Ranaranga is a 1988 Indian Kannadaromantic action film directed by V. Somashekhar and written by N. T. Jayarama Reddy. The film stars Shivarajkumar, Sudharani and Tara in the lead roles. Produced by Shivarajkumar's mother, Parvathamma Rajkumar in the banner of Vaishnavi Movies, the film's musical score was by Hamsalekha making this the first combination with Shivarajkumar of the several future successful films. The film was critically acclaimed upon release and was one of the most successful films of 1988. Dr Rajkumar himself gave a background song for his son, that is considered as his one of his favourite songs.
Plot
After serving 12 years in a juvenile home, a reformed Anand goes to meet his grandfather, freedom fighter Shanthamurthy only to learn that he has gone to attend a felicitation ceremony. While travelling to that place, Anand witnesses a young girl jump to death in order to protect herself from a gang of four savages. While chasing them he finds his terribly injured grandfather who was beaten by them while trying to save that girl. He takes his grandfather to the nearby nursing home where the doctor refuses to admit him since it is a criminal case and instead asks him to consult a government hospital. With no time on his hands, he requests the doctor to drop them there and when the latter refuses Anand forcefully takes the car's key from him. After admitting his grandfather, he travels to the nearby blood bank. En route to the hospital he is intercepted by police officers who arrest Anand for stealing the car only for him to hold the Inspector at point blank and take him to the hospital so as to hand over the bottles containing the required blood. He is then arrested and subsequently produced to the court where he convinces the judge of his predicament and gets freed. He meets Criminal Lawyer Ramnath who offers a lift for him to the hospital. Upon reaching the hospital he learns that his grandfather has died and hence performs the last rites. A dejected Anand is taken under his wing by Ramnath who offers to help him pratice law. Anand is taken to his house where he meets the lawyer's only daughter, Bhavana, who happens to have an erratic behaviour. Meanwhile, the gang of savages target Shashikala, a young girl who works as a receptionist at a 5 star hotel, since she had rejected their advances. She is saved by Anand who also takes them to the police station. Upon accompanying Shashi to her home, he finds that Shashi is his cousin and reveals to Kamala, his aunt, the situations that made him a killer. After his father, lorry driver Ranganna, was killed by his boss Contracter Nagaraj and the latter's friends - Basappa, Chandrappa and Mahadevappa to sleep with Anand's mother, Saraswati, a 10 year old Anand driven by vengeance breaks into Nagaraj's house and stabs him to death. He reveals how he wishes to reunite with his mother and sister about whom only his late grandfather had knowledge about. Anand and Shashi, slowly falls in love with each other. Meanwhile Anand learns that the criminals using their influence have freed themselves. He also learns that they are the sons of the same criminals who murdered his father and they had molested Bhavana in the past. He is shocked to know that Nagaraj is still alive. He tries to kill Nagaraj but is stopped by his daughter Aasha. Nagaraj and his partners unsuccessfully kills Anand. One day, after returning from temple Anand meets his mother who gets hit by Aasha's car and from her learns that his sister, Usha was killed by Nagraj to transplant her eyes to the blind Aasha. Aasha is disguisted by her father's crimes and seeks forgiveness. Saraswati feels that she has got Usha through Aasha. Anand who is stopped from slaying his enemies by his mother, Shashi and Aasha gives them an ultimatum to surrender before the police and confess their crimes. When they spurn his statement, Anand abducts their children. In return, Nagaraj and others kidnap Saraswati, Kamala and Shashi and orders for an exchange of hostages at Ram Devar Gudda the next day. However, things take a turn when their children reaches the safe zone. Anand and his family are attacked. Anand manages to defeat them and Bhavana who had accompanied Anand kills the savages thereby getting her revenge. Mahadevayya and Basappa are killed while Chandrappa and Nagraj are arrested by the police summoned by Ramnath. They apologise to Anand and mentions how bad upbringing had caused their children to become such obnoxious brutes and face such tragic deaths. Anand unites with his family.
The music of the film was composed and lyrics were written by Hamsalekha. The soundtrack album comprises 7 tracks. Actor Rajkumar recorded the song "Jagave Ondu Ranaranga". Shivarajkumar debuted as a playback singer with the song "O Meghave".
