Flight of stairs in Chennai’s Rajji Hall where intense scenes in Tamil cinema revealed

The staircase flight in the Rajji Hall on the property of the Omandurar government witness some of the most prestigious moments of Tamil cinema, which remain unforgettable till date. It is on these stairs that actor Mamuti (cast as Devraj) and Amrishi Puri (Kalivardhan) Mani Ratnam in the presence of Rajinikanth (Surya) in Mani Ratnam shares a subtle exchanges yet. TalapatiAnd even before that, it is on the stairs that the character played by actor Karthik is shot and killed in a wider day in front of the character played by actor Revathi because she waits to come for her wedding, Mani Ratnam’s hit in one of the hits of Ratnam Mauna ragam,

The Rajji Hall, with its grand colonial era architecture, creates a popular shooting location at the center of the city. In many Tamil films, especially, the building, which was constructed in 1802-03 and served as a public hall, associated with the Governor’s residence, which has been a place for scenes associated with places like government offices and court rooms, with its wide staircase, reputed columns and imposed masks.

So far, in another hero-antagonist sequence, actor Vijayakanth and Prakash Raj meet on the stairs in the 1996 film. Alexander, In which the former Bureau of Investigation Bureau has been played in the past.

‘A place like someone else’

There was no place like Rajji Hall in Chennai, director M Nandkumar, who has worked on 38 films, in which P. Consolidated with directors like Vasu. “I liked Rajji Hall for its big working place. The scenes of many films were shot here. For example, Satyaraj-starrer Rickshaw maternal uncleIn which I worked as an assistant director, the scenes were shot there. Some scenes of Walter Wetrivel, Idhu Namma Bhoomi, Sethupathi IPS, And Wymey vallam It was also shot here, “he remembers.

In 2000, a grand song sequence for his film was shot here Kodisavaran (Which is yet to see a dramatic release), is characterized by actor EB Kunjumone and Simran. He said, “We made a set of 40,000 sq ft here. We had 120 dancers and about 1,000 junior artists on a platform. There was a grandeur of such a place,” he said.

Currently, the Public Works Department is in the process of renovation of the hall and is planning to complete the work soon. , Photo Credit: M. Shrinath

In fact, Mr. Nandkumar, who went to work on a Japanese film Nattu Odoru! Ninja densetusuSays that his discovery for the establishment of a palace brought him back to Rajji Hall. He said, “We visited some places including Masuru, but Rajji Hall was the best. A set for a huge palace was created for the film,” he said.

Actor Mohan V, who played a role in the Japanese film. Raman recalled that Rajji Hall lacked proper facilities for the actors. “The caravan was brought inside, and the film crew put a tent for the actors,” he said.

The hall, which remembers the British victory over Tipu Sultan, was built in the style of a Greek temple. It was rebuilt between 1875 and 1895. Currently, the Public Works Department is in the process of renovation of the hall and is planning to complete the work soon.