Kadhalikka Neramillai (1964)

Interesting facts

• Filmed in: Ooty

Kadhalikka Neramillai is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by C. V. Sridhar, who also conceived and co-wrote its script with Chitralaya Gopu. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Balaiah, Muthuraman, Nagesh, Rajasree, Sachu, Ravichandran and Kanchana. The latter two made their acting debut with this film.

Production

C. V. Sridhar and Sadagopan, who was known by his screen name Chitralaya Gopu, had been friends since their tenure at St. Joseph's High School, Chengalpattu. At school both were playwrights; Sridhar wrote stage plays and portrayed the lead roles. Gopu wrote the humour-oriented plays and portrayed comic roles. Later, when Sridhar had the opportunity to direct a film, Kalyana Parisu (1959), he asked Gopu to join him and handle the humour content.

Sridhar used to spend his evenings with Gopu, driving along Marina Beach, Madras (now Chennai). Gopu asked Sridhar whether he would like to work on a comedy film. Sridhar, who was known primarily for dramatic films, thought the audience would not accept a comedy from him.

Sridhar consciously avoided casting big stars. P. S. Raman, who went to Madras in 1963 to join a medical college, was asked to see Sridhar, who was auditioning newcomers for the film. Raman was renamed Ravichandran and introduced in this film as the character Ashok. Sivakumar had auditioned for the role before it went to Ravichandran.

Sachu, who began her career as a child actor, played leading roles in films such as Veera Thirumagan (1961) and Annai (1962) until Sridhar offered her the comic role of Meenalochni. She initially refused as she was hesitant on playing a comic role. Sridhar assured her that being a full-fledged comedy, there were no separate comedians and that she would only be playing a character in one of the three lead pairs.

Kadhalikka Neramillai was one of the earliest full-length Tamil films in Eastmancolor. Film critic Baradwaj Rangan believes that with this film, Sridhar became the first Tamil director to "make an all-out comedy in colour". Principal photography commenced with the song "Anubhavam Pudhumai", picturised on Ravichandran and Rajasree. Portions of the song featuring the latter were the first scenes shot.

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