{{short description|2021 film by Hasith Goli}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = Raja Raja Chora | image = Raja Raja Chora poster.jpeg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Hasith Goli | writer = Hasith Goli | based_on = | producer = Abhishek Agarwal<br/>T. G. Vishwa Prasad | starring = Sree Vishnu<br/>Megha Akash<br />Sunaina<br/>Ravi Babu | narrator = | cinematography = Vedaraman Sankaran | editing = Viplav Nyshadam | music = Vivek Sagar | studio = Abhishek Agarwal Arts<br/>People Media Factory | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2021|8|19|df=y}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Telugu | budget = | gross = {{Estimation}} ₹11.15 crore<ref>{{cite web |title=Raja Raja Chora Total World Wide Collections! |url=https://t2blive.com/raja-raja-chora-total-world-wide-collections/ |website=T2Blive |language=en |date=18 September 2021 |access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> }}
'''''Raja Raja Chora''''' is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language crime comedy film<ref name="Vyas">{{cite web |last=Vyas |date=2021-06-18 |title=Raja Raja Chora Teaser Talk: A fun Ride |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/raja-raja-chora-teaser-talk-a-fun-ride-691395 |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=thehansindia.com |language=en}}</ref> written and directed by debutant Hasith Goli.<ref name="thenewsminute.com">{{cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=Watch: Teaser of Sree Vishnu's 'Raja Raja Chora' promises an entertainer |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/watch-teaser-sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-promises-entertainer-150910 |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=Sree Vishnu's Raja Raja Chora teaser promises a fun ride |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-teaser-promises-a-full-on-fun-ride-7364515/ |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Produced by Abhishek Agarwal Arts and People Media Factory,<ref>{{cite news |title=Glad to see the audience give a thumbs up to Raja Raja Chora: Producers – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/glad-to-see-the-audience-give-a-thumbs-up-to-raja-raja-chora-producers/articleshow/85517746.cms |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=The Times of India |language=en |last1=Nyayapati |first1=Neeshita}}</ref> the film stars Sree Vishnu, Megha Akash, Sunaina and Ravi Babu.<ref name="cinemaexpress.com">{{cite web |title=Sree Vishnu's Raja Raja Chora locks its release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2021/aug/11/sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-locks-itsrelease-date-26008.html |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=Cinema Express |date=11 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The film was released on 19 August 2021.<ref name="release">{{cite news |title=Sree Vishnu's 'Raja Raja Chora' to release on August 19; actor announces with a new poster – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-to-release-on-august-19-actor-announces-with-a-new-poster/articleshow/85233746.cms |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
The plot follows the protagonist, his family and others who cross his path, exploring aspects of survival in the city, crime, punishment and redemption.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=2021-08-21 |title=Meet Hasith Goli, the debut director winning laurels for 'Raja Raja Chora' |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/meet-hasith-goli-the-debut-director-winning-laurels-for-raja-raja-chora/article36029473.ece |access-date=2021-08-23 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> ''Raja Raja Chora'' received positive reviews from the critics, who were particularly appreciative of film's screenplay, background score and performances of lead actors.<ref>{{cite web |last=admin1 |date=2021-08-19 |title=Raja Raja Chora Review: 'రాజ రాజ చోర' మూవీ రివ్యూ.. మూవీ ఎలా ఉందంటే! |url=https://www.hmtvlive.com/moviereviews/sree-vishnu-raja-raja-chora-telugu-movie-review-69420 |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=hmtvlive.com |language=te}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Raja Raja Chora |url=https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/movie-review/sree-vishnu-raja-raja-chora-review-and-rating/moviereview/85446574.cms |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=Samayam Telugu |language=te}}</ref>
== Plot == {{plot|date=September 2025}} <!--per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words--> One night, Bhaskar breaks into a house and steals valuables. It is later revealed that he works at a stationery store, where he manipulates customers and makes money, despite the owner being unaware of his actions. He lies to his girlfriend, Sanjana, that he works as a software engineer. Whenever Bhaskar meets Sanjana, he dresses as a software employee. The couple plans to move to Bangalore and dream of buying their own house.
Meanwhile, Sub Inspector William Reddy, who is the maternal uncle of Sanjana, is under pressure to curb crime in his jurisdiction and stop under-reporting cases to get promoted. He has an affair with Buela, the wife of his close friend, Madhav, and often visits Madhav's house when the latter is out of town for work. Bhaskar, meanwhile, is revealed to be married to Vidya, who is studying at a law school, and the couple has a son. Bhaskar and Vidya are estranged, and Bhaskar is still with her due to her blackmail about filing a cheating case. Vidya frequently demands that Bhaskar pay for her education. Eventually, Sanjana discovers that Bhaskar has a child, and Bhaskar learns that Sanjana is not a software employee, but is a salesgirl. Bhaskar lies to her that he is a widower. Fed up with living two lives, he wants to move to Bangalore with Sanjana. He plans one final heist that would settle him for life.
Bhaskar frequents Anjamma's workshop and stores his loot there. He puts on the theatrical costume of a king upon insistence from Anjamma, who believes the costume brings immense wealth. He sets out for his final heist that night and burgles the house of Madhav's neighbour. At the same time, Madhav returns home early from a camp. William, at Madhav's house, tries to escape when he learns of Madhav's arrival. As Madhav catches William half-naked with Buela, Bhaskar, who is leaving from his robbery scene, climbs over the wall into Madhav's house, and the trio find one another at the same time.
Bhaskar is now apprehended by William after being caught in the act. Vidya, who is being questioned, learns about William's affair with Madhav's wife and threatens William with legal assistance in pressing adultery and harassment charges if Bhaskar isn't set free. William reluctantly agrees to release Bhaskar, warning him to stop his theft. Vidya is disgusted by Bhaskar's act of stealing. When she believes that he became a thief for his wife and child, she grows affectionate and asks Bhaskar to leave the thieving life; Bhaskar grows fond of Vidya and ignores Sanjana. William has a new plan for Bhaskar: he forces Bhaskar to commit more robberies using the king's costume and gives him a cut in exchange for the non-involvement of the police. Bhaskar complies so that he can buy a small house and move in with his wife and child. Things take a turn when Bhaskar realises that William is planning to sensationally catch Bhaskar as the thief in a costume of a Raja ({{Translation|King}}), thereby getting promoted at work. Bhaskar tells William that he wears the Raja costume for each heist because it gives him immense confidence, and advises him to use it when he requires a confidence boost for anything. William later learns about Bhaskar's affair with Sanjana and tries to reveal to Sanjana Bhaskar's crimes and his marriage, but Sanjana is undeterred, believing William is lying to get her to marry him. Angered, approaches Vidya claiming that Bhaskar has continued his robberies despite her earlier insistence and is planning to run away with Sanjana. Later, William informs Sanjana's mother about her salesgirl job, as she believed her daughter worked in a corporate job. Bhaskar is conned as he loses the entire family savings, which he kept for buying a new house as a surprise for Vidya. Believing that Bhaskar is staging it, Vidya leaves him along with their child. Sanjana also learns that Bhaskar's wife is alive, much to her shock, and ends their relationship. Later, Sanjana's mother questions her actions and takes her to their hometown. Meanwhile, Bhaskar approaches Madhav in a desperate attempt to save himself from William. Madhav and the police catch William, dressed in the King's costume, red-handed with Beula. The police and media are convinced that William is the sought-after thief in the city.
Finally, a famous preacher, Ganapathi, explains about the cheating nature of people and how they were punished by God: Bhaskar, who cheated and stole valuables for his selfish motives, is imprisoned. Sanjana, good at micro art but lured by a corporate job and city lifestyle, for which she started lying, was punished after revealing the truth of Bhaskar and her dreams which were shattered, William being a cop, misused his power and cheated his best friend, who was punished for his adultery, and he framed himself in the Raja costume as a thief.
Bhaskar, regretting his past crimes and cheating, decides to turn himself in to atone for his mistakes. He has served his prison sentence, while Vidya is a successful lawyer and now owns a house. In the end, a reformed Bhaskar is seen going to Vidya, in the hope that she will accept him.
== Cast == {{cast listing| * Sree Vishnu as Bhaskar * Sunaina as Vidya, Bhaskar's wife * Megha Akash as Sanjana * Ravi Babu as SI William Reddy, Sanjana's uncle * Tanikella Bharani as Ghanapati * Srikanth Iyengar as Dr. Tirumala Rao * Ajay Ghosh as Xerox shop Owner Subrahmanyam * Gangavva as Anjamma * Vasu Inturi as Madhav, William's friend * Kadambari Kiran as Narayana, William's assistant * Karthikeya Krishna as Lingaraju, Bhaskar's son * Shruti Singampalli as DSP Kanakam * Rocket Raghava as Bhaskar's brother-in-law * Indu as Buela, Madhav's wife * Aruna Bikshu as William's mother }}
== Production == Although it was officially announced in February 2020, principal photography of the film began much earlier in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sree Vishnu's first-look from Raja Raja Chora – Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/sree-vishnus-first-look-from-raja-raja-chora/articleshow/74411555.cms |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The script was completed in three months.<ref name=":0" /> In March 2020, T.G. Vishwaprasad told ''Deccan Chronicle'' that the first schedule of the film has been finished.<ref>{{cite web |last=kavirayani |first=suresh |date=2020-03-01 |title=Sree Vishnu's first look out! |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/010320/sree-vishnus-first-look-out.html |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> Filming was then paused due to COVID-19 pandemic in India. It was later resumed in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=TeamIH |date=2020-10-07 |title=Sree Vishnu's 'Raja Raja Chora' Shoot Resumes |url=https://industryhit.com/t/sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-shoot-resumes/ |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=IndustryHit.Com |language=en-US}}</ref> The film's name is a pun on the name of the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola.
== Music == {{Infobox album | name = Raja Raja Chora | type = soundtrack | artist = Vivek Sagar | cover = | alt = | released = | recorded = 2020–2021 | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack, Romance | length = | language = Telugu | label = Zee Music Company | producer = Vivek Sagar | prev_title = HIT: The First Case | prev_year = 2020 | year = 2020 | next_title = Ante Sundaraniki | next_year = 2022 | chronology = | misc = {{External media | audio1 = {{YouTube|pTM3WM1utXc|Audio Jukebox}}}} {{singles | name = Raja Raja Chora | type = soundtrack | single1 = Raja Raju Vacche | single1date = 28 July 2021 | single2 = Maaya Maaya | single2date = 12 August 2021 }} }} Soundtrack and score of the film is composed by Vivek Sagar, marking his second collaboration with Sree Vishnu after ''Brochevarevarura'' (2019).<ref name="Vyas"/> First single from the soundtrack – "Raja Raju Vacche" was released on 28 March 2021.<ref name="thenewsminute.com"/> The track is written by Hasith Goli and features primary vocals of Mohana Bhogaraju.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/> Second single "Maaya Maaya" was released on 12 August 2021, sung by Anurag Kulkarni and written by Sanapati Bharadwaj Patrudu. The song has features additional (primarily backing) vocals of Yashwanth Nag, Anup Kumar Deshpande, Lakshmi Meghana, Sai Madhav, Ritesh Rao, Junaid Kumar and Shahbaaz Khan.<ref name="cinemaexpress.com"/>
{{Track listing | collapsed = | lyrics2 = Sanapati Bharadwaj Patrudu | length5 = 4:42 | extra5 = Sid Sriram | lyrics5 = Krishna Kanth | title5 = Nijam Ide Kada | length4 = 4:23 | extra4 = Vaikom Vijayalakshmi | lyrics4 = Jonnavittula Ramalingeswara Rao | title4 = Prapancha Jishnu | length3 = 6:21 | extra3 = Pradeep Kumar | lyrics3 = Sanapati Bharadwaj Patrudu | title3 = Bandeena Bandeena | length2 = 5:00 | extra2 = Anurag Kulkarni | title2 = Maaya Maaya | headline = Original Soundtrack | length1 = 4:52 | extra1 = Mohana Bhogaraju | lyrics1 = Hasith Goli | title1 = Raja Raju Vacche | all_music = Vivek Sagar | all_lyrics = | all_writing = | total_length = | extra_column = Singer(s) }}
== Release and marketing == In early-August 2021, the film's released was announced as on 19 August 2021.<ref name="release" /> The film's digital rights were sold to ZEE5 and the satellite rights were sold to Zee Telugu respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raja Raja Chora to release on 19th August |url=https://telugucinema.com/news/raja-raja-chora-to-release-on-19th-august |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=Telugu Cinema |date=11 August 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> On 11 June 2021, a cartoon video was released, with the voice-over of Gangavva. In the video, she narrates the funny tale behind the ''Raja Raja Chora'' and how the lead character escaped from the kingdom after stealing the King's crown.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-06-12 |title=Raja Raja Chora teaser date announcement generates the curiosity |url=https://english.ntvtelugu.com/raja-raja-chora-teaser-date-announcement-generates-the-curiosity/ |access-date=2021-08-11 |website=English |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Critical reception === ''The Hindu'' critic Sangeetha Devi Dundoo stated that: "[''Raja Raja Chora''] is a quirky comedy with laugh aloud segments and an emotional tale of punishment and redemption." She appreciated the performances of the cast, music, cinematography and editing, adding, "Hasith Goli joins the list of directors to watch out for in Telugu cinema."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=2021-08-19 |title='Raja Raja Chora' movie review: Quirky tale of crime and punishment |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/raja-raja-chora-movie-review-quirky-crime-comedy-by-harshit-goli-starring-sree-vishnu/article35996114.ece |access-date=2021-08-20 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Neeshitha Nyayapati of ''The Times of India'' rated the film 3/5 and gave a more mixed review. While Nyayapati appreciated the screenplay and the narrative style, she felt that the run time was not justified.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nyayapati |first=Neeshitha |date=20 August 2021 |title=Raja Raja Chora Movie Review : Quirky tale of a thief and his hilarious escapades |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/raja-raja-chora/movie-review/85450349.cms |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
Anji Shetty in his review for ''Sakshi'', rated 2.75/5 and appreciated the storyline and opined that the direction could have been better. Shetty felt that Sagar's soundtrack was passable but he appreciated the background score and cinematography.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-08-19 |title='రాజ రాజ చోర' మూవీ రివ్యూ |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/movies/raja-raja-chora-review-rating-and-public-talk-about-sree-vishnu-movie-twitter |website=Sakshi |language=te}}</ref> A reviewer from ''Eenadu'' praised the screenplay and Vishnu's performance while adding that narrative was slow in the second half.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 August 2021 |title=Raja Raja Chora Review: రివ్యూ: రాజ రాజ చోర |url=https://www.eenadu.net/cinema/latestnews/telugu-news-sree-vishnu-raja-raja-chora-telugu-cinema-review/0203/121170191 |website=Eenadu |language=te}}</ref> Prakash Pecheti of ''Telangana Today'' cited that "Raja Raja Chora’ steals the show" adding that the director Hasith Goli imagined the story from a third man's perspective. And the mythological tone sets the ball rolling from the word go.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-08-19 |title=Sree Vishnu's 'Raja Raja Chora' steals the show |url=https://telanganatoday.com/sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-steals-the-show |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=Telangana Today |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Box office === ''Sakshi Post'' reported that the film collected a gross of ₹15 million at the box office, in its opening day.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-08-20 |title=Sree Vishnu's Raja Raja Chora First Day Box Office Collections |url=https://english.sakshi.com/news/tollywood/sree-vishnus-raja-raja-chora-first-day-box-office-collections-141352 |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=Sakshi Post |language=en}}</ref> In the first week, the film has grossed ₹70 million at the box office.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=2021-08-24 |title=Raja Raja Chora Latest Box Office Collections: Sree Vishnu Movie Achieves Breakeven |url=https://english.sakshi.com/news/tollywood/raja-raja-chora-latest-box-office-collections-141621 |website=Sakshi Post}}</ref> At the US box office, the film grossed $140,000 the first week of its release.<ref>{{cite web |title=BO: Raja Raja Chora performs well in the USA |url=https://telugucinema.com/box-office/bo-raja-raja-chora-performs-well-in-the-usa |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=Telugu Cinema |date=23 August 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=tt13249198|title=Raja Raja Chora}}
Category:Films set in Hyderabad, India Category:Films shot in Hyderabad, India Category:2021 Telugu-language films Category:2021 Indian films Category:2021 crime comedy films Category:Indian crime comedy films Category:2021 films Category:2021 directorial debut films Category:Films scored by Vivek Sagar Category:People Media Factory films