Roja Turns 32: Here's where you can experience the Mani Ratnam X AR Rahman magic on OTT

The Mani Ratnam universe of movies is one of the most intriguing spaces in the world of cinema. The pain and beauty of his films are unparalleled, drawing viewers into a world they wouldn’t want to leave, even when the tragedies hit hard and make them uncomfortable. The destructive love stories in his films have captivated audiences for years. For Hindi-speaking audiences, the introduction to his cinema was largely through Roja, a film that was dubbed in Hindi and brought AR Rahman into the consciousness of Hindi audiences. We’ve never stopped loving the maestro who has given us some of the greatest songs. Roja turns 32 today, and we’re here to tell you where you can watch this iconic film on streaming platforms. 

32 Years Of Roja

For those unfamiliar, Roja, starring Madhoo and Arvind Swamy, tells the story of a woman from a village in Tamil Nadu who marries a city dweller and moves with him to Kashmir. Life is idyllic until one day he doesn’t return. He is kidnapped by militants, and her world is turned upside down. The film was widely applauded by those who understood the concept Mani Ratnam was trying to achieve. Released on August 15, 1992, Roja celebrates its 32nd anniversary today. Read on to learn more about where you can watch it.

Roja has remained relevant throughout all three decades since its release and is one of the most beloved films of all time for many of us. You can watch Roja on Zee5 with your subscription and also with your OTTplay Premium subscription. Additionally, it is available on Amazon Prime Video, Sun NXT in its original language, AppleTV+ (free for several days, with a rental fee of Rs 99 thereafter), and Netflix.

Also Read: 41 years of Mani Ratnam – How the Ponniyin Selvan director reinvented himself and stayed relevant all through these years

Madhoo On Not Working with Mani Ratnam Again

Madhoo, who plays the leading lady in Roja, never worked with Mani Ratnam again. In an interview with The Indian Express, she explained, “Mani sir might have felt a bond with different artists, and I tried to reach out many times. I sent messages. I am very fond of him. At that time, I never considered anyone to be my godfather. I didn’t feel Mani sir did me a favor. ‘Mani sir wanted to make Roja, he found his Roja in me. What’s so special about that?’ This was my attitude.”

When asked if Roja and its success made her arrogant, she said, “It came from a place of pain.” Madhoo shared that nobody supported her in her career, claiming that everything, from her makeup to costumes, was done by her. “There was an element of ‘I’. ‘I did it all.’ I refused to give credit to anybody.”

Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.

Also Read: Classic Pick – Why Mani Ratnam’s Mouna Ragam is relevant even after 37 years of its release?