{ "id": "ep7vjmjz7k", "slug": "kannukkul-nilavu", "title": "Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "label": "Released 1992 to 1999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு), 2000 Tamil romantic psychological thriller directed by Fazil, starring Vijay, Shalini, and Kaveri; released 14 January 2000, Vijay's 25th film, music by Ilaiyaraaja.", "snippet": "Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு), 2000 Tamil romantic psychological thriller directed by Fazil, starring Vijay, Shalini, and Kaveri; released 14 January 2000, Vijay's 25th film, music by Ilaiyaraaja.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1992-1999", "markdown": "# Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு)\n\n**Kannukkul Nilavu** (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு; transl. The moon in [my] eyes) is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language romantic psychological thriller film written and directed by Fazil, starring Vijay and Shalini in the lead roles, with [Raghuvaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/raghuvaran), Srividya, and [Ponvannan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ponvannan) in supporting roles.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3906/2000-kannukkul-nilavu) It was released on 14 January 2000 as a Pongal release and marks the 25th film of Vijay's career.[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Director and writers | Fazil (story, screenplay, direction); dialogue by Gokula Krishna[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274604/fullcredits/) |\n| Release | 14 January 2000, India, wide theatrical release[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) |\n| Lead cast | Vijay as Gautham Prabhakar, Shalini as Hema[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3906/2000-kannukkul-nilavu) |\n| Music | Ilaiyaraaja[4](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/cast-crew.html) |\n| Production | Produced by Mohan Natarajan for Chinthamani Cine Arts; distributed by Ayngaran International[4](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/cast-crew.html) • [2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) |\n| Career note | Vijay's 25th film[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) |\n| Certification | U (unrestricted public exhibition)[4](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/cast-crew.html) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nGautham Prabhakar (Vijay), a music student, is obsessed with the disappearance of Gayathri (Kaveri), the girl he loves, and comes to [Pondicherry](https://www.edgepedia.org/pondicherry) in search of her.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) There he meets Hema (Shalini) and her friends, who try to play a practical prank on him; the prank fails when Gautham turns the tables with his singing and dancing.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) His partial amnesia and odd mannerisms make Hema and her friends question his sanity, and Hema, whose own mother had been a mental patient, takes him to her father, the psychiatrist Dr. Rajasekhar (Raghuvaran), for treatment.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm)\n\nUnder hypnotic trance, Gautham narrates that he was a helpless witness to Gayathri's murder and resolves to take revenge on the three perpetrators.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) The doctor's investigation shows that Gautham is not looking for Gayathri herself but for Shanmugam (Thalaivasal Vijay) and his two friends, Soundar and Prakash, whom Gautham believes killed her, though Gayathri is actually still alive.[6](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/story.html) Hema and her father delay a full cure, fearing that a man who learns the truth may become violent, and Hema falls in love with Gautham.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) When Gautham's mother (Srividya) arrives, his love for her brings back the missing memories, and he sets out after the three men he blames.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) • [6](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/story.html) A plan by the doctor and the others leads Gautham to the truth about Gayathri, and he begins a new life with Hema after his mother and her father accept the relationship.[6](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/story.html)\n\n## Production\n\nFazil, a Malayalam director who had worked in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) before, wrote the story and screenplay and directed the film, with dialogue by Gokula Krishna.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274604/fullcredits/) Mohan Natarajan produced it under the Chinthamani Cine Arts banner, and Ayngaran International handled distribution.[4](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/cast-crew.html) • [2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) Ananda Kuttan was the director of photography, and the editors were K. R. Gowrishanker and T. R. Shekar.[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274604/fullcredits/) The film was shot in color at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio.[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu)\n\nThe cast pairs Vijay with Shalini for the second time after *Kadhalukku Mariyadhai* (1997), and includes the supporting actors Raghuvaran, Srividya, Kaveri, Charle, Dhamu, Madhan Bob, Thalaivasal Vijay, and Ponvannan.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3906/2000-kannukkul-nilavu) • [2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu)\n\n## Music\n\nIlaiyaraaja composed the soundtrack.[4](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/cast-crew.html) The album includes \"Nilavu Paatu\" sung by Hariharan, \"Roja Poonthotam\" by [P. Unnikrishnan](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-unnikrishnan) and [Sadhana Sargam](https://www.edgepedia.org/sadhana-sargam), \"Oru Naal Oru Kanavu\" by [K. J. Yesudas](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-j-yesudas) and Anuradha Sriram, \"Iravu Pagalai Theda\" by Yesudas, \"Sinnan Chiru\" by K. S. Chithra, and \"Adida Melathai\" by S. P. Balasubramaniam, with lyrics by Palani Barathi.[7](https://www.tamilpaa.com/kannukkul-nilavu-songs-lyrics) The Rediff review singled out \"Iravu pakale thedi,\" rendered by Yesudas, and \"Nilavu pattu nilavu paattu,\" by Hariharan, as outstanding, and described the music overall as melodious and soothing.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm)\n\n## Reception\n\nThe film opened on 14 January 2000, a Pongal release date.[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) Aswathy's review in Rediff.com, titled \"A film worth seeing,\" noted that Fazil had repeated the psychoanalytical theme of his earlier Malayalam hit *Manichithrathazhu*, and called Vijay's performance the highlight of the film, praising how he handled the complicated role and expressed the shades of Gautham's tormented mind.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) The same review praised Raghuvaran's portrayal of the conflict between the doting father and the committed doctor, called Shalini and Srividya good in the scenes where Gautham terrorizes them, and credited Fazil with clean, subtle humor while criticizing the first half's pacing and a climax whose suspense is reduced when Hema tells Gautham the truth about Gayathri.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm) The reviewer expected the film to bring Vijay a much-needed hit after his run of unsuccessful films in 1999.[5](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm)\n\nMalathi Rangarajan's review in [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu) called the film \"a tremendous comeback vehicle for Vijay, wherein he portrays an entire gamut of emotions,\" and found it \"subtle in scenic presentation and characterisation,\" with suspense without melodrama and spontaneity in reactions as plusses; she described Shalini's performance as flawless.[8](http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2000/01/21/stories/09210224.htm)\n\nAnanda Kuttan won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Cinematographer and Stun Siva won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Stunt Coordinator for their work on the film.[9](https://www.thenamesdictionary.com/references-for/tamil-nadu-state-film-award-for-best-cinematographer)\n\n## Legacy and availability\n\nThe film is remembered as an atypical entry in Vijay's filmography, a psychological thriller rather than the commercial action films that followed, and his own official filmography lists it as film number 25 of 69, describing it as the story of \"a man suffering from memory loss and psychological trauma\" who \"seeks revenge.\"[10](https://vijay.com/ta/cinema/filmography) A 2025 retrospective in the Tamil daily Dinamani placed it among the films that went unnoticed amid commercial releases, arguing that Vijay's more story-driven films of the period, including this one, deserved a more lasting place in his filmography.[11](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/special/2025/Jun/21/gone-unnoticed-amidst-commercial-films-kannukkul-nilavu) User reviews on [Letterboxd](https://www.edgepedia.org/letterboxd) frequently cite it as one of Vijay's strongest acting performances.[12](https://letterboxd.com/film/kannukkul-nilavu/reviews/)\n\nReported runtimes differ across databases: Moviebuff lists 2 hours 47 minutes,[2](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu) TheTVDB lists 167 minutes,[13](https://thetvdb.com/movies/kannukkul-nilavu) and [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) lists 2 hours 40 minutes.[14](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kannukkul-nilavu) Audience ratings are in the mid range: IMDb lists 6.7/10 from about 1.7 thousand users,[15](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274604/) and Rotten Tomatoes shows a 62 percent audience score.[16](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/kannukkul-nilavu/20057037/where-to-watch/)\n\nThe film is currently available for streaming on Sun Nxt in the United States, included with a subscription.[14](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kannukkul-nilavu)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Kannukkul Nilavu (2000), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/3906/2000-kannukkul-nilavu)\n2. [Kannukkul Nilavu (2000), Moviebuff](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/kannukkul-nilavu)\n3. [Kannukkul Nilavu (2000) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274604/fullcredits/)\n4. [Kannukkul Nilavu Cast & Crew, FilmiBeat](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/cast-crew.html)\n5. [A film worth seeing! Review of Fazil's Kannukkul Nilavu, Rediff.com (19 January 2000)](https://www.rediff.com/movies/2000/jan/19kannu.htm)\n6. [Kannukkul Nilavu Story, FilmiBeat](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kannukkul-nilavu/story.html)\n7. [Kannukkul Nilavu (2000) Songs Lyrics, TamilPaa](https://www.tamilpaa.com/kannukkul-nilavu-songs-lyrics)\n8. [Film Review: Kannukkul Nilavu, Malathi Rangarajan, The Hindu (21 January 2000)](http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2000/01/21/stories/09210224.htm)\n9. [References for Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Cinematographer, The Names Dictionary](https://www.thenamesdictionary.com/references-for/tamil-nadu-state-film-award-for-best-cinematographer)\n10. [Vijay filmography, vijay.com](https://vijay.com/ta/cinema/filmography)\n11. [கமர்ஷியல் படங்களுக்கு மத்தியில் கவனம்பெறாமல் சென்ற கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு, Dinamani (June 2025)](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/special/2025/Jun/21/gone-unnoticed-amidst-commercial-films-kannukkul-nilavu)\n12. [Reviews of Kannukkul Nilavu (2000), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/kannukkul-nilavu/reviews/)\n13. [Kannukkul Nilavu, TheTVDB](https://thetvdb.com/movies/kannukkul-nilavu)\n14. [Kannukkul Nilavu streaming: where to watch online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/kannukkul-nilavu)\n15. [Kannukkul Nilavu (2000), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274604/)\n16. [Kannukkul Nilavu Where to Watch, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/kannukkul-nilavu/20057037/where-to-watch/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films before 2000 › Released 1992 to 1999*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு)](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Kannukkul Nilavu (கண்ணுக்குள் நிலவு)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/kannukkul-nilavu. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Kannukkul Nilavu, 2000 Tamil romantic psychological thriller directed by Fazil, starring Vijay, Shalini, and Kaveri; released 14 January 2000, Vijay's 25th film, music by Ilaiyaraaja." }