Raja Nanna Raja

Raja Nanna Raja is a 1976 Kannada-language romantic thriller film, written by Salim–Javed, and the screenplay was created by Chi. Udaya Shankar. The film was directed by A. V. Sheshagiri Rao, and produced by A. L. Abbaiah Naidu. The film starred Rajkumar, Aarathi and Chandrashekhar. The songs composed by G. K. Venkatesh were received extremely well and considered as evergreen hits.

The film deals with the theme of reincarnation and the lead actors romance in two getups - one in the modern day and another 200 years ago. The film ws a huge success at the box-office. In an episode in Weekend with Ramesh, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam revealed that Ilaiyaraaja had worked under G. K. Venkatesh as a guitar player. This movie popularized the role of the suave antihero in Kannada films.

The film was released on 27 May 1976. It had a theatrical run of 25 weeks. Similarities have been noticed in the core plot elements of this movie and Magadheera.

Cast

 * Rajkumar as Raja
 * Aarathi as Ganga / Geetha
 * K. S. Ashwath
 * Chandrashekar
 * Balakrishna
 * Sampath
 * Thoogudeepa Srinivas
 * M. P. Shankar

Soundtrack
G. K. Venkatesh composed the soundtrack and the lyrics were written by Chi. Udaya Shankar. The album consists of five soundtracks. The song Thanuvu Manavu had another video version which was not used in the movie but that version went on to be used in Kashinath's 1989 movie Preyasi Preethisu. The initial lyrics of the song Nooru Kannu Saaladu was Baare Nanna Mohini. G.K.Venkatesh re-used the tune of Nooru Kannu Saaladu as Maaghamasa Velalo for the 1980 Telugu movie Jathara.