Kumbakonam Gopalu(1998)
Kumbakonam Gopalu is a 1998 Indian Tamil-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Keyaar. The cast includes Pandiarajan as Gopal, Mayoori as Geetha, Janagaraj as Lingamurthy, and Thyagu in supporting roles. The story follows a small-town trickster who fakes an illness to get free hospital care and falls for a woman there. After discovering a dead woman's diary, he blackmails three men linked to her past. The film is a remake of the 1991 Kannada film Gauri Ganesha. Child actor Master Mahendran won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Child Artist for his performance. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its second half and others criticizing its tone. It was released in 1998.
Kumbakonam Gopalu (1998) OTT release date is not officially announced yet — GudVibe tracks its streaming availability daily.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 26 November 1998
- Director
- Keyaar
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Rating
- 3.8/10
Storyline
Gopal is a lazy trickster who cheats people to survive in the city. When he finds a dead woman's diary, he decides to blackmail three men who once hurt her. He writes letters claiming she had a son by each of them. The men rush to a hotel to meet the child, and chaos follows.
“A lie can cost you everything”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kumbakonam Gopalu
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & Janagaraj (59 films together), Ilayaraja & Vinu Chakravarthy (34 films together), Janagaraj & Vinu Chakravarthy (12 films together), Pandiarajan & Ilayaraja (7 films together), Ilayaraja & Keyaar (6 films together), and Ilayaraja & Ashwini (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Kumbakonam Gopalu' to highlight the lead character's small-town roots, a common theme in 1990s Tamil cinema.
- Director Kothandam Ramaiah was primarily known as a dialogue writer and this was one of his few directorial ventures.
- The movie's soundtrack was composed by Deva, who was extremely popular for his folk and melody-based songs during that era.
- Actor Pandiarajan, known for his comedy roles, played a key supporting part, adding to the film's humorous elements.
- The plot involving blackmail and a woman's death was considered a somewhat darker twist for a film marketed as a family comedy.
- It was released during a period when Tamil cinema often blended rural settings with urban crime stories.
- The film did not achieve major box office success, remaining a lesser-known work in the filmographies of its cast and crew.