Kasethan Kadavulada is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language capercomedy film, written and directed by Chitralaya Gopu. It is based on his play of the same name. The film stars Muthuraman and Lakshmi, with M. R. R. Vasu, Thengai Srinivasan, Srikanth, Moorthy, Manorama, Rama Prabha and Jayakumari in supporting roles. It focuses on a young man collaborating with his cousin and friend to steal money from his stingy stepmother. Kasethan Kadavulada is the directorial debut of Chitralaya Gopu, and was produced by AVM Productions. Muthuraman, Moorthy and Manorama reprise their roles from the play. The film was released on 19 May 1972, and became a commercial success, with Srinivasan's role as a fake godman becoming immensely popular.
Plot
Lakshmi, a domineering woman, controls all her husband Sivaswamy's money, treating him with scorn and disdain. When Ramu, Sivaswamy's son from his first wife, requires a sum of for his sister's husband, the stingy Lakshmi instantly refuses. Ramu and his cousin Mali hatch a plot with their tea vendor friend Appaswamy, who pretends to be a godman named Badrinath Swamy Sukranada to get to her money safe and steal a sum of 50,000. Meanwhile, Rama is an orphan whose only friend is Iruthayam, the doctor of a mental institution. When Rama wants a conduct certificate, Iruthayam bungles and hands over the certificate of an insane girl also named Rama. DSP Paramantham, who previously arrested Appaswamy, comes to see the godman. Appaswamy tells Paramantham to not handle any cases at this time. An incident occurs when Rama encounters Appaswamy without a beard, but to his surprise she does not recognise the difference. The house receives a telegram saying that the real Badrinath Swamy Sukranada is arriving in two days, meaning Appaswamy has to loot his sum within that time frame. Latha's brother Mani wants to buy jewellery for his girlfriend, Latha, and needs money after being exposed by his girlfriend's brother. Mani steals Appaswamy's money 5,001 that he received as a donation from Lakshmi, but Rama catches him red-handed. The sane Rama arrives at Lakshmi's house to work as a secretary. Lakshmi sees the certificate, but decides to keep her at her house since the certificate mentions that Rama becomes violent when somebody refuses to give her what she wants. Rama falls in love with Ramu. The insane Rama and her father also come there to work coincidentally. More complications arise, leading to more incidents. Lakshmi tells Appaswamy about the cash she has stashed in her secret hideout, and shows him how to access it. Appaswamy and Ramu succeed in their heist later that night, but are exposed after they place the cash in a flower pot. The insane Rama's father, the sane Rama, and Mani all encounter the cash. Mani throws it outside to his Latha's brother. Again, Rama catches him red-handed. The cash is in Latha's brothers' coat. To prove that the other Rama is truly insane, the sane Rama tells the insane Rama that the coat will look good on her. When Latha's brother refuses to give her his coat, the insane Rama shows her insanity. As a result, all problems are solved, Lakshmi is pacified, and agrees to Ramu and the sane Rama's marriage.
Kasethan Kadavulada was a play written and directed by Chitralaya Gopu, and staged over 300 times. AVM Productions founder A. V. Meiyappan who saw the play decided to adapt it into a feature film and insisted Gopu direct; the film adaptation thus marked his directorial debut. Muthuraman, Moorthy and Manorama, who were part of the play, reprised their roles in the film. Thengai Srinivasan was selected to appear in the character of the Madras Tamil speaking tea vendor Appaswamy masquerading as a godman. Cinematography was handled by K. S. Bhaskar, and editing by R. G. Gopu.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Elements of the song "Jambulingame" were borrowed by S. Thaman and used in the song "Pudhu Punal" from the film Mouna Guru.
Release and reception
Kasethan Kadavulada was released on 19 May 1972. Gopu recalled that producers put up a huge cut-out for Srinivasan in the saint get-up. Srinivasan who was pleased did not want the lead actor Muthuraman to misunderstand so he and Gopu went to Muthuraman and explained that it was the role that became popular and even apologised to Muthuraman who smiled it away. The film was a commercial success, and Gopu received more film offers to work as both director and writer. Randor Guy of The Hindu attributed the success to "the excellent comedy sequences, humorous dialogue, fine direction of Chitralaya Gopu and excellent performances". Thirumalai titled his 2011 comedy film as Kasethan Kadavulada which had no similarity with this film.
