Kavari Maan

Kavari Maan (transl. Musk deer)^[a] is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language crime drama film, directed by S. P. Muthuraman and written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, with Vijayakumar, Ravichandran, Sekhar and Sridevi in supporting roles. It was released on 6 April 1979.

Kavari Maan
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	S. P. Muthuraman
Written by	Panchu Arunachalam
Produced by	B. H. Rajanna
Starring	Sivaji Ganesan
Cinematography	Babu
Edited by	R. Vittal T. K. Rajan
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Production company	Rajanna Enterprises
Release date	6 April 1979 (1979-04-06)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Thyagarajan is an IAS officer. After seeing his wife Kalpana in bed with her extramarital lover Anand, he murders her in front of his daughter Uma's eyes. This strains his relationship with his daughter, who remains contemptuous towards him even after he completes his prison term. He however keeps coming behind her as she is the only solace he has in life. His family too has disowned him except for Sivaramakrishnan, his father, who was a judge and has read the character of Thyagarajan, Kalpana and understood what would have happened.

Uma falls in love with Rajesh, a womaniser. In spite of numerous attempts by Thyagarajan, Uma refuses to believe that Rajesh is immoral. On his birthday party, Rajesh attempts to rape her and she kills him. Thyagarajan goes to prison taking the blame and the family which already hated him now refuses to acknowledge him with Uma and Sivaramakrishnan alone, still being with him.

Cast

Male cast Sivaji Ganesan as Thyagarajan Vijayakumar as Sundarrajan Ravichandran as Anand Sekhar as Rajesh Major Sundarrajan as Rangarajan Thengai Srinivasan as Vasu Calcutta Viswanathan as Sivaramakrishnan

Female cast Sridevi as Uma[2] Prameela as Kalpana S. Varalakshmi as Rajalakshmi Manimala as Leela Baby Babitha as young Uma

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam.^[3] The Tyagaraja composition "Brova Bharama" features in the film. It is set in the Carnatic raga Bahudari,^[4][5] and the song "Poopole Un" is set in Mayamalavagowla.^[6][7]

Song	Singers	Lyrics
Aaduthu Ullam	S. Janaki	Panchu Arunachalam
Angel I See Only You	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Brova Bharama	K. J. Yesudas	Tyagaraja
Poopole Un Punnagaiyil	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	Panchu Arunachalam
Sollavayale	S. Varalakshmi	Bharathiyar
Ullangal Inbathil	Ilaiyaraaja	Panchu Arunachalam

Release and reception

Kavari Maan was released on 6 April 1979.^[8] Though fans were unwilling to accept Ganesan portraying a wife killer,^[9] the film emerged a commercial success.^[10][11] Kaushikan of Kalki criticised the story but praised Muthuraman's direction, adding that the deer in the film's title was not leaping, but roaring.^[12] Naagai Dharuman of Anna reviewed the film positively, praising the cast performances, Arunachalam's writing and Ilaiyaraaja's music.^[13]

Notes

1. The term figuratively means a human who would die if he lost his honour.^[1]