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| writer =
| writer =
| screenplay = [[Panchu Arunachalam]]
| screenplay = [[Panchu Arunachalam]]
| story = M. D. Sundar
| based_on = ''[[Insaf Ki Pukar]]''
| starring = [[Rajinikanth]]<br />[[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]]<br />[[Seetha (actress)|Seetha]]<br />[[Gautami]]
| starring = [[Rajinikanth]]<br />[[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]]<br />[[Seetha (actress)|Seetha]]<br />[[Gautami]]
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
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| studio = P. A. Art Productions
| studio = P. A. Art Productions
| distributor = Mangaadu Amman Films
| distributor = Mangaadu Amman Films
| released = 13 April 1988
| released = {{film date|1988|4|13|df=y}}
| runtime =
| runtime =
| country = India
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
}}


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=== Development ===
=== Development ===
Once the producer and writer [[Panchu Arunachalam]] was in financial crisis; director [[S. P. Muthuraman]] told actor [[Rajinikanth]] this crisis could be solved if Arunachalam made a film starring him. Rajinikanth, despite the lack of dates, agreed to do a film for the sake of Arunachalam, and offered to give a [[Daily call sheet|call sheet]] of 10 days, then told Muthuraman to get a fitting story ready. Muthuraman objected, saying that if Rajinikanth did a "guest role", audiences would not accept it and distributors would not buy the film, therefore meaning low chances of profit. Muthuraman asked Rajinikanth to give 25 call sheet days, and said he would finish the entire film within that time.<ref name="சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 81" />
Once the producer and writer [[Panchu Arunachalam]] was in financial crisis; director [[S. P. Muthuraman]] told actor [[Rajinikanth]] this crisis could be solved if Arunachalam made a film starring him. Rajinikanth, despite the lack of dates, agreed to do a film for the sake of Arunachalam, and offered to give a [[Daily call sheet|call sheet]] of 10 days, then told Muthuraman to get an appropriate story ready. Muthuraman objected, saying that if Rajinikanth did a "guest role", audiences would not accept it and distributors would not buy the film, therefore meaning low chances of profit. Muthuraman asked Rajinikanth to give 25 call sheet days, and said he would finish the entire film within that time.<ref name="சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 81" />


Rajinikanth wondered how Muthuraman would finish an entire film within 25 days, and Muthuraman saw a [[Hindi]] film (1987's ''[[Insaf Ki Pukar]]''){{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=113}} which had two heroes. He decided to remake this film in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and told Rajinikanth that 25 days was enough. Rajinikanth signed on the film, but asserted that he would not act higher than the given dates. The film was titled ''Guru Sishyan''.<ref name="சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 81" /> It was produced by Arunachalam's wife Meena under their own company P. A. Art Productions, while Arunachalam himself wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by T. S. Vinayagam, editing by R. Vittal and C. Lancy, and art direction by B. Chalam.<ref name="movie" /> [[Subbu Panchu]] worked as an assistant production manager for the film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/My-First-Break-Subbu/article15411774.ece |title=My First Break: Subbu |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=12 February 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518190115/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/My-First-Break-Subbu/article15411774.ece |archive-date=18 May 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref>
Rajinikanth wondered how Muthuraman would finish an entire film within 25 days, and Muthuraman saw a [[Hindi]] film (1987's ''[[Insaf Ki Pukar]]''){{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=113}} which had two heroes. He decided to remake this film in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and told Rajinikanth that 25 days was enough. Rajinikanth signed on the film, but asserted that he would not act higher than the given dates. The film was titled ''Guru Sishyan''.<ref name="சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 81" /> It was produced by Arunachalam's wife Meena under their own company P. A. Art Productions, while Arunachalam himself wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by T. S. Vinayagam, editing by R. Vittal and C. Lancy, and art direction by B. Chalam.<ref name="movie" /> [[Subbu Panchu]] worked as an assistant production manager for the film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/My-First-Break-Subbu/article15411774.ece |title=My First Break: Subbu |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=12 February 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518190115/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/My-First-Break-Subbu/article15411774.ece |archive-date=18 May 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref>
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== Themes ==
== Themes ==
⚫
Film critic [[Naman Ramachandran]] considered the film to have an "overt political message".{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=112}} He interpreted the scene where many inmates fight for the chief's chair and Guru (Rajinikanth) sings that people fighting for a chair are insane, as a reference to infighting which occurred within the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) following the death of chief minister [[M. G. Ramachandran]] on 24 December 1987.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|pp=112–113}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-search-of-an-ideology/story-VySf2dsFMU8Wivqw4zkBmN.html |title=Rajinikanth and realpolitik: In search of the Superstar’s political script |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=27 January 2018 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181219050124/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-search-of-an-ideology/story-VySf2dsFMU8Wivqw4zkBmN.html |archive-date=19 December 2018 |dead-url=no |author-link=Naman Ramachandran}}</ref> This view was shared by Jeeva Sahapthan of ''Patrikai'', who noted that the film criticised contemporaneous politics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patrikai.com/rajinikanth-may-likely-to-be-chief-minister-special-article-by-jeeva-sahapthan/|title=ரஜினிகாந்த் முதலமைச்சராக வாய்ப்பிருக்கிறது: ஜீவசகாப்தன்|last=|first=|date=2018-01-22|website=Patrikai|language=ta|trans-title=Rajinikanth may likely become chief minister: Jeeva Sahapthan|archive-url=http://archive.fo/mrNp4|archive-date=28 January 2019|dead-url=no|access-date=2019-06-27}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Firstpost]]'', Apoorva Sripathi noted that the various hand gestures Cho's character makes in one scene where he deliberates over his friend's predicament on why their friend Nallasivam lied to them about a crook, were actually symbols of the AIADMK, [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] and the [[Indian National Congress]]. She called this an example of Cho making references to politics in his films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/remembering-cho-ramaswamy-from-theatre-to-films-a-lodestar-of-lampoon-3144504.html |title=Remembering Cho Ramaswamy: From theatre to films, a lodestar of lampoon |last=Sripathi |first=Apoorva |date=7 December 2016 |website=[[Firstpost]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190128170456/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/remembering-cho-ramaswamy-from-theatre-to-films-a-lodestar-of-lampoon-3144504.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref>
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⚫
Film critic [[Naman Ramachandran]] considered the film to have an "overt political message".{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=112}} He interpreted the scene where many inmates fight for the chief's chair and Guru (Rajinikanth) sings that people fighting for a chair are insane, as a reference to infighting which occurred within the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK) following the death of chief minister [[M. G. Ramachandran]] on 24 December 1987.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|pp=112–113}}<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-search-of-an-ideology/story-VySf2dsFMU8Wivqw4zkBmN.html |title=Rajinikanth and realpolitik: In search of the Superstar’s political script |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=27 January 2018 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181219050124/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-search-of-an-ideology/story-VySf2dsFMU8Wivqw4zkBmN.html |archive-date=19 December 2018 |dead-url=no |author-link=Naman Ramachandran}}</ref> Writing for ''[[Firstpost]]'', Apoorva Sripathi noted that the various hand gestures Cho's character makes in one scene where he deliberates over his friend's predicament on why their friend Nallasivam lied to them about a crook, were actually symbols of the AIADMK, [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] and the [[Indian National Congress]]. She called this an example of Cho making references to politics in his films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/remembering-cho-ramaswamy-from-theatre-to-films-a-lodestar-of-lampoon-3144504.html |title=Remembering Cho Ramaswamy: From theatre to films, a lodestar of lampoon |last=Sripathi |first=Apoorva |date=7 December 2016 |website=[[Firstpost]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190128170456/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/remembering-cho-ramaswamy-from-theatre-to-films-a-lodestar-of-lampoon-3144504.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref>


== Soundtrack ==
== Soundtrack ==
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== Release and reception ==
== Release and reception ==
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''Guru Sishyan'' was released on 13 April 1988, during [[Puthandu]] (Tamil New Year) and was distributed by Mangaadu Amman Films.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19880413&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Guru Sishyan |date=13 April 1988 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=4}}</ref> The overseas rights of the film were sold for {{INRConvert|1|l|year=1988}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tamil-film-business-in-overseas-market/article8483410.ece |title=A gold mine around the globe |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=16 April 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607053427/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tamil-film-business-in-overseas-market/article8483410.ece |archive-date=7 June 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref> On 29 April 1988, N. Krishnaswamy of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "Rajinikanth and Prabhu enjoy to the hilt playing their light-hearted roles, lissom newface Gautami and short and square Sita prance around with abandon. Ilayaraja's numbers are pleasant and add sparkle to the song-and-dance sequences."<ref name="IE review">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19880429&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Guru Sishyan |last=Krishnaswamy |first=N. |date=29 April 1988 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5}}</ref> Despite being released at a time when political turmoil was happening in Tamil Nadu after M. G. Ramachandran's death,{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=113}} the film became a commercial success, running for over 125 days in theatres.<ref name="canadauthayan">{{Cite news |url=http://canadauthayan.ca/oldsite/epaper/June26_2015/files/assets/downloads/page0033.pdf |title=சூப்பர்ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த் வழக்கை வரலாறு 48 |date=26 June 2015 |work=Uthayan |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129052456/http://canadauthayan.ca/oldsite/epaper/June26_2015/files/assets/downloads/page0033.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2019 |dead-url=no |location=Canada |page=33 |language=ta |trans-title=Superstar Rajinikanth's life history 48}}</ref>
''Guru Sishyan'' was released on 13 April 1988, during [[Puthandu]] (Tamil New Year) and was distributed by Mangaadu Amman Films.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19880413&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Guru Sishyan |date=13 April 1988 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=4}}</ref> The overseas rights of the film were sold for {{INRConvert|1|l|year=1988}}.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tamil-film-business-in-overseas-market/article8483410.ece |title=A gold mine around the globe |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=16 April 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607053427/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/tamil-film-business-in-overseas-market/article8483410.ece |archive-date=7 June 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref> On 29 April 1988, N. Krishnaswamy of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "Rajinikanth and Prabhu enjoy to the hilt playing their light-hearted roles, lissom newface Gautami and short and square [Seetha] prance around with abandon. [Ilaiyaraaja's] numbers are pleasant and add sparkle to the song-and-dance sequences."<ref name="IE review">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19880429&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Guru Sishyan |last=Krishnaswamy |first=N. |date=29 April 1988 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5}}</ref> Despite being released at a time when political turmoil was happening in Tamil Nadu after M. G. Ramachandran's death,{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=113}} the film became a commercial success, running for over 125 days in theatres.<ref name="canadauthayan">{{Cite news |url=http://canadauthayan.ca/oldsite/epaper/June26_2015/files/assets/downloads/page0033.pdf |title=சூப்பர்ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த் வழக்கை வரலாறு 48 |date=26 June 2015 |work=Uthayan |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129052456/http://canadauthayan.ca/oldsite/epaper/June26_2015/files/assets/downloads/page0033.pdf |archive-date=29 January 2019 |dead-url=no |location=Canada |page=33 |language=ta |trans-title=Superstar Rajinikanth's life history 48}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
''Guru Sishyan'' made Gautami one of the most sought after actresses in Tamil cinema.<ref name="Gauthami" /> Rajinikanth's [[broken English]] dialogues attained popularity such as "Excuse me" (pronounced "Es-kiss me" or "Yes kiss me"),<ref name="behindwoods">{{Cite web |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebs-column/like-ah-no-like-ah.html |title=Like ah, No like ah? |last=Iyer |first=Anuja |authorlink=Anuja Iyer |website=Behindwoods |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190128055747/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebs-column/like-ah-no-like-ah.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rajini-punch-lines-imagegallery-14-movies-jdwmUcjfbdhsi.html |title=Rajini punch lines |website=[[Sify]] |at=slide 15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190128172107/http://www.sify.com/movies/rajini-punch-lines-imagegallery-14-movies-jdwmUcjfbdhsi.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> him saying "underwear" instead of "understand",<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/thalaiva-versus-thala/article26011538.ece |title=Thalaiva versus thala: 'Petta' vs 'Viswasam' |last=Kumar |first=S. Shiva |date=17 January 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128164312/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/thalaiva-versus-thala/article26011538.ece |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no}}</ref> "jaundice" instead of "justice",<ref name="IE review" /> and the scene where Guru and Babu perform a mock income tax raid, with Guru mistakenly saying "ABC" instead of "[[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]".<ref name="flitting">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/flitting-into-flashbacks/article7846091.ece |title=Flitting into flashbacks |last=Shrikumar |first=A. |date=5 November 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224071227/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/flitting-into-flashbacks/article7846091.ece |archive-date=24 February 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="behindwoods" /> A film of the [[Guru Sishyan (2010 film)|same name]] was directed by [[Sakthi Chidambaram]] and starred [[Sundar C.]] and [[Sathyaraj]]. The film, which was released in 2010, has a different story line from its yesteryear namesake. Sakthi Chidambaram said, "the story demanded such a title, we short-listed 50 titles, finally decided we could use the old one".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Old-titles-retain-charm/article16557698.ece |title=Old titles retain charm |last=Aishwarya |first=S. |date=18 July 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 October 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190129051439/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Old-titles-retain-charm/article16557698.ece |archive-date=29 January 2019 |dead-url=no}}</ref>
''Guru Sishyan'' made Gautami one of the most sought after actresses in Tamil cinema.<ref name="Gauthami" /> Rajinikanth's [[broken English]] dialogues attained popularity such as "Excuse me" (pronounced "Es-kiss me" or "Yes kiss me"),<ref name="behindwoods">{{Cite web |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebs-column/like-ah-no-like-ah.html |title=Like ah, No like ah? |last=Iyer |first=Anuja |authorlink=Anuja Iyer |website=Behindwoods |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190128055747/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebs-column/like-ah-no-like-ah.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rajini-punch-lines-imagegallery-14-movies-jdwmUcjfbdhsi.html |title=Rajini punch lines |website=[[Sify]] |at=slide 15 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190128172107/http://www.sify.com/movies/rajini-punch-lines-imagegallery-14-movies-jdwmUcjfbdhsi.html |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref> him saying "underwear" instead of "understand",<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/thalaiva-versus-thala/article26011538.ece |title=Thalaiva versus thala: 'Petta' vs 'Viswasam' |last=Kumar |first=S. Shiva |date=17 January 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128164312/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/thalaiva-versus-thala/article26011538.ece |archive-date=28 January 2019 |dead-url=no}}</ref> "jaundice" instead of "justice",<ref name="IE review" /> and the scene where Guru and Babu perform a mock income tax raid, with Guru mistakenly saying "ABC" instead of "[[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]]".<ref name="flitting">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/flitting-into-flashbacks/article7846091.ece |title=Flitting into flashbacks |last=Shrikumar |first=A. |date=5 November 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224071227/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/flitting-into-flashbacks/article7846091.ece |archive-date=24 February 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref><ref name="behindwoods" /> A film of the [[Guru Sishyan (2010 film)|same name]] was directed by [[Sakthi Chidambaram]] and released in 2010, but has a different story line from its 1988 namesake. Sakthi Chidambaram said, "the story demanded such a title, we short-listed 50 titles, finally decided we could use the old one".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Old-titles-retain-charm/article16557698.ece |title=Old titles retain charm |last=Aishwarya |first=S. |date=18 July 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 October 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190129051439/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Old-titles-retain-charm/article16557698.ece |archive-date=29 January 2019 |dead-url=no}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 06:02, 27 June 2019

Guru Sishyan
File:Guru Sishyan.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byS. P. Muthuraman
Screenplay byPanchu Arunachalam
Based onInsaf Ki Pukar
Produced byMeena Panju Arunachalam
StarringRajinikanth
Prabhu
Seetha
Gautami
CinematographyT. S. Vinayagam
Edited byR. Vittal
C. Lancy
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
P. A. Art Productions
Distributed byMangaadu Amman Films
Release date
  • 13 April 1988 (1988-04-13)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Guru Sishyan (lit. 'Teacher, Student') is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film, directed by S. P. Muthuraman. It is a remake of the Hindi film Insaf Ki Pukar (1987). The film stars Rajinikanth, Prabhu, Seetha and Gautami in the lead roles with Pandiyan, Cho Ramaswamy, Ravichandran, Radha Ravi, Senthamarai, Vinu Chakravarthy, Manorama, LIC Narasimhan and Sudha in supporting roles. In Guru Sishyan, two crooks released from prison decide to find out the truth behind the murder that their fellow convict was framed for committing. In the process, they discover secrets about their childhood.

The film was produced by Meena Panchu Arunachalam under the production company P. A. Art Productions. The screenplay was written by her husband Panchu Arunachalam. Cinematography was handled by T. S. Vinayagam and the editing by R. Vittal and C. Lancy. This was Gautami's debut in Tamil cinema, and the first film where stars Rajinikanth and Prabhu acted together. Shooting took place primarily in Mysore and Chennai, and was completed in 25 days.

Guru Sishyan was released on 13 April 1988, during Puthandu (Tamil New Year). Despite being released at a time when political turmoil was happening in Tamil Nadu after chief minister M. G. Ramachandran's death, the film became a commercial success, running for over 125 days in theatres.

Plot

Raja alias Guru and Babu alias Sishya are two friends and petty criminals. They end up in jail and meet Manohar, a convict who tells them that his sister was raped by the criminal Muthuraaj, who had killed a taxi driver (witness) with the help of a corrupt police officer Nallasivam, then pinned the murder on Manohar, who is sentenced to death. Guru and Sishya believe in Manohar's story and decide to find the truth and prove his innocence once they get out of jail. Guru fractures Manohar's arm so that his death sentence would be delayed, until he is healed, under law. Guru and Sishya get released from prison and set in motion an elaborate plan to find out the real killers. Along the way, Guru, who believed that his parents were murdered, finds out that they are in fact being held captive by Muthuraaj's brother Rajamanickam, who is trying to find the map to a treasure.

The location of the map is known only to Guru's father, who is suffering from memory loss and is tortured to make him remember it. Babu finds out that his parents were murdered by Rajamanickam. Guru and Sishya help them find the treasure to free Guru's parents and Guru finds out that Manohar is his own brother. The ensuing fight at the treasure location ends up with Muthuraaj and his brother arrested by the police after Guru and Babu beat them up and the treasure cave collapses after Guru, his family, and Sishya escape from it. Sishya marries Muthuraaj's niece Chitra, while Guru marries Nallasivam's daughter Geetha and they live happily ever after.

Cast

Production

Development

Once the producer and writer Panchu Arunachalam was in financial crisis; director S. P. Muthuraman told actor Rajinikanth this crisis could be solved if Arunachalam made a film starring him. Rajinikanth, despite the lack of dates, agreed to do a film for the sake of Arunachalam, and offered to give a call sheet of 10 days, then told Muthuraman to get an appropriate story ready. Muthuraman objected, saying that if Rajinikanth did a "guest role", audiences would not accept it and distributors would not buy the film, therefore meaning low chances of profit. Muthuraman asked Rajinikanth to give 25 call sheet days, and said he would finish the entire film within that time.[9]

Rajinikanth wondered how Muthuraman would finish an entire film within 25 days, and Muthuraman saw a Hindi film (1987's Insaf Ki Pukar)[10] which had two heroes. He decided to remake this film in Tamil, and told Rajinikanth that 25 days was enough. Rajinikanth signed on the film, but asserted that he would not act higher than the given dates. The film was titled Guru Sishyan.[9] It was produced by Arunachalam's wife Meena under their own company P. A. Art Productions, while Arunachalam himself wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by T. S. Vinayagam, editing by R. Vittal and C. Lancy, and art direction by B. Chalam.[8] Subbu Panchu worked as an assistant production manager for the film.[11]

Casting

Muthuraman said he did Guru Sishyan to exploit Rajinikanth's flair for comedy.[12] Prabhu was cast as the second hero. This was the first film where he and Rajinikanth, two stars of Tamil cinema, were seen together onscreen; they actually first acted together in Dharmathin Thalaivan, which released later in 1988.[13] The film marked the debut of Gautami in Tamil films. She revealed that she "felt very nervous as I had to act with stars such as Rajinikanth, Prabhu, Manorama, Vinu Chakravarthi, Cho and others. But the film did very well and boosted my confidence. It was a good break".[14][15] While Gautami played the female lead paired opposite Rajinikanth, Seetha played the female lead paired opposite Prabhu.[16]

Filming

Principal photography began with the filming of the song "Jingidi Jingidi" at VGP Universal Kingdom.[9] The film was also shot at Mysore.[17] The song "Vaa Vaa Vanji", picturised on Prabhu and Seetha, was filmed at Brindavan Gardens.[16] Initially, the script did not have a fight scene for Prabhu's character. At Rajinikanth's insistence, the fight scene intended for him was later given to Prabhu while Rajinikanth would appear onscreen to finish the fight.[1][16] The climax fight sequence was planned to be filmed in the Borra Caves at Araku Valley, but since Rajinikanth's call sheet dates were nearing the end and going to Araku Valley and returning would take longer, Chalam designed an identical cave set in Chennai, and the sequence was shot there successfully. While Rajinikanth had given a call sheet of 25 days, all his scenes were shot in 23 days;[16] he stayed for the remaining two days, during which he moved the trolley for a song picturised on Prabhu and Seetha as he was otherwise jobless.[1][18]

Themes

Film critic Naman Ramachandran considered the film to have an "overt political message".[19] He interpreted the scene where many inmates fight for the chief's chair and Guru (Rajinikanth) sings that people fighting for a chair are insane, as a reference to infighting which occurred within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) following the death of chief minister M. G. Ramachandran on 24 December 1987.[20][21] This view was shared by Jeeva Sahapthan of Patrikai, who noted that the film criticised contemporaneous politics.[22] Writing for Firstpost, Apoorva Sripathi noted that the various hand gestures Cho's character makes in one scene where he deliberates over his friend's predicament on why their friend Nallasivam lied to them about a crook, were actually symbols of the AIADMK, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Indian National Congress. She called this an example of Cho making references to politics in his films.[23]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[24] Vaali wrote all the lyrics except those of "Jingidi Jingidi", which Ilaiyaraaja himself wrote.[8] The song "Kandu Pudichen" is set in the carnatic raga known as Shubhapantuvarali,[25] and attained popularity.[26] Although songs set in Shubhapantuvarali are composed with melancholic overtones, "Kandu Pudichen" was made to be "playful" and "fun".[25][27]

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kandu Pudichen"VaaliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam04:34
2."Vaa Vaa Vanji"VaaliS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra04:28
3."Naatkaalikku Sandai"VaaliMalaysia Vasudevan, Mano04:30
4."Jingidi Jingidi"IlaiyaraajaMano, K. S. Chithra04:27
5."Uthama Puthiri Naanu"VaaliSwarnalatha04:13

Release and reception

Guru Sishyan was released on 13 April 1988, during Puthandu (Tamil New Year) and was distributed by Mangaadu Amman Films.[28] The overseas rights of the film were sold for ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹11 lakh or US$14,000 in 2023).[29] On 29 April 1988, N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express wrote, "Rajinikanth and Prabhu enjoy to the hilt playing their light-hearted roles, lissom newface Gautami and short and square [Seetha] prance around with abandon. [Ilaiyaraaja's] numbers are pleasant and add sparkle to the song-and-dance sequences."[30] Despite being released at a time when political turmoil was happening in Tamil Nadu after M. G. Ramachandran's death,[10] the film became a commercial success, running for over 125 days in theatres.[18]

Legacy

Guru Sishyan made Gautami one of the most sought after actresses in Tamil cinema.[15] Rajinikanth's broken English dialogues attained popularity such as "Excuse me" (pronounced "Es-kiss me" or "Yes kiss me"),[31][32] him saying "underwear" instead of "understand",[33] "jaundice" instead of "justice",[30] and the scene where Guru and Babu perform a mock income tax raid, with Guru mistakenly saying "ABC" instead of "CBI".[34][31] A film of the same name was directed by Sakthi Chidambaram and released in 2010, but has a different story line from its 1988 namesake. Sakthi Chidambaram said, "the story demanded such a title, we short-listed 50 titles, finally decided we could use the old one".[35]

References

  1. ^ a b c "பிளாஷ்பேக்: பிரபு பாடல் காட்சிக்கு டிராலி தள்ளிய ரஜினி" [Flashback: Rajini moved the trolly for a song picturised on Prabhu]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ ""மந்திரியின் லஞ்சம் கட்சிக்கு நிதி!" – சோவின் அரசியல் பகடிகள்". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 8 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Kesavan, N. (14 April 2016). "Villains with heroic pasts". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (5 March 2007). "I want to be remembered as a caring person". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Senthamarai | Filmography". Moviefone. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "The man who found Silk Smitha: Vinu Chakravarthy reminded us of the classicism in cinema". The News Minute. 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Venugopalam, S. V. (12 October 2015). "ஆச்சி எனும் அரசி!". The Hindu Tamil. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b c d Guru Sishyan (motion picture) (in Tamil). P. A. Art Productions. 1988. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 2:14.
  9. ^ a b c Muthuraman, S. P. (26 October 2016). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 81: கண் தானத்தை ஊக்குவித்த ரஜினி!". The Hindu Tamil. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ a b Ramachandran 2014, p. 113.
  11. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (12 February 2011). "My First Break: Subbu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Muthuraman, S. P. (22 December 1999). "Rajini acts in front of the camera, never behind it". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ The Hindu 2012, p. 36.
  14. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (20 July 2007). "Determined to make a mark, again". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b Nadar, A Ganesh (12 June 1999). "'Sex should be displayed naturally'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ a b c d Muthuraman, S. P. (2 November 2016). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 82: பிரபுவுக்கு விட்டுக்கொடுத்த ரஜினி!". The Hindu Tamil. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Dhananjayan, G. (11 February 2017). "Excellence in execution is the key to success". DT Next. Archived from the original on 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "சூப்பர்ஸ்டார் ரஜினிகாந்த் வழக்கை வரலாறு 48" [Superstar Rajinikanth's life history 48] (PDF). Uthayan (in Tamil). Canada. 26 June 2015. p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 112.
  20. ^ Ramachandran 2014, pp. 112–113.
  21. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (27 January 2018). "Rajinikanth and realpolitik: In search of the Superstar's political script". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "ரஜினிகாந்த் முதலமைச்சராக வாய்ப்பிருக்கிறது: ஜீவசகாப்தன்" [Rajinikanth may likely become chief minister: Jeeva Sahapthan]. Patrikai (in Tamil). 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Sripathi, Apoorva (7 December 2016). "Remembering Cho Ramaswamy: From theatre to films, a lodestar of lampoon". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Guru Sishyan (1988)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ a b Mani, Charulatha (24 February 2012). "Sorrowful Subhapantuvarali". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Subhakeerthana, S. (3 December 2018). "The best SP Balasubrahmanyam-Rajinikanth songs". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Pramod Kumar, G. (13 December 2018). "The Saketharaman interview: 'Bhava is very important in music. My ultimate goal is spiritual'". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Guru Sishyan". The Indian Express. 13 April 1988. p. 4.
  29. ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (16 April 2016). "A gold mine around the globe". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ a b Krishnaswamy, N. (29 April 1988). "Guru Sishyan". The Indian Express. p. 5.
  31. ^ a b Iyer, Anuja. "Like ah, No like ah?". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Rajini punch lines". Sify. slide 15. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Kumar, S. Shiva (17 January 2019). "Thalaiva versus thala: 'Petta' vs 'Viswasam'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ Shrikumar, A. (5 November 2015). "Flitting into flashbacks". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ Aishwarya, S. (18 July 2009). "Old titles retain charm". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Bibliography

External links

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