Thanga Meenkal(2013)
Thanga Meenkal is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language children's drama film directed by Ram. The lead cast includes Ram as Kalyana Raman, Baby Sadhana as Chellamma, and Shelly Kishore as Kunjumani. The story follows a poor laborer who struggles to provide for his eight-year-old daughter while protecting her happiness. Ram co-wrote the screenplay with his daughter Shri Sankara Gomathy Ram. The film won three National Film Awards, including Best Tamil Film and Best Child Artist. It was the only Tamil film selected for the Indian Panorama at the 2013 International Film Festival of India. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, with lyrics by Na. Muthukumar. The film released on 30 August 2013.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Amazon Prime Video, Airtel Xstream Play, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 30 August 2013
- Director
- Raam
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Rating
- 8.1/10
Storyline
Kalyana Raman is a poor laborer who loves his eight-year-old daughter Chellamma more than anything. He wants her to be happy, but money is always tight. When he takes a job far from home, Chellamma struggles without him. Kalyana Raman must choose between earning a living and being with his daughter.
“A father's love is worth more than gold”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Thanga Meenkal
Cast reunions in this film: Ram & Raam (3 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director Ram also played the lead role of Kalyani, marking his acting debut.
- Child actress Sadhana, who played Chellamma, was selected from a Chennai school and had no prior acting experience.
- The movie was shot mostly in real locations around Madurai to capture authentic village life.
- It won three National Film Awards, including Best Child Artist for Sadhana.
- The story was inspired by real-life observations of father-daughter relationships in rural Tamil Nadu.
- Composer Ilaiyaraaja recorded the film's score with a live orchestra, avoiding digital instruments for a raw feel.
- The film had a limited theatrical release but gained attention through film festival screenings.