Roja Combines is an Indian film production and distribution company headed by Kaja Mydeen. The film had been a leading production studio in the Tamil film industry in the 1990s, but has struggled following the switch to digital film-making.

Roja Combines
Company typeFilm production
Film distribution
IndustryEntertainment
Founded1996
Headquarters,
India
Key people
Kaja Mydeen
V. Gnanavel
Jayaprakash
ProductsMotion pictures
(Tamil)

History

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Roja Combines was launched and run by three separate producers in the 1990s – Kaja Mydeen, V. Gnanavel and Jayaprakash. In the early 2000s, Gnanavel and Jayaprakash moved to create GJ Combines.[1][2]

Soon after the surprise success of the adolescent-themed Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002), Roja Combines agreed terms with the film's lead actors Dhanush and Sherin to make a film for the studio during October 2002. A project titled Ennai Mattum Kaadhal Pannu by Boopathy Pandian began thereafter but was later put on hold after Dhanush became busy with other ventures. Eventually, the film was relaunched with Dhanush and Sridevi Vijayakumar as Devathayai Kanden (2005).[3]

In 2003, Roja Combines produced a live stage show in the United Arab Emirates called Tamil Mega Star Night 2003.[4] The studio's collaboration with Ajith Kumar in Jana (2004) was the studio's biggest failure, and the makers lost 8 crore rupees.[5] In 2005, following Kaja Mydeen's suicide attempt and bankruptcy, he subsequently dropped himself from producing Gautham Vasudev Menon's Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006) starring Kamal Haasan and chose to release his other ongoing project Perarasu starring Vijayakanth.[6][7]

In 2010, Kaja Mydeen was approached to act in Sasikumar's Easan, but eventually did not feature.[8] By the mid-2010s, the studio remained largely inactive owing to the rising costs of operating in the Tamil film industry.[9]

Personal life

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Kaja Mydeen married actress Sindhuja, who had appeared in the film Sundara Kandam (1992). Post-marriage, Sindhuja converted to Islam and changed her name to K. Aysha, becoming a co-producer on several of Roja Combines' films.

In July 2005, Kaja Mydeen attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills. It was reported that he was experiencing a grave financial situation which had been caused by box office failures and expensive international stage shows.[10] He survived but became bankrupt, and stopped financing big films.[11]

Filmography

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Title Year Language Director Cast Synopsis Ref.
Gopala Gopala 1996 Tamil Pandiarajan Pandiarajan, Khushbu Gopal causes much angst among his male neighbours as he is friendly with their spouses. They are relieved when he marries Usha. But Usha leaves him after learning that he was married once before
Porkkaalam 1997 Tamil Cheran Murali, Meena, Sanghavi Murali is a potter by profession and has a sister who is dumb. He wants to get her married to a decent boy but everyone rejects her. In a tragic turn of events, Murali decides to marry a handicapped
Poonthottam 1998 Tamil Kalanjiyam Murali, Devayani, Raghuvaran A woman faces threat from her step-brothers who are keen to evict her from their home. Meanwhile, her good for nothing tenant is another problem. But, it is the same tenant who comes to their rescue.
Anantha Poongatre 1999 Tamil Raj Kapoor Ajith Kumar, Karthik, Meena, Malavika Jeeva loves Meenakshi, a widow after knowing her past however she isn't interested in marrying him fearing social norms.
Paattali 1999 Tamil K. S. Ravikumar Sarathkumar, Devayani, Ramya Krishnan Despite being the sole heir to a large fortune, Shanmugam is forced to work as a servant by his aunt. Later, she forces him to marry her own daughter in order to usurp his wealth.
Sandhitha Velai 2000 Tamil Ravichandran Karthik, Roja, Kausalya On a trip, Aadalarasu meets his lookalike and promises to fulfil the latter's request. His look-alike dies and he takes his place in his family while his own family thinks he is dead. [12]
Pennin Manathai Thottu 2000 Tamil Ezhil Prabhu Deva, Sarathkumar, Jaya Seal Sunil is a renowned heart surgeon, while Sunita has a kid with a heart problem. When she meets Sunil, she lashes out at him, blaming him for her plight, as he had betrayed her many years ago.
Vaanchinathan 2001 Tamil Shaji Kailas Vijayakanth, Sakshi Shivanand, Ramya Krishnan Vaanchinathan, a straightforward policeman, is not allergic to exploiting the loopholes in the law to eliminate the criminals who have thus far not been punished by the judiciary.
Alli Thandha Vaanam 2001 Tamil Sreedhar Prasath Prabhu Deva, Murali, Laila An entrepreneur challenges his reckless son, Satyam, to live independently for three months. Satyam's encounters away from home end up changing him as a human being. [13]
Charlie Chaplin 2002 Tamil Sakthi Chidambaram Prabhu, Prabhu Deva, Abhirami, Gayathri Raghuraman When Ramakrishnan is caught with a prostitute, he introduces her to his wife as Thiru's girlfriend. Thiru, feeling helpless, goes along with the plan at the cost of upsetting his own girlfriend, Susi.
Samasthanam 2002 Tamil Raj Kapoor Sarathkumar, Suresh Gopi, Devayani Thiru and Surya are friends whose relationship has survived many hurdles. But, their bond is broken when a rift is caused due to their respective wives and also a man whose father was killed by Thiru's father.
Jana 2004 Tamil Shaji Kailas Ajith Kumar, Sneha, Siddique Jana always stands for his villagers, against the atrocities committed by Veerapandi. Manimegalai, Veerapandi's daughter, falls in love with Jana, but is stunned when she learns about his past life as a gangster in Mumbai.
Devathaiyai Kanden 2005 Tamil Boopathy Pandian Dhanush, Sridevi Vijayakumar, Kunal Babu, a tea vendor, falls in love with Uma, a rich girl, and she too loves him for his sincerity. However, Babu sues her for cheating, when she accepts a doctor's proposal to have a secured future.
Perarasu 2006 Tamil Udhayan Vijayakanth, Debina Bonnerjee, Prakash Raj CBI officer Kasi is tasked to investigate the disappearance of a judge. He finds out that a minister and three cops are behind it. Soon after, the cops get killed and Kasi is framed for their murders.

References

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  1. ^ Kumar, S. R. Ashok (16 December 2011). "Showbitz – Double delight". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (26 September 2010). "On the road to recognition". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ^ "New Launches in Tamil". 1 July 2003. Archived from the original on 1 July 2003.
  4. ^ Reporter, A. Staff. "Tamil film stars poised to perform live". Khaleej Times.
  5. ^ "www.ajithkumar.fr.fm". ajithkumar.free.fr.
  6. ^ "'Vetayadu Vilayadu' orphaned!". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Confusion confounded!". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Sasi - Tamil Movie News - Vikram-Sasi project - only producers, no hero - Sasi | Vikram | Samuthrakani - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  9. ^ Correspondent, Special. "Madurai Anbu: Tamil Film Industry's Biggest Shylock". The Lede. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Producer attempts suicide!". Sify. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Tamil movies : The Making of Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu".
  12. ^ "Film Review: Santhitha Vaelai". The Hindu. 21 April 2000 – via www.thehindu.com.
  13. ^ "A medley of emotions". The Hindu. 2 March 2001 – via www.thehindu.com.