Dharma Durai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This article is about 1991 film. For 2016 film, see Dharma Durai (2016 film).
Dharmadurai
Dharma Durai poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Rajasekhar
Screenplay by Panchu Arunachalam
Story by M. D. Sundar
Produced by S. Ramanathan
S. Sivaraman
Starring Rajinikanth
Madhu
Gouthami
Nizhalgal Ravi
Charan Raj
Cinematography V. Ranga
Edited by Vittal
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Production
company
Raasikala Mandhir International
Distributed by Raasi Kalamandhir International
Release date
14 January 1991
Country India
Language Tamil
Dharma Durai is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language action drama film starring
Rajinikanth, Gautami, Charan Raj, Nizhalgal Ravi and Senthil. The film was a remake
of the 1989 Kannada film Deva which was also remade in Hindi as Tyagi with
Rajinikanth reprising his role.[1] It was a block-buster movie and completed a 175-
day run at the box office.
Contents
1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production
4 Soundtrack
5 Release
6 References
7 External links
Plot
The story begins with a young couple, Balu and Ishwarya, being chased by some
goons. Ishwarya is the daughter of Rajadorai (Charan Raj) and had eloped and run
away with her boyfriend Balu against the wishes of Rajadorai. Rajadorai sends his
goons to track down the couple. When the goons finally track down the couple in a
forest and start beating up Balu, a man (Rajinikanth) comes to the couple's rescue.
When Rajadorai and his brother Ramadorai (Nizhalgal Ravi) find out about this man,
they rush over to his hideout in the forest, only to escape in fear when they see
him. The couple is scared and puzzled as to how the man could induce so much fear
in the brothers. The man's wife Parvathi (Gouthami) then tells the couple the story
of the man, whose name is Dharmadorai.
Dharmadorai was a farmer in a village named Valliyur. He was the elder brother of
Rajadorai and Ramadorai. He had showered so much love and affection on his younger
brothers and even borrowed ₹ 30,000 for their "education", much against his
father's (Madhu) wishes, who fully knew that his younger sons were crooked and
evil. He even got Rajadorai married to Vaibhavi (Vaishnavi), a girl whom Rajadorai
had raped, to save him from a jail term. The brothers however, showed no sort of
affection for Dharmadorai and used his innocence for their sinister desires.
Rajadorai convinced Dharmadorai to borrow ₹ 6 lakhs so that he could "start a
business". Using this money, Rajadorai and Ramadorai moved to Madras (now Chennai)
and went into smuggling. They later double-crossed their smuggler boss Jose by
keeping all the items meant to be smuggled and also lodging a police complaint
against his son Ajay (Ajay Rathnam) for their own benefit and soon became rich due
to their illegal activities.
One day, Dharmadorai went to Madras when he heard that Ramadorai was going to get
engaged to a rich girl and leave with her for the United States to "pursue higher
studies". The brothers did not receive him warmly and humiliated him that evening
at a farewell party organised for Ramadorai. Later that night, Ajay, who had been
released from jail, entered their house to kill Ramadorai in retaliation for having
double-crossed Jose and his gang. Ramadorai killed Ajay and convinced Dharmadorai
to take the blame for the murder, who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment as
a result. The brothers then got Jose and his henchmen also arrested. While
Dharmadorai was in jail, Parvathi gave birth to a baby boy.
A few years later, Rajadorai and Ramadorai decided to sell off their father's house
and property to "repay the ₹ 6 lakhs Dharmadorai had borrowed". When their father
opposed their move, the brothers killed him and drove Parvathi and her son out of
the house. With nowhere else to go, Parvathi and her son moved to Madras. The small
boy was also eventually killed by Ramadorai when he recognised him as the murderer
of his grandfather. With no home, her husband imprisoned and her son dead, a
grieving Parvathi took up the job of a housemaid in Madras. Soon, Dharmadorai
completed his jail sentence. When he found out about Parvathi's plight and how his
brothers had betrayed him, he rushed over to the brothers' house and thrashed them
mercilessly, only stopping when their wives intervene. Following this, he disowned
them and moved to the forest with Parvathi.
In the present day, Jose and his henchmen get released from jail and kidnap
Rajadorai and Ramadorai in retaliation for betraying them. On Parvathi's advice, a
reluctant Dharmadorai goes to rescue his brothers. He rescues them, following which
they seek his forgiveness, which he accepts.
Cast
Rajinikanth as Dharmadurai
Gouthami as Parvathi Dharmadurai
Madhu as Pandidurai Thevar, Dharmadurai's father
Nizhalgal Ravi as Ramadorai
Charan Raj as Rajadorai
Vaishnavi as Vaibhavi
Ajay Rathnam as Ajay
Venniradai Moorthy
Mohan Raj
Senthil
Dilip
Bayilvan Ranganathan
Production
The director Rajasekhar initially started a film titled Kaalam Maaripochu with
Rajinikanth, Manjula, Ramesh Aravind and Senthil among others. After some progress,
the project and story were dropped. It was decided to remake the 1989 Kannada film
Deva, and the project was titled Dharma Durai. The film was already scheduled to
release on Pongal 1991, but production was disrupted due to certain circumstances.
To avoid betraying audiences, Rajinikanth worked continuously for 72 hours to
ensure the film was completed and released per schedule.[2]
Soundtrack
Dharma Dorai
Soundtrack album by Ilayaraja
Released 1991
Language Tamil
Label Agi Music
The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja while the lyrics for all the songs were
written by Panchu Arunachalam. Gangai Amaran wrote only one song, Aanenna pennena.
Ilayaraja reused "Maasimaasam" as "Enno Rathri" in Telugu film Dharmakshetram
(1992).[3] The song was later remixed by Srikanth Deva in Pandi (2008).[4]
No. Title Lyrics Singers Length
1. "Aanenna Pennena" Gangai Amaran S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
2. "Annan Enna Thambi Enna" Panchu Arunachalam K. J. Yesudas
3. "Maasi Masam Alana Ponnu" Panchu Arunachalam K. J. Yesudas,
Swarnalatha
4. "Onnu Rendu" Panchu Arunachalam Mano, S. Janaki
5. "Santhaikku Vantha Kili" Panchu Arunachalam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,
S. Janaki
Release
Dharma Durai became a big blockbuster and a clear winner among 1991 Pongal-released
films.[5] On the 100th day celebrations, Rajasekhar died in a car accident.[2] The
Indian Express wrote that the film "has sequences that hold water" praising Rajini
he "shows split second timing in delivering comic lines in a good part of the film
[..]". It was dubbed in Telugu language under the title Khaidi Annayya .[6]
