Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum: Difference between revisions

| runtime        = 136 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 135:43--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-film | title=''KADHALUM KADANTHU POGUM'' (12A) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=9 March 2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>

'''''Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum''''' ({{Translation|Love too shall pass}}) is a 2016 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romantic comedy]] film written and directed by [[Nalan Kumarasamy]] in his second feature film after ''[[Soodhu Kavvum]]''. Produced by [[C. V. Kumar]] under his [[Thirukumaran Entertainment]] banner, with [[K. E. Gnanavel Raja]] also co-producing the film under [[Studio Green]], it stars [[Vijay Sethupathi]] and [[Madonna Sebastian]] in the lead roles, the latter in her Tamil film debut.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Mollywood-girl-Madonna-is-Vijays-pair/articleshow/46945013.cms|title=Mollywood girl Madonna is Vijay's pair|work=The Times of India|date=17 April 2015}}</ref>

 

The film's [[soundtrack]] and [[Background Score|background score]] is composed by [[Santhosh Narayanan]], with Dinesh Krishnan and [[Leo John Paul]] serving as the [[cinematographer]] and [[editor]] respectively. The film was released on 11 March 2016 to positive reviews from critics who mostly praised the performances of Sethupathi and Madonna along with the direction and technical aspects of the film, but became an average success at the box office. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-trailer-vijay-sethupathi-and-nalan-kumarasamy-are-back-to-tickle-your-funny-bone/1/610865.html|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum trailer: Vijay Sethupathi and Nalan are back to tickle your funny bone|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="ibtimes.co.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/kadhalum-kadandhu-pogum-movie-review-live-audience-response-670247|title='Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum' movie review: Live audience response|date=11 March 2016|work=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref>

[[Villupuram]]-based engineering graduate Yazhini Bakthirajan, leaves for [[Chennai]] against her parents' wishes to pursue a career in the [[Information Technology|IT]] sector. When the company she works for shuts down suddenly five months later, she faces financial hardship and is forced to move into a low-cost housing colony while searching for a new job, where his neighbour Kathiravan resides.

* [[Madonna Sebastian]] as Yazhini Bakthirajan (Voice dubbed by [[Raveena Ravi]])

After his debut film ''[[Soodhu Kavvum]]'' received critical and commercial accolades, [[Nalan Kumarasamy]] started penning the script for his second film under the title ''Eskimo Kadhal'', which is touted to be an "out-and-out romantic one", with [[C. V. Kumar]] who earlier produced Nalan's ''Soodhu Kavvum'' had bankrolled this film.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last1=30 Jan|first1=TNN / Updated|last2=2016|last3=Ist|first3=21:32|title=Dark comedy to romance|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/dark-comedy-to-romance/articleshow/50787485.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Bangalore Mirror|language=en}}</ref> As the script demanded a prominent actor to play the male lead role, he narrated the script first to [[Suriya]] whom he gave nod to the project, after Suriya's interest in working with young filmmakers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suriya to team up with Nalan Kumaraswamy - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/suriya-to-team-up-with-nalan-kumaraswamy/articleshow/21621299.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> But he could not allot the dates due to his commitments with [[N. Lingusamy|Lingusamy]]'s ''[[Anjaan (2014 film)|Anjaan]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Suriya's next is 'Eskimo Kadhal'? - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/suriyas-next-is-eskimo-kadhal/articleshow/23084913.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Further negotiations with Gautham Karthik became unsuccessful,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nalan Kumarasamy to direct Gautham Karthik in his next?|url=https://www.sify.com/nalan-kumarasamy-to-direct-gautham-karthik-in-his-next/|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Sify}}</ref> which resulted Nalan to put the project on held and started working on another film titled ''Kai Neelam'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nalan Kumarasamy's next titled Kai Neelam|url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/5918/nalan-kumarasamys-next-titled-kai-neelam|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.moviecrow.com}}</ref> a sequel to ''Soodhu Kavvum'' and also the second film in the Trilogy of Trick, which Nalan had curated.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Kai Neelam' will be the second in Nalan's trilogy - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kai-neelam-will-be-the-second-in-nalans-trilogy/articleshow/44325053.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

In a turn of events, Nalan shelved the project and began working on a remake of the [[Korean film]] ''[[My Dear Desperado]]'' for the same producers,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Nalan Kumarasamy drops 'Kai Neelam'?|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/nalan-kumarasamy-drops-kai-neelam-news-tamil-peljVojaaffjj.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Sify|language=en}}</ref> irrespective of the film being remade in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nalan now plans a romantic one - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/nalan-now-plans-a-romantic-one/articleshow/22487723.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Kumar paid {{INRConvert|40|l}} to acquire the Korean film's remake rights.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nalan Kumarasamy's next is a remake of a Korean movie?|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/nalan-kumarasamys-next-is-a-remake-of-a-korean-movie-news-tamil-pgzkzMdcijgfe.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Sify|language=en}}</ref> In April 2015, [[Vijay Sethupathi]] was confirmed to play the leading role in the film in his second collaboration with Kumarasamy after ''Soodhu Kavvum''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nalan teams up with Vijay Sethupathi again - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/nalan-teams-up-with-vijay-sethupathi-again/articleshow/33507882.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The project had a formal launch on the same month,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vijay Sethupathi's next directed by Nalan Kumarasamy to hit the floors on April 15|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/vijay-sethupathi-starrer-eskimo-kadhal-directed-by-nalan-kumarasamy-is-set-to-hit-floors-on-april-15th.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.behindwoods.com}}</ref> with the technical team of ''Soodhu Kavvum'' comprising music director [[Santhosh Narayanan]], cinematographer Dinesh Krishnan and editor [[Leo John Paul]] being a part of the film and [[K. E. Gnanavel Raja]] of [[Studio Green]] was the co-producer.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Nalan Kumarasamy and Vijay Sethupathi kick-start their next untitled flick from today, the 15th of April|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/nalan-kumarasamy-and-vijay-sethupathi-kick-starts-their-next-untitled-flick-from-today-the-15th-of-april.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.behindwoods.com}}</ref>

Nalan Kumarasamy initially wrote the script of this film (along with ''Kai Neelam'') as a [[black comedy]] due to the success of ''Soodhu Kavvum''.<ref name=":1" /> However, within the completion of the first draft, many films based on black comedy released during the intermediate timeline. Nalan who does not want to repeat genres had shelved the project ''Kai Neelam'',<ref name=":2" /> as well as rewriting the script from the stratch owing to the long gap between his first and second film. He also noted that the film will have unique pattern as similar to ''Soodhu Kavvum'' and also there will be comic elements with stress on relationships.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelhiJanuary 31|first1=India Today Web Desk New|last2=January 31|first2=2016UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2016 17:53|title=Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum (Ka Ka Po): Nalan Kumarasamy rewrote the entire script for this|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kadhalum-kadandhu-pogum-ka-ka-po-nalan-kumarasamy-rewrote-the-entire-script-for-this-306376-2016-01-31|access-date=10 June 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

Initially the team approached [[Trisha (actress)|Trisha]] to play the female lead, but the actress denied her presence in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trisha not teaming up with Vijay Sethupathi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/trisha-not-teaming-up-with-vijay-sethupathi/articleshow/35633234.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> After multiple auditions for the female lead, Kumarasamy roped in [[Madonna Sebastian]] to play the role after she shot to fame with ''[[Premam]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=George|first=Vijay|title='Premam changed my life'|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/premam-changed-my-life/20151128.htm|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> She revealed that Vishnu Govind and Sree Sankar (the sound designer duo who worked in ''Premam''), who also became a part of Kumarasamy's project mentioned the name to the director, and she got to play the female lead during an audition.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I'm a fan of Vijay Sethupathi: Madonna - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/im-a-fan-of-vijay-sethupathi-madonna/articleshow/51239881.cms|access-date=10 June 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> She further added that her role is an out-of-comfort zone and expressive character, saying "I play a middle class girl looking for a job in the city and she meets the hero, played by Sethupathi, from the city, and the story goes on. I can’t reveal much about the film. But it will be a breezy entertainer." Madonna further added despite ''Premam'' becoming successful among the Tamil audience, she was not familiar with Tamil, so she took time to memorise the dialogues and perform on the set. Further stating "Initially I found speaking in Tamil a bit difficult. But now I am learning the language so that I can easily get enact my role".<ref>{{Cite web|last=james|first=merin maria|date=29 June 2015|title=A dream debut in Tamil|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/150628/entertainment-kollywood/article/dream-debut-tamil|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref>

[[Principal photography]] for the film began in April 2015, with the first schedule being shot in [[Chennai]] for 20 days.<ref name=":3" /> As of May 2015, the team had wrapped 50% of the shoot within 25 days while most of the film is set in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 May 2015|title=50% of Vijay Sethupathi - Nalan Kumarasamy's Eskimo Kadhal has been wrapped in just 25 days|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/50-of-vijay-sethupathi-nalan-kumarasamys-eskimo-kadhal-has-been-wrapped-in-just-25-days.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Behindwoods}}</ref> The principal shooting of the film completed during July 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vijay Sethupathi - Nalan movie shooting wrapped up|url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/8817/vijay-sethupathi---nalan-movie-shooting-wrapped-up|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.moviecrow.com}}</ref> and post-production process began soon after its completion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 July 2015|title=Nalan Kumarasamy's second film with Vijay Sethupathi completes its shoots non-stop|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/nalan-kumarasamys-second-film-with-vijay-sethupathi-completes-its-shoots-non-stop.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Behindwoods}}</ref> While the film was developed under the title ''Eskimo Kadhal'', in September 2015, the makers announced the film's title as ''Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=24 September 2015|title=Vijay Sethupathi - Nalan project is titled as Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/vijay-sethupathi-nalan-project-is-titled-as-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Behindwoods}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=24 September 2015|title=Title of Nalan Kumarasamy's second film with Vijay Sethupathi - Telugu News|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/title-of-nalan-kumarasamys-second-film-with-vijay-sethupathi-telugu-news-142991.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref>

The film's five-song [[soundtrack]] and [[Background Score|background score]] were composed by [[Santhosh Narayanan]] in his second collaboration with [[Nalan Kumarasamy]] after ''[[Soodhu Kavvum]]''. Lyrics for the songs were written by [[Thamarai]], [[Mohan Rajan]], [[Vivek (lyricist)|Vivek]], [[Arunraja Kamaraj]] and Kumarasamy himself.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Narayanan|first=Santhosh|author-link=Santhosh Narayanan|date=22 February 2016|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1089095038|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|publisher=iTunes}}</ref> One of the songs from the film titled "Ka Ka Ka Po" which was inspired from the 2006 film ''[[Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei]]''.<ref name="Subramanian">{{Cite web|last=Subramanian|first=Anupama|date=18 January 2016|title=Title trouble for Vijay Sethupathi's Ka Ka Ka Po?|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/kollywood/170116/title-trouble-for-vijay-sethupathi-s-ka-ka-ka-po.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref> It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on 8 February 2016 at a launch event held in [[Sathyam cinemas|Sathyam Cinemas]] in [[Chennai]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Narayanan|first=Santhosh|author-link=Santhosh Narayanan|date=8 February 2016|title=Ka Ka Ka Po (From "Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum") - Single|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ka-ka-ka-po-from-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-single/1078190207|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|publisher=iTunes}}</ref> and became an instant hit upon release.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelhiFebruary 8|first1=India Today Web Desk New|last2=February 8|first2=2016UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2016 15:34|title=Ka Ka Po: Watch Vijay Sethupathi shake a leg in this peppy title track|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/ka-ka-po-watch-vijay-sethupathi-shake-a-leg-in-this-peppy-title-track-312658-2016-03-10|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> The album released on 22 February 2016 by [[Sony Music India]] which acquired the music rights.<ref name=":4" />

''Behindwoods'' gave the soundtrack three stars out of five, it summarised "Santhosh Narayanan strikes again with his unique ideas of fusion music!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-songs-review.html|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum (aka) Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum songs review|work=Behindwoods}}</ref> Giving three out of five, Siddharth Srinivas of ''[[Sify]]'' called the soundtrack as "slightly inferior", but added that the album featured superior audio aura and quality, which make up for the familiarity in tunes further adding that "there is work to be done with the visuals".<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum Songs Review|url=https://www.sify.com/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-songs-review/|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Sify|language=en-US}}</ref> Karthik Srinivasan of ''Milliblog'' stated the album as "passable soundtrack" and stated the songs "Paravai Parandhuchu" and "Bongu Kichan" are likeable.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum (Music review), Tamil – Santhosh Narayanan by Milliblog!|url=https://milliblog.com/2016/03/04/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-music-review-tamil-santhosh-narayanan/|access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref>

| lyrics1 = Mohanrajan

| lyrics3 = [[Nalan Kumarasamy]], Arunraja Kamaraj

The film's first look and teaser was released with an acronym ''Ka Ka Ka Po'' being used as part of the promotions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 January 2016|title=Nalan Kumarasamy's Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum teaser from this evening|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/nalan-kumarasamys-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-teaser-from-this-evening.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Behindwoods}}</ref> In late January 2016, debutant filmmaker P. S. Vijay sued the makers as they found the title too similar comparing with his film ''[[Ka Ka Ka Po]]'', although the former had a different expansion. Vijay also stated that this may not only create misperception among the audience but also affects the business prospects of the films.<ref name="Subramanian"/>

The film was initially scheduled for a theatrical release on 12 February 2016, coinciding with the [[Valentine's Day]] weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Makers of 'Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum' reassure Feb 12 release!|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/makers-of-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-reassure-feb-12-release-news-tamil-qbxqJjijbbcgb.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Sify|language=en}}</ref> However, due to post-production delays and as Vijay Sethupathi's another film ''[[Sethupathi (film)|Sethupathi]]'' being released on the same month of February, the makers pushed the release to 11 March 2016, as trade analysts believed that the prospects of both the films will be affected if being released on the same month.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 February 2016|title=Vijay Sethupathi's 'Ka Ka Po' release postponed - Tamil News|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/vijay-sethupathi-madonna-sebastian-kadhalum-kadandhu-pogum-release-on-march-11-tamil-news-152145|access-date=10 June 2021|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> It received [[Content rating|U certificate]] from the [[Censor Board]] which further became eligible for the exemption of the [[entertainment tax]] levied by the Tamil Nadu state government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum gets tax exemption|url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/11433/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-gets-tax-exemption|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.moviecrow.com}}</ref> The film opened in more than 300 screens across Tamil Nadu,<ref>{{Cite web|title='Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum' gets tax exemption!|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-gets-tax-exemption-news-tamil-qdine4hcighbj.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Sify|language=en}}</ref> and due to positive response the number of screens had been increased on 14 March.<ref name="indiatoday.in">{{Cite web|last1=DelhiMarch 15|first1=Indo-Asian News Service New|last2=March 15|first2=2016UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2016 13:52|title=Ka Ka Po box office collection: Best-ever opening for Vijay Sethupathi till date|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/ka-ka-po-box-office-collection-best-ever-opening-for-vijay-sethupathi-till-date-313342-2016-03-15|access-date=10 June 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

The film opened to positive response from critics.<ref name="ibtimes.co.in"/> M. Suganth, editor-in-chief of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave three-and-a-half out off five stars saying "The stylish nonchalance of [[Vijay Sethupathi]] and the earnestness of [[Madonna Sebastian|Madonna [Sebastian]]] complement each perfectly that we root for these characters to succeed".<ref>{{Citation|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum Movie Review {3.5/5}: Critic Review of Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum by Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum/movie-review/51368349.cms|access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> ''Behindwoods'' gave three stars for the film and wrote "Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum is a whole new experience. At the minimum, it might just excite you or even go to the extent of making you jump out of joy".<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 March 2016|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum (aka) Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum review|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-review.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Behindwoods}}</ref> Praising the performances of Vijay Sethupathi and Madonna Sebastian, with the writing, Sify reviewed the film as a "classy rom-com" giving three out of five stars for the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum review: A classy rom-com|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-review-review-tamil-qdlpUcebjbhca.html|url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2021|work=Sify}}</ref>

Gauthaman Bhaskaran gave three stars in his review for ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' saying saying "though the film is often predictable and ponderous, there are some interesting shots that lift the narrative".<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 March 2016|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum review: A pretty girl's fumbling mobster lover|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-review-a-pretty-girl-s-fumbling-mobster-lover/story-gTtz3pMbJOucIPguXube5L.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> In his review for ''[[India Today]]'', Kirubhakar Purushothaman gave three-and-a-half out of five stars and praised the performances of the actors along with the writing and filmmaking.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelhiMarch 12|first1=Kirubhakar Purushothaman New|last2=March 12|first2=2016UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2016 15:09|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum review: Nalan Kumarasamy makes ordinary look extraordinary|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-review-nalan-kumarasamy-makes-ordinary-something-look-extraordinary-312939-2016-03-12|access-date=10 June 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> S. Saraswathi of ''[[Rediff.com|Rediff]]'' gave three out of five stars saying "The best part is that, though the film revolves around Kathir and Yazhini, they are just small players in the larger story. With riveting performances by the lead actors, a delightful script and the magic wielded by of director [[Nalan Kumarasamy]] and composer [[Santhosh Narayanan]], the film is a sure winner".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Saraswathi|first=S.|title=Review: Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum is a winner|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-is-a-winner/20160311.htm|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref>

Noted film critic [[Baradwaj Rangan]] in his review for ''[[The Hindu]]'', praised Nalan Kumarasamy for "breaking the stereotypes of romance genre films in Tamil", saying that "Nalan isn't just reshaping the Kollywood romance here [...] He’s also reshaping the hero himself".<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|date=12 March 2016|title=Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum: A letdown, but not a lazy one|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/kadhalum-kadandhu-pogum-review-a-letdown-but-not-a-lazy-one/article8342804.ece|access-date=10 June 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He further reviewed that "the Kathir-Yazhini scenes accrue weight towards the closing portions, so much so that we find ourselves completing their stories in our heads during the drive home."<ref name=":5" /> ''Moviecrow'' gave a positive review saying "With a brilliant performance from Vijay Sethupathi, Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum is treat of a different kind from the team of ''Soodhu Kavvum''".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum Review - A Vijay Sethupathi Show|url=https://www.moviecrow.com/News/11481/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-review|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.moviecrow.com}}</ref>

In its opening weekend, the film collected {{INRConvert|7.45|c}} in Tamil Nadu from 327 screens, and {{INRConvert|1.17|c}} crore from 264 shows in Chennai. Overall, it was the highest opening in Vijay Sethupathi's career.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Upadhyaya|first=Prakash|date=14 March 2016|title=Box office collection: 'Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum' performs well in first weekend; 'Pichaikaaran' holding well in Chennai|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/box-office-collection-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-performs-well-first-weekend-pichaikaaran-670618|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.ibtimes.co.in|language=en}}</ref><ref name="indiatoday.in"/> It continued its number one position at the Chennai city box office making it a total of {{INRConvert|2.58|c}} in its first week.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2016|title=Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum box office collection|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-box-office-mar-20.html|access-date=10 June 2021|website=Behindwoods}}</ref>

The film released in more than 47 theatres in North America and grossed $41,000 on its first day.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hooli|first=Shekhar H.|date=13 March 2016|title=US box office collection: 'Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum' leads race, beating 'Kalyana Vaibhogame,' 'Kshanam'|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/us-box-office-collection-kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-leads-race-beating-kalyana-vaibhogame-670541|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.ibtimes.co.in|language=en}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the film collected {{INRConvert|1.59|c}} across 23 screens. In Australia, it earned {{INRConvert|1.71|c}} and in Malaysia, {{INRConvert|0.86|c}}.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Upadhyaya|first=Prakash|date=15 March 2016|title='Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum' box office collection: Vijay Sethupathi-starrer gets earth-shattering response overseas|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/kadhalum-kadanthu-pogum-box-office-collection-vijay-sethupathi-starrer-gets-earth-shattering-670724|access-date=10 June 2021|website=www.ibtimes.co.in|language=en}}</ref>