Ajithkumardas6 at 04:34, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T04:34:54Z

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{{Short description|2002 film directed by Kathir}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kadhal Virus.jpg
| caption = DVD cover
| director = [[Kathir]]
| writer = Kathir
| producer = Kathir
| starring = [[Richard Rishi]]<br />[[Sridevi Vijaykumar]]
| studio = Sound & Light Studios
| music = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cinematography = [[Arjun Jena]]
| editing = [[V. T. Vijayan]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2002|12|19}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kadhal Virus''''' ({{translation|Love virus}}) is a 2002 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romance film]] written, directed and produced by [[Kathir]]. The film stars [[Richard Rishi]] and [[Sridevi Vijaykumar]], making their Tamil debut in lead roles, with [[Abbas (actor)|Abbas]] in a supporting role. [[A. R. Rahman]] composed the music, while [[Arjun Jena]] was the cinematographer. The film tells the story of a young director, trying to pursue his dream by overcoming all hurdles. It was released on 19 December 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kadhal Virus / காதல் வைரஸ் (2002) |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/kadhal-virus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220100158/https://screen4screen.com/movies/kadhal-virus |archive-date=20 December 2023 |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=Screen 4 Screen}}</ref> and fared poorly at the box office.

== Plot ==
Deepak is an aspiring filmmaker trying to get his first production out. He gets a chance to go to [[Coonoor]] to write a script for a movie where he meets and falls in love with Geetha. After a struggle, Geeta understands his love and convinces her father. The couple decide to get married once his first film is made. Deepak leaves for Chennai, promising to write letters to Geeta. However the postman who is secretly in love with Geeta hides all the letters sent by Deepak, including the later changing his address. A chasm develops between the lovers because of the communication issue caused by the postman.

Geeta convinces her father to search for Deepak and finds him successfully in a movie set. However she and her father misunderstand Deepak shouting at his assistants to be words meant for them and they leave. Deepak is heartbroken when he learns of Geeta's visit, however she is lost for ever in his life. Years go past, and now Deepak is a highly successful film director. He is in search of new faces for his upcoming movie. He comes across Rajiv, who is a poor aspiring actor. It however turns out that Rajiv is from a wealthy family, but has chosen a hard life because of his passion to be a movie star. Deepak knows of the hardships of the cine field and advises Rajiv to go back to his family giving up his dream, because Deepak feels Rajiv can lead a better life with his family. This leads to Rajiv getting rejected by other movie directors as well. Deepak does this to help Rajiv lead a good life rather than him struggling and wasting his time. Rajiv however consumes poison and attempts suicide.

Fate leads to Deepak overhearing a conversation between Geeta and her friend in a poor slum. Deepak is initially elated to see Geeta, however he is pained that she lives in such a filthy place. It turns out that Rajiv had married Geeta. She fully supports Rajiv in realising his dream, but is repulsed to learn Deepak still has feelings for her and as a result rejected Rajiv and refuses him to have a career in cine industry. This is a complete misunderstanding on her part. Deepak decides to set things right. He invites Rajiv to his studio and promises he'll be the hero of his movie, under one condition that Rajiv must not tell Geeta that he is playing the protagonist in Deepak's movie. Rajiv is elated, and promises to keep this a secret.

Deepak alters his story to suit Rajiv. Due to the tweaks, the actor originally roped in to play the hero of the movie has to be chucked out of his role. The actor pleads with Deepak not to do it as it would ruin his reputation and dream. Deepak however does not budge and goes ahead with his plan to cast Rajiv. This causes friction between the movie producer and Deepak, leading to the producer dumping him. Deepak, out of his love for Geeta, decides to produce the movie himself, taking loans from creditors. The young actor whom Deepak chucked out of his movie vents out his anger by stabbing Deepak on the movie set. Deepak is admitted to a hospital and his health deteriorates. The creditors demand their money back and Deepak settles the debt with his own money. He continues directing the movie under severe financial and physical strain. He is determined to complete the movie and goes penniless as a result. The movie is completed and released. Deepak watches the movie in a theatre sitting with commoners. He is completely broke and a pauper, but filled with happiness as he has made his lover's wish of making her husband a hero come true.

Rajiv reveals to Geeta about the movie. Geeta is upset when she finds out Deepak is the director, but realises the hardships Deepak had to undergo. By chance she runs into the postman who reveals that it was him rather than Deepak who ruined her life. Geeta goes in search of Deepak, finally meets him in the theatre only to find him dead with a smile on his face.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Richard Rishi|Richard]] as Deepak
* [[Sridevi Vijaykumar]] as Geetha
* [[Vivek (actor)|Vivek]] as Puthir
* [[Abbas (actor)|Abbas]] as Rajiv
* [[Raghuvaran]] as Raghu
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Aavudai Aachi
* [[Pyramid Natarajan]] as Film producer
* Laxmi Rattan as Geetha's father
* Jaya Murali as Geetha's mother
* [[Ragasudha]] as Geetha's friend
* Arvind Kathare as Deepak's friend and Geetha's cousin
* Ramesh Maali as Deepak's friend
* [[Deepak Dinkar]] as Deepak's friend
* [[Vasudevan Baskaran]] as Sudhakaran
* [[Srinath (Tamil actor)|Srinath]] as Postman
* [[Cell Murugan]] as Police Inspector
* Lekhasri as Woman at the bus stand
* [[Vellai Subbaiah]] as Protester
* [[Theni Kunjarammal]] as Old woman
* Sakthivel as Theatre owner
* [[T. G. Thyagarajan]] as himself (Cameo appearance)
* [[Kathir]] as himself (Cameo appearance)
* [[Mysskin]] as Kathir's assistant (uncredited role)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/tamil-cinema/article/mysskin-s-alter-ego-revealed-in-vijay-s-yesteryear-film-with-interesting-titbits-of-his-filmmaking-journey/597797|title=Mysskin’s alter ego revealed in Vijay’s yesteryear film with interesting titbits of his filmmaking journey|date=27 May 2020|website=www.zoomtventertainment.com}}</ref>
* [[Vetrimaaran]] as Deepak's assistant (uncredited role)
}}

A sequence in the film stars '''guest appearances''' from:
{{cast listing|
* [[A. R. Rahman]]
* [[Bharathiraja]]
* [[Chitra Lakshmanan]]
* [[G. M. Kumar]]
* [[K. Balachander]]
* [[K. S. Ravikumar]]
* [[Keyaar]]
* [[Mani Ratnam]]
* [[Manjula Vijayakumar]]
* [[Mansoor Ali Khan (actor)|Mansoor Ali Khan]]
* [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]]
* Nikkil Murugan
* [[P. Vasu]]
* [[R. Parthiban|Parthiban]]
* [[Prashanth]]
* [[Raj Kapoor (Tamil film director)|Raj Kapoor]]
* [[Rajkiran]]
* [[Ramesh Khanna]]
* [[Saran (director)|Saran]]
* [[S. Shankar|Shankar]]
* [[Silambarasan]]
* [[T. Rajender]]
* [[Thalaivasal Vijay]]
* [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
* [[Vijayakanth]]
* [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]]
* [[Vikraman]]
}}

== Production ==
[[Srikanth (actor, born 1979)|Srikanth]], then a model, was cast in the lead role and was coached acting skills by then-assistant directors such as [[Vetrimaaran]] and [[Mysskin]].<ref name="srihin">{{Cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Avinash |date=4 March 2020 |title=18 years in cinema, actor Srikanth says he is 'unaffected by trolling' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/mar/04/18-years-in-cinema-actor-srikanth-says-he-is-unaffected-by-trolling-2111737.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305134500/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2020/mar/04/18-years-in-cinema-actor-srikanth-says-he-is-unaffected-by-trolling-2111737.html |archive-date=5 March 2020 |access-date=18 November 2020 |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> Srikanth was later dropped and [[Richard Rishi|Richard]], previously a child actor, was selected to make his debut in the leading role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 July 2010 |title=Shalini's sibling Richard |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Jul/26/shalinis-sibling-richard-172950.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111103224/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2010/Jul/26/shalinis-sibling-richard-172950.html |archive-date=11 November 2024 |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=[[The New Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref>

Early reports suggested that [[Bhumika Chawla]] would star in the film but she later opted out.<ref name="Tamilmagan">{{Cite web |last=Tamilmagan |title=Kadal Virus |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/kadalvirus.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040426143227/http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/kadalvirus.asp |archive-date=26 April 2004 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rajitha |date=27 January 2001 |title=On the floors |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/jan/27tamil.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102101302/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/jan/27tamil.htm |archive-date=2 November 2012 |access-date=1 December 2016 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Her role was later handed to [[Sridevi Vijaykumar]], who would make her Tamil debut as a leading heroine with the film.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2001 |title=Juniors in senior stakes |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/jul/20pad.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124342/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/jul/20pad.htm |archive-date=13 April 2014 |access-date=1 December 2016 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> The team decided to film a sequence with several prominent directors as a part of the film's launch event.<ref name="Tamilmagan" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[A. R. Rahman]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kadhal Virus Tamil Audio CDs By A.R. Rahman |url=https://www.vintageav.shop/product/kadhal-virus-tamil-audio-cds-by-a-r-rahman/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111102302/https://www.vintageav.shop/product/kadhal-virus-tamil-audio-cds-by-a-r-rahman/ |archive-date=11 November 2024 |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=VintageAV.shop |language=en-US}}</ref> The song "Ye Ye Ennachu Unakku" was one of the earliest South Indian film songs to be played on [[Channel V India]], then known mainly for only playing English and Hindi songs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=13 February 2019 |title=How 'kothavaranga' evolved into 'Mustafa Mustafa' {{!}} Kathir on directing some of A. R. Rahman's best love songs |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/valentines-day-director-kathir-and-his-series-of-love-films/article26258104.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922164356/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/valentines-day-director-kathir-and-his-series-of-love-films/article26258104.ece |archive-date=22 September 2019 |access-date=11 November 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable tracklist" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer(s) !! Lyrics
|-
| "Ye Ye Ennachu Unakku" || [[Vasundhara Das]] || [[Vaali (poet)|Vaalee]]
|-
| "Sonnalum" || [[P. Unnikrishnan]], [[Harini (singer)|Harini]] || [[Vairamuthu]]
|-
| "Vaan Nila" || [[Srinivas (singer)|Srinivas]], [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]] || Vaalee
|-
| "Enthan Vanil" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[Swarnalatha]] || [[Pa. Vijay]]
|-
| "Baila More" || [[Silambarasan]], [[Tippu (singer)|Tippu]] || Vaalee
|-
| "O Kadhale" || [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], [[Clinton Cerejo]] || Vaalee
|}

== Reception ==
Malathi Rangarajan of ''[[The Hindu]]'' mentioned that "the screenplay is incoherent in parts" and that "the dialogue and expressions are sometimes too clichéd". She blamed the film's production delay revealing that "initially the film did kindle a lot of interest — what with A. R. Rahman as composer and a fresh lead pair to boot, but because it has been in the making for too long, the euphoria first triggered did wane a little".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=3 January 2003 |title=Kadhal Virus |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/03/stories/2003010301330200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030912080350/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/03/stories/2003010301330200.htm |archive-date=12 September 2003 |access-date=1 December 2016 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Malini Mannath of ''Chennai Online'' wrote "So, while taking a lot of effort to put in style and gloss, Kathir forgets to put in even half the effort in his scripting and narration. The scripting is slip-shod, the narration is jerky, and leaves much to be desired. The director totally ignores the time factor, and the continuity in logic, between scenes preceding and those following".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=29 December 2002 |title=Kaadhal Virus |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov239.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050319090409/http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov239.asp |archive-date=19 March 2005 |access-date=21 September 2023 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref> ''[[Sify]]'' wrote, "Blame it on the avalanche of love stories hitting the screen in recent times that directors seem to have run out of ideas. Kathir, the much hyped director wanted to try out something different with ''Kathal Virus'', but has ended up in making an intolerable film". The critic added, "the music of A.R.Rahman does not fit into the narration. The lead pair is a total letdown as Richard and Sridevi looks wooden and uncomfortable".<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 April 2003 |title=Kathal Virus |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/kathal-virus-review-tamil-pcluyxhbeafig.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420211950/https://www.sify.com/movies/kathal-virus-review-tamil-pcluyxhbeafig.html |archive-date=20 April 2021 |access-date=11 November 2024 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> ''Cinesouth'' wrote "Cinema means business for some. To some, it is a form of art. For director Kadhir, cinema is poetry. He cant make a film without love, without poetries, without extreme close-ups of roses in bloom and without love letters getting mixed up. 'Kaadhal Virus' has all these ingredients."<ref>{{cite web |title=Kadhal Virus |url=http://cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/kadalvirus.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030414202222/http://cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/kadalvirus.shtml |archive-date=14 April 2003 |access-date=5 February 2025 |website=Cinesouth}}</ref>

The film became a box office failure, with Kathir feeling that having "Virus" in the title was wrong since it possibly led audiences to believe it was about [[Computer virus|computer viruses]].<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
{{Kathir}}
[[Category:2002 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:2002 Indian films]]
[[Category:2002 romance films]]
[[Category:Films about actors]]
[[Category:Films about film directors and producers]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kathir]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Films set in cinemas and movie theaters]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ooty]]
[[Category:Indian romance films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romance films]]

Kadhal Virus - Revision history

Ajithkumardas6 at 04:34, 3 March 2026