamesh as Rudhra's neighbour

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Gangai Amaran. The lyrics were written by Vaali and Gangai Amaran.^[3]

Track listing
No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Vittu Vittu"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra	5:18
2.	"Enrootu"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	5:02
3.	"Aadadu"	K. S. Chithra	4:48
Total length:			15:08

Reception

The Indian Express wrote the film "beguiles you [..] with its quickpaced narration".^[4] Sundarji of Kalki wrote the film, despite having so many opportunities for providing thrills and twists, squandered them.^[5] The film ran for over 100 days in theatres,^[6] and Gautami won the Film Fans Association Award for Best Actress.^[7]

Legacy

Sasi Mohan later directed Sivantha Malar, also inspired from Nikita and again starring Gautami.^[8]

References

^ "rudhra ( 1991 )". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
^ "Watching 'Thunivu'? Tamil heist thrillers to add to your watchlist". The Times of India. 10 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ "Rudra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Single". Apple Music. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
^ "Rudhra". The Indian Express. 1 November 1991. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2019 – via Google News Archive.
^ சுந்தர்ஜி (8 December 1991). "ருத்ரா". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 39–40. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via Internet Archive.
^ Mannath, Malini (1 January 1993). "Run-of-the-mill fare". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 23 December 2013 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Kamal adjudged best actor for role in Guna". The Indian Express. 22 June 1992. p. 3. Retrieved 12 September 2023 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Sivandha Malar". The Indian Express. 20 March 1992. p. 7. Retrieved 15 June 2022 – via Google News Archive.

External links

Rudhra at IMDb

[1] "rudhra ( 1991 )". Cinesouth. Archived from the original on 29 October 2006. Retrieved 7 July 2012.

[2] "Watching 'Thunivu'? Tamil heist thrillers to add to your watchlist". The Times of India. 10 January 2023. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.

[3] "Rudra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Single". Apple Music. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

[4] "Rudhra". The Indian Express. 1 November 1991. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2019 – via Google News Archive.

[5] சுந்தர்ஜி (8 December 1991). "ருத்ரா". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 39–40. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via Internet Archive.

[6] Mannath, Malini (1 January 1993). "Run-of-the-mill fare". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 23 December 2013 – via Google News Archive.

[7] "Kamal adjudged best actor for role in Guna". The Indian Express. 22 June 1992. p. 3. Retrieved 12 September 2023 – via Google News Archive.

[8] "Sivandha Malar". The Indian Express. 20 March 1992. p. 7. Retrieved 15 June 2022 – via Google News Archive.

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