>Aasaithambi velmurugan at 07:36, 25 June 2021

2021-06-25T07:36:41Z

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{{Other uses|Kashi (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|2001 film by Vinayan}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kasi
| image = Kasi poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Vinayan]]
| producer = [[M. Mani|Aroma Mani]]
| writer = [[Gokula Krishnan]] <small>(dialogues)</small>
| story = Vinayan
| based_on = ''[[Vasanthiyum
Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum]]'' (Malayalam)
| starring = {{Unbulleted list|[[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]|[[Kaveri (actress)|Kaveri]]|[[Kavya Madhavan]]}}
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cinematography = P. Sukumar
| editing = G. Murali
| distributor = Sunitha Productions
| released = {{film date|df=y|2001|11|14}}
| runtime = 138 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Kasi''''' is a 2001 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[Vinayan]]. The film has [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] playing the [[eponymous]] character of a blind village singer. A remake of the director's own [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum]]'' (1999), the film has [[Kaveri (actress)|Kaveri]] reprising her role from the original and [[Kavya Madhavan]] making her Tamil debut in supporting roles. The film was produced by [[M. Mani|Aroma Mani]] for Sunitha Productions. The film score and soundtrack was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]].

The film was released on 14th November 2001 and won positive reviews from critics upon release. Vikram won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Tamil|Filmfare Best Actor Award]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://downloads.movies.indiatimes.com/site/june2002/south.html |title=Filmfare - Print Edition: 49th Filmfare Awards - South |publisher=Indiatimes |date=June 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201112837/http://downloads.movies.indiatimes.com/site/june2002/south.html |archive-date=1 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and [[Cinema Express Award for Best Actor – Tamil]].

== Plot ==
Kasi is a tale about the deception of appearances. Kasi ([[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]) is a blind poet and singer who supports his family by his songs. He has an older brother Sevalai ([[Thalaivasal Vijay]]), who is a drunkard; an abusive, crippled father; and a younger sister Lakshmi ([[Kavya Madhavan]]). When the local landlord Raghupathi ([[Rajeev (Tamil actor)|Rajeev]]) returns to the district, he brings along with him Dinesh, the CM's son and his wife Radhika ([[Aishwarya (actress)|Aishwarya]]). Raghupathi has a reputation as a God in the area because of his charitable works, and when a specialist eye doctor arrives, he promises to pay the fees for an operation to give back Kasi's vision. Elated by this news, Kasi learns that he has to find an eye donor. His lover Kaveri ([[Kaveri (actress)|Kaveri]]), who cannot speak, offers one of her eyes. Unfortunately, something happens that shows that the 'God-like' Raghupathi and Dinesh are not what they seem. Blissfully unaware of the sadness of those around him, Kasi looks forward to his operation. One morning, on the day of her wedding, Lakshmi was found dead and it is figured out that she commits suicide because of Raghupati and when Raghupati comes to attend the funeral, Kasi explains to Raghupati of what he did as he kills Raghupati by choking him.

== Cast ==

{{colbegin}}
* [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] as Kasi
* [[Kaveri (actress)|Kaveri]] as Kaveri
* [[Kavya Madhavan]] as Lakshmi
* [[Manivannan]] as Irulaandi
* [[Vinu Chakravarthy]] as Valaiyapathy
* [[Rajeev (Tamil actor)|Rajeev]] as Raghupathy
* [[Chandrasekhar (Tamil actor)|Chandrasekhar]]
* [[Charle]] as Sodala
* [[Thalaivasal Vijay]] as Sevvalai
* Balaji as Gopal
* [[Suchitra Murali]] as Valli
* [[Vadivukkarasi]] as Muniyamma
* [[Aishwarya (actress)|Aishwarya]] as Radhika
* Manka Mahesh
* [[Sanusha]] as younger Lakshmi
* [[Karthika Mathew|Karthika]] as Salesgirl (cameo)
* KR Rangamma as Ponnathaa (uncredited)
{{colend}}

== Production ==
[[Simran (actress)|Simran]] was offered the role of Lakshmi, [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]'s sister but she refused the offer because she didn't want to act in a supporting role. Then Malayalam actress [[Kavya Madhavan]] accepted the character after being impressed by its original Malayalam version. The shooting was completed in just 45 days. Vikram had rolled up his eyes to look convincingly blind in the film for this role of an innocent, rural, struggling blind lead character. Because of this, his vision was affected and he needed glasses in order to correct it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hindu.com/2001/12/14/stories/2001121401060200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927232935/http://hindu.com/2001/12/14/stories/2001121401060200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2013 |title=Talk of the town |author=Sudhish Kamath, Ramya Kannan |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=14 December 2001}}</ref> For the movie, he sunbathed on the terrace of his beachside home in Chennai for a sunburnt look and got dizzying headaches while practising to look blind.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/10/movies/9803468&sec=movies |title=Vikram's star rises |newspaper=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |author=T. Selva |date=10 January 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609122941/http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2005%2F1%2F10%2Fmovies%2F9803468&sec=movies |archive-date= 9 June 2012 }}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Kasi
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 13 July 2001
| recorded = 2001
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Soundtrack]]
| length = 30:22
| label = Five Star Audio
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| producer = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The soundtrack album was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]]. All the songs have been sung by [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]].

{{track listing
| headline = Track list<ref>https://www.saavn.com/s/album/tamil/Kaasi-2001/alN8McZPMB8_</ref>
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 30:22
| title1 = Aathorathile Aalamaram
| extra1 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| lyrics1 = [[Pulamaipithan]]
| length1 = 5:11

| title2 = En Mana Vaanil
| lyrics2 = [[Muhammed Metha|Mu. Mehta]]
| extra2 = Hariharan
| length2 = 5:39

| title3 = Maanu Tholu
| extra3 = Hariharan
| lyrics3 = Pulamaipithan
| length3 = 5:07

| title4 = Naan Kaanum Ulagangal
| lyrics4 = Mu. Mehta, Palani Barathi
| extra4 = Hariharan
| length4 = 4:33

| title5 = Punniyam Thedi Kasikku
| extra5 = Hariharan
| lyrics5 = Palani Bharathi
| length5 = 4:53

| title6 = Rokkam Irukura Makkal
| lyrics6 = Muthulingam
| extra6 = Hariharan, [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]]
| length6 = 4:59
}}

== Release ==
The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. ''[[The Hindu]]'' applauded the off-beat attempt stating, "A film without predictable ingredients is a rarity. The ''Kasi'' team has to be appreciated for its boldness, in telling a story, in a simple, straight forward manner without the evitable distractions". While Vikram's portrayal was appreciated, "As a blind man, with his eyeballs completely in and with facial twitches so typical of the visually impaired, his portrait is realistic", the two lead actress too received acclaim, "Kavya Madhavan and Kaveri, have excellently expressive eyes, which have been put to good use".<ref name="Malathi">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2001/12/21/stories/2001122100840200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002181144/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2001/12/21/stories/2001122100840200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 October 2003 |title=Kasi - Movie Review |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |author=Malathi Rangarajan |date=21 December 2001}}</ref> S. R. Ashok Kumar said, "As the blind Kasi, he touched a chord".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/08/20/stories/2004082001760100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040821011822/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/08/20/stories/2004082001760100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2004 |title=Vikram, the Victor |author=S. R. Ashok Kumar |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 August 2004}}</ref> ''[[Sify]]'' noted, "Vikram, it goes without saying that he is the life and soul of Kasi. As the blind singer, he brings laughter, tears and a lump in one’s throat. Vikram has given an extraordinarily detailed performance, which only a Kamalhassan can do!" and summed up saying it's an emotionally powerful movie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kasi-review-tamil-9080157.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031095013/http://www.sify.com/movies/kasi-review-tamil-9080157.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-10-31 |title=Movie Review : Kasi|publisher=Sify}}</ref> Balaji Balasubramaniam wrote, "The movie is populated with characters that have a big effect, both positive and negative, on us".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thiraipadam.com/cgi-bin/movie_review.pl?id=206&user_name=bbalaji&review_lang=english&lang=english |title=Kasi - Tamil Movie Review |publisher=Thiraipadam.com |author=Balaji Balasubramaniam}}</ref><ref>http://www.lolluexpress.com/kassi.html</ref>

''Kasi'' was commercially successful as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/31/stories/2002053100170100.htm |title=I want to strike a balance |author=Chitra Mahesh |date=31 May 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607062058/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/31/stories/2002053100170100.htm |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date= 7 June 2014 }}</ref>

== Awards ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Award
! Ceremony
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Outcome
|-
| [[Filmfare Awards South]] || 49th Filmfare Awards South<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/04/22/stories/2002042201250200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927232728/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/lf/2002/04/22/stories/2002042201250200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2013 |title=Spinning predictable magic |author=Sudhish Kamath |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=22 Apr 2002}}</ref> || [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil|Best Actor – Tamil]] || [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] || {{won}}
|-
| [[Cinema Express Awards]] || 22nd Cinema Express Awards<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2002/12/22/stories/2002122206330300.htm |title='Kannathil Muthamittal' bags 6 Cinema Express awards |date=22 December 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607071034/http://www.hindu.com/2002/12/22/stories/2002122206330300.htm |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date= 7 June 2014 }}</ref> || [[Cinema Express Award for Best Actor – Tamil|Best Actor – Tamil]] || Vikram || {{won}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|2249388}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kasi (Film)}}
[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about blind people in India]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about disability in India]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Malayalam films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vinayan]]

Kasi (film) - Revision history

>Aasaithambi velmurugan at 07:36, 25 June 2021