Roja

Fifteen years after the Mani Ratnam directed Tamil film Roja (The Rose), which is considered to be one of the best films from India’s film industry, hit the cinemas its soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman has been acclaimed as one of Time Magazine’s 10 Best Soundtracks! In 2005 it was on their ‘100 Best Soundtracks’ list. It was a soundtrack which changed the face of Tamil film music at that time.

Rahman also composed the film’s score, which by the way, was his debut film. Rahman journeyed from writing jingles for commercials to becoming renowned as the preeminent composer of today’s Bollywood.

The soundtrack features: “Rukkumani”, “Chinna Chinna Aasai”, “Kaadhal Rojave”, “Pudhu Vellai Mazhai”, “Tamizha Tamizha”. The Hindi version of soundtrack included: “Rukkumani”, “Bharat Humko Jaan Se”, “Dil Hai Chhotaa Sa” and the two spectacular duet ballads “Yeh Haseen Vadiyan” and “Roja Jaaneman”

Rahman’s reaction to the thrilling news about Roja? Commenting on it to IANS,
“You never know what the world has in store for you. Suddenly you find Roja being selected as one of 10 best soundtracks by Time magazine.”

Roja was subsequently dubbed in Hindi, Malayalam, Marathi and Telugu, catapulting Ratnam to national acclaim. It was recently re-released for international audiences with the growing world-wide terrorist attacks.

Amidst this terroristic background, Roja revolves around one man’s love for his country and his wife’s unfailing love for him, as he finds himself kidnapped. Arvind Swamy played Rishi (also Thomas in Sapnay (1997) with Kajol) and Madhoo (Hema Malini’s niece) essayed the role of his wife Roja.

Roja has won many awards since its release in 1992. They include: Silver Lotus Awards for Best Music Director and Best Lyricist and the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration at the National Film Awards for 1993. Ratnam was also nominated for the Golden St. George Award at the Moscow International Film Festival in the same year.