# Kadhalukku Mariyadhai

Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (transl. Respect for Love) is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language musical romantic drama film directed by Fazil. It is the Tamil remake of his own Malayalam film Aniyathipraavu (1997). The film stars Vijay and Shalini (reprising her role from the original), while Sivakumar, Srividya, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Manivannan, Dhamu, Charle, Thalaivaasal Vijay, and Radha Ravi play supporting roles. It tells the story of a couple of differing backgrounds and beliefs and how they unite amidst the opposition of their families. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with cinematography by Anandakuttan.
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai was released on 19 December 1997 to positive reviews and became a box-office blockbuster. It was also Shalini’s first Tamil film as a leading actress, having previously acted as a child artist.

## Plot

Jeevanantham "Jeeva" is a rich youth who has just completed his B.Com. Although his parents want him to marry a girl and settle down, Jeeva prefers to pursue MBA studies instead and is not interested in marriage. However, his attitude changes when he meets Mini, a Christian girl and final-year B.Com student, at a bookstore. He instantly falls in love with her, and after a few incidents, he succeeds in winning her heart.
However, Mini's three elder brothers - a doctor named James, a police officer named Stephen, and a local goon named Thomas - who are all overprotective of her, eventually find out about their sister's relationship with Jeeva and are furious. They thrash Jeeva, as well as his friends Kesavan and Raghavan, and warn Jeeva never to come near Mini. Undaunted, Jeeva takes Mini to his house, where his father Rajshekhar too disapproves of their relationship and throws them out of the house.
Kesavan and Raghavan take the couple to their slum near Pondicherry, where Kesavan explains their situation to his father Kalingeyan, who is a fisherman. Kalingeyan agrees to let the couple stay in his house and also defends them from Mini's brothers when they come to the slum to kill Jeeva. Later, Kalingeyan decides to get Jeeva and Mini married, but by now, Jeeva and Mini have developed second thoughts about their relationship as their families are against it. They decide to break up and return to their families, which is accepted by Kesavan, Raghavan, and Kalingeyan. But despite breaking up, Jeeva and Mini cannot forget each other.
Meanwhile, Mini's marriage is fixed with someone else. Jeeva's mother decides to meet Mini before she gets married so that she can get a better wife for Jeeva. Jeeva, his parents, Kesavan, and Raghavan go to Mini's house, where both families apologize to each other for what happened. But when Jeeva and his family are about to leave, Jeeva's mother breaks down and requests that Mini's family get Mini married to Jeeva. Mini's family, including her brothers, agree to this. Jeeva and Mini are happily reunited.

## Cast

* Vijay as Jeevaanandham "Jeeva", a rich young MBA student who falls in love with Mini
* Shalini as Mini, a woman raised with Christian beliefs who falls in love with Jeeva
* Srividya as Lakshmi, Jeeva's caring and protective mother
* Sivakumar as Rajasekhar, Jeeva's strict father
* Manivannan as Kalingeyan, Kesavan's father and the leader of a fisherman hamlet
* Charle as Kesavan, Jeeva's friend
* Dhamu as Raghavan, Jeeva's friend
* Radha Ravi as James, a doctor and one of Mini's three brothers
* Thalaivasal Vijay as Stephen, a police officer and another one of Mini's brothers
* Shaji Khan as Thomas, a goon and the youngest of Mini's brothers
* KPAC Lalitha as Mariam Joesph, Mini's mother
* Kaka Radhakrishnan as Major Thangaraj, a mad and retired army officer
* K. R. Vatsala as Anitha, James's wife
* Sasikala Shree as Stella, Stephen's wife
* Poornima as Latha, Mini's friend
* Saranya Mohan as Mini's niece

## Production

Kadhalukku Mariyadhai is the Tamil remake of Fazil's Malayalam film Aniyathipraavu. Initially, he was keen on casting a debutant in the lead female role, but Shalini, the lead actress of the original, insisted that she should also star in the remake. Fazil initially approached Abbas for the lead role, but due to mismanagement created by Abbas' manager with call sheets, Vijay was selected instead.

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Palani Bharathi.

## Release and reception

The film was released on 19 December 1997. A reviewer from The Hindu mentioned that "Vijay brings to surface the soft nature of the love", while adding that the rest of the cast makes "fine contributions", and praising the director's work. K. Vijiyan of New Straits Times wrote "This is a movie for the whole family". Ji of Kalki praised the performances of Vijay, Shalini, Ilaiyaraaja's music and climax but panned the casting choices of Charlie and Dhamu as Vijay's friends. Ananda Vikatan rated the film 50 out of 100. The film saw Vijay win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor alongside Parthiban, while Palani Bharathi won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Lyricist.

## Legacy

Scenes from the film were spoofed in Thamizh Padam (2010). Shiva (Shiva) and a girl take the same book Love and Love Only in a way similar to Vijay and Shalini in Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, but shock awaits as the girl turns out to be married. The song "Ennai Thalatta Varuvala" inspired the title of a 2003 film. The book Love and Love Only that appears in the film inspired a film of the same name.
The film's success led the lead pair, Vijay and Shalini, to collaborate again in Kannukkul Nilavu (2000), which was also directed by Fazil and became a success.

## Home media

The film is digitally available on YouTube in Tamil language. It is available in Marathi language dubbed version currently streaming on Ultra Jhakaas app.