A flight of stairs where intense scenes unfold

The flight of stairs at Rajaji Hall on the Omandurar Government Estate has borne witness to some of the most iconic moments in Tamil cinema, ones that remain unforgettable to date. It is on these stairs that actors Mammootty (cast as Devaraj) and Amrish Puri (Kalivardhan) share a subtle yet intense exchange in the presence of Rajnikanth (Surya) in Mani Ratnam’s Thalapathi, and even prior to that, it is on these stairs that the character played by actor Karthik is shot dead in broad daylight in front of the character played by actor Revathi as she waits for him to arrive for their wedding, in another of Mani Ratnam’s hits Mouna Ragam.

The Rajaji Hall, with its grand colonial-era architecture, makes for a popular shooting locale in the heart of the city. Featured in several Tamil films, the building, which was constructed in 1802-03 and served as a public hall attached to the Governor’s residence with its wide staircase, iconic columns, and imposing facade, has been the go-to place for scenes involving places such as government offices and courtrooms.

In yet another protagonist-antagonist sequence, actors Vijayakanth and Prakash Raj meet on the stairs in the 1996 film Alexander, in which the former plays a Central Bureau of Investigation officer.

‘A location like no other’

There was no place like Rajaji Hall in Chennai, says director A.M. Nandakumar, who has worked on 38 movies, including ones with directors such as P. Vasu. “I liked Rajaji Hall for its large working space. Scenes of several movies were shot here. For instance, the Sathyaraj-starrer Rickshaw Mama, in which I worked as an assistant director, had scenes shot there. Some scenes of Walter Vetrivel, Idhu Namma Bhoomi, Sethupathy IPS, and Vaimeiye Vellum were also shot here,” he recalls.

In 2000, a grand song sequence was shot here for his movie Kodiesvaran (which is yet to see a theatrical release), featuring actors Eby Kunjumon and Simran. “We created a set measuring 40,000 sq.ft here. We had 120 dancers on a stage and nearly 1,000 junior artistes. Such was the grandeur of the place,” he said.

In fact, Mr. Nandakumar, who went on to work on a Japanese film Nattu Odoru! Ninja Densetsu, says that their search for a palace setting brought them back to Rajaji Hall. “We visited some places, including Mysuru, but Rajaji Hall was the best fit. A set for a huge palace was created for the film,” he added.

Actor Mohan V. Raman, who played a role in the Japanese film, recalled that Rajaji Hall had then lacked proper amenities for actors. “Caravans were brought in, and the film crew had put up tents for actors,” he said.

Currently, the Public Works Department is in the process of renovating the hall and plans to complete the work soon.
| Photo Credit:
M. SRINATH

The hall, which commemorates the victory of the British over Tipu Sultan, was constructed in the style of a Greek temple. It was remodelled between 1875 and 1895. Currently, the Public Works Department is in the process of renovating the hall and plans to complete the work soon.