Anji (film)
Encyclopedia
Anji is a 2004
Telugu
film (dubbed in in Tamil as Kolli Malai , Hindi as Diler and in Malayalam as Chekavan) produced by M. S. Arts with Chiranjeevi
in the lead role. It was made over seven years with a budget of 25 crores, which was the most spent on any Telugu language film until then. The film was produced by Shyam Prasad Reddy
. It received a National Film Award for Best Special Effects
.
In 1932, a youngster named Bhatia (Bhupinder Singh
) attempts to get hold of Atmalingam and drink Akasa Ganga but ends up losing his right arm. As time progresses, Bhatia (Tinnu Anand
) is now 99 years old. Bhatia searches for the traces of Aatma Lingam, but in vain. The Akasaganga is slated to flow to earth for Atmalingam in 2004 again. Finally he gets to know about a professor who made a lifetime research on Aatmalingam and Akasaganga who possesses vital information in a red diary. Fearing for his life and this information, the professor sends the diary to his student Swapna (Namrata Shirodkar
) who is in USA so that Bhatia will not be able to get divine powers. After receiving the diary, Swapna, sensing danger to her professor, comes back to India in search of her professor only to find him killed. While escaping from Bhatia, she runs into Anji (Chiranjeevi
). Anji is a good Samaritan in Uravakonda forest area, who serves the most revered Sivanna (Nagendra Babu
)- an ayurvedic specialist while also raising 4 orphans.
Oneday, Anji accidentally stumbles on 'Atmalingam' and gets it into his possession. After coming to know about it, Bhatia and his men are after Anji and Swapna. As the D Day of Akasa Ganga is fast approaching, Sivanna advises Anji that the Atmalingam should be sent back to where it belongs. The rest of the movie shows how Anji returns the Aatma lingam to the temple in Himalayas while also defeating Bhatia.
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
film (dubbed in in Tamil as Kolli Malai , Hindi as Diler and in Malayalam as Chekavan) produced by M. S. Arts with Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
in the lead role. It was made over seven years with a budget of 25 crores, which was the most spent on any Telugu language film until then. The film was produced by Shyam Prasad Reddy
Shyam Prasad Reddy
Mallemala Shyam Prasad Reddy is a film producer in the Telugu film industry. He made his debut film, Talambralu, in 1987. Reddy's father is film writer and film producer M.S. Reddy.- Filmography :* Talambralu * Aahuthi...
. It received a National Film Award for Best Special Effects
National Film Award for Best Special Effects
The National Film Award for Best Special Effects winners:...
.
Plot
The Aatmalingam of the Himalayas possesses enormous divine powers. Once every 72 years, Akasa Ganga from sky flows into the Aatmalingam. Those who drink the holy water of Akasa Ganga become younger for eternity and gain supernatural powers.In 1932, a youngster named Bhatia (Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh may refer to:* Bhupinder Singh , Indian singer and musician popularly known by his first name* Bhupinder Singh of Patiala , Maharaja of Patiala* Bhupinder Singh, Sr. , Indian cricketer...
) attempts to get hold of Atmalingam and drink Akasa Ganga but ends up losing his right arm. As time progresses, Bhatia (Tinnu Anand
Tinnu Anand
Tinnu Anand is an Indian actor and director from Bollywood, who is most known as the director of Amitabh Bachchan's movies including, Kaalia , Shahenshah , Main Azaad Hoon and Major Saab .He is the son of veteran writer Inder Raj Anand and uncle of director Siddharth Anand.Anand recently...
) is now 99 years old. Bhatia searches for the traces of Aatma Lingam, but in vain. The Akasaganga is slated to flow to earth for Atmalingam in 2004 again. Finally he gets to know about a professor who made a lifetime research on Aatmalingam and Akasaganga who possesses vital information in a red diary. Fearing for his life and this information, the professor sends the diary to his student Swapna (Namrata Shirodkar
Namrata Shirodkar
- Early life and family :Born on 22 January 1972 in a moderate Marathi-speaking family, Namrata Shirodkar is an Aquarian. She used to live in Khar, a suburb in Mumbai. Her sister is the actress Shilpa Shirodkar...
) who is in USA so that Bhatia will not be able to get divine powers. After receiving the diary, Swapna, sensing danger to her professor, comes back to India in search of her professor only to find him killed. While escaping from Bhatia, she runs into Anji (Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
). Anji is a good Samaritan in Uravakonda forest area, who serves the most revered Sivanna (Nagendra Babu
Nagendra Babu
Nagendra Babu Konidela is a Telugu film actor and producer. He acts mainly in supporting character roles and villain roles, though he has also played the hero in some films. He recently acted in 143, Anji, Shock , Sri Ramadasu , Chandamama and Orange...
)- an ayurvedic specialist while also raising 4 orphans.
Oneday, Anji accidentally stumbles on 'Atmalingam' and gets it into his possession. After coming to know about it, Bhatia and his men are after Anji and Swapna. As the D Day of Akasa Ganga is fast approaching, Sivanna advises Anji that the Atmalingam should be sent back to where it belongs. The rest of the movie shows how Anji returns the Aatma lingam to the temple in Himalayas while also defeating Bhatia.
Plot similarities
Anji film draws many similarities with the popular hollywood film indiana jones and the last crusade.The part where chiranjeevi crosses obstacles is drawn from aforementioned movie. Atmalingam replaced holy grail from the original.Cast
- ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
as Anji - Namrata ShirodkarNamrata Shirodkar- Early life and family :Born on 22 January 1972 in a moderate Marathi-speaking family, Namrata Shirodkar is an Aquarian. She used to live in Khar, a suburb in Mumbai. Her sister is the actress Shilpa Shirodkar...
as Swapna - Tinnu AnandTinnu AnandTinnu Anand is an Indian actor and director from Bollywood, who is most known as the director of Amitabh Bachchan's movies including, Kaalia , Shahenshah , Main Azaad Hoon and Major Saab .He is the son of veteran writer Inder Raj Anand and uncle of director Siddharth Anand.Anand recently...
as Bhatia - Nagendra BabuNagendra BabuNagendra Babu Konidela is a Telugu film actor and producer. He acts mainly in supporting character roles and villain roles, though he has also played the hero in some films. He recently acted in 143, Anji, Shock , Sri Ramadasu , Chandamama and Orange...
as Sivanna - Bhupinder Singh as Young Bhatia
- M. S. NarayanaM. S. NarayanaM. S. Narayana is a comedian and director in Tollywood, the Telugu film industry, in south India. He has acted in more than 500 films.-Actor:-External links:* at **...
- Saraswatamma
- Akshay Reddy as Master Akshay
- Bharat as Master Bharat
- Vamsi as Master Vamsi
- Meghana Gummi as Baby Meghana
- Keerthana as Baby Keerthana
- Nithya as Baby Nithya
- Ramya Krishna has a special appearance in song "Chikbuk Pori"
- Reema SenReema SenReema Sen is an Indian actress and model.-Early life:Reema Sen was born in Kolkata, into a middle class Kayastha family in 1981. She completed high school from Calcutta, after which her family moved to Mumbai.-Film career:...
has a special appearance in the song "Mirapakaya Bajji"
Production
- Production company: M. A. Arts
- Visual effects: Firefly Creative Studio
- Creatives for visual effects: Bapu
- DVD release: Supreme Audio
Songs
- Chik Book Pori
- Playback singers: KalpanaKalpanaKalpana is a Sanskrit word that means "creativity" and "imagination" in Marathi, Hindi and Nepali. It is also a popular female Hindu name.It may also refer to:* Kalpana , at NASAs Ames Research Center...
, Shankar MahadevanShankar MahadevanShankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:...
, Lyrics: Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry, Cast: ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
, Ramya Krishna
- Gumma Gulabi Komma
- Singers: Karthik RajaKarthik RajaKarthik Raja is a Tamil musician from Chennai, India. He made his debut as music composer in the Tamil film Alexander.-Personal life:Karthik Raja is the eldest son of musician Ilaiyaraaja and Jeeva. His brother Yuvan Shankar Raja and sister Bhavatharini, who are also Kollywood music directors and...
, Shalini Singh, Lyrics: Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry, Cast: ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
- Abbo Nee Amma Goppade
- Singers: S. P. Balasubramaniam, KalpanaKalpanaKalpana is a Sanskrit word that means "creativity" and "imagination" in Marathi, Hindi and Nepali. It is also a popular female Hindu name.It may also refer to:* Kalpana , at NASAs Ames Research Center...
, Lyrics: Bhuvana Chandra, Cast: ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
and Namrata ShirodkarNamrata Shirodkar- Early life and family :Born on 22 January 1972 in a moderate Marathi-speaking family, Namrata Shirodkar is an Aquarian. She used to live in Khar, a suburb in Mumbai. Her sister is the actress Shilpa Shirodkar...
- Mirapakaya Bajji
- Singers: S. P. Balasubramaniam, Radhika, Lyrics: Bhuvana Chandra, Cast: ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
and Reema SenReema SenReema Sen is an Indian actress and model.-Early life:Reema Sen was born in Kolkata, into a middle class Kayastha family in 1981. She completed high school from Calcutta, after which her family moved to Mumbai.-Film career:...
- Manava Manava
- Singers: SaandipSaandipSaandip , ; is a popular Indian singer and actor. He has given playback to Tollywood and Bollywood movies. He has acted in "Premayanamaha" and "Inkosaari"...
, SunitaSunitaSunita was a highly accomplished disciple of the Buddha. He was born in a very poor family who had next to no food and was an outcast whose job was to gather flowers from shrines and throw them away:...
, Lyrics: Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry, Cast: ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
and Rajya Lakshmi
- Om Santhi Om Santhi
- Singers: Ganga Sitharasu, Shankar MahadevanShankar MahadevanShankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:...
, Lyrics: Chandrabose, Cast: ChiranjeeviChiranjeeviChiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
and Namrata ShirodkarNamrata Shirodkar- Early life and family :Born on 22 January 1972 in a moderate Marathi-speaking family, Namrata Shirodkar is an Aquarian. She used to live in Khar, a suburb in Mumbai. Her sister is the actress Shilpa Shirodkar...
Trivia
- The film was an average grosser.
- It took seven years to complete the project.
- Shyam Prasad ReddyShyam Prasad ReddyMallemala Shyam Prasad Reddy is a film producer in the Telugu film industry. He made his debut film, Talambralu, in 1987. Reddy's father is film writer and film producer M.S. Reddy.- Filmography :* Talambralu * Aahuthi...
reshot several scenes multiple times. - Dubbed into Malayalam as Chekavan
- Dubbed into Tamil as Kolimali Singam
- Released in Hindi as Diler
- It received good reviews. Film critic Idlebrain Jeevi gave the film 3/5, appreciating its visual effects.
- Son of noted music director Chakravarthy, Sri, composed the song "Chikbuk Pori", but he is uncredited.