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Priya (1978 film)

Priya
Priya 1978.jpg
Directed by SP. Muthuraman
Produced by S. P. Thamizharasi
Written by Sujatha
Panchu Arunachalam
Starring Rajinikanth
Sridevi
Ambarish
Singapore Asha
Major Sundarrajan
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography Babu
Edited by R. Vittal
Release date
22 December 1978 (Tamil)
12 January 1979 (Kannada)
Running time
192 mins
Country India
Language Tamil
Kannada
Box office 17 lakh

Priya is a 1978 film, made in Tamil and Kannada, directed by SP. Muthuraman, starring Rajinikanth, Sridevi and Ambarish. The story is an adaptation from writer Sujatha's Ganesh - Vasanth novels. The film was a blockbuster and completed a 175-day run at the box office.

Priya (Sridevi) is a movie star, who is exploited by her producer Janardhan / K Ashwath (Major Sundarrajan). Janardhan has such a tight control over Priya's financial and personal affairs that he refuses to let her get married to her boyfriend Bharat (Ambarish).

Before she flies off to Singapore for a film shoot, Priya seeks the help of Lawyer Ganesh (Rajnikant) to get rid of Janardhan.

How Ganesh helps Priya overcome her problems accounts for the rest of this movie, which includes a side story of Ganesh falling in love with a Malay-Indian girl.

The original story written by Sujatha was based in London setting with the Scotland Yard playing a central role. But the film adaptation chose a Singapore backdrop and no role for the police force.

The soundtrack features five songs composed by Ilayaraja 50th film, with lyrics by Panju Arunachalam.

The soundtracks of this film is recorded using Stereophonic technology for first time in Tamil cinema. "Akarai Cheemai" song was loosely inspired by "Kites" by Simon Dupree and the Big Sound.

The footage of the famous car chase sequence from the Steve McQueen film Bullitt were edited and spliced into the climax scene of this film; however, the allegations that ensued was that it was done so without permission.



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