Meendum Kokila

Meendum Kokila
Theatrical poster
Directed byG. N. Rangarajan
Screenplay byAnanthu[1]
Story byHaasan Brothers
Produced byT. R. Srinivasan
Starring
CinematographyN. K. Viswanathan
Edited byK. R. Ramalingam
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Charuchitra Films
Release date
  • 14 January 1981 (1981-01-14)
Running time
139 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Meendum Kokila (transl. Kokila, again) is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by G. N. Rangarajan from a screenplay written by Ananthu and story by Haasan Brothers. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. Deepa, M. Krishnamoorthy, Thengai Srinivasan and Omakuchi Narasimhan are featured in supporting roles. The narrative follows a young woman who fights to win back her husband after his infatuation with an actress.

Meendum Kokila was released theatrically on 14 January 1981.[2] Upon its release, the film was a critical and commercial success. For her performance, Sridevi received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. The film was dubbed in Telugu as Chilipi Mogudu and released on 4 September 1981.[3]

Plot

Subramaniam, a lawyer is married to Kokila and has a daughter. Things go well until he meets Kamini, a movie star in a party. He gets attracted towards Kamini and becomes ready to sacrifice his own family for her. Kokila's efforts in bringing back her husband forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Production

The film was originally directed by Mahendran with Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Bollywood actress Rekha—in her Tamil cinema debut—playing the lead roles.[4][5] Rekha was the original choice for the role of Kamini, and scenes featuring her were shot till 3000 feet.[4] Mahendran opted out of the film after a song sequence was shot. Later as the film progressed Rekha pulled out citing no reason.[4] It was Haasan who requested G. N. Rangarajan to take over the film as director.[4] Rekha's father Gemini Ganesan claimed he told her not to play "second fiddle" to Sridevi.[6] Rekha was replaced by Deepa.[7][8] Haasan's character in the film twitches his eye, for which he took inspiration from Krishnamachari Srikkanth.[9] After the film was screen for the Central Board of Film Certification, Rangarajan feared it would be given an A (adults only) certificate, but to his relief it was given U (unrestricted) without any cuts.[10]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[11][12] The song "Radha Radha Nee" is set in the raga Shuddha Saveri whereas "Chinnan Chiru Vayathil" is set in Abheri.[13] For the dubbed Telugu version Chilipi Mogudu, lyrics were written by Rajasri and Aarudra.[3]

Tamil
Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Chinna Chiru Vayathil" K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Sailaja Kannadasan 04:32
"Hey Oraiyiram" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Panchu Arunachalam 03:55
"Ponnana Meni" K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki 04:30
"Radha Radha Nee" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki Kannadasan 04:27
Telugu
Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Ninna Sandhya Velalo" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja Rajasri 03:20
"Radha Radha – Duet" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela 03:26
"Oh Chinna Maata" G. Anand, S. P. Sailaja 03:22
"Hey Oorinchaku" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Aarudhra 02:56

Reception

Nalini Sastry of Kalki lauded Rangarajan's direction, Ananthu's dialogues, Viswanathan's cinematography and the performances of the main cast.[14] Sridevi received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil;[15] the first of her four Filmfare Awards.[16] Just 17 years old, when released, the film's success consolidated Sridevi's position as the highest paid actress in South Indian cinema.[17]

Re-release

The film's digitally restored version was released on 15 December 2017.[18][19][20]

References

  1. ^ "37 வருடத்துக்குப் பிறகு 'மீண்டும் கோகிலா' : இயக்குனர் நெகிழ்ச்சி". Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Meendum Kokila (1981)". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Chilipi Mogudu". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "வரலாற்றுச்சுவடுகள் – திரைப்பட வரலாறு 944 – கமல்–ஸ்ரீதேவி நடித்த மீண்டும் கோகிலா". Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 16 June 2008.
  5. ^ Ramachandran, T.M., ed. (1980). "Rekha's first Tamil movie". Film World. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  6. ^ Vijiyan, K.N. (18 August 1998). "Gemini speaks his mind". New Straits Times. p. 23. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ Panicker, Prem (10 October 2003). "The magic that is Rekha". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Malayalam actress Deepa stumbles on a role that paves the way for a glittery future". India Today. 31 May 1981. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  9. ^ "I was supposed to play Yugi Sethu's role in Panchathanthiram: Srikkanth". The Times of India. 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  10. ^ "கமலை டா போட்டு அழைப்பவர்" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 21 November 1982. pp. 52–53. Retrieved 12 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  11. ^ "Meendum Kokila". AVDigital. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Meendum Kokilla (1981)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  13. ^ Mani, Charulatha (3 August 2012). "A raga's journey: Joyful Suddha Saveri". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  14. ^ சாஸ்திரி, நளினி (8 February 1981). "மீண்டும் கோகிலா". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 52–53. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ Sir Stanley Reed (1984). The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman. p. 234. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Hawa Hawai girl Sridevi turns 49". Sify. 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  17. ^ "Don't want Jhanvi in films at this age: Sridevi". The Indian Express. 24 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  18. ^ Bharadan (17 November 2017). "Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in theatres again". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  19. ^ Subramanian, Anupama (18 November 2017). "An image makeover for Meendum Kokila". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  20. ^ "Kamal Haasan's classic hits to be re-release on the big screen". The Indian Express. 16 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2018.