Pandian (film)

Pandian is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language action film produced and directed by S. P. Muthuraman and written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film stars Rajinikanth, Khushbu, Janagaraj and Prabhakar. It is a remake of the 1991 Kannada film Bombay Dada which starred Prabhakar, who portrayed the antagonist of this film. The film was released on 25 October 1992 during Diwali and achieved modest success due to competition from other Diwali releases.

Pandian
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. P. Muthuraman
Screenplay byPanchu Arunachalam
Story byPrabhakar
Produced byS. P. Muthuraman
StarringRajinikanth
Khushbu
Janagaraj
Prabhakar
CinematographyT. S. Vinayagam
Edited byR. Vittal
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Karthik Raja
Production
company
Visaalam Productions
Release date
  • 25 October 1992 (1992-10-25)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

The film centers around Pandian, who wants to avenge his brother-in-law's death. He joins the murderer's gang and seeks vengeance. Then the gang discovers that Pandian is performing an undercover operation, since Pandian is a police officer. Despite this, Pandian eventually captures the culprit.

Cast

Production

Rajinikanth decided to make a low-budget film with director S. P. Muthuraman. Muthuraman produced the film under his production banner Visaalam Productions, named after his mother. Although not being a producer, Rajinikanth took care of production duties of the film along with M. Saravanan. Rajinikanth decided to act in the film to contribute to the retirement fund of main crew members of the Muthuraman team who were regulars in most of the latter's films.[3] The film title was initially titled Nanban (transl. Friend) before being retitled to Pandian.[4][2] It was Muthuraman's penultimate film as director,[5] and remade from the 1991 Kannada film Bombay Dada. Prabhakar, who acted as that film's protagonist, portrayed a different role in Pandian, the antagonist.[1][6] Rajinikanth acted in the film without taking any remuneration.[3] This would be the last film in Rajinikanth portrayed a police officer until the release of Darbar (2020).[7]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja,[8] while his son Karthik Raja composed "Pandianin Rajyathil", his first song.[2]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ulagathukaaga"VaaliMano4:49
2."Adi Jumba"VaaliMano, K. S. Chithra6:00
3."Anbe Nee Enna"VaaliMano, K. S. Chithra4:41
4."Pandiayana Kokka Kokka"VaaliMano4:56
5."Pandiyanin Rajiyathil"Panchu ArunachalamMano, K. S. Chithra5:44
Total length:26:10

Release and reception

Pandiyan was released on 25 October 1992, Diwali day.[9][10] Though Muthuraman's wife died 10 days before, he refused the crew's suggestion to postpone the release.[11] The film opened up against other Diwali releases such as Thevar Magan, Senthamizh Paattu, Thirumathi Palanisamy and Rasukutty.[4] The Indian Express called it "a typical Rajini film; a mishmash of all ingredients formulated to please his fans".[1] New Straits Times wrote "This 135-minute movie is only for hard-core Rajini fans".[2] C. R. K. of Kalki praised Muthuraman for taking a simple knot and making it interesting for seventeen reels which clearly shows his experience.[12] Due to facing competition from Thevar Magan, Pandiyan achieved only moderate success.[13] Even though it made some money, the money grossed was used for the retirement fund of Muthuraman's crew.[3]

References
  1. Mannath, Malini (30 October 1992). "Grab it, you fans". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. Vijiyan, K. (21 November 1992). "Hackneyed plot and unconvincing fighting scenes". New Straits Times. p. 25. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. "எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் யூனிட்டின் உதவிக்காக ரஜினி நடித்துக் கொடுத்த 'பாண்டியன்'". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  4. Mannath, Malini (16 October 1992). "Deepavali releases". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  5. Rangarajan, Malathi (3 December 2009). "Musings, the Muthuraman way". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  6. Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. Penguin Books. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-14-342111-5.
  7. "Rajini's 'Darbar' releases to a full house". Deccan Herald. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. "Pandian (1992)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  9. "Pandian". The Indian Express. 25 October 1992. p. 7. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  10. "தீபாவளி ரிலீஸ்!". Kungumam (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  11. "மனைவி மறைந்த துயரத்தை அடக்கிக்கொண்டு 'பாண்டியன்' படத்தை முடித்து வெளியிட்டார், முத்துராமன்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 1 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  12. சி.ஆர்.கே. (15 November 1992). "பாண்டியன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 44. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  13. Ramesh, Akshay (17 September 2015). "Thoongavanam vs Kabali: Kamal Haasan meets Rajinikanth on the battlefield". India Today. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
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