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►Telugu
TheatreThe film dhalapathi was a telugu film released in 1991.
A young Kalyani gives birth alone to a boy on the Bhogi celebrations. Fearing shame and unable to cope, she abandons her newborn son on a moving train. Discovered by a kind slum dweller, the boy, named Surya, grows up with an unwavering sense of justice. Haunted by abandonment and his mother’s yellow shawl, he yearns for answers. Devaraj, a powerful but benevolent gangster, combats injustice with his own methods.
A clash ensues when Surya kills Ramana, Devaraj’s associate, in a fight against Ramana’s cruelty. Recognizing the truth and Surya’s righteousness, Devaraj liberates him. Sharing a common belief in justice, Surya and Devaraj forge a deep bond. Devaraj proclaims Surya his Thalapathi a trusted commander and dearest friend.
New collector Arjun, seeking to end violence legally, is the son of Dr. Kalyani, who abandoned her firstborn, Surya. Though remarried, Kalyani is haunted by her past. Surya, admired for his honesty, falls for Subbalaxmi. Their bond thrives, but Subbalaxmi abhors his violence. Devaraj attempts to unite them, but the Subbalaxmi father opposed to Surya’s background, arranges her marriage to Arjun, creating a tangled web.
Arjun’s fight against Devaraj and Surya falters. Surya’s guilt over Ramana grows as his widow, Padma, seeks solace in Devaraj’s protection. Moved by Padma’s struggles, Devaraj proposes marriage, hoping to offer her and her child security. Surya, consumed by guilt, agrees. At a medical camp, Kalyani sees Padma’s shawl, triggering a memory. She and Krishna moorthy learn the shocking truth Surya is her long-lost son.
Krishnamoorthy secretly reveals this to Surya, who pleads for his mother’s protection, fearing it would break her heart to know her son has become a vigilante.Kalyani eventually finds Surya and meets him. Surya vows not to harm Arjun for her sake.
The long-standing feud between Devaraj and his main rival Kalivardhan makes Surya tell Devaraj, who learns of his meeting with his stepfather and mother the truth about his family. Devaraj is pleased to know that, despite Arjun being Surya’s half-brother, Surya still sides with him, thus valuing their friendship over family. Because of this, Devaraj decides to surrender.
Devaraj and Surya meet Arjun, who now knows Surya is his own half-brother. Suddenly, Kalivardhan’s henchmen open fire and Devaraj is killed. Enraged, Surya storms into Kalivardhan’s house, murders Kalivardhan and all of his henchmen, and surrenders to the police, but is exonerated due to lack of evidence. Arjun is later transferred to another state with Subbulaxmi while Kalyani stays with Surya.
Director | Mani Ratnam |
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Story | Mani Ratnam |
Screenplay | |
Dialogues | |
Cinematography | Santosh Sivan |
Editor | Gautham Raju , Suresh Urs |
Music | Ilaiyaraaja |
Producer | G. Venkateswaran |
Cast | Rajinikanth Bhanupriya Geetha NirmalammaBhanupriya , Shobana , Tarun Kumar |
Release Type | Theatre |
Language | Telugu |
Production | GV Films |
Budget | 3Cr |
OTT Platform | Prime Video |