Kadhala Kadhala
Encyclopedia
Kaathala Kaathala is a Tamil
language film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and produced by P. L. Thenappan
. The film stars Kamal Haasan
, Prabhu Deva, Soundarya
and Rambha
in the lead roles with an ensemble cast in supporting roles. The film released on April 14, 1998 to positive reviews and became a commercial success.
) & Sundaralingam (Prabhu Deva) are simpletons who are always in search of ways to earn a quick buck. Sundaralingam is an artist with good talent while Ramalingam is the business brain who brings in money, mostly by fraudulent means. They fall in love - Sundaralingam with Janaki (Rambha
) and Ramalingam with Sundari (Soundarya
). Both are students of art.
Janaki's father, played by the music director M. S. Viswanathan
, rejects Sundaralingam. Sundari convinces Janaki to write letters falsifying Sundaralingam's rise to fame and big money, eventually lying that Janaki & Sundaralingam now have a son, in order to win over the parents with sentiment. Janaki's dad, worried that his grandson might be brought up poorly, arrives at a mansion that has been set up to look like Sundaralingam's new property, along with her mom (Srividya
). Meanwhile, Sundari's dad (Moulee) also makes an unexpected stop there to check out on his daughter.
A small misunderstanding during introductions and progressively bigger lies to cover the initial lies lead to a side-splitting laugh riot. How those four eventually evade all their problems and become happy is the film's story. All the scenes are peppered with funny one- liners by Kamal and even the songs in the film are filmed in a comical manner.
who directed the successful Avvai Shanmughi with Kamal Haasan in the lead earlier, but he was later replaced by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao after he refused to sign the film until the FEFSI strike of 1997 had stopped. Actresses Meena and Simran's unavailability led to Rambha
being cast in a lead role. After Soundarya
's death in 2004, Kamal Haasan paid tribute by revealing that "she came forward to do the movie, when the rest of the industry was unwilling to work with me [Kamal Haasan]".
In 2010, the producer of the film P. L. Thenappan
threatened legal action against the makers of the Hindi film, Housefull
for remaking scenes from the film without permission. Thenappan revealed he had dubbed the film into Hindi in the late 1990s as Mirchi Masala, but the version did not release.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
language film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and produced by P. L. Thenappan
P. L. Thenappan
P. L. Thenappan is a Tamil cinema producer. He owns the production company called Sri Rajlakshmi Film Ltd.He debuted as a producer with the Tamil Film Kadhala Kadhala starring Kamal Haasan and Prabhu Deva which was released on 6.4.1998...
. The film stars Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
, Prabhu Deva, Soundarya
Soundarya
Soundarya was a film actress who appeared in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films. She acted in more than 90 films, most of them in Telugu. She was killed in a plane crash near Bangalore.-Film career:...
and Rambha
Rambha (actress)
Vijaya Lakshmi , best known by her stage name Rambha, is an Indian film actress. She has acted in over 100 South Indian films and also in Bollywood films. She had done several successful films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, Bengali and Bhojpuri films. She paired up with popular heroes...
in the lead roles with an ensemble cast in supporting roles. The film released on April 14, 1998 to positive reviews and became a commercial success.
Plot
Ramalingam (Kamal HaasanKamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
) & Sundaralingam (Prabhu Deva) are simpletons who are always in search of ways to earn a quick buck. Sundaralingam is an artist with good talent while Ramalingam is the business brain who brings in money, mostly by fraudulent means. They fall in love - Sundaralingam with Janaki (Rambha
Rambha (actress)
Vijaya Lakshmi , best known by her stage name Rambha, is an Indian film actress. She has acted in over 100 South Indian films and also in Bollywood films. She had done several successful films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, Bengali and Bhojpuri films. She paired up with popular heroes...
) and Ramalingam with Sundari (Soundarya
Soundarya
Soundarya was a film actress who appeared in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films. She acted in more than 90 films, most of them in Telugu. She was killed in a plane crash near Bangalore.-Film career:...
). Both are students of art.
Janaki's father, played by the music director M. S. Viswanathan
M. S. Viswanathan
Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...
, rejects Sundaralingam. Sundari convinces Janaki to write letters falsifying Sundaralingam's rise to fame and big money, eventually lying that Janaki & Sundaralingam now have a son, in order to win over the parents with sentiment. Janaki's dad, worried that his grandson might be brought up poorly, arrives at a mansion that has been set up to look like Sundaralingam's new property, along with her mom (Srividya
Srividya
Srividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
). Meanwhile, Sundari's dad (Moulee) also makes an unexpected stop there to check out on his daughter.
A small misunderstanding during introductions and progressively bigger lies to cover the initial lies lead to a side-splitting laugh riot. How those four eventually evade all their problems and become happy is the film's story. All the scenes are peppered with funny one- liners by Kamal and even the songs in the film are filmed in a comical manner.
Production
The film was initially expected to be directed by K. S. RavikumarK. S. Ravikumar
K. S. Ravikumar is an Indian film director and actor, primarily working in Tamil cinema. He has directed numerous films ranging from comedy and drama to action thrillers. His film Dasavathaaram went on to gross $16 million worldwide in the first four weeks and eventually became one of the...
who directed the successful Avvai Shanmughi with Kamal Haasan in the lead earlier, but he was later replaced by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao after he refused to sign the film until the FEFSI strike of 1997 had stopped. Actresses Meena and Simran's unavailability led to Rambha
Rambha (actress)
Vijaya Lakshmi , best known by her stage name Rambha, is an Indian film actress. She has acted in over 100 South Indian films and also in Bollywood films. She had done several successful films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, Bengali and Bhojpuri films. She paired up with popular heroes...
being cast in a lead role. After Soundarya
Soundarya
Soundarya was a film actress who appeared in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films. She acted in more than 90 films, most of them in Telugu. She was killed in a plane crash near Bangalore.-Film career:...
's death in 2004, Kamal Haasan paid tribute by revealing that "she came forward to do the movie, when the rest of the industry was unwilling to work with me [Kamal Haasan]".
Cast
- Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
as Ramalingam - Prabhu Deva as Sundaralingam
- SoundaryaSoundaryaSoundarya was a film actress who appeared in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films. She acted in more than 90 films, most of them in Telugu. She was killed in a plane crash near Bangalore.-Film career:...
as Sundhari - RambhaRambha (actress)Vijaya Lakshmi , best known by her stage name Rambha, is an Indian film actress. She has acted in over 100 South Indian films and also in Bollywood films. She had done several successful films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, Bengali and Bhojpuri films. She paired up with popular heroes...
as Janaki - VadiveluVadiveluVadivelu , often referred to as Vadivel, is a Tamil film actor,comedian and playback singer. Since 2000, he has acted as a comedian in various Tamil films. During his career, Vadivelu has won several Filmfare Awards and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards...
as Singaaram - Delhi GaneshDelhi GaneshDelhi Ganesh born in Tirunelveli as a veteran Tamil film actor, who mostly acts in supporting roles and is perhaps best known for his role in Kamal Hassan comedies and films like Nayagan and Michael Madana Kama Rajan. He has acted in more than 400 films from 1980 to present...
- MouleeT. S. B. K. MouleeThiruvidaimarudur Sambamoorthi Ganapathigal Balakrishna Sastrigal Moulee is an Indian stage and film actor, director and playwright. He is the son of noted Harikatha exponent T. S. Balakrishna Sastrigal.- Early life :...
as Balamurugan - Cho Ramaswamy as Vedachaari
- NageshNagesh (actor)Nagesh , was a Tamil film actor, mostly remembered for his roles as a comedian during the 1960s. He is regarded as one of the most prolific comedians in Tamil cinema....
as Chokkalingam - SrividyaSrividyaSrividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
- S. N. Lakshmi as Noorjahan
- Kovai SaralaKovai SaralaKovai Sarala is a popular well known Tamil comedian actress who prominently plays supporting roles and has also starred as a heroine...
- Cochin HaneefaCochin HaneefaMohammed Haneefa, better known by his stage name Cochin Haneefa was an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malayalam cinema...
as Vivekananda - M. S. ViswanathanM. S. ViswanathanManayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...
as Paramasivam - Crazy MohanCrazy Mohan"Crazy" Mohan is a popular Tamil comedy actor, script writer and playwright.He was a student at the College of Engineering, Guindy, where he graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 1973. He wrote his first drama at College of Engineering, Guindy, when he was in the 4th year in 1972. His guide was...
as Mohan - VaiyapuriVaiyapuriVaiyapuri is a Tamil film actor who mostly plays a comedian. He has appeared in many Tamil films and is also a guest judge on Asathapovathu Yaaru on Sun TV in Chennai. He started his career in Balu mahendra Film "Raman Abdulla" with the servant role and has scored most in the first film...
Release
Critics from Indolink.com gave the film a mixed review, citing that "if one can put the inspirations behind, the movie is quite enjoyable" and that "the going gets very complicated and absolutely hilarious".In 2010, the producer of the film P. L. Thenappan
P. L. Thenappan
P. L. Thenappan is a Tamil cinema producer. He owns the production company called Sri Rajlakshmi Film Ltd.He debuted as a producer with the Tamil Film Kadhala Kadhala starring Kamal Haasan and Prabhu Deva which was released on 6.4.1998...
threatened legal action against the makers of the Hindi film, Housefull
Housefull (2010 film)
Housefull is a 2010 Bollywood comedy film directed by Sajid Khan, and starring Akshay Kumar as the protagonist and Deepika Padukone, Lara Dutta and Jiah Khan as the female leads. Ritesh Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal and Boman Irani also play important roles in the film, whilst Malaika Arora Khan and...
for remaking scenes from the film without permission. Thenappan revealed he had dubbed the film into Hindi in the late 1990s as Mirchi Masala, but the version did not release.