Kai Kodukkum Kai

1984 film by J. Mahendran

Kai Kodukkum Kai

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Mahendran
Screenplay by| Mahendran
Story by| Eeswarachandra
Produced by|

* Vijayakumar
* R. Vijayachandran

Starring|

* Rajinikanth
* Revathi

Cinematography| Ashok Kumar
Edited by|

* B. Lenin
* V. T. Vijayan

Music by| Ilaiyaraaja

Production
company

Sri Raghavendraas

Release date

* 15 June 1984 (1984-06-15)

Country| India
Language| Tamil

Kai Kodukkum Kai (transl. Helping Hand) is a 1984 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by Mahendran, starring Rajinikanth and Revathi. It is an extended version of Munithayi written by Eeswarachandra – the third segment of the 1976 Kannada anthology film Katha Sangama. Rajnikanth, who played the antagonist in Munithayi, played the lead role in this film. The film was produced by Vijayakumar and R. Vijayachandran. It was released on 15 June 1984.

## Plot

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Kaalimuthu marries Seetha, the girl he loves after much denial from his elder brother. Seetha is blind and is raped by a Pannaiyar who has a weakness for women and addiction to sex. The Pannaiyar, even though married, lusts after looking at Seetha and rapes her in the absence of Kaalimuthu, her husband. The climax is an interesting twist as to what happens when Kaalimuthu decides to forgive the Pannaiyar for his crime.

## Cast

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* Rajinikanth as Kaalimuthu[1]
* Revathi as Seetha
* Rajyalakshmi as Mangamma
* Ranganath as Periyapannai
* V. S. Raghavan as Kaalimuthu's brother
* Sowcar Janaki as Kaalimuthu's sister-in-law
* Y. G. Mahendran
* Poornam Viswanathan
* Thengai Srinivasan
* Chinni Jayanth
* Kumarimuthu
* Vijayalakshmi
* Bayilvan Ranganathan

## Production

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Actor Vijayakumar decided to produce a film with Rajinikanth as the lead actor. Rajinikanth suggested Mahendran be the director. The film was an extended version of Munithayi, the third segment of the 1975 Kannada anthology film Katha Sangama. Rajinikanth, who played the antagonist in Munithayi, played the lead in this film. Mahendran wrote the screenplay with slight changes in the script like having a different ending.[2][3] When Revathi was approached by Mahendran to portray the blind girl Seetha, she accepted after being impressed by the script. In preparation for portraying the character, she walked around her house blindfolded.[4] This is the feature film debut of Chinni Jayanth.[5]

Revathi refused to expose her skin for the scene where Seetha is raped; respecting her wishes, Mahendran shot the scene "with care", prioritising Revathi's comfort.[6] Vijayakumar claimed he was not satisfied with the climax as he felt fans would not accept Seetha getting raped, but Mahendran refused to change the climax that the original film had.[7] Mahendran, in his autobiography Cinemavum Naanum, countered that the producer and financier insisted to have that scene in the end and was forced to keep it.[8] A duet sequence had to be included in the film due to pressure from others.[9]

## Soundtrack

[edit]

The soundtrack and score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[10] The song "Azaghu Sirichathilay" song is not available in the original EP record.[11]

Track listingNo.| Title| Lyrics| Singer(s)| Length

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|
|
|

1.| "Thaazham Poove Vaasam"| Pulamaipithan| S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki| 4:13
2.| "Paattha Padichapulle"| Gangai Amaran| S. Janaki, Saibaba| 4:08
3.| "Kannukkulle Yaaro"| Na. Kamarasan| S. P. Sailaja, P. Susheela| 4:20
4.| "Aaththa Peththaale"| Vaali| Malaysia Vasudevan| 4:28
5.| "Azaghu Sirichathilay"| Madukkur Kannan| Ilaiyaraaja| 4:03
Total length:| 21:12

## Release and reception

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Kai Kodukkum Kai was released on 15 June 1984.[12] Ananda Vikatan said the film "teetered between Rajini-ism and Mahendran-ism".[13] Similar comments were made by Kalki.[14] The film ran for over 100 days in theatres;[3] however Mahendran said it failed at the box-office.[15]

## References

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1. ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 111.
2. ^ Mahendran 2013, pp. 245–246.
3. ^ a b "கன்னடத்தில் இருந்து தமிழுக்கு வந்த கை கொடுக்கும் கை". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 29 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
4. ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 110.
5. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (23 March 2006). "Chinne Jayanth: setting new trends in television". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
6. ^ Pillai, Akshaya (9 February 2018). "Make a scene, women". Business Line. Archived from the original on 1 December 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
7. ^ "கை கொடுக்கும் கை பட கிளைமாக்ஸ்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 10 June 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
8. ^ Mahendran 2013, p. 246.
9. ^ S, Venkadesan (12 December 2012). "He could have missed out on his favourite film". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
10. ^ "Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
11. ^ "Kaikodukkum Kai Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
12. ^ Mahendran 2013, p. 344.
13. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (2 April 2019). "Tribute: J Mahendran, Who Began His Directing Career With The Rajinikanth-starring 'Mullum Malarum'". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
14. ^ "கை கொடுக்கும் கை". Kalki (in Tamil). 1 July 1984. p. 62\. Archived from the original on 31 July 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
15. ^ Mahendran 2013, p. 249.

## Bibliography

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* Mahendran (2013) [2004]. சினிமாவும் நானும் [Cinema and I] (in Tamil). Karpagam Publications. OCLC 54777094.
* Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-342111-5.

## External links

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* Kai Kodukkum Kai at IMDb
* Kai Kodukkum Kai at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Mahendran

* Mullum Malarum (1978)
* Uthiripookkal (1979)
* Poottaatha Poottukkal (1980)
* Johnny (1980)
* Nenjathai Killathe (1980)
* Nandu (1981)
* Metti (1982)
* Azhagiya Kanne (1982)
* Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984)
* Kannukku Mai Ezhuthu (1986)
* Oor Panchayathu (1992)
* Sasanam (2006)

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