# Veedu Manaivi Makkal

Veedu Manaivi Makkal (transl. House, Wife, People) is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by T. P. Gajendran in his directorial debut. The film stars Visu, K. R. Vijaya, Pandiyan and Seetha. It was released on 15 January 1988, and was commercially successful. The film was remade in Kannada as Ganda Mane Makkalu (1988), in Telugu as Illu Illalu Pillalu (1988) and in Malayalam as Kudumba Vishesham (1994).

## Plot

Visu is the head of a middle-class family comprising his wife KR Vijaya, two sons – Anand Babu and Ganaga and two daughters – Seetha and Sulochana. They live in a rented place owned by a cruel landlord in Chennai with whom Visu often gets into quarrel. Visu challenges his landlord that he will build a new house in less than three months and vacate his current rented premises. Visu finalises a plot in the outskirts of Chennai and decides to build a house there.
Anand Babu is a dancer and is married to his cousin, but he develops an illegitimate affair with his co-dancer and starts living together. Visu and KR Vijaya try hard to re-unite Anand Babu with his wife which they accomplish successfully after so much struggles. After re-uniting, Anand Babu's wife transforms and prefers to lead a nuclear family away from her in-laws for which Anand Babu agrees as well. Visu and KR Vijaya feel bad about Anand Babu and his wife's decision to leave them.
Sulochana falls in love with their neighbour S.Ve. Shekar. who has been employed in Dubai and had come to Chennai for holidays. Visu learns of his daughter's love and agrees for their wedding. To Visu's shock, S.Ve.Shekar loses his job and starts staying along with Visu and his family which makes Visu angry and shouts at him once. S.Ve. Shekar feels insulted and leaves the home along with his wife. Seetha falls in love with Pandiyan who is employed with the landlord but trying to get a good job. Visu's younger son Ganga could not find a job and keeps trying repeatedly. Finally Ganga gets a job in a company owned by Delhi Ganesh and falls in love with boss' daughter. Ganga also settles with his father-in-law.
Visu accumulates some money and starts building the house, however he further needs some more financing. He decides to get the help from his children, but none of them come for rescue. Sulochana lies that she has already sold her gold necklace which was given by Visu while Ganga demands a sign in a bond paper which shows his lack of trust on his parents.
Seetha is the only daughter who still stays will her parents. KR Vijaya falls sick and passes away. Visu decides to burn her body at the place where he has been building a house. Hearing the news of KR Vijaya's death, their family members – Anand Babu, Ganga and Sulochana rush to see, however, Visu denies permission to allow them having a look at KR Vijaya's dead body. Finally, Seetha and Pandiyan are united.

## Cast

* Visu as Subbaiah Pillai
* K. R. Vijaya as Lakshmi
* Pandiyan as henchman
* Seetha
* Delhi Ganesh
* T. P. Gajendran
* S. Ve. Shekher as Sigamani
* Ganga as Subbaiah Pillai's younger son
* Anand Babu as Subbaiah Pillai's elder son
* Kuladeivam Rajagopal as Broker Bullet
* Pushpalatha as Jagadamba

## Production

Veedu Manaivi Makkal was the directorial debut of T. P. Gajendran, and was produced by N. Radha under M/S Thenandal Films. Gajendran wrote the screenplay based on a story by T. Durairaj. The story was written in a way that would suit Visu's image. Cinematography was handled by Baby Philips, and the editing jointly by N. R. Kittu and Ganesh Kumar. The final cut of the film was 4,117.32 metres (13,508.3 ft).

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Shankar–Ganesh. The lyrics for all songs were written by Vairamuthu except one, which was written by Idhaya Chandran.

## Release and reception

Veedu Manaivi Makkal was released on 15 January 1988. The following week, N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express felt the film was too similar to the directorial films of Visu like Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, Manal Kayiru, Samsaram Adhu Minsaram and Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi, but praised the performance of K. R. Vijaya, who he said "steals the show". Jayamanmadhan of Kalki appreciated the film for its comedy. The film was commercially successful.