The film was a major commercial success and also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the National Film Award for Best Direction as well as the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Agathiyan. It garnered positive critical acclaim upon release on 12 July 1996 and ran for over 270 days at the box office, becoming a silver-jubilee film.[1] The film was remade in Kannada as Yaare Neenu Cheluve, in Hindi as Sirf Tum, and in Bengali as Hothat Brishti.
The basic theme of the film was inspired from Purananuru literature on the relationship between King Kopperum Chozhan and poet Pisirandhaiyar, though they never met but they developed a strong relationship until their deaths.[2] Agathiyan initially wanted to make his directorial debut with this subject since no producer were willing to produce the film, he made few films and earned his breakthrough with Vaanmathi. Post its success, he chose Ajith, the actor from that film to play the leading role with Sivasakthi Pandian agreeing to produce the film.[3]
Sirf Tum Film Hindi
Agathiyan had asked Devayani to change her glamorous on screen image for the film, and Devayani duly agreed with the film becoming the start of several other similar roles for her.[3][4] The film was initially titled Nila Nila Odi Vaa before it was renamed Kadhal Kottai.[5] Raja was initially reluctant to act, but joined the cast at the director's insistence.[6]
The Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan appreciated the film by giving 52 marks, mentioning that the basic plot was a novel idea which had been given a good shape and life by the filmmaker.[8] K. N. Vijiyin of New Straits Times wrote, "I had expected the usual story of college boy meeting girl with both parents objecting to their relationship. So I was pleasantly surprised when [Kaadhal Kottai] turned out to be a totally different experience."[9] R. P. R. of Kalki also favourably reviewed the film, though they felt certain distracting moments such as Heera's revealing outfits, the dream sequence, auto stunt and fight sequences could have been avoided.[10]
Kadhal Kottai is considered a cult film and a landmark in Tamil cinema diverging from traditional romantic films of the time.[17][13] This film has been included in the book Pride of Tamil Cinema written by G. Dhananjayan, which covers films between 1931 and 2013 that have earned national and international recognition. Dhananjayan wrote, "Kadhal Kottai is a trendsetting film which breathed new life into Tamil cinema and paved the way for revival of love themes in a big way".[18] According to The Times of India the film hits the top list of romantic films made in Tamil cinema.[19][20] The film also hit the list of top romantic films of Tamil magazines Ananda Vikatan and Dinamani.[21][22] The film is considered one of the blockbuster films in the career of Ajith Kumar.[23] The film was released as a novel in 2010 under the same name.[24] In the 2021 film Master, a reference is made about the film when Vijay talks to Malavika Mohanan.[25]
What's it about women born Nov 19 - the birth anniversary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi - that makes them clutter-breakers of extraordinary dimensions? Actresses Zeenat Aman, Rehana Sultan and Sushmita Sen are perfect examples - fiercely independent, they redefined the Hindi film heroine and ushered in a new-age post-feminist female protagonist, who could look after herself quite well.
2. "Satyam Shivam Sundaram": With her face scarred and her body more exposed than any mainstream heroine dared, Zeenat romped across this epic film with a couldn't-care-less grace that most heroines only dream about.
4. "Savera": Here's the thing. Rehana Sultan could play against conventions and get away with it. In this film, she plays a girl pregnant with her dead lover's child. She hides the pregnancy to the man chosen for her marriage, only to discover later that he's incapable of siring children. Can't get any bolder than that. 2ff7e9595c
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