Enne Petha Raasa

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Enne Petha Raasa
Enne Petha Raasa.jpg
Poster
Directed by Siraj
Screenplay bySiraj
Story by Rajkiran
Produced byRajkiran
Starring Ramarajan
Rupini
Srividya
Vinu Chakravarthy
CinematographyP. Ganesapandian
Edited byL. Kesavan
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Production
company
Red Sun Art Creations
Release date
  • 27 January 1989 (1989-01-27)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Enne Petha Raasa is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Siraj and produced by Rajkiran who is also credited for the story. The film stars Ramarajan, Rupini, Srividya and Vinu Chakravarthy. It was released on 27 January 1989. [1]

Contents

Plot

Raja is an angry youth who questions the wrongs around him in the village. He's in love with his cousin Lakshmi, but her father, Mayathevar, is hesitant to approve their relationship due to past family conflicts, when Raja's father had eloped with Kalyani, Mayathevar's sister. Kalyani wants her son Raja to marry Lakshmi, hoping to reunite the separated family. When Mayathevar learns that Lakshmi loves Raja too, he has a change of heart and arranges their engagement. However, Natarajan, a rich landlord and Mayathevar's uncle, wants Lakshmi to marry one of his sons. Natarajan speaks ill of Kalyani, causing Mayathevar to chase Raja's family away. Humiliated, Natarajan tries to force Lakshmi to marry his son, but Raja intervenes and fights them off.

To stop Raja from marrying Lakshmi, Natarajan brings a stage actor, Catherine, and frames Mayathevar for raping her, blackmailing him into marrying Lakshmi to Natarajan's son. Mayathevar calls off the wedding, citing the false allegations, and Raja distances himself from Lakshmi without revealing the truth. Believing Raja has moved on, Lakshmi attempts to take her own life but is rescued. Seeing her plight, Mayathevar promises to marry Lakshmi to Raja, despite Natarajan's threats. The night before, Mayathevar is seen leaving Catherine's house, and Raja discovers Catherine stabbed and dying. Raja removes the knife, but she dies soon, leading to Raja being arrested on charges of Catherine's murder. Raja asks Mayathevar not to reveal the truth, but Mayathevar dies of cardiac shock soon after. The villagers begin to suspect Raja had an affair with Catherine, and Kalyani believes Raja killed her.

Natarajan plots to take over Raja's family's properties and hires Veluchamy, Raja's paternal uncle, to buy them at a low price. He also arranges Lakshmi's marriage to Muthu, the theatre manager, which Kalyani accepts, unaware of Natarajan's true intentions. Raja is released from prison and returns to the village, where Natarajan's henchmen try to kill him. Raja subdues them and enters the village, only to learn that his father has died due to humiliation. Kalyani chases Raja away, and Lakshmi believes he's responsible for her father's death. Johnny, a mentally unstable henchman mistreated by Natarajan, is noticed by Natarajan offering flowers to Catherine's grave. Natarajan beats and buries him in a coffin near the grave. Raja rescues Johnny with a cremator's help and takes him in.

Johnny reveals the truth about his sister, Catherine's past. Catherine had separated from Johnny and became a stage performer. Mayathevar had danced with her while intoxicated, and Natarajan used this to blackmail her into falsely accusing Mayathevar of rape, threatening to kill Johnny if she didn't comply. Catherine and Johnny planned to escape, but Natarajan abducted and killed her when she refused to follow his orders. Johnny witnessed the murder and was beaten by Natarajan's henchmen. Pretending to be mentally unstable to survive, Johnny waited for Raja's release to reveal the truth. Kalyani overhears the conversation and learns that Raja took the blame to protect Mayathevar's reputation. She apologizes for misunderstanding Raja and pleads with him not to seek revenge against Natarajan.

Raja beats up his paternal uncle Veluchamy, who reforms immediately. Natarajan motivates Muthu to abduct Lakshmi, and they kidnap her and Kalyani. Raja rushes to save them, leading to a road chase. Natarajan's son is ordered to abuse Lakshmi, despite her engagement to Muthu. Muthu reforms upon seeing Natarajan's true nature, but gets beaten. Raja engages in a fierce fight, saving Lakshmi and Kalyani. Johnny avenges his sister Catherine's death by stabbing and killing Natarajan, but dies from gunshot wounds. The film concludes with Raja and Lakshmi's wedding.

Cast

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. [3] [4] The song "Petha Manasu" is set to the raga Charukesi. [5]

SongSingersLyricsLength
"Sondham Ondrai" Mano, K. S. Chithra Piraisoodan 04:36
"Aasa Vacha Peraiyellam" S. P. Sailaja Gangai Amaran 04:37
"Malligai Poo Kathilile"P. Susheela Vaali 04:38
"Ellorakkum Nallavana" Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja03:56
"Sondham Ondrai"ManoPiraisoodan04:36
"Aambalaiya Latchanama"ManoGangai Amaran04:53
"Petha Manasu"IlaiyaraajaIlaiyaraaja04:35

Critical reception

The Indian Express wrote, "Ennai Peththa Raja has an unmistakable rural flavour which despite its filmi turns keeps things going for it". [6] P. S. S. of Kalki praised the acting, humour, characterisation and cinematography. [7]

References

  1. "என்ன பெத்த ராசா / Enna Petha Raasa (1989)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  2. "Happy that Dhanush reintroduced me as hero: Raj Kiran". The New Indian Express . IANS. 22 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  3. "Enna Petha Raasa (1988)". Raaga.com . Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. "Enna Petha Rasa (1989) Tamil Super Hit Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilaiyaraaja". Disco Music Center. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. p. 153. OCLC   295034757.
  6. "Ennai Peththa Raasa". The Indian Express . 10 February 1989. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2019 via Google News Archive.
  7. பி. எஸ். எஸ். (19 February 1989). "என்னெப் பெத்த ராசா". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024 via Internet Archive.