The Story of Basha

Introduction:

Basha is a Tamil language action film released in 1995. It was directed by Suresh Krishna and produced by V. Rajammal and V. Thamilazhagan. The film stars Superstar Rajinikanth in the lead role, and Nagma, Raghuvaran, and Vijayakumar in supporting roles.

Basha was released and became a massive commercial success, breaking several box office records in Tamil cinema. The film was made on a budget of approximately 4 crores, and it grossed over 15 crores in its theatrical run.

Basha was released in over 150 screens in Tamil Nadu, and it had a phenomenal opening weekend, grossing over 1 crore in just three days. The film went on to become the highest-grossing Tamil film of the year and held the record for the highest-grossing Tamil film for several years.

Basha's success was not limited to Tamil Nadu, as the film was also dubbed in Telugu and released in Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu version of the film was also a massive success, grossing over 5 crores.

Plot:

The story of Basha revolves around the character of Manikkam (Rajinikanth), who lives with his family in a slum in Chennai. His father, a don, was killed by his enemies, and Manikkam is forced to leave his family and live in Mumbai, where he starts working as a coolie.

In Mumbai, Manikkam saves the life of a man named Mark Anthony (Raghuvaran) from a group of goons. Mark Anthony is a gangster who is involved in smuggling and other illegal activities. He offers Manikkam a job in his gang, and Manikkam accepts the offer to earn money for his family back in Chennai.

Manikkam quickly rises up the ranks in Mark Anthony's gang and becomes known as Basha. He becomes the most trusted member of the gang and is involved in all their activities. However, his ultimate goal is to return to Chennai and take revenge on his father's killers.

After many years, Manikkam returns to Chennai and reunites with his family. He also starts working as a coolie in the same market where his father used to work. However, he soon realizes that his father's killers are still around and are now more powerful than ever.

Manikkam decides to take on his father's enemies and starts eliminating them one by one. He becomes a vigilante and is feared by the criminals in Chennai. The police, led by Commissioner Padaiyappa (Vijayakumar), are unable to catch Basha and are forced to seek the help of Mark Anthony, who is now in jail.

Mark Anthony agrees to help the police and reveals Basha's real identity to them. The police then arrest Basha and take him to court, where he is sentenced to life imprisonment.

Themes:

The story of Basha deals with several themes, including revenge, loyalty, family, and corruption. Manikkam's quest for revenge is the driving force of the story, and his loyalty to his family and friends is what keeps him going. The film also highlights the corrupt nature of the police and the political system, where criminals can get away with their crimes by bribing the authorities.

Characters:

The film features several memorable characters, including:

Manikkam/Basha: The protagonist of the film, played by Rajinikanth. He is a coolie turned gangster who seeks revenge for his father's death.

Mark Anthony: A gangster played by Raghuvaran. He recruits Basha into his gang and becomes his friend.

Commissioner Padaiyappa: The police commissioner played by Vijayakumar. He is in charge of catching Basha but is unable to do so.

Mangalam: Manikkam's sister, played by Janagaraj's wife Uma Ramanan. She is the only member of Manikkam's family who knows about his true identity.

Conclusion:

Basha is a classic Tamil film that continues to be popular among audiences even today. The film's iconic dialogues, memorable characters, and action-packed sequences have made it a cult favorite. The film's themes of revenge, loyalty, and corruption still resonate with audiences today, making it a timeless classic.

The film's success was largely attributed to Rajinikanth's star power and the film's gripping storyline and action sequences. Basha became a cultural phenomenon in Tamil Nadu, with people lining up outside theaters to catch a glimpse of their favorite actor on the big screen.

In conclusion, Basha was a massive commercial success, grossing over 15 crores at the box office and breaking several records in Tamil cinema. The film's success was largely due to Rajinikanth's star power and the film's gripping storyline and action sequences. It remains a cult classic in Tamil cinema and is remembered fondly by fans even today.