Kadhalan(1994)
Kaadhalan is a 1994 Indian Tamil-language romantic thriller film directed by S. Shankar. The film stars Prabhu Deva in his acting debut and Nagma as the female lead. Raghuvaran, Girish Karnad, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and Vadivelu play supporting roles. The story follows Prabhu, a college student from a poor family, who falls in love with Shruthi, the daughter of a corrupt governor. The governor opposes their relationship and imprisons Prabhu. Prabhu escapes and fights to expose the governor's crimes. The film is known for A. R. Rahman's soundtrack and Prabhu Deva's choreography. It won the National Film Award for Best Choreography. The film was a commercial success and is remembered for its songs and dance sequences.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Sun NXT, Airtel Xstream Play, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 17 September 1994
- Director
- Shankar
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 48m
- Rating
- 5.0/10
Storyline
A poor college student named Prabhu falls in love with Shruthi, the daughter of a powerful and corrupt governor. The governor opposes their love and throws Prabhu into a secret prison. Prabhu must escape, expose the governor's dark secrets, and fight to reunite with the woman he loves.
“Love fights power”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kadhalan
Cast reunions in this film: Shankar & A. R. Rahman (10 films together), Prabhu Deva & A. R. Rahman (4 films together), and A. R. Rahman & Nagma (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Kaadhalan' was changed to 'Premikudu' for its Telugu release and 'Humse Hai Muqabala' in Hindi, with the Hindi version starring Shah Rukh Khan in a special appearance.
- The iconic 'Urvasi Urvasi' song was originally composed for another film but was reused here, becoming a massive hit and popularizing hip-hop in Tamil cinema.
- Actress Nagma, who played Shruthi, was initially hesitant to accept the role but was convinced by director Shankar's narration.
- The film's villain, played by Raghuvaran, was inspired by a real-life politician known for his authoritarian style, adding a layer of social commentary.
- Kaadhalan was one of the earliest Tamil films to extensively use computer graphics, especially in the song 'Mukkabla'.
- The film's success led to a legal dispute over its remake rights, with multiple producers claiming ownership for different language versions.
- Prabhu Deva's dance steps in 'Urvasi Urvasi' were heavily influenced by Michael Jackson, whom he admired, and the song's choreography became a cultural phenomenon.