Kadal Meengal(1981)
Kadal Meengal (transl. Sea Fishes) is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by G. N. Rangarajan. The film stars Kamal Haasan in a dual role as Selvanayagam and his son Rajan, alongside Sujatha, Nagesh, and Swapna. The story follows a poor fisherman who becomes wealthy after being presumed dead, and his son who seeks revenge years later. Set in a coastal fishing village, the narrative explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. The film is a remake of the 1980 Malayalam film Meen and also draws inspiration from the Hindi film Trishul (1978). It was released on 5 June 1981 and received mixed reviews, with praise for Kamal Haasan's performance and Ilaiyaraaja's music.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- VI Movies and TV, Hungama Play, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 15 November 1981
- Director
- Rangarajan G N
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 17m 0
Storyline
A poor fisherman named Selvam loves Bhagyam, but a cyclone separates them. Presumed dead, Selvam returns years later as a wealthy businessman. His son Rajan, raised in poverty, seeks revenge on the father who abandoned him.
“Love and revenge beneath the waves”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kadal Meengal
Cast reunions in this film: Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Ilayaraja & Thengai Srinivasan (50 films together), Ilayaraja & Ambika (32 films together), Ilayaraja & Panchu Arunachalam (26 films together), Nagesh & Thengai Srinivasan (25 films together), and Kamal Haasan & Thengai Srinivasan (23 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director Rangarajan G N was better known by his pen name 'Sujatha', a famous Tamil writer.
- The movie was shot in real fishing villages along the Tamil Nadu coast for authenticity.
- It was one of the early films for actor-director Manivannan, who played a supporting role.
- The story explores the 'kadal meengal' (sea fish) as a metaphor for the fisherman's life and fate.
- The film's music was composed by Shankar-Ganesh, a popular duo in early 80s Tamil cinema.
- Despite its dramatic plot, the movie did not achieve major commercial success upon release.
- The cinematography captures the daily rhythms and dangers of the traditional fishing community.