Chatriyan
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''Chatriyan'' () is a 1990 Indian
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...
-language
crime drama Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combin ...
film, written and produced by
Mani Ratnam Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam (born 2 June 1956), known professionally as Mani Ratnam, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema and few Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. Ratnam has won six ...
under
Aalayam Productions Aalayam Productions was an Indian film production and distribution company headed by S. Sriram. The firm had been a leading production studio in the Tamil film industry in the 1990s, with director Mani Ratnam also being a partner. History S ...
. The film was directed by
K. Subash K. Subash (1959 – 23 November 2016), was an Indian director and screenwriter who directed Tamil and Hindi films. He is the son of R. Krishnan. Career K. Subash started his career as an assistant to Mani Ratnam in ''Nayakan''. He made his di ...
, an assistant of Mani Ratnam. The film stars
Vijayakanth Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami (born 25 August 1952), better known by his stage name Vijayakanth, is an Indian politician and former actor who has worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Leg ...
, Bhanupriya and
Thilakan Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...
, while
Revathi Asha Kelunni Nair (born 8 July 1966), better known by her stage name Revathi, is an Indian actress and director, known for her works predominantly in Tamil & Malayalam cinema - in addition to Telugu, Hindi & Kannada films. She has won several ...
made a guest appearance as Vijayakanth's wife. The film has Vijayakanth playing Selvam, an honest cop and Thilakan as Annachi, a corrupt politician and the antagonist. This film ran more than 150 days in some theatres and was declared a ''blockbuster'' at the box office. The film is one of the biggest hit films of the early 1990s and has attained
cult status A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...
. The film features a highly acclaimed soundtrack and background score composed by Ilaiyaraaja.


Plot

ACP Panneer Selvam aka Sathriyan is an honest cop, who gathers enough evidence against a local goon named Arumai Nayagam aka Annachi for illegal activities. Annachi is sent to prison, but avenges his arrest by killing Sathriyan's wife Jaya. Since then, Sathriyan quits the police force and takes care of his children, renting an apartment owned by V. K. Ramasamy. Banu, the apartment owner's granddaughter, gets introduced to Sathriyan's children and starts mingling with them, eventually falling in love with Sathriyan. Meanwhile, Annachi is released from prison and realises that he does not carry the same respect as he used to before going to jail. Annachi challenges Sathriyan to join the police and fight him again. Sathriyan initially rejects the offer. Annachi tries to provoke Sathriyan by attacking his home and son. Out of frustration over his son's attack, Sathriyan joins the police and fights Annachi. Sathriyan's fight against Annachi forms the rest of the plot.


Cast

*
Vijayakanth Narayanan Vijayaraj Alagarswami (born 25 August 1952), better known by his stage name Vijayakanth, is an Indian politician and former actor who has worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Leg ...
as ACP Panneer Selvam, a juvenile prisoner who is raised by a short-tempered police officer into an aggressive and ruthless police officer * Bhanupriya as Banu, a young woman who despite initially being irritated by Selvam falls in love with the latter *
Revathi Asha Kelunni Nair (born 8 July 1966), better known by her stage name Revathi, is an Indian actress and director, known for her works predominantly in Tamil & Malayalam cinema - in addition to Telugu, Hindi & Kannada films. She has won several ...
as Jaya, Selvam's wife who gets killed in a blast meant for him (Guest appearance) * V. K. Ramasamy as Banu's grandfather and owner of Selvam's house *
Thilakan Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...
as Arumai Nayagam (Annachi), an influential criminal who is humiliated and jailed by Selvam. *
A. V. Ramanan A. V. Ramanan (Aravamudan Venkata Ramanan) is a Tamil television host, singer and an actor. He became a household name in Tamil Nadu during his hosting of the famous Sun TV program ''Saptha Swarangal''. He is married to playback singer Uma Rama ...
as Assistant Superinteendent of Police Ramanan * Vijayakumar as Selvam's godfather and guardian who raises him after he escapes from the juvenile home to kill those who are responsible for his parents' death *
Delhi Ganesh Delhi Ganesh is an Indian actor who mostly acts in supporting roles in Tamil cinema and serials. He has acted in more than 400 films from 1976 to present. Before films, he was a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe, ''Dakshina Bharata Natak ...
as Jaya's father *
Ajay Rathnam Ajay Rathnam is an Indian actor who has worked predominantly in Tamil films and serials. He is known for his supporting and negative roles and has acted in over 300 movies. Standing at 6 ft 4 in (193 cm), Rathnam is one of the tallest actors in ...
as John Swaminathan * Veeraraghavan *
Kutty Padmini Kutty Padmini is an Indian actress who mainly works in Tamil cinema. She was a child star in her debut movie ''Ambala Anjulam'' (1959). She has also acted in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi movies. She made her debut in Tamil cinema at ...
* Baby Aarthi as Preethi * Master Vishnuvardhan as Young Panneer Selvam


Production

''Chatriyan'' is the first film produced by Aalayam Productions.


Soundtrack

The music was scored by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Vaali. The song "Maalayil Yaaro" is set in Suddhadhanyasi raga. Track listing


Release and reception

''Chathriyan'' was released on 17 October 1990 alongside other major releases including ''
Michael Madana Kama Rajan ''Michael Madana Kama Rajan'' is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and written by Kamal Haasan, with Crazy Mohan penning the dialogues. The film stars Haasan in four roles alongside Urvasi, Rupini an ...
'', ''
Mallu Vetti Minor ''Mallu Vetti Minor'' is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Manobala, produced and written by P. Kalaimani. The film stars Sathyaraj, Seetha and Shobana. It was released on 17 October 1990. The film was remade in Telugu as ' ...
'', ''
Avasara Police 100 ''Avasara Police 100'' is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film starring and directed by K. Bhagyaraj with M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role. The film was a commercial success. Plot Ramu is a hardened criminal who returns home aft ...
'', '' Sirayil Sila Raagangal'' , '' En Kadhal Kanmani'' , '' Amman Kovil Thiruvizha'' and ''Pudhupaattu'', but ran for over 150 days in theatres despite stiff competition. C. R. K. of ''
Kalki Kalki ( sa, कल्कि), also called Kalkin or Karki, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is described to appear in order to end the Kali Yuga, one of the four periods in the endless cycle of exist ...
'' praised the film for crisp dialogues, subtle emotions and cinematography.


References


External links

* {{K. Subash 1990 crime drama films 1990 films 1990s Tamil-language films Fictional portrayals of the Tamil Nadu Police Films directed by K. Subash Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja Indian crime drama films Indian nonlinear narrative films