Kadaikutty Singam
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Pandiraj
Written by	Pandiraj
Produced by	Suriya
Starring	Karthi Sayyeshaa Soori Bhanupriya Sathyaraj Arthana Binu Priya Bhavani Shankar Shatru Deepa Shankar
Cinematography	Velraj
Edited by	Ruben
Music by	D. Imman
Production company	2D Entertainment
Distributed by	Sakthi Film Factory
Release date	13 July 2018 (2018-07-13)
Running time	149 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Budget	₹25 crore[1]
Box office	est. ₹70 crore[1]

Kadaikutty Singam (transl. The youngest lion cub) is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Pandiraj and produced by Suriya on his studio 2D Entertainment. The film features an ensemble cast of Karthi, Sayyeshaa, Sathyaraj, Soori, Viji Chandrasekhar, Bhanupriya, Deepa Shankar, Arthana Binu and Priya Bhavani Shankar.^[2] The film's music was composed by D. Imman and the cinematographer was by Velraj. The film was released on 13 July 2018 to mixed reviews.^[3][4]

Plot

Perunazhi Gunasingam (Karthi) is a modern-day rich farmer who lives happily with his family and father Perunazhi Ranasingam (Sathyaraj).

30 years ago, Ranasingam always wanted a son but kept getting daughters. After four daughters with his first wife Vanavan Madevi (Viji Chandrasekhar), Ranasingam sought after a new bride, to beget a son. Afraid of losing her status to a stranger, Vanavan arranged a marriage between Ranasingam and her younger sister, Panchavan Madhevi (Bhanupriya). Five months after Panchavan became pregnant, Ranasingam's eldest daughter Mangamma Rani (Mounika) became pregnant out of wedlock and Ranasingam's family arranged her marriage to her boyfriend, Thamarai Manala Sendayar (Saravanan). With both the stepdaughter and stepmother pregnant, odds went against Ranasingam as Panchavan gave birth to a girl while his elder daughter had a boy. Ranasingam was heartbroken and stopped worrying for a boy child.

8 years later, Vanavan became accidentally pregnant and finally gave birth to a boy, who was named Gunasingam. At the present, Gunasingam is a 27-year-old, 10th graduate, and a contented and happy farmer who practices natural farming and lives in peace. His concerns are:

1. His eldest sister's husband Thamarai and next sister's husband Malligai Manala Sendayar have been at loggerheads for a decade, despite being blood brothers. This is due to a court feud over inheritance and is complicated by the fact that Malligai has no pregnancy.

2. He must decide whether to marry either Poompozhil Chellamma (daughter of his third sister) or Aandal Priyadarshini (daughter of his only step-sister), as it is a societal norm in Tamil Nadu, for a man to marry his elder sister's daughter in rural areas.

However, problems arise when Gunasingam falls head over heels for Kannukiniyal "Iniya", the daughter of a rich man named Thillainayagam whose sister Ranasingam had suddenly left during engagement to oversee birth of his fourth daughter. Despite resistance from Iniya's family, Ranasingam agrees to the match under the condition that Gunasingam must convince his sisters that he cannot marry their daughters. Also, Iniya's uncle Kodiyarasu was jailed by the work of Gunasingam and seeks to get revenge by killing him. When Chellamma learns of Gunasingam's decision, she attempts suicide but is saved.

Panchavan vacates Ranasingam's house because she feels that her elder sister continuously commits injustices against her, like arranging her marriage without her permission, getting Panchavan's only daughter married to an ill drunkard who died within a year, and now refusing to marry her granddaughter Andal to Gunasingam. As revenge, Kodiyarasu offers to marry Chellamma, and that offer is accepted. Also, Thamarai is willing to attend the marriage only if his brother does not, and the same is the case with Malligai. Finally, Gunasingam gathers all his relatives to his grandmother's function and convinces them after a moving speech. Later, Kodiyarasu is thrashed by Gunasingam and returned to prison. Meanwhile, Gunasingam's brothers-in-law amend their dispute and everyone attends Gunasingam's wedding to Iniya.

A year later, Gunasingam and Iniya give birth to a girl and choose to adapt to permanent birth control to ensure that past events do not repeat themselves.

Cast

Production

In June 2017, Suriya signed on director Pandiraj to make a film for his studio 2D Entertainment, which would feature Karthi in a lead role.^[5] Pandiraj revealed that Karthi would play the role of a passionate farmer and the only male child in a family with five elder sisters. The director succeeded in convincing Sathyaraj to play the character of Karthi's father, while he cast Sayyeshaa as the main female lead despite initial reservations whether she would aptly portray a village character.^[6][7] The makers held talks with Anupama Parameswaran for a Second leading female role, but later selected Priya Bhavani Shankar.^[8] Arthana Binu was signed to portray another leading female role.^[9][10] Other actors selected for the film included Soori, Bhanupriya, Yuvarani, Mounika, Viji Chandrasekhar and Ponvannan.^[11]

The shoot of the film began on 9 November 2017 in Chennai, with the cast and crew assembling for a launch ceremony.^[12] In early January 2018, the team moved to continue the shoot in Thenkasi and Puliyankudi.^[13] The film ran into trouble with Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) when the team shot a rekla (bullock cart race) scene sequence in spite of AWBI denying permission. The producers had previously approached the AWBI for permission to shoot the scene which involved 211 cows and oxen, 48 cocks and 32 birds. The board, however, denied permission citing that the Supreme Court has banned the sport.^[14] The breach had come to light after Suriya had uploaded a video of him and his son visiting the shoot location in Karaikudi.^[15] Rajasekar Pandian, a manager of 2D Entertainment, later said that the team got the required permission from the District Collector of Pudukottai, who permitted the president of the Rekla Federation of Tamil Nadu to conduct the race. So, the makers chose to use the opportunity of the race to include such scenes of rekla racing in the film.^[16]

The promotion of the film also proceeded by actor Karthi and Soori in the ongoing reality TV series Bigg Boss Tamil 2.^[17][18]

Release

The satellite rights of the film were sold to STAR Vijay.^[19] China Babu(Telugu Version Of Kadaikutty Singham) the satellite rights of the film were sold to Zee Telugu.

Reception

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by D. Imman, making his first collaboration with Karthi and director Pandiraj. The soundtrack rights were acquired by Sony Music. The album features eight songs, with three karaoke versions. The audio launch for the film was held on 11 June 2018. After the film's release, the makers released five more songs as bonus tracks on 16 July 2018.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Kadaikutty Singam at IMDb