{ "id": "eptv8df52j", "slug": "uzhaippali", "title": "Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி), also spelled Uzhaippaali, is a 1993 Tamil action drama directed by P. Vasu starring Rajinikanth as a coolie posing as an heir, with Roja and Radha Ravi; released 24 June 1993, music by Ilaiyaraaja, a hit despite a distributors' Red Card.", "snippet": "Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி), also spelled Uzhaippaali, is a 1993 Tamil action drama directed by P. Vasu starring Rajinikanth as a coolie posing as an heir, with Roja and Radha Ravi; released 24 June 1993, music by Ilaiyaraaja, a hit despite a distributors' Red Card.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "markdown": "# Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி)\n\n**Uzhaippali** (உழைப்பாளி; the title translates as \"Hard Worker\") is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed and written by [P. Vasu](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-vasu), starring [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) as a factory coolie who is hired to impersonate a wealthy family's long-lost heir and discovers the inheritance is genuinely his.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) • [2](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/bc4e2fc6-ec9f-4b0a-82a9-559caf782135/content) Roja, Radha Ravi, Nizhalgal Ravi, S. S. Chandran, [Goundamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/goundamani), Vijayakumar, Visu, and Sujatha appear in supporting roles.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) The film was released on 24 June 1993 and became a commercial success despite a distributors' boycott of Rajinikanth's films at the time of its release.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/uzhaippali.html) • [4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 24 June 1993, Tamil language, India[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/uzhaippali.html) |\n| Director and writer | P. Vasu (story, screenplay, dialogue)[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/fullcredits/) |\n| Lead cast | Rajinikanth as Thamizharasan, with Roja, Radha Ravi, Nizhalgal Ravi, S. S. Chandran, Goundamani, Vijayakumar, and Sujatha[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) |\n| Music | Songs by Ilaiyaraaja; background score by Karthik Raja; all lyrics by Vaali[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlu1L8qxlo) • [7](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29) |\n| Production | B. Venkatarama Reddy for Chandamama Vijaya Combines (Vijaya Productions); cinematography M. C. Sekar, editing P. Mohanraj[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlu1L8qxlo) |\n| Box office | Ran more than 100 days; 116-day non-stop run at Chennai's Albert and Abirami and 150 days at Madurai's Cine Priya[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) |\n| Audience rating | 6.4/10 on IMDb from 529 votes[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nTamizharasan (Rajinikanth) works as a coolie in a factory. Three brothers ([Nizhalgal Ravi](https://www.edgepedia.org/nizhalgal-ravi), Radha Ravi, and S. S. Chandran) hire him to pose as a foreign-returned rich man, the heir to a large property, so that they can usurp the wealth of their wealthy relative.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) He plays the role but repeatedly slips away, unwilling to face the consequences of the deception.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n\nThe deception turns real when he learns that he is in fact the true heir: his father was killed by the same three brothers to seize the property, and the shock left his mother (Sujatha) mentally broken.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) He avenges his father's murder by killing the villains, and in the ending he refuses the inheritance altogether, choosing to remain a coolie.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) Rotten Tomatoes condenses the premise as \"a factory worker learns he is heir to a great fortune and decides to avenge the murder of his father.\"[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uzhaippali)\n\n## Production\n\n**A studio's return.** Uzhaippali marked the comeback of Vijaya Productions, which had stopped producing films for 20 years; the film was made under the Chandamama Vijaya Combines banner of producer Nagi Reddy.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) It was P. Vasu's third film with Rajinikanth, after *Panakkaran* and *Mannan*, and Vasu directed it following the success of *Mannan*. Rather than a remake, Vasu wrote an original story modeled on [M. G. Ramachandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-g-ramachandran)'s formula film *Enga Veetu Pillai*.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) The Cinema Resource Centre notes that the Vasu–Rajinikanth pairing had been a hat-trick success across the three films.[9](https://tcrcindia.com/2020/04/07/black-white-photographs-from-the-cinema-resource-centre-archives-iv/)\n\nA grand pooja (launch ceremony) was held on 5 February 1993 at the Vijaya Vauhini studio, even though distributors were unwilling to handle the film and the Red Card against Rajinikanth had not been lifted; the event drew the film industry's leading figures and wide press coverage.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) During shooting in Chickmangalore, the cast and crew were refused hotel rooms, and Rajinikanth at one point slept in a car. Vasu completed the film in 58 days, and it was announced for a June release.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n\n## The Red Card and self-distribution\n\nThe film's release was shaped by an industry dispute. After a disagreement over star salaries, the distributors' association imposed a \"Red Card\" on Rajinikanth and announced that his films would not be distributed in the future.[10](https://mayyam.com/talk/archives/Tamil_Films_Archived/t12185_R_A_J_I_N_I__The_Man__The_one__amp__only_SuperStar.html) With no distributor willing to buy the film, Rajinikanth decided to release it directly to theaters himself through his own company, Ramana Film Distributors, in the North and South Arcot and Chengalpattu territories as well as the Madras area.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) • [11](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/throw-back-stories/rajinikanth-throwback-the-distributors-council-gave-a-red-card-to-superstar-rajinikanth-for-salar-109972.html) He met [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) amid the dispute, and the next day the direct-to-theater release of Uzhaippali was announced.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n\nIn Chennai the film opened at the Albert, Abirami, Kamala, Crown, and Sri Brinda theaters. Advance reservations were houseful for almost 15 days before release.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n\n## Reception and box office\n\nUzhaippali ran for more than 100 days and was described as a hit.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) It had a non-stop run of 116 days at Chennai's Albert and Abirami theaters and 150 days at Madurai's Cine Priya, and it also did decent business overseas, particularly in Singapore and Malaysia.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) The Indian Express wrote that \"Uzhaippali is a neat, unpretentious entertainer from reel one and Vasu has kept up the pace of narration without a moment's boredom.\"[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php) On IMDb the film holds a 6.4/10 rating from 529 users.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/)\n\nAn academic study of star image in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) uses the film as an example of the gap between working-class story material and star presentation: although the title and plot center on labor, Rajinikanth's character appears in an expensive jacket, shoes, and sunglasses.[2](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/bc4e2fc6-ec9f-4b0a-82a9-559caf782135/content)\n\n## Music\n\nIlaiyaraaja composed the songs and his second son, [Karthik Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-raja), composed the background score; all of the lyrics were written by the poet Vaali.[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlu1L8qxlo) • [7](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29) The soundtrack includes \"Oru Maina,\" \"Uzhaippali Illaadha Naadu,\" \"Oru Kolakili,\" \"Amma Amma Endhan Aaruyire,\" and \"Muthirai Pottu,\" with singers including [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam), Chithra, Mano, and Sunanda.[7](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29) A fan retrospective calls the film a musical hit and notes that the song \"Uzhaippali Illaadha Naadu\" works as a tribute to laborers.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n\n## Runtime and catalog discrepancies\n\nReference sources disagree on the film's length: Filmibeat lists 162 minutes,[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/uzhaippali.html) Rotten Tomatoes lists 2h 30m,[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uzhaippali) IMDb lists 2h 36m,[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) and Indian Film History lists 2hr 42min.[12](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/uzhaippaali--1993) Genre listings also vary, from drama alone on Rotten Tomatoes to action, comedy, and romance on IMDb and action, drama, and family on Filmibeat.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uzhaippali) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/) • [3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/uzhaippali.html) Rotten Tomatoes records a streaming release date of 22 October 2020.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uzhaippali)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Uzhaippaali (1993), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/)\n2. [Cinematic Charisma as a Political Gateway in South India: The Case of Tamil Nadu, University of Adelaide thesis](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/bc4e2fc6-ec9f-4b0a-82a9-559caf782135/content)\n3. [உழைப்பாளி (1993) Movie, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/uzhaippali.html)\n4. [Uzhaippali (1993) – Rajinikanth Movie Review, Rajinifans.com](https://rajinifans.com/review/uzhaipazhi.php)\n5. [Uzhaippaali (1993) – Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318797/fullcredits/)\n6. [உழைப்பாளி | Uzhaippali (1993) | Tamil Full Movie, Pyramid Talkies on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlu1L8qxlo)\n7. [உழைப்பாளி (திரைப்படம்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://wiki1.tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%BF_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29)\n8. [Uzhaippali, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uzhaippali)\n9. [Black & White Photographs From The Cinema Resource Centre Archives (IV), TCRC](https://tcrcindia.com/2020/04/07/black-white-photographs-from-the-cinema-resource-centre-archives-iv/)\n10. [R.A.J.I.N.I, The Man, The one & only SuperStar – Updates, Mayyam.com archive](https://mayyam.com/talk/archives/Tamil_Films_Archived/t12185_R_A_J_I_N_I__The_Man__The_one__amp__only_SuperStar.html)\n11. [Rajinikanth Throwback: The distributor's council gave a red card to superstar Rajinikanth for salary issues, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/throw-back-stories/rajinikanth-throwback-the-distributors-council-gave-a-red-card-to-superstar-rajinikanth-for-salar-109972.html)\n12. [Uzhaippali (1993), Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/uzhaippaali--1993)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films before 2000 › Released 1992 to 1999*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி)](https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali](https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Uzhaippali (உழைப்பாளி)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/uzhaippali. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Uzhaippali, also spelled Uzhaippaali, is a 1993 Tamil action drama directed by P." }