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{{short description|1984 film by J. Mahendran}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kai Kodukkum Kai.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Mahendran (filmmaker)|Mahendran]]
| producer = {{ubl|[[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]]|R. Vijayachandran}}
| screenplay = Mahendran
| story = Eeswarachandra
| starring = {{ubl|[[Rajinikanth]]|[[Revathi]]}}
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cinematography = [[Ashok Kumar (cinematographer)|Ashok Kumar]]
| editing = {{ubl|[[B. Lenin]]|[[V. T. Vijayan]]}}
| studio = Sri Raghavendraas
| released = {{film date|1984|6|15|df=y}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kai Kodukkum Kai''''' ({{translation|Helping Hand}}) is a 1984 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film written and directed by [[Mahendran (filmmaker)|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 (1976 film)|Katha Sangama]]''. Rajnikanth, who played the antagonist in ''Munithayi'', played the lead role in this film. The film was produced by [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] and R. Vijayachandran. It was released on 15 June 1984.

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=March 2022}}
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 ==
{{cast listing|
* [[Rajinikanth]] as Kaalimuthu{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=111}}
* [[Revathi]] as Seetha
* [[Rajyalakshmi]] as Mangamma
* [[Ranganath (actor)|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 (Kannada actress)|Vijayalakshmi]]
* [[Bayilvan Ranganathan]]
}}

== Production ==
Actor [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] decided to produce a film with [[Rajinikanth]] as the lead actor. Rajinikanth suggested [[Mahendran (filmmaker)|Mahendran]] be the director. The film was an extended version of ''Munithayi'', the third segment of the 1975 [[Kannada]] [[anthology film]] ''[[Katha Sangama (1976 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.{{sfn|Mahendran|2013|pp=245-246}}<ref name="MM1">{{Cite news |date=29 November 2007 |title=கன்னடத்தில் இருந்து தமிழுக்கு வந்த கை கொடுக்கும் கை |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/11/29234855/actor-rajini--act-in-kai-koduk.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030123954/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/11/29234855/actor-rajini--act-in-kai-koduk.html |archive-date=30 October 2014 |access-date=4 March 2014 |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> 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.{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=110}} This is the feature film debut of [[Chinni Jayanth]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=23 March 2006 |title=Chinne Jayanth: setting new trends in television |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/23/stories/2006032315650200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528231417/http://www.hindu.com/2006/03/23/stories/2006032315650200.htm |archive-date=28 May 2008 |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pillai |first=Akshaya |date=9 February 2018 |title=Make a scene, women |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/make-a-scene-women/article22701042.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201164610/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/make-a-scene-women/article22701042.ece |archive-date=1 December 2019 |access-date=21 October 2021 |work=[[Business Line]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 June 2007 |title=கை கொடுக்கும் கை பட கிளைமாக்ஸ் |url=https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2018/11/25234520/1214842/cinima-history-vijayakumar.vpf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822092638/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/cinehistory/2018/11/25234520/1214842/cinima-history-vijayakumar.vpf |archive-date=22 August 2019 |access-date=4 March 2014 |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> 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.{{sfn|Mahendran|2013|p=246}} A duet sequence had to be included in the film due to pressure from others.<ref>{{Cite news |last=S |first=Venkadesan |date=12 December 2012 |title=He could have missed out on his favourite film |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2012/dec/12/he-could-have-missed-out-on-his-favourite-film-433065.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163037/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2012/dec/12/he-could-have-missed-out-on-his-favourite-film-433065.html |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=30 January 2020 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack and score were composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984) |url=https://mio.to/album/Kai+Kodukkum+Kai+%281984%29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822092932/https://mio.to/album/Kai+Kodukkum+Kai+%281984%29 |archive-date=22 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=Music India Online}}</ref> The song "Azaghu Sirichathilay" song is not available in the original EP record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaikodukkum Kai Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja |url=https://mossymart.com/product/kaikodukkum-kai-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021090710/https://mossymart.com/product/kaikodukkum-kai-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-ilayaraja/ |archive-date=21 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Thaazham Poove Vaasam
| lyrics1 = [[Pulamaipithan]]
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[S. Janaki]]
| length1 = 4:13
| title2 = Paattha Padichapulle
| lyrics2 = [[Gangai Amaran]]
| extra2 = S. Janaki, Saibaba
| length2 = 4:08
| title3 = Kannukkulle Yaaro
| lyrics3 = [[Na. Kamarasan]]
| extra3 = [[S. P. Sailaja]], [[P. Susheela]]
| length3 = 4:20
| title4 = Aaththa Peththaale
| lyrics4 = [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
| extra4 = [[Malaysia Vasudevan]]
| length4 = 4:28
| title5 = Azaghu Sirichathilay
| lyrics5 = [[Yaar Kannan|Madukkur Kannan]]
| extra5 = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| length5 = 4:03
| total_length = 21:12
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Kai Kodukkum Kai'' was released on 15 June 1984.{{sfn|Mahendran|2013|p=344}} ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' said the film "teetered between Rajini-ism and Mahendran-ism".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan |date=2 April 2019 |title=Tribute: J Mahendran, Who Began His Directing Career With The Rajinikanth-starring 'Mullum Malarum' |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-features/tribute-j-mahendran-who-began-his-directing-career-with-the-rajinikanth-starring-mullum-malarum/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611191756/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/tamil-features/tribute-j-mahendran-who-began-his-directing-career-with-the-rajinikanth-starring-mullum-malarum/ |archive-date=11 June 2020 |access-date=18 May 2019 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref> Similar comments were made by ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1 July 1984 |title=கை கொடுக்கும் கை |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1984/jul/01-07-1984/p62.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220731032939/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1984/jul/01-07-1984/p62.jpg |archive-date=31 July 2022 |access-date=8 March 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=62 |language=ta}}</ref> The film ran for over 100 days in theatres became successful venture<ref name="MM1" />https://web.archive.org/web/20141030123954/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/11/29234855/actor-rajini--act-in-kai-koduk.html

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Mahendran |author-link=Mahendran (filmmaker) |title=சினிமாவும் நானும் |publisher=Karpagam Publications |year=2013 |language=ta |trans-title=Cinema and I |oclc=54777094 |orig-date=2004}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-14-342111-5 |location=New Delhi |orig-date=2012}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{J. Mahendran}}

[[Category:1984 Indian films]]
[[Category:1984 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:Features based on short films]]
[[Category:Films about blind people in India]]
[[Category:Films about rape in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mahendran (filmmaker)]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Mahendran (filmmaker)]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Kannada films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Kai Kodukkum Kai - Revision history

Sherry6361 at 05:15, 3 March 2026