Folin: new some pg needs work.

2026-03-03T04:48:28Z

new some pg needs work.

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Vidukathai.jpg
| caption = Title card
| director = [[Agathiyan]]
| writer = Agathiyan
| producer = [[K. Balachander]]<br />Rajam Balachander<br />Pushpa Kandaswamy
| starring = [[Prakash Raj]]<br />[[Neena (Tamil actress)|Neena]]
| cinematography = Suriyan
| editing = Lancy–Mohan
| music = [[Deva (composer)|Deva]]
| studio = [[Kavithalayaa Productions]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1997|10|30|ref1=}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Vidukathai''''' ({{Translation|Riddle}}) is a 1997 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil-language]] [[romantic drama film]] written and directed by [[Agathiyan]], and produced by [[Kavithalayaa Productions]]. The film stars [[Prakash Raj]] and [[Neena (Tamil actress)|Neena]], while [[Manivannan]] and [[Janagaraj]] appear in supporting roles. It was released on 30 October 1997.

== Plot ==
Anandhi is a seventeen-year-old college student who lives with her widowed father, Ramanadhan, a psychiatrist who twice suffered [[Myocardial infarction|heart attacks]]. Her father raised her to be thoughtful, mature and forward-thinking, unlike her shy and timid contemporaries. She receives attention and proposals from male students which she rejects because of their immature infatuation. Once in a while she and her father are visited by their family friends Manasatchi and a fellow doctor Ilango.

Ramanadhan suffers a fatal severe cardiac arrest, leaving Anandhi orphaned. Despite her loss, Anandhi remains strong and continues to handle her father's funeral and continues with her studies. Her friends and college professors are surprised when she returns to study, showing no emotional distress. Manasatchi consoles her and assists her in the grieving process.

Almost after a month of her father's death, Anandhi is visited by Neelakandan, a single [[Veteran|former]] [[Indian Army|Army man]] in his early 40s. He reminds Anandhi that he had a brief chat with her father a month ago while her father was looking for a tenant for their out-house. Anandhi conveys her father's loss and lets Neelakandan stay at their out-house as a tenant. Neelakandan and Anandhi spend much time together. Anandhi ponders on their relationship and decides to marry Neelakandan. Her decision surprises him, especially because of the [[Age disparity in sexual relationships|age difference]]. Eventually she convinces him and they decide to marry with Manasatchi and Ilango as witnesses.

Neelakandan and Anandhi go to [[Goa]] for their honeymoon and Neelakandan encourages her to continue her studies. Her wedding surprises her college mates and professors, who advise against it and distance themselves from her. Anandhi then decides to quit her studies and remain a homemaker while Neelakandan finds a job as a security guard in a factory owned by Vijayan, who is also in his early 50s and apparently married a woman in her early 20s. As Neelakandan and Anandhi visit a jewellery shop, a fellow customer mistakes them to be father and daughter, which disappoints Neelakandan. Eventually, Anandhi's classmate from her college visits her to see if she is happy despite the difference in age. Anandhi tells her husband that he proposed to her during her college days. Neelakandan then develops a complex regarding their age difference.

Vijayan tells Neelakandan how he caught his wife cheating with one of his employees whom he tried to fire, framing him for theft to avoid the disgrace. Neelakandan worries about a similar situation with his wife developing and the age gap. He tries to separate from her and hopes she will marry a younger man. He avoids Anandhi and treats her with contempt and anger. He encourages her to marry her college friend. As his anxiety increases they visit Dr. Ilango for consultation and Anandhi recognises the true problem. On their way back to her home, Neelakandan abandons her and goes home, planning to flee. But Anandhi arrives and tells Neelakandan that she loves him despite their different ages.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Prakash Raj]] as Neelakandan
* [[Neena (Tamil actress)|Neena]] as Anandhi
* [[Manivannan]]
* [[Janagaraj]]
* [[Vijayan (actor)|Vijayan]]
* [[Balu Anand]]
* Suthangan
* [[Ram G|Ramji]]
* Jegadeesh
* Akash
}}

== Production ==

[[Neena (Tamil actress)|Neena]], a former child actress in ''[[Keladi Kannmanii]]'' (1991), was selected for the lead role in ''Vidukathai'' when she was still at school and had to work on her schedules around exams.<ref name="indolink">{{Cite web |last=Sandya |title=Kutti News |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/News/97/Sep/maruda.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401094316/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/News/97/Sep/maruda.htm |archive-date=1 April 2012 |access-date=18 November 2015 |website=Indolink}}</ref> The production of the film was hampered by the [[FEFSI strike of 1997]] and the makers had to postpone the venture from its original scheduled release date of June 1997.<ref name="indolink2">{{Cite web |title=A-Z Continues... |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/97/Oct/a-z/atoz-5.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424003725/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/97/Oct/a-z/atoz-5.htm |archive-date=24 April 2013 |access-date=18 November 2015 |website=Indolink}}</ref> [[Subbu Panchu]], son of producer [[Panchu Arunachalam]] worked as a dance choreographer for the film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997–98'ன் கோடம்பாக்கக் குஞ்சுகள் |trans-title=1997–98 Kodambakkam babies |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/Feb/kuttisp2.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724022641/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/People/98/Feb/kuttisp2.htm |archive-date=24 July 2012 |access-date=20 November 2015 |website=Indolink}}</ref>

==Music==
The soundtrack was composed by [[Deva (composer)|Deva]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vidukathai Tamil Film Audio Cassette by Deva |url=https://mossymart.com/product/vidukathai-tamil-film-audio-cassette-by-deva/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322213145/https://mossymart.com/product/vidukathai-tamil-film-audio-cassette-by-deva/ |archive-date=22 March 2023 |access-date=24 May 2023 |website=Mossymart}}</ref>
{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Hello Hello
| length1 = 05:13
| lyrics1 = Vaasan
| extra1 = [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]], [[Sabesh–Murali|Sabesh]]
| title2 = Idhayam Idhayam
| length2 = 05:21
| lyrics2 = [[Agathiyan]]
| extra2 = [[K. S. Chithra]], Krishnaraj
| title3 = Kidaichiruchu
| length3 = 05:04
| lyrics3 = Agathiyan
| extra3 = [[Anuradha Sriram]], Krishnaraj
| title4 = Mani Madathu
| length4 = 05:03
| lyrics4 = Kalidasan
| extra4 = [[P. Unnikrishnan]]
| title5 = Meenakshi Kaiyil
| length5 = 05:09
| lyrics5 = Agathiyan
| extra5 = K. S. Chithra, [[Kalpana Raghavendar|Kalpana]]
| total_length = 25:50
}}

==Release and reception==
''Vidukathai'' was released on 30 October 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=விடுகதை / Vidukathai (1997) |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/vidukathai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119102846/https://screen4screen.com/movies/vidukathai |archive-date=19 November 2023 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=Screen 4 Screen}}</ref> K. N. Vijiyan of ''[[New Straits Times]]'' praised the film's plot and the performances of lead actors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijiyan |first=K. N. |date=22 November 1997 |title=When a girl marries an older man |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FP1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_RQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2574%2C741018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611071931/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FP1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_RQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2574%2C741018 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |access-date=25 May 2023 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |pages=Arts 5 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> Ji of ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' wrote Agathiyan who kept the [[Masala film|masala elements]] away has also kept aside the idea of keeping the message clear and complete which are major obstacles to the flow to the film, he however praised the performances of Prakash Raj, Neena, Janagaraj and Manivannan but felt whether audience could able to understand the concept and psychology of this film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஜி |date=16 November 1997 |title=விடுகதை |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1997-11-16/page/n1/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230524134921/https://archive.org/details/kalki1997-11-16/page/n1/mode/2up |archive-date=24 May 2023 |access-date=24 May 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |page=1 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Agathiyan}}
{{Kavithalaya Productions}}

[[Category:1997 Indian films]]
[[Category:1997 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1997 films]]
[[Category:1997 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films about bodyguards]]
[[Category:Films about death]]
[[Category:Films about honeymoons]]
[[Category:Films about orphans]]
[[Category:Films about sexual repression]]
[[Category:Films about single parent families]]
[[Category:Films about veterans]]
[[Category:Films about widowhood in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Agathiyan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Deva (composer)]]
[[Category:Films set in Goa]]
[[Category:Films set in universities and colleges]]
[[Category:Indian Army in films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films]]

Vidukathai - Revision history

Folin: new some pg needs work.