Raja (transl. King) is a 1995 Indian Hindi-language action romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Indra Kumar and starring Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Mukesh Khanna, Dalip Tahil, Rita Bhaduri and Himani Shivpuri appear in supporting roles. The film was released on 2 June 1995 and was a commercial Blockbuster.[2]

Raja
Promotional Poster
Directed byIndra Kumar
Written byTanveer Khan (dialogues)
Screenplay byRajeev Kaul
Praful Parekh
Story byNaushir Khatau (story advisor)
Produced byIndra Kumar
Ashok Thakeria
StarringMadhuri Dixit
Sanjay Kapoor
Paresh Rawal
Rita Bhaduri
Himani Shivpuri
Mukesh Khanna
CinematographyBaba Azmi
Edited byHussain A. Burmawala
Music byNadeem-Shravan
Production
company
Maruti International
Release date
  • 2 June 1995 (1995-06-02) (India)
Running time
168 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget 4.25 crore[1]
Box office 34.68 crore[1]

The huge success of the film was attributed to Dixit for her performance, earning her the Screen Award for Best Actress. At the 41st Filmfare Awards, the film received 11 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Kumar), Best Actress (Dixit), Best Supporting Actor (Rawal) and Best Supporting Actress (Bhaduri). The film was remade into Bengali in Bangladesh in 2003 as Chorom Opoman starring Manna and Eka.[citation needed]

Plot

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Garewal brother's Rana Mahendra and Vishwa are good friends with the rich Birju Patangwala, and fix their 9-year-old sister Madhu's marriage with Birju's 10-year-old brother Raja; both become friends. As Birju loses all wealth in a fire at his factory, Rana and Vishwa break the marriage. Shocked, Birju becomes mad and is electrocuted by accident. He stays in the city outskirts with Raja caring for him by doing petty jobs.

13 years later

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Grown-up, Madhu meets and falls in love with Raja. Their love for each other deepens when Madhu learns that Raja is indeed her childhood friend. Vishwa and Rana are determined to keep them away. Rana pretends to accept him and invites Birju to stay with him, getting one of their assistants dressed up like Birju. The assistant enters Madhu's room at night, trying to rape her. She duly screams Birju is trying to rape her. The assistant quickly escapes; the room is dimly lit before Madhu can see his face.

Raja returns and is asked to believe Madhu or Birju. He believes Birju and breaks up with Madhu. Later, Raja gets hold of the assistant and extracts a confession. But he gets critically injured in an accident. Rana's wife Sumitra tells the truth to Madhu. Shocked that her own brothers set up her rape, Madhu leaves to go to Raja. Rana realizes his mistakes and begs forgiveness. But Vishwa attacks them. Raja comes and saves them, marrying Madhu in front of everybody. Vishwa too feels sorry for his deeds. Raja and Madhu forgive all only if they bless their marriage.

Cast

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Awards and nominations

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41st Filmfare Awards:

Category Nominees Results
Best Film Indra Kumar Nominated
Best Director
Best Actress Madhuri Dixit
Best Supporting Actor Paresh Rawal
Best Supporting Actress Rita Bhaduri
Best Music Director Nadeem-Shravan
Best Female Playback Singer Alka Yagnik for "Akhiyaan Milaun Kabhi"

1996 Screen Awards:

Category Nominees Results
Best Actress Madhuri Dixit Won
Best Supporting Actor Paresh Rawal

Soundtrack

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The songs were composed by Nadeem-Shravan, while the lyrics were penned by Sameer. The album went on to become the second most sold Bollywood album of 1995.[3] Nadeem-Shravan, for this album also received the Special Award London (UK). The song "Nazrein Mili Dil Dhadka" was inspired from "Sealed with a Kiss" Brian Hyland version copied from the soundtrack of the 1961 Rock Hudson movie, Come September. And the same tune was in 1967 film Humraaz. The starting tune of "Akhiyan Milaoon" was copied from the Bangladeshi song "Ami Tomay Bhalobashi" from Andha Prem (1993), composed by Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul.

# Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Akhiyaan Milaoon Kabhi" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 06:16
2. "Kisi Din Banoongi Main" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 07:20
3. "Phool Maangu Na Bahaar" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 05:21
4. "Nazrein Mili Dil Dhadka" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 05:32
5. "Tumne Agar Pyar Se" Alka Yagnik 05:43
6. "Aankh Milate Darr Lagta Hai" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 07:20
7. "Ja Sajna Tujhko Bhula" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 06:15
8. "Aankh Teri Chalke Toh" Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik 07:10
9. "Tumne Agar Pyar Se" (Male) Udit Narayan 05:43
10. "Vada Jo Kiya" Roop Kumar Rathod 02:10

References

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  1. ^ a b "Raja – Movie – Box Office India". Box Office India. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Box Office 1995". box office. india.
  3. ^ "Raja second most sold music album of 1995". Archived from the original on 28 May 2011.
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