Minguel at 04:46, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T04:46:09Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kaadhal Kavithai poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Agathiyan]]
| producer = [[Sunanda Murali Manohar]]
| starring = {{ubl|[[Prashanth]]|[[Isha Koppikar]]|[[Kasthuri Shankar|Kasthuri]]}}
| cinematography = [[Ravi Yadav]]
| editing = Lancy-Mohan
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| studio = Metro Film Corporation
| released = {{Film date|1998|12|25|df=y}}
| runtime = 145 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Kaadhal Kavithai''''' ({{translation|''Poem of love''}}) is a 1998 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romance film]] directed by [[Agathiyan]] and produced by [[Sunanda Murali Manohar]]. The film stars [[Prashanth]], [[Isha Koppikar]] (in her Tamil debut) and [[Kasthuri Shankar|Kasthuri]], while [[Manivannan]] and [[Srividya]] play supporting characters. The film had music composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]], while duo Lancy-Mohan and Ravi Yadav handled the editing and cinematography respectively.

The storyline revolves around a classical dancer who, while touring Europe, visits [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]]'s memorial at [[Althorp]]. Browsing through the various messages left by the public, she comes across a poetic, poignant epistle in Tamil that captivates her and impels her to scribble a response. While returning a few days later, she finds the author of that note has left another one, prompting her to begin to search for the author. After opening on 25 December 1998, the film went on to gain success critically and became a commercially successful venture.

== Plot ==
{{More plot|date=June 2023}}
Vishwa spends his time hanging out with Anandham to avoid his mother, who always quarrels with his father. To find peace, he plays tricks on others. Among the victims is Jothi. The story moves to London, where Vishva visits [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]]'s grave and leaves a beautiful poem behind. At the same time, Jothi too visits the grave and leaves a note after reading the poem. Then begins a warm relationship between Jothi and Vishwa without seeing each other. Whether the two are united form the rest of the story.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
*[[Prashanth]] as Vishwa
*[[Isha Koppikar]] as Jothi
*[[Kasthuri Shankar|Kasthuri]] as Swapna
*[[Manivannan]] as Vishwa's father
*[[Rajeev (Tamil actor)|Rajiv]] as Jothi's father
*[[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]] as Vishwa's mother
*[[Srividya]] as Jothi's mother
*[[Charle]] as Anandham
*[[Nikita Aria|Supriya Nikita Palekar]] as Shoba
*[[Thalaivasal Vijay]] as Pandiyan
*[[Karan (actor)|Karan]] in a special appearance
*[[Raju Sundaram]] as himself in a special appearance
*[[Roja Selvamani|Roja]] as herself in a special appearance
*[[Saranya Nag]] as Jothi's friend (child artiste)
}}

== Production ==
After the success of the 1998 film ''[[Jeans (film)|Jeans]]'', its co-producer [[Ashok Amritraj]] agreed to work with actor [[Prashanth]] again in his next film and thus signed on to finance a film to be directed by [[Agathiyan]].<ref name="Dub-a-dub-a-dub">{{Cite web |last=Rajitha |date=16 January 1999 |title=Dub-a-dub-a-dub |url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/1999/jan/16ss.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928194633/https://m.rediff.com/movies/1999/jan/16ss.htm |archive-date=28 September 2022 |access-date=7 June 2023 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 April 1998 |title="GENES" PRODUCER'S NEXT TAMIL VENTURE! |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/27-04-98/genes.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023142720/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/27-04-98/genes.htm |archive-date=23 October 2004 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 1999 |title=Rahman in Hollywood |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/08spice.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026090450/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/dec/08spice.htm |archive-date=26 October 2012 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The film, initially untitled, began filming in [[Tamil Nadu]] in August 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krishna |first=Sandya S. |title="Having watched the wonderful films in India, I was quite 'crazy' about films" |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/Feb/ashok.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175549/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/Feb/ashok.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=Indolink}}</ref> Amritraj later sold the project, later titled ''Kaadhal Kavithai'', to [[Sunanda Murali Manohar]] of Cee I TV Limited.<ref name="diana">{{Cite web |date=28 October 1998 |title=When love grows where Di died |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/oct/28ss.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022546/https://www.rediff.com/movies/1998/oct/28ss.htm |archive-date=27 November 2018 |access-date=7 June 2023 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>

[[Isha Koppikar]] made her debut as an actor in Tamil cinema with this film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterji |first=Shoma A. |author-link=Shoma A. Chatterji |date=26 July 2008 |title='I want to get out of the item number trap' |url=https://m.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080726/saturday/main2.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608045342/https://m.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080726/saturday/main2.htm |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=[[The Tribune (India)|The Tribune]]}}</ref> The team had earlier approached [[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan|Aishwarya Rai]] to be a part of the film, though she did not accept the offer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 June 1998 |title=Prashanth In Shankar, Agaththiyan Films |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/27-06-98/prashant.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312040740/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinenews/27-06-98/prashant.htm |archive-date=12 March 2005 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref> [[Monal Naval|Monal]] auditioned for the film, but did not make the final cast.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 December 1999 |title=Simran's Sister Monal! |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/26-12-99/jothiga.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023142518/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/26-12-99/jothiga.htm |archive-date=23 October 2004 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref> [[Prakash Raj]] was originally chosen for an important role; however he was replaced by [[Thalaivasal Vijay]] while [[Indraja]] was originally offered [[Kasthuri Shankar|Kasthuri]]'s role which she refused due to the role being glamorous. [[Roja Selvamani|Roja]] made a cameo appearance for a song which was originally offered to [[Simran (actress)|Simran]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=6 December 1998 |title=பெங்களூரிலிருந்து ஒரு மேகம்! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1998-12-06/page/n97/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230607132933/https://archive.org/details/kalki1998-12-06/page/n97/mode/2up |archive-date=7 June 2023 |access-date=7 June 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=96 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> [[Raju Sundaram]] choreographed a belly dance song shot in Rajasthan featuring Kasthuri.<ref name="Dub-a-dub-a-dub" /> Part of the film was shot in [[London]], with locations including near the [[River Thames]], the [[Palace of Westminster|Houses of Parliament]], [[Piccadilly Circus]] and [[Althorp]], where the memorial to [[Diana, Princess of Wales]] was located.<ref name="diana" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=KAADHAL KAVITHAI |url=http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/lot/2330/review.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224123201/http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/lot/2330/review.htm |archive-date=24 February 2014 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=Oocities.org}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 1998 |title=Kadhal Kavithai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/kadhal-kavithai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/686351545 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608052507/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/kadhal-kavithai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/686351545 |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaadhal Kavithai / Manam Virumbuthey Unnai |url=https://avdigital.in/products/kaadhal-kavithai-manam-virumbuthey-unnai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205103759/https://avdigital.in/products/kaadhal-kavithai-manam-virumbuthey-unnai |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=AVDigital}}</ref> and became one of the most sold Tamil albums in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaadhal Kavidhai |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Music/Reviews/98/Kaadhal_Kavidhai_19231.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020107051823/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Music/Reviews/98/Kaadhal_Kavidhai_19231.html |archive-date=7 January 2002 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=Indolink}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer(s) !! Duration
|-
| "Aalana Naal Mudhala" || [[Pushpavanam Kuppusamy]], [[Sowmya Raoh]] || 05:06
|-
| "Hey Konji Pesu" || [[Ilaiyaraaja]], [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]] || 05:05
|-
| "Alai Meethu" || [[Bhavatharini]] || 03:04
|-
| "Diana Diana" || [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]] || 05:11
|-
| "Kadhal Meethu" || [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]] || 05:08
|-
| "Manasa Thotta Kadhal" || [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]] || 04:37
|-
| "Thathom" || [[Ila Arun]], [[Swarnalatha]] || 04:59
|}

== Release and reception ==

D. S. Ramanujam from ''[[The Hindu]]'' gave the film a positive review, praising the director's work.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S. |date=1 January 1999 |title=Film Reviews: Kaathal Kavithai/Cheran Chozhan Pandiyan/There's something About Mary |url=http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/990101/09/09010224.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010906110301/http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/990101/09/09010224.htm |archive-date=6 September 2001 |access-date=8 March 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |pages=27}}</ref> Kala Krishnan Ramesh from ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' mentioned that the film is "visually a delight, the songs and music are pleasant, especially when they harmonise with the locations, which they don't always." The reviewer adds that "Prashanth is alright though he seems a little narcissistic, you always feel that he's looking at a mirror someone's holding up. The heroine is new, and not unpleasant. Srividya is wasted, though brightening."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramesh |first=Kala Krishnan |date=10 January 1999 |title=Kadal Kavithai |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/4E8B272E9878BC126525694000620183 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203041234/http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/4E8B272E9878BC126525694000620183 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref>

G. Ulaganathan from ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' wrote that both Prashanth and Koppikar performed well and "Prashanth, especially after his ''Jeans'' has matured as an actor".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ulaganathan |first=G. |date=27 December 1998 |title='KK'hangover |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:80/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/076FF238CBFF48D26525694000570F70?OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024005929/http://www.cscsarchive.org:80/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/076FF238CBFF48D26525694000570F70?OpenDocument |archive-date=24 October 2007 |access-date=30 September 2022 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> R. P. R. of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the acting of Manivannan and Ambika and poetic dialogues and felt the characterisation of parents of both main leads were more memorable than the lead pair but questioned Agathiyan for reusing the plot of his ''[[Kadhal Kottai]]'' instead of coming up with something new while panning the acting of Prashanth and Kasthuri's character design and concluded saying certain special features from the film may not attract the attention of fans because it is a familiar story but if you think the story doesn't matter, there are many other aspects of the film to consider.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஆர். பி. ஆர். |date=10 January 1999 |title=காதல் கவிதை |url=https://ibb.co/2N9fm3C |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608055503/https://ibb.co/2N9fm3C |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=81 |language=ta}}</ref>

Prashanth, with ''Kaadhal Kavithai'', capped off a hat-trick of hit films in 1998 after the successes of Shankar's ''Jeans'' and Ravichandran's ''[[Kannedhirey Thondrinal]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S. |date=22 January 1999 |title=Luring the audiences back to theatres |url=http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/990122/09/09220222.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010411023141/http://www.webpage.com/hindu/daily/990122/09/09220222.htm |archive-date=11 April 2001 |access-date=11 March 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |pages=26}}</ref> Koppikar won plaudits from critics for her performance with Rediff.com stating that with her "strong screen presence, and acting skills that belie her newbie status, she could be the latest to storm the TN industry".<ref name="Dub-a-dub-a-dub" /> The film won her further offers and actor [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] signed her on for his film ''[[Nenjinile]]'' after seeing her performance in ''Kaadhal Kavithai''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajitha |date=7 June 1999 |title=Exploring fresh avenues |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/jun/07ss.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226045726/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/jun/07ss.htm |archive-date=26 December 2014 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> She went on to win the [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 April 1999 |title=Filmfare awards presented at a dazzling function |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/324A4A470734BB1E6525694000620184 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323102405/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/324A4A470734BB1E6525694000620184 |archive-date=23 March 2012 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Agathiyan}}

[[Category:1998 Indian films]]
[[Category:1998 romance films]]
[[Category:1998 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Agathiyan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in London]]
[[Category:Indian romance films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romance films]]

Kaadhal Kavithai - Revision history

Minguel at 04:46, 3 March 2026