AngelesEller0 at 04:37, 3 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Kattradhu Thamizh.jpg
| director = [[Ram (director)|Ram]]
| writer = Ram
| caption = Promotional poster
| producer = Salmara Mohammad Sharief
| starring = [[Jiiva]]<br />[[Anjali (actress)|Anjali]]<br />[[Karunas]]<br />[[Azhagam Perumal]]
| cinematography = [[S. R. Kathir]]
| editing = [[A. Sreekar Prasad]]
| music = [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
| studio = MR Film Productions
| released = {{film date|df=y|2007|10|6}}
| runtime = 147 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kattradhu Thamizh''''' ({{translation|Learnt Tamil}}) is a 2007 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[psychological drama]] film written and directed by [[Ram (director)|Ram]], in his directorial debut. Produced by Salmara Mohammad Sharief, it stars [[Jiiva]], [[Anjali (actress born 1986)|Anjali]] and [[Karunas]]. The film is about an ordinary young Tamil-postgraduate, who becomes a tortured victim of Chennai's gentrification, fuelled by the booming [[Information technology in India|IT industry]], slowly losing his mental balance and becoming a psychopath

The film was released on 5 October 2007, to unanimous critical acclaim. Although the film was not commercially successful at the time of release, it has since become a cult classic.

==Plot==
Prabhakar ([[Jiiva]]) is a Tamil teacher in a private school in west Mambalam area of Chennai, who leads a lonely life in a lodge. He is frustrated and even tries to commit suicide, in a system where knowing one's mother tongue and teaching it is looked down upon by a society craving for material benefits and imbalance in pay structure.

The narration is mostly in a series of flashbacks. Prabhakar, for no fault of his, is at the receiving end, terrorised by cops and on the run after killing a railway booking clerk in a fit of rage. He roams all around the country and joins some ''[[sadhu]]s'', high on pot and also grows his hair long and keeps a shaggy beard. Finally, he wants to exorcise the devils within and at gunpoint kidnaps a television anchor Yuvaan-Suang ([[Karunas]]), who records his life story, in which he confesses to killing 22 people in cold blood.

In the flashback, he reveals his past, his upbringing by a Tamil teacher Poobaal Raavar ([[Azhagam Perumal]]) and his childhood sweetheart Anandhi ([[Anjali (actress born 1986)|Anjali]]), who becomes an obsession for him later in his life. The love between Prabhakar and Anandhi is shown in flashes when Prabhakar is narrating his story to Yuvaan-Suang.

Prabhakar lives in a village and develops a friendship with a neighbouring girl named Anandhi. After a few years, Anandhi's family relocates, and Prabhakar's childhood is marred by tragic events as he loses his mother and grandparents in an accident. His father, a soldier, enrolls him in a boarding school before leaving. There, Prabhakar bonds with Poobal after some initial mischief. Gradually, he begins to see Poobal as a father figure. As the years pass, Prabhakar matures into a young man with a growing interest in Tamil, his favourite subject taught by his beloved teacher.

After completing 12th grade, Prabhakar learns of the tragic death of his beloved teacher, Poobal, in an accident and travels to pay his last respects. There, he encounters Anandhi, whose father also died in the same accident, arguing with another family for a chance to see her father's body. Prabhakar intervenes, engaging in a fistfight to ensure justice is served. This incident deepens the bond between Prabhakar and Anandhi, leading them to meet regularly.

Prabhakar enrolls in college, where his choice to study Tamil is ridiculed by his roommate and a few others. Anandhi's mother does not object to her daughter's affection for Prabhakar, viewing him as a potential source of financial support. At one point, she sells Prabhakar's motorcycle to cover her expenses, but he does not mind. After a few years, Anandhi and her mother are forced to move to her uncle's house in North India due to financial difficulties. Initially, Prabhakar loses contact with her but eventually traces her back to her uncle's home.

Anandhi manages to find Prabhakar, and they share a poignant moment at her uncle's house, where Prabhakar inquires about her health, and Anandhi asks about the time of his departure. He buys her some clothes and promises to keep in touch. However, after a few exchanges of letters, he loses contact with her again.

Meanwhile, Prabhakar secures a job as a Tamil teacher and begins living in a lodge. He struggles with a meager salary and loses focus in his personal life. One night, he intimidates a call centre employee who flees after failing to recite the Tamil verses that a drunken Prabhakar gives him. Following this incident, he encounters a police inspector and is arrested for smoking in public. After being released, he attempts suicide but fails. The police later try to frame him on false charges, but Prabhakar manages to escape and unintentionally kills a railway clerk.

At one point in his life, Prabhakar reconnects with Anandhi, who has become a prostitute. He rescues her from her pimps at gunpoint and plans to leave the city with her to return to his hometown. He leaves her at a women's hostel before encountering Yuvaan-Suang.

The police catch wind of Prabhakar and attempt to apprehend him in his hometown. In a tragic turn of events, both Prabhakar and Anandhi hold hands and run toward an oncoming train, committing suicide at the same spot where Prabhakar's dog died during his childhood.

==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Jiiva]] as Prabhakar
* [[Anjali (actress born 1986)|Anjali]] as Anandhi
* [[Karunas]] as Yuvaan-Suang
* [[Azhagam Perumal]] as Poobaal Raavar
* [[Sree Raam]] as Young Prabhakar
* Venba as Young Anandhi (credited as Keerthi)
* Mani K. Surya as Murugan
* Kaka Gopal as Kanakasabapathy
* Umapathi as Suryanarayanan
* [[Ganesh Babu]] as Navanitha Gopal
* Guru as Gnana Guru
* Kadhal Kannan as Anandha Rangan
* Arulmani as Postman
* Bhuvana as Anandhi's mother
* [[Senthi Kumari]] as Prabhakar's mother
* Saravanan as Prabhakar's father
* Anuradha as Prabhakar's grandmother
* Nandhu as Psychiatrist
* Birla Bose as Inspector
* Karnaa Radha as Writer
* S. S. Anand as Anandhi's uncle
* [[Mari Selvaraj]] as George (uncredited)
}}

==Production==
The film is the directorial debut of Ram, an erstwhile assistant of [[Balu Mahendra]]. It was initially titled ''Tamil M.A.'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 August 2006 |title=Jeeva dons 4 roles in ‘Thamizh MA’ |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/26082006-6.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061018072422/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/26082006-6.shtml |archive-date=18 October 2006 |website=Cinesouth}}</ref> but later changed to ''Kattradhu Thamizh'' with ''Tamil M.A.'' as the tagline to get exempted from the entertainment taxation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/a-name-change-news-tamil-kkfu59hceab.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022145514/http://www.sify.com/movies/a-name-change-news-tamil-kkfu59hceab.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2012 |title=A name change! |website=[[Sify]] |date=26 September 2007 |access-date=19 October 2011}}</ref> When approached to play the lead role, [[Jiiva]] was initially reluctant, feeling he lacked the maturity to play such a "heavy" role, but agreed after numerous discussions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2007 |title='I always give my 200 per cent' |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde2.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415103031/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde2.htm |archive-date=15 April 2021 |access-date=8 January 2026 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> He grew a full length beard for playing the lead role and cited the hardships during the shoots of the film, which he considered as his most painful experience and a "torturous affair".<ref name="rediffint">{{cite web |date=15 October 2007 |title='I am trying to unleash a lot of things that are remaining dormant inside me' |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde4.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908042820/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde4.htm |archive-date=8 September 2012 |access-date=9 January 2011 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> He revealed that he even had to undergo therapy to "come out of the character" as it was "too emotional".<ref name="rediffint" /><ref>{{cite web |date=15 October 2007 |title='I had to undergo therapy to come out of the character' |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde5.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908042931/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde5.htm |archive-date=8 September 2012 |access-date=9 January 2011 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2007 |title='The whole film was too emotional for me' |url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde6.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319225209/http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/15slde6.htm |archive-date=2016-03-19 |access-date=2026-01-09 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> [[Anjali (actress)|Anjali]] debuted in Tamil cinema with this film.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pillai |first=Sreedhar |date=6 October 2007 |title=Realistic film |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/10/06/stories/2007100650090300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230233939/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/10/06/stories/2007100650090300.htm |archive-date=30 December 2007 |access-date=19 October 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The film was shot for nearly a year across [[Maharashtra]], Andhra Pradesh, [[Kerala]] and [[Chennai]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/interview.php?id=14536296&cid=2408 |title='A path breaking film': Jeeva |website=[[Sify]] |date=20 January 2007 |access-date=9 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117115307/http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/interview.php?id=14536296&cid=2408 |archive-date=17 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and gained high anticipation in its finishing stage, mainly due to Jeeva's looks in the promotional stills,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/four-releases-this-friday-news-tamil-kkfu3Ijfaed.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022145611/http://www.sify.com/movies/four-releases-this-friday-news-tamil-kkfu3Ijfaed.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 October 2012 |title=Four releases this Friday |website=[[Sify]] |date=3 October 2007 |access-date=19 October 2011}}</ref> and Ram's controversial statements at the film's soundtrack release, who cited that he had killed everyone who had hurt him during earlier days through the screenplay of the film.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=11 September 2007 |title=I killed those that I wanted to – 'Thamizh MA' director shocks! |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/11092007-6.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917160602/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/11092007-6.shtml |archive-date=17 September 2007 |access-date=19 October 2011 |website=Cinesouth}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
The soundtrack was composed by noted music composer [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]] to the lyrics written by [[Na. Muthukumar]], which was released on 10 September 2007 under the film's previous title, ''Tamil MA''.<ref name=":1" /> It features five tracks, including one sung by his father, [[Ilaiyaraaja]], which was hailed mostly as the pick of the album.<ref name=":2" />

Yuvan Shankar Raja won accolades and high praise as the soundtrack received universal critical acclaim and was described as a "musical sensation", a "must-listen for all musical freaks",<ref name="Musicindiaonline">{{Cite web |title=Audio Review : Tamil M A – Yuvan's symphonies shine through! |url=http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/9327/0/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208005105/http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/9327/0/ |archive-date=8 December 2008 |access-date=23 April 2009 |website=MusicIndiaOnLine.com}}</ref> a "fascinating album" <ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Srinivas |first=Saraswathy |date=3 October 2007 |title=Thamizh MA's maestro sings for son |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/03sssouth.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505070511/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/03sssouth.htm |archive-date=5 May 2008 |access-date=6 August 2009 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> and "a solid and stirring triumph of Yuvan’s composing skills".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=11 September 2007 |title=Tamil M.A (Tamil – Yuvan Shankar Raja) |url=http://itwofs.com/milliblog/2007/09/11/tamil-ma-tamil-yuvan-shankar-raja/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712044216/http://itwofs.com/milliblog/2007/09/11/tamil-ma-tamil-yuvan-shankar-raja |archive-date=12 July 2009 |access-date=23 April 2009 |website=[[Milliblog]] |publisher=}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer(s)!! Length
|-
| "Innum Oru Iravu" || [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]] || 5:56
|-
| "Unakkagathane Intha" || Yuvan Shankar Raja || 4:50
|-
| "Para Para Pattaampoochi" || [[Rahul Nambiar]] || 4:06
|-
| "Paravaiye Engu Irukkiraai" || [[Ilayaraaja]] || 6:07
|-
| "Vaazhkai Enbathu" || [[Shankar Mahadevan]] || 3:36
|}

==Release and reception==
The film was initially scheduled for releasing on 28 September 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2007 |title=Tamizh M.A is ready! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tamizh-m-a-is-ready-news-tamil-kkfuAjfacia.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20121022145701/http://www.sify.com/movies/tamizh-m-a-is-ready-news-tamil-kkfuAjfacia.html |archive-date=22 October 2012 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> It was released a week later, on 5 October alongside ''[[Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam]]'', ''[[Thavam]]'' and ''[[Veeramum Eeramum]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Pavithra Srinivasan of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' wrote that ''Kattradhu Thamizh'' was a "hard-hitting film", while giving it 3.5 out of 5. She praised debutant director Ram and actor Jeeva's performance as Prabhakar, who she says, "leads you through dimensions that are frankly amazing".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srinivasan |first=Pavithra |date=5 October 2007 |title=Katrathu Thamizh is hard hitting |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/05kt.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022202641/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/oct/05kt.htm |archive-date=22 October 2011 |access-date=8 March 2009 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> Manasvini of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' praised the acting of the star cast, Yuvan's music, Kathir's cinematography and Ram's direction but felt the protagonist's characterisation feels ambiguous and too many flashbacks confusing the viewers and concluded saying despite flaws, this film strongly conveyed love with depth and horrors of poverty with pain.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=மனஸ்வினி |date=28 October 2007 |title=கற்றது தமிழ் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2007-10-28/page/12/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240521153454/https://archive.org/details/kalki2007-10-28/page/12/mode/2up |archive-date=21 May 2024 |access-date=21 May 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=12 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

==Accolades==
At the [[2nd Vijay Awards]], Anjali won the [[Vijay Award for Best Debut Actress|award for Best Debut Actress]], and [[A. Sreekar Prasad]] won for [[Vijay Award for Best Editor|Best Editor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reliance Mobile Vijay Awards – The Awards Ceremony |url=http://www.starboxoffice.com/kollywood/vijayawards/about.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726022319/http://www.starboxoffice.com/kollywood/vijayawards/about.html |archive-date=26 July 2008 |access-date=6 August 2009 |website=starboxoffice.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Ram (director)}}
[[Category:2000s psychological drama films]]
[[Category:2007 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:2007 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2007 films]]
[[Category:2007 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ram (director)]]
[[Category:Films scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja]]
[[Category:Films shot in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kerala]]
[[Category:Films shot in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian psychological drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Works about gentrification]]

Kattradhu Thamizh - Revision history

AngelesEller0 at 04:37, 3 March 2026