Prabhu, a college student, falls in love with Shruthi, a governor's daughter. On knowing about their love affair, her father imprisons Prabhu and forbids him to meet Shruthi.
Direction
Shankar's debut—every frame screams 'I have VISION and BUDGET'
Score
AR Rahman's breakout—Urvasi still lives rent-free in brains
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI Shankar: actual trains, actual crowds, actual chaos
Director
Shankar
Prabhu Deva
Prabhu
Nagma
Shruti
Vadivelu
Vasanth
Raghuvaran
Mallikarjuna
S. P. Balasubramaniam
Kathiresan
Manorama
Shruthi's Grandmother
Girish Karnad
Kakarla Sathyanarayana Moorthy
Allu Ramalingaiah
Shruthi's Grandfather
Ajay Rathnam
Security Officer
Padmapriya
Prabhu's mother
Shankar
Self
Raju Sundaram
Self
Dhamu
Prabhu's Friend
Shreeram Lagoo
Party Head
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Kaadhalan arrived as Tamil cinema was globalizing—Rahman's sound became the bridge between local masala and international markets.
The governor's mansion sets were so elaborate they were later reused for Shankar's Jeans; Prabhu Deva was primarily a choreographer and this role made him a leading man overnight.
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