Kanmani Raja(1974)
Kanmani Raja is a 1974 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by P. Madhavan. The film stars Sivakumar, Sumithra, and Thengai Srinivasan in lead roles. The story follows Selvam, a wealthy young man, who marries Janaki, a poor girl, against his possessive mother Jayalakshmi's hidden wishes. Jayalakshmi pretends to accept the marriage but secretly works to destroy it. The film explores themes of possessive love, class conflict, and family loyalty. It was produced by Muthuvel Movies and runs for 141 minutes. The film did not perform well at the box office but is remembered for its emotional storytelling and strong performances.
Kanmani Raja (1974) OTT release date is not officially announced yet — GudVibe tracks its streaming availability daily.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1974
- Director
- P. Madhavan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 21m 0
Storyline
A wealthy mother cannot bear to share her only son with his new wife. She pretends to accept the marriage but secretly plots to destroy it. The son must choose between his mother's love and his wife's happiness.
“Love should set you free”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kanmani Raja
Cast reunions in this film: Sankar Ganesh & Sivakumar (20 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Thengai Srinivasan (18 films together), Sivakumar & Thengai Srinivasan (15 films together), Sivakumar & Sumithra (10 films together), Sivakumar & Devaraj Mohan (10 films together), and Sankar Ganesh & Sumithra (6 films together).
Trivia
- This was the only Tamil film directed by P. Madhavan where Muthuraman and K.R. Vijaya played the lead romantic pair.
- The film's music was composed by M.S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan, during their peak collaboration period.
- Actress Sowcar Janaki, who played the possessive mother, was only about 12 years older than Muthuraman who played her son.
- The movie was released the same year as the blockbuster 'Naan Avanillai', which also starred Muthuraman in a lead role.
- A subplot involves the daughter of a family servant, highlighting class differences common in 1970s Tamil social dramas.
- The film's title 'Kanmani Raja' translates to 'Apple of the Eye King', directly referencing the mother's doting obsession.
- This was one of several 1970s films where actress K.R. Vijaya portrayed a character suffering within a marital home.