Kanchana(2011)
Kanchana is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language horror comedy film written and directed by Raghava Lawrence. The film stars Raghava Lawrence as the lead hero and R. Sarathkumar as Kanchana, with Lakshmi Rai, Kovai Sarala, and Devadarshini in supporting roles. The story follows Raghava, a young man with an extreme fear of ghosts, who becomes possessed by the spirit of a transgender woman seeking revenge against a corrupt politician. The film blends horror, comedy, and social commentary, addressing themes of transgender discrimination and corruption. It was a commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2011 based on return on investment. The film won several awards including Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Choreographer and Best Comedian. It was released on 22 July 2011 in Tamil and a week earlier in Telugu.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Amazon Prime Video, Airtel Xstream Play, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 22 July 2011
- Director
- Raghava Lawrence
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 38m
- Rating
- 6.2/10
Storyline
Raghava is a jobless young man terrified of ghosts. He refuses to leave his house after dark. When he and his friends play cricket on an abandoned plot of land, he unknowingly disturbs a buried corpse. A powerful spirit possesses his body and forces him to act strangely. Raghava must uncover the spirit's tragic past before it destroys everything he loves.
“The ghost who came for justice.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kanchana
Cast reunions in this film: Manobala & Kovai Sarala (15 films together), Manobala & Devadarshini (13 films together), Manobala & Sriman (11 films together), Manobala & Lakshmi Rai (5 films together), Sriman & Raghava Lawrence (5 films together), and Sriman & Devadarshini (5 films together).
Trivia
- The film's original title was 'Muni 2: Kanchana', as it was a sequel to Lawrence's 2007 horror-comedy 'Muni'.
- Director Raghava Lawrence also choreographed the film's songs, including the popular 'Appadi Podu'.
- The role of the transgender ghost Kanchana was inspired by real-life stories of discrimination Lawrence heard about.
- This was the first Tamil horror film to earn over ₹50 crore at the box office, starting a successful franchise.
- Actress Kovai Sarala, who played the mother, improvised many of her comedy lines during filming.
- The film's climax was shot in a single schedule at a specially constructed bungalow set to maintain continuity.
- Lawrence reportedly followed a strict vegetarian diet during shooting to stay in the mindset of the possessed character.