Singaporenalli Raja Kulla

Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (transl.Raja and Kulla in Singapore) is a 1978 Indian Kannada language full-scale action-suspense-drama film directed by C. V. Rajendran starring Vishnuvardhan, Manjula, Dwarkish, Lokanath and Thoogudeepa Srinivas in pivotal roles.

Singaporenalli Raja Kulla
Film poster
Directed byC. V. Rajendran
Produced byDwarakish
Written byChi. Udayashankar (dialogues)
Screenplay byM. D. Sundar
Story byM. D. Sundar
Starring
Music byRajan-Nagendra
CinematographyD. V. Rajaram
Edited byYadav Victor
Production
company
Dwarakish Chithra
Distributed by
  • Eshwari Pictures
  • Srinivasa Pictures
  • Khadri Enterprises
Release date
  • 23 December 1978 (1978-12-23)
Running time
153 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

It was the first Kannada film to be shot outside India in a country which is not an Indian neighbour and the second Kannada movie to be shot outside India after Operation Diamond Racket which was shot in Nepal and released four months before this movie. However, this movie is widely credited for starting the trend of Kannada movies shooting outside India.

Plot

A jeweller (Lokanath), who harbours ambitions of a successful life abroad, enters into a partnership with Junie (Thoogudeepa Srinivas) after abandoning his pregnant wife and thus both land in Singapore. Unknown to Lokanath, Junie is into smuggling diamonds and various other illegal activities and is wanted by the Indian and Singaporean police department. CID detective Gopinath aka Kulla (Dwarakish) is assigned the task of hunting down both of them and bringing him to justice in India. Meanwhile, Lokanath's son Raja (Vishnuvardhan), who is now a singer in a hotel, gets to know Gopinath, though unaware that he is a detective.

Tara (Manjula) is Raja's girlfriend. Her father Gopinath Rao (Shakti Prasad), also involved in shady businesses, promises Raja a good life, if he contract kills an old rival Shivaraj, of his, in Singapore, for 15 lakh. Initially reluctant, Raja travels to Singapore. Rao, knowing from Venu that Raja is Shivaraj's son, asks Diwakar, his business partner in Singapore, to kill him and hires Venu to contract kill Shivaraj for 20 lakh. Tara overhears his conversation with Diwakar and immediately flies to Singapore informing Raja.

Meanwhile, Kulla also lands in Singapore, on his mission. But Raja is also on his cross-hairs. He assumes Raja is in Singapore to kill someone and confronts him repeatedly, with arguments and fist-to-fist fighting as well. Raja meets Shivaraj at a hotel and immediately looks at the photo that his mother (Uma Shivakumar) has given him, of her and Shivaraj in their younger days. Raja introduces himself and says he is from Bangalore. Shivaraj is taken aback, which Raja senses, and asks if he knows anybody there, a question that makes Shivaraj uncomfortable. As Shivaraj turns back and takes a few steps away, Raja drops that photo and calls out to Shivaraj, that he dropped something. Shivaraj picking up the photo is surprised to see that it is of him and his wife.

Later, after a bitter fight between them, Raja and Kulla meet up with Shivaraj, who tells him about his meet up with Junie and how he was duped into the unlawful business. Kulla assures Lokanath that he would help him get out of this situation. After many twists and turns, including many fights, the movie climax ends with Raja, Kulla fighting and chasing Junie. As Junie desperately tries to board a helicopter, Kulla, who is hiding in the helicopter, kicks him out and his associate, a Singapore policeman, shoots Junie and kills him. Raja unites with his father and mother.

Cast

  • Vishnuvardhan as Raja
  • Dwarakish as Venu alias Kulla
  • Manjula as Tara
  • Felina as Felina
  • Loknath as Shivaraj
  • Thoogudeepa Srinivas as Junie
  • Shakti Prasad as Gopinath Rao, Tara's father
  • Bhadrachalam
  • Ananda Mohan
  • Uma Shivakumar as Shivaraj's wife
  • Peter Jones
  • Peter Pong
  • Jimmy
  • Vijay
  • Sahul
  • Manmatha Rao
  • Thipatur Siddaramaiah
  • Kannada Raju
  • M. Shivaji Rao
  • Police Mahadev

Soundtrack

Singaporenalli Raja Kulla
Soundtrack album by
Released1978
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length22:05
LabelSaregama

The duo of Rajan-Nagendra composed the film's background score and music for the soundtracks, with lyrics written by Chi. Udaya Shankar. The album consists of four soundtracks. An extended part of the song "Prema Preethi Nannusiru", shot and picturised in a Singapore hotel where Raja (Vishnuvardhan) confronts Kulla (Dwarakish) in a song, is not available in the audio label. Else it would be five tracks in all.[1]

All the songs were recorded at the England Recording Studio with 2 track stereo split recording. Audio Copyrights given to Coloumbia Records for Gramophone records, and HMV Calcutta for audio cassettes. In the track "Prema Preeti Nannusiru", it could be noticed that "Prema" is heard from in left channel and "Preethi" from the right, giving it a stereophonic effect.

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ninne Ninnege"Chi. Udaya ShankarS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki5:58
2."Prema Preeti Nannusiru"Chi. Udaya ShankarS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. J. Yesudas5:51
3."Nannantha Gandilla"Chi. Udaya ShankarS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki, P. Susheela5:41
4."Belliya Raja Baaro"Chi. Udaya ShankarS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki4:35
Total length:22:05
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References

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