Kodi Parakkuthu


Kodi Parakkuthu is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language action film co-written, produced and directed by Bharathiraja. The film starred Rajinikanth, who worked with Bharathiraja nearly a decade after their last film 16 Vayathinile. It was released on 8 November 1988, and failed at the box office.

Plot

A mafia leader tries to kill a policeman, Sivagiri, who took down his illegal businesses, with the help of a lookalike. Later, Sivagiri discovers that the leader is responsible for his father's death.

Production

Following the financial failure of some of his "award winning" films, Bharathiraja said he was forced to make the more populist Kodi Parakkuthu to compensate his losses. Manivannan portrayed the film's antagonist, and his voice was dubbed by Bharathiraja.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Hamsalekha. The song "Selai Kattum" is set in the Carnatic raga Shree. The song "Oh Kadhal Ennai" was reused from the song "O Meghave" with a tune in between taken from another song "Mussanjeli Nammuralli" - both from Hamsalekha's earlier Kannada film Ranaranga, which was released the same year.
TitleSingerLyricsLength
"Annai Madiyil" Uma RamananVairamuthu2:50
"Annai Madiyil" S. P. BalasubrahmanyamVairamuthu3:47
"Oh Kadhal Ennai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani JairamVairamuthu5:05
"Oh Kadhal Ennai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. ChithraVairamuthu4:12
"Selai Kattum Pennukkoru"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. ChithraVairamuthu4:36
"Thondaikkulle"Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra6:02

Release and reception

Kodi Parakkuthu was released on 8 November 1988. N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express wrote, "Kodi Parakkudhu is a flag that flutters in full flow, its not a half-mast performance and there's no question of Bharathiraja having surrendered creativity at the altar of starry caprice". Jayamanmadhan of Kalki reviewed the film more positively, saying that while Bharathiraja fans may feel cheated due to the film not being in his usual style, it was a treat for Rajinikanth fans. The film was commercially unsuccessful.