Kadavul (transl. God) is a 1997 Tamil language film directed by Velu Prabhakaran. The film stars Velu Prabhakaran, Manivannan, Arun Pandiyan, Mansoor Ali Khan and Roja. The film, produced by H. Anraaj, had musical score by Ilaiyaraaja and was released on 5 December 1997. Despite having controversial themes, the film was well received.[1][2][3][4]
| Kadavul | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Velu Prabhakaran |
| Written by | Velu Prabhakaran |
| Produced by | H.Anraaj |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Velu Prabhakaran |
| Edited by | Nandamuri Haribabu |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Deccan Pictures PVT. LTD. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 130 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Parvathi (Roja), a young woman, is a goddess believer while her father (V. Gopalakrishnan) is the priest of a temple. After a quarrel between two castes during a Hindu festival, the temple was closed off. Five years later, the temple reopens.
Muthu (Rahul) and Thenmozhi (Nandhini) are in love but they are not of the same caste. Velusamy (Karikalan), Thenmozhi's uncle, finds out their love and forces her to marry him.
K. Shanmugam (Mansoor Ali Khan), a corrupt MLA, kills a girl and blames Thamizharasan (Arun Pandian). Thamizharasan fights against injustice and is a revolutionary. Angry, Thamizharasan tries to kill him but fails and eventually steals his money. In the process, Thamizharasan is injured and the prostitute Shenbagam (Rupasri) takes care of him.
Rajapandi (Velu Prabhakaran), an atheist, propagates the non-existence of God. One day, he saves Parvathi from her uncle K. Shanmugam and accidentally marries her. Soon, Rajapandi gets beaten by the devotees. In anger, Rajapandi challenges God to become a human and understand the humans, and God (Manivannan) appears as a human.
Sathyaraj had been first choice to play the lead role, but his refusal prompted Velu Prabhakaran to take on the lead role himself.[5] Delhi-based model and former air hostess Nandhini was signed on to play a role after the director had seen her modelling pictures.[6]
| Kadavul | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 1997 |
| Recorded | 1997 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 30:58 |
| Label | Lahari Music |
| Producer | Ilaiyaraaja |
The film score and the soundtrack were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The soundtrack, released in 1997, features 6 tracks with lyrics written by Pulamaipithan.[7][8][9]
| Track | Song | Singer(s) | Lyrics | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Aadi Sivan Tholil Irukkum" | Bhavatharini | Pulamaipithan | 5:40 |
| 2 | "Ariviruntha Konjam" | Malaysia Vasudevan | 4:51 | |
| 3 | "Enakku Oru Raasa" | Amudha | 5:08 | |
| 4 | "Kaathalai" | P. Unni Krishnan, Sujatha | 5:07 | |
| 5 | "Kovilukku Irukkum" | K. S. Chithra | 4:52 | |
| 6 | "Poovarasan Poove" | Arunmozhi, Sujatha | 5:20 |
In January 2018, Prabhakaran announced that he would be making a sequel to the film.[10] The film has RR Tami Selvan, Swathy as the lead pair with Imman Annachi and veteran Seetha essaying crucial roles.[11]