| Baashha | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Suresh Krishna |
| Produced by | V. Rajammal Thamilazhagan. V. |
| Written by | Suresh Krishna Balakumaran |
| Starring | Rajinikanth Nagma Raghuvaran Janakaraj Anand Raj Vijayakumar Charan Raj Yuvarani Devan Sathyapriya Dhamu |
| Music by | Deva |
| Cinematography | P. S. Prakash |
| Editing by | Ganesh Kumar |
| Distributed by | Sathya Movies |
| Release date(s) | 12 January 1995 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | 10 crore (US$1.9 million) |
| Box office | 50 crore (US$9.5 million) |
Baashha is a 1995 Tamil action thriller film starring Rajinikanth, Nagma, and Raghuvaran. The film was directed by Suresh Krishna, and features music by Deva. The film enjoyed a highly positive box office response and considered one of Rajinikanth's most commercially successful films. The film's soundtrack, as well, was critically acclaimed. After release the movie created much impact in politics too. The punch dialogues and the mannerisms of Rajini was extremely well received. The film is a revised adaptation of Amitabh's Hum.
Originally, producer Prasad Rao had bought the remake and dubbing rights to do with Amitabh Bachchan, but the project never took off. Now the film is being dubbed in Hindi in addition to being digitally restored. Music director Deva, who composed for the original score has recorded for the Hindi version. The Hindi version's audio launch will happen in early May while Rao plans on releasing the newly dubbed version by May end.[1]
Rajinikanth won both a Filmfans Association Award and a Cinema Express Award for the Best Actor for his performance in the film.[2]
Contents |
Manikkam (Rajnikanth) is an humble auto driver who helps people and needy. He also wants to keep away from unnecessary fights,quarrels etc. His main ambition is to bring up his brother and sisters with flying colors. His brother Shiva gets through the police training and waits for posting.
Manikkam meets Priya, a rich girl who travels frequently in his auto. She develops a respect and passion for him due to his nobility.
Shiva attends his interview and he is asked to bring his brother to office by a senior official when he hears the name Manikkam and Shiva's birth place is Bombay. Hesitating at first, Manikkam goes to commissioner's office. Manikkam's sister who had passed with more marks requests a medical seat to a medical college proprietor. The proprietor demands that he wants illegal relationship with her and stay in his guest house. Hearing about this Manikkam meets the guy. He surprises his sister when he makes the proprietor bow to him and readily to give seat without any condition. He also surprises his brother when he attacked the area Don when he teased his sister, as Manikkam is a person who keeps away from fights. The men attacked by Manikkam are serious at hospital. Shiva inquires Manikkam about his past life and what he was doing at Bombay 4 years back. The film then goes into a flashback about Manikkam's life at Bombay.
Based on unexpected twists to the story, like the one above, the movie shows that Manikkam was actually once a Don named Manik Baasha in Bombay.
Manikkam had a great friend (Anwar Baasha). They were great chums together despite being from different religions. Once Anwar questions the activities of the Mafia Don Antony (Raghuvaran). Events lead to Antony's men killing Anwar in the main road. Manikkam is saved due to the pleas of his father (Vijayakumar), who works as the personal assistant of Antony.
Manikkam vows to avenge his dear friend's death. He does so by murdering all those responsible before even his friend is laid to rest. The people of Mumbai also come to his support and claim they have not seen any murder occur to the police.
Manikkam soon becomes Manik Baasha, the Don - a "Robin Hood" kind of a Don. He is greatly revered by the people. But situations lead him to direct confrontation with Mark Antony.
Antony convinces an assistant of Baasha to murder him on his birthday. But Baasha cleverly recognizes the plot and his foes end up shooting a wax model of him. The assistant is evicted and he later appears in the movie as the father of Manikkam's fiancée (Nagma).
Meanwhile, Antony goes desperate in his attempts to quell the Baasha challenge. The only option left with him is to kill Baasha's father. His loyalty notwithstanding, Antony proceeds with that. Baasha on the other hand aids the police in the arrest of Antony. He also promises his father before his death to forgo all Dondom and return to Chennai to lead a peaceful life. He makes the media and the police believe that he has died in an accident.
Meanwhile Priya proposes Manikkam to marry her. Her dad arranges for a marriage with one of his men against Priya's wishes. She begs for Manikkam to save her life else she will kill herself. On the day of marriage Manikkam deeply thinks and finally decides to save Priya. He reaches the marriage hall and shows his hand to priya. Priya is surprised when her dad did not show sign of opposing and is not aware of the fact that her father is familiar to Manikkyam as Baasha. Priya's dad lets them go. An underling informs Mark Anthony that Manikkam is alive. Antony escapes the Bombay jail and kills Priya's dad Kesavan for killing his family for money. He kidnaps Manikkyam's family before Manikkam comes to their rescue. In the struggle Manikkyam loses one of his friends. Manikkyam rescues his family from Antony and chases him. Just as he was about to kill Antony he was stopped by a senior police official. The story ends with Antony trying to shoot Manikyam but instead being shot dead by Shiva.
The soundtrack features 6 songs composed by Deva, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.