| Kundakka Mandakka | |
| Director: | Ashokan |
| Story: | Ashokan |
| Starring: | Parthiban Vadivelu Raai Laxmi Mallika |
| Producer: | Leela Kesavan Punnagai Poo Gheetha (co-producer) |
| Studio: | SG Films Super Star Art Movies |
| Music: | Bharadwaj |
| Editing: | Suresh Urs |
| Cinematography: | Bharanisri |
| Runtime: | 150 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Tamil |
Kundakka Mandakka is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Ashokan and produced by SG Films. The film stars Parthiban, Vadivelu, Raai Laxmi, and Mallika. The music was composed by Bharadwaj, while editing was done by Suresh Urs. The film was released on 14 October 2005.
The movie is about Ilangovan, aka Ilango (Parthiban), a middle-class youth who dreams to get his sister Kavitha (Mallika) married to a millionaire. He is very keen on becoming rich and falls in love with Roopa (Lakshmi Rai), daughter of a rich industrialist. Now and then, Ilango comes across Chellappa (Vadivelu), a petty thief, and takes him for a fun ride. A sequence of events makes Ilango realize that money is not everything in life. He, with Chellappa's help, finally works to get his sister married to the boy that she loves.
The film marked director Asokan Subramanian's third feature film following Thamizhachi (1995) and Ponvizha (1999). 15 days of shooting took place at a busy housing complex in K K Nagar while two songs were picturised in Kodaikanal.[1] The film's cinematography was handled by debutant Bharani Sri who earlier apprenticed with M. S. Prabhu.[2]
The music was composed by Bharadwaj.[3]
| Kundakka Mandakka | |
| Type: | Soundtrack |
| Artist: | Bharadwaj |
| Released: | 22 September 2005 |
| Genre: | Feature film soundtrack |
| Language: | Tamil |
| Producer: | Bharadwaj |
| Prev Title: | Andha Naal Nyabagam |
| Prev Year: | 2005 |
| Next Title: | Ulla Kadathal |
| Next Year: | 2005 |
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "8 Thisaigal" | Snehan | |
| 2 | "Nee Vendum" | Janani Bharadwaj, Srinivas | |
| 3 | "Mun Jenmam" | Sathya | |
| 4 | "Vanthutaya" | Vadivelu | |
| 5 | "Niagara" | Pop Shalini | |
| 6 | "Vattamittu" | Suchitra | |
The movie received mixed reviews from critics
Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote, "Don't look for coherence or logic in "Kundakka Mandakka", because most of the time it is inane humour that rules."[4]
Sify wrote, "Enough endured. Instead of viewing this farce, stay at home and watch cartoon network!"[5]
Behindwoods said, "Kundakka Mandakka is a movie for the front benchers and is a sure hit in the B and C theatres. Asokan, a debutant director, literally scares the masses with the presentation."[6]
Indiaglitz stated, "Parthiban as usual comes up with tricks, which always ends up Vadivelu in trouble, and is pretty sharp in his repartee and witticisms. He has a way with words and it comes naturally to him. Vadivelu provides relief at many places in the movie while Lakshmi Rai oozes glamour all through. Director Ashokan shows some sparkle in handling earthy humor. Though the essential idea is old, the film does evoke plenty of laughs."[7]
Lajjavathi of Kalki wrote the film has gone backwards in terms of storytelling and technical sophistication. It's fine if logic is removed in comedy scenes, but how about removing the brain itself?[8]
Cinesouth wrote "There does not seem to be a great effort on the part of the director, Ashokan. He has placed his faith on the Partiban Vadivelu comedy duo. And they have not disappointed him".[9]
Chennai Online wrote "A comedy track many a time peps up the narration. But when the track itself becomes the basis for an entire film, then only one of two things can happen. Either it can turn into a hilarious caper. Or it can turn into a jarring piece of assault on the senses. 'Gundakka Mandakka' falls in the second category".[10]