Alli Arjuna

Charan has done it. Three hits in a row. Kadal Mannan, Amarkalam and Paarthen Rasithen. He is now busy with Alli Arjuna, produced by Bharati Raja. Normally Bharati Raja directs all his movies. The fact that Charan is directing Alli Arjuna, produced by Bharati Raja is a distinction by itself. A. R. Rehman scores the music. Another thing to be proud of. 

Manoj is the hero and Richa who makes her debut with this film is the heroine. Karan, Preetha Vijayakumar, Fathima Babu, Ambika, Jeyaganesh are in the cast.

We met the team while a sequence was being shot in an old building close to Hotel President, Chennai. Karan appears on the scene with a water sachet in hand and instructs for preparation of meals for a hundred. He opens the water sachet. Richa stops him. The scene ends with a sentimental touch.

Charan okayed the shot. We moved towards him. 'Nothing about the scene or the story boss!' he welcomed us, wielding the shield. Well, Karan is Richa's elder brother. Nizalgal Ravi and Ambika are their parents. Jeyaganesh and Fathima Babu play the parents of Manoj. Preetha Vijayakumar is cast as Richa's friend. Jothi acts her mother. Nothing more to add. Charan gave out the much-guarded secret!

Why did you choose this title? Alli Arjuna is the name of a very old movie… we tossed the next question in the hope of getting more. 'I know' said Charan. 'In those days, they used reflectors and they had to re-shoot many sequences since almost all the actors had performed with closed eyes, because of excessive light.' He gave us an extra information about the old movie.

'Alli represents an audacious woman. That Arjunan tamed her is the story of the yore' Charan continued. 'Richa is cast in such a role and Manoj tames the shrew'. He stopped abruptly and moved on for the next sequence. May be he thought that he had given out too much!

Our wishes are with Manoj. Let this movie give the much-needed break to Manoj, which even Taj Mahal didn't give him.