By R. Srinivasan, Retro Cinema Chronicles
March 1990. The air was thick with the scent of fresh film reels and cigarette smoke in Mumbai’s single-screen theatres. Audiences had just recovered from the emotional rollercoaster of Maine Pyar Kiya when a quiet storm hit the marquee: Appu Raja 111.
Wait—111? Not a sequel, not a prequel, but a bizarre, brilliant, and nearly-lost linguistic experiment.
Appu works in a circus, which allows the film to feature magic tricks, animals, and acrobatics. His height is his secret weapon—people underestimate him, and he uses his small size to sneak into places a normal man cannot.
Today, Appu Raja 111 is a cult artifact. A faded poster (showing Kamal Haasan’s face triplicated, with the tagline “Ek se teen, teen se sau gyarah”) auctions for ₹50,000 online. Film scholars argue it predicted multiverse cinema years before Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Did it deserve better? Yes. Was it coherent? No. Did it have a dwarf, a giant, a child don, Amrish Puri in three eyepatches, and 111 musical cues? Absolutely.
And for that, Appu Raja 111 remains not just a film, but a fever dream you never want to wake from.
If you have a dusty VHS copy of Appu Raja 111*, please contact the author. A reward (and a therapy session) may be offered.*
Appu Raja (1991)
"Appu Raja" is a 1991 Hindi-language comedy film directed by Kawal Sharma and produced by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Although listed as a 1990 movie in your query, it's likely that the film was released in 1991. appu raja 1990 hindi movie 111
Plot
The movie stars Govinda, Madhuri Dixit, and Kader Khan in pivotal roles. The story revolves around Raja (Govinda), a poor but innocent young man who lives with his grandmother in a small village. He falls in love with a wealthy girl, Aarti (Madhuri Dixit), who comes to their village. However, their romance faces numerous challenges due to their differing backgrounds and the opposition from Aarti's family.
Cast
Music
The film's music was composed by Bappi Lahiri, with lyrics written by Anand Bakshi. The soundtrack features popular songs like "Chal Wahan Jaayein Hum", "Tumhari Nazar Ne Mere Dil Ko" and "Bade Bhaiya".
Reception
"Appu Raja" received mixed reviews from critics but performed moderately well at the box office. While some reviewers praised Govinda and Madhuri's chemistry, others found the plot to be predictable and lacking in originality.
Legacy
Although not a major blockbuster, "Appu Raja" is remembered for its light-hearted comedy and the on-screen pairing of Govinda and Madhuri Dixit. The film showcased Govinda's signature dance style and Madhuri's early days as a leading lady. Appu Raja 1990 Movie 111: The Forgotten Milestone
The story of the 1990 Hindi film (originally released in Tamil as Apoorva Sagodharargal
in 1989) is a classic saga of separation and revenge. It is widely celebrated for Kamal Haasan's
iconic triple role, particularly his groundbreaking portrayal of a dwarf. The Tragic Beginning The story begins with Sethupathy
, an honest police officer who arrests four powerful criminals: Dharmaraj, Francis Anbarasu, Nallasivam, and Satyamoorthy. Seeking revenge, the criminals escape justice, murder Sethupathy, and force his pregnant wife, Kaveri, to drink poison. Kaveri survives and gives birth to twins, but they are separated at birth; she keeps one child, while the other is found and raised by a woman named Muniyamma. Parallel Lives
: Raised by his mother in a circus, Appu grows up to be a talented circus clown. Due to the poison his mother was forced to drink while pregnant, he is a dwarf.
: Raised by Muniyamma, Raja grows up to be a spirited car mechanic of normal height, unaware of his true identity or his twin brother. The Catalyst for Revenge Appu falls in love with
, the circus owner's daughter. He mistakenly believes she reciprocates his feelings, but is devastated when she asks him to witness her marriage to another man. Heartbroken and facing ridicule for his height, Appu attempts suicide. His mother stops him and reveals the truth about his father’s murder and the cause of his dwarfism. The Masterful Vengeance
Determined to avenge his father, Appu uses his circus skills and unique gadgets—like a double-edged stunt gun and trained circus animals—to eliminate the four criminals one by one. Mistaken Identity
: Because Raja and Appu are identical in face, the police and the surviving criminals mistake the mechanic Raja for the killer. The Reunion If you have a dusty VHS copy of
: The twins finally cross paths during the final stages of Appu's revenge plan. They eventually realize their relationship and join forces to finish the job. The Climax
In the final showdown, the remaining villains are defeated through Appu's ingenious traps. Despite his heroic actions, Appu ultimately surrenders to the police to take responsibility for the killings, leaving Raja to take care of their mother. technical secrets
behind how Kamal Haasan filmed the dwarf scenes in an era before modern CGI?
That search query likely refers to the classic Indian Tamil-Hindi bilingual film, best known to Hindi audiences as "Appu Raja".
Here is an interesting guide to the 1990 masterpiece, breaking down why the "111" (likely a typo for the year or a quality tag) refers to one of the most technically impressive films in Indian cinema history.
Hardcore fans argue that the most intense action sequence—specifically the moment Appu reveals his robotic alter-ego, or the iconic “Orange Marmalade” scene where the villain explodes—occurs exactly at the 1 hour and 51-minute mark. Over time, "Movie 111" became shorthand for "the best part of the film."
Regardless of the origin, searching "appu raja 1990 hindi movie 111" today almost guarantees a nostalgic, slightly grainy, 480p version of the film with the iconic Coconut water song and the thunderous dialogue: "Mere paas tez dimaag hai... aur tumhaare paas kya hai?" (I have a sharp mind... what do you have?)
This is the most "interesting" part of the guide. In 1990, CGI and green screen were not used in Indian cinema the way they are today. Kamal Haasan played a dwarf, and the visual effects were achieved practically.