Ranga (film)

Ranga is a 1982 Tamil film starring Rajinikanth, Radhika and K. R. Vijaya in prominent roles. Produced by Thevar Films, the film was directed by R. Thyagarajan. The film received positive reviews and became a hit at the box office and become a cult film.

Ranga (Rajinikanth) alias Ranganathan who lost his sister Laksmi (K . R .Vijaya) in childhood,comes to the city searching for work suitable for his graduation.He meet Raju (Karate Mani) who is a thief . Ranga advise Raju to give up his crime and be a good man . Raju accept his advise and changes, but Ranga who have changed Raju becomes a hitman because he feel its better way to survive . Laksmi, now married a wealthy man and had a child called Suresh (Master Suresh) . Raju who had changes came across Suresh and saved him from a local thugs.Laksmi, decided to keep Raju as a guardian for Suresh to keep him away from danger. Ranga has taken a contract from Ganga (Radhika) to collect money from the local thugs leader Ravi (Ravindran) . However Ravi invites Ranga to join his gang but Ranga declines stating that he does not work for any gang, but is ready to do anything given enough money . Ranga's first assignment with Ravi is to kidnapped Suresh so they can threatened his parent for money . Ranga has kidnap Suresh but saved by Raju . Raju does not know that is Ranga who came to kidnap Suresh as Ranga was in disguise . Ranga realise it was Raju and he came and meet upon Raju . Raju's joyness was no bound as he meet Ranga and tells him that he work as a guardian for Suresh.Raju also introduce Laksmi to Ranga . Unknowing that Ranga was her brother and a hitman, she agreed to keep Ranga as another guardian for Suresh . Ranga reveals his true nature to Raju that he is one who attempt to kidnap Suresh. Raju advise Ranga to give his crime and be loyal to Laksmi . Ranga however determine to kidnap Suresh and also challenges Raju, that he will chase him out and finish his task, which he does . But, Ravi was a brother of Laksmi's husband played a double cross game to Ranga and reveals him that Laksmi is his sister. But then Ranga was caught by Ravi's thugs but Raju came to the rescue and saved Ranga . Ravi was dashed in jail, Ranga with his lover Ganga, sister and Raju lead a happy life .

The film was produced by C. Dhandayudhapani under the banner Thevar Films. Thooyavan wrote the dialogues while story was provided by the story unit of Devar Films itself. The role played by K. R. Vijaya was originally offered to Jayalalithaa. She accepted the offer as she "liked" the character very much. However, due to the interference of M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, she was not cast in the film. MGR suggested Vijaya as the replacement and she was finally cast.