Film buffs mourn the passing of the second ‘RAJA’ this month. the exemplary filmmaker was known for writing stories of the middle class peppered with action, emotion, and humourBhagyaraj is undoubtedly the king of screenplay, but here’s a list of memorable title cards, using euphemisms, partly revealing the theme of a movieOru Oorula Oru RajakumariThe title card appears around the six-minute mark, perfectly timed to a sequence where Meena, playing a princess, is seen riding a horse.
Oru Oorula Oru Rajakumari
Prior to this, the movie establishes the hero’s struggles—he cannot land a job and is mistreated by his siblings, leaving only his grandmother to hold onto the hope that he will one day win over a “princess” who will change his life.Chinna VeeduPerhaps his most famous film, which still leaves audience wondering how it escaped the censors’ scissor… It shows devotees praying to Lord Shiva with Parvati.
Chinna Veedu
As the camera zooms in and the title credits roll, camera locks into goddess Ganga nestled within locks of lord Shiva, the title ‘Chinna Veedu’ (second home/mistress) appears. This is considered ‘dank’ by the later generations, claiming nothing can beat this.Darling, Darling, DarlingThis film opens with a game of musical chairs at a school. The final round comes down to a boy and a girl competing for the last remaining seat.
Darling, Darling, Darling
When the music stops, neither of them sits down. The boy claims he left the chair for the girl, while the girl insists she left it for him. As they display this mutual affection, the title card appears, perfectly setting up the romantic theme.Dhavani KanavugalThe movie opens with a cowherd, bringing his cow to a bull owner for mating. The bull owner demands 20 rupees, and a brief bargaining ensues.
Dhavani Kanavugal
The bull owner refuses to budge, and the cow owner agrees. The bull owner then drags the cow towards the bull, and in a transition, we see, in the same backdrop, a girl being handed over to a guy in a marriage setting, with the title appearing!Avasara police 100Following a serious flashback, a montage showcases a police parade where one specific character’s clumsy antics stand out. Once the parade concludes, that character’s name is announced for a medal.
Avasara police 100
The hero proudly marches toward the dais, salutes, and the title ‘Avasara Police 100’ appears. While it seems like a standard heroic introduction, the comedy lands a moment later when we realize the medal was meant for his namesake, not him—instantly establishing him as a hasty blunderer (an “avasarakudukkai”).Compiled by Mahesh Ramesh