Taj Mahal (2010 film)

Taj Mahal  is a 2010 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Arun Singaraju, starring Sivaji and Nushrratt Bharuccha. The film received mixed to positive reviews and the film's soundtrack was praised. It is a remake of the Kannada film of the same name.

Cast

 * Sivaji as Ajay Kumar
 * Nushrratt Bharuccha as Shruti
 * Kota Srinivasa Rao as Venkateswarlu, Ajay's father
 * L. B. Sriram as Villager
 * Nassar as Sruthi's father
 * Vijay Sai as Swami, Ajay's roommate
 * Brahmanandam
 * Pragathi as Sruthi's mother
 * M. S. Narayana as Hostel Warden
 * Venu Madhav as Ajay's college mate
 * Chitram Seenu as Ajay's college friend
 * Raghu Babu as Shankar Anna
 * Jeeva as Kittayya
 * Sangeeta as Ajay's mother
 * Aarthi Agarwal as Lecturer Maisamma (special appearance)
 * D. Ramanaidu as himself (in a cameo appearance)
 * Kadambari Kiran as Narayana, money lender

Production
Hindi actress Nushrratt Bharuccha made her Telugu debut with this film under the stage name of Shruti. USA-trained Arun Singaraju was to direct a Hyderabad Blues-esque film but changed his mind after meeting Sivaji on the sets of Indumathi (2009). Sivaji debuted as a producer with this film and he bought the remake rights after the success of the Kannada original. Aarthi Agarwal, whose career hit a low point, did an item number in the film.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by Abhiman, who reused the songs from the original film.

Reception
Jeevi of Idlebrain.com opined that Sivaji gave "his career’s finest performance" and wrote that "On a whole, Taj Mahal is a decent movie with a message supporting parents". A critic from 123telugu wrote that "Contrary to what ‘Tajmahal’ stands for, the film drives home the point that love should take a backseat, when you have to choose between love and parents". Prakash Upadhya of Filmibeat said that "On the whole we should appreciate the efforts of the director for experimenting a message oriented movie". A critic from Indiaglitz said that "Taj Mahal is entertaining as well as dark. Its subject matter doesn't promise too much of heart-wrenching moments, but it sure lives up to its own test and our ordinary expectations".