{ "id": "ep1vdrkhhh", "slug": "moondru-mudichu-1976-film", "title": "Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு) (1976 film)", "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-1952-1991", "label": "Released 1952 to 1991", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1952 to 1991", "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-1952-1991", "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-1952-1991", "label": "Released 1952 to 1991", "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-1952-1991" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு, The Three Knots) is a 1976 K. Balachander Tamil romantic drama, a remake of O Seeta Katha, starring Sridevi, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth; it was Sridevi's first adult lead and Rajinikanth's Tamil breakthrough.", "snippet": "Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு, The Three Knots) is a 1976 K. Balachander Tamil romantic drama, a remake of O Seeta Katha, starring Sridevi, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth; it was Sridevi's first adult lead and Rajinikanth's Tamil breakthrough.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "markdown": "# Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு) (1976 film)\n\n**Moondru Mudichu** (மூன்று முடிச்சு; translated as *The Three Knots*) is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed and written by [K. Balachander](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-balachander) and produced by R. Venkataraman for RMS Productions. It stars Sridevi as Selvi, Kamal Haasan as Balaji, and [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) as Prasath, with Y. Vijaya and Calcutta Viswanathan in supporting roles, and its music was composed by [M. S. Viswanathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-s-viswanathan).[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/moondru-mudichu/umc.cmc.1zbri3niu5r8egfui5834z1qp) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/1607/1976-moondru-mudichu) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/) The film is a remake of the Telugu film *O Seeta Katha*, and it marked Sridevi's first leading adult role, at the age of 13, and Rajinikanth's first major role in Tamil cinema.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 22 October 1976 (India); one database lists 1 July 1976[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/1607/1976-moondru-mudichu) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/moondru-mudichu/movieshow/61315166.cms) |\n| Runtime and format | 2 hours 11 minutes (131 min), black and white[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/) |\n| Principal cast | Sridevi (Selvi), Kamal Haasan (Balaji), Rajinikanth (Prasath), Y. Vijaya (Subhadra), Calcutta Viswanathan (the widower), K. Natraj (Prasath's consciousness)[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/fullcredits/) |\n| Music | M. S. Viswanathan; lyrics by Kannadasan; playback singers included P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, Vani Jairam, and Jayachandran[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/1607/1976-moondru-mudichu) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/fullcredits/) |\n| Source | Remake of the Telugu film *O Seeta Katha*, dated 1973 or 1974 in different sources[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/) |\n| Salaries | Sridevi ₹5,000, Rajinikanth ₹2,000, Kamal Haasan ₹30,000[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/did-you-know-sridevi-was-paid-more-than-rajinikanth-for-moondru-mudichu/articleshow/63081754.cms) |\n| Audience rating | 7.6/10 on IMDb (about 375 votes)[8](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/moondru-mudichu) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nBalaji and Prasath are roommates in a city, and both fall in love with Selvi, an 18-year-old who lives in the same apartment complex. Balaji loves her openly, while Prasath pretends to support his friend's courtship while secretly working to divide the couple. Selvi discovers Prasath's intentions when she learns he has seduced an innocent girl in the same complex, but she cannot convince Balaji, who hero-worships Prasath.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php)\n\nThe situation turns when Balaji and Selvi go on a picnic by a lake and Balaji invites Prasath along; Balaji dies, and Selvi is ultimately forced to marry Prasath's father, an unnamed widower, making the young woman the stepmother of the man who pursued her.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) • [8](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/moondru-mudichu) Streaming listings summarize the premise as \"Roommates Prasath and Balaji are both in love with Selvi. However, life takes an ugly turn when Balaji dies and Selvi is forced to marry Prasath's father.\"[8](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/moondru-mudichu)\n\n## Casting and ages\n\nSridevi was already an established child artiste in [South India](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-india) when Balachander cast her; [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan), who had worked with Balachander on five earlier films and was assisting on the set, recalled being asked to rehearse with the 13-year-old during a screen test at his own home, where the film was being shot. \"She got the part, and that became our first film,\" he said in a 2018 festival tribute.[9](https://www.mumbaifilmfestival.com/images/archive/festival%20catalogues/Festival%20Catalogue%202018.pdf)\n\nThe age gap among the leads was unusual: Sridevi was 13, Kamal Haasan was 22, and Rajinikanth was 26, according to *The Indian Express*; IMDb's trivia gives Rajinikanth's age as 27 at the time.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/when-young-sridevi-rajinikanth-were-starstruck-by-kamal-haasan-stardom-salary-moondru-mudichu-10744570/lite/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/) In the story, Sridevi's character becomes the stepmother of Rajinikanth's character.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/)\n\n**Pay disparity.** Sridevi later recalled on the game show *Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi* that she was paid ₹5,000 for the film, while Rajinikanth received ₹2,000 and the already established star Kamal Haasan received ₹30,000.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/did-you-know-sridevi-was-paid-more-than-rajinikanth-for-moondru-mudichu/articleshow/63081754.cms)\n\n## Production\n\nThe film was produced by R. Venkataraman under RMS Productions, with cinematography by B. S. Lokanath and editing by N. R. Kittu.[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/1607/1976-moondru-mudichu) According to the Rajinifans review, the actress [Jayabharathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jayabharathi) was offered the negative role but declined, and Rajinikanth was cast in her place; the part became his first major role in Tamil. Kamal Haasan, who had played a negative role in the Malayalam remake of *O Seeta Katha* (*Mattoru Seetha*, 1975), took a different kind of part here.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) A film database description credits the story to [K. Viswanath](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-viswanath).[11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vHkO9TYVI)\n\n## Music\n\nM. S. Viswanathan composed the score, with lyrics by [Kannadasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannadasan). The soundtrack includes \"Aadi Velli\" (Jayachandran and [Vani Jairam](https://www.edgepedia.org/vani-jairam)), \"Naanoru Kadhanayagi\" ([P. Susheela](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-susheela) and L. R. Eswari), and \"Vasantha Kaala\" (Jayachandran, Vani Jairam, and M. S. Viswanathan).[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) According to the Rajinifans review, \"Vasantha Kaala\" and \"Aadi Velli\" were written in the Andhadhi style, in which each line begins with the last word of the previous line, described as a first in Tamil film history.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php)\n\n## Release and legacy\n\nThe film was released on 22 October 1976 and became a success.[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) The Times of India's movie database alone lists a release date of 1 July 1976.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/moondru-mudichu/movieshow/61315166.cms)\n\n**Breakthrough for Rajinikanth.** Although Kamal Haasan and Sridevi dominated the film's publicity, Rajinifans writes that Rajinikanth \"turned out to be the real winner through this film,\" paving the way for his entry into Tamil stardom.[12](https://rajinifans.com/boxoffice/moondru-mudichu.php) Many of Prasath's traits became signature moves in Rajinikanth's later films, such as flipping cigarettes into his mouth, and the film critic Naman Ramachandran, author of a book on Rajinikanth, wrote that with Prasath's recurring catchphrase \"Theek Hai?\" (Okay?), \"the seed for future Rajini catchphrases had been sown.\"[4](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php) [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods), a Tamil film website, includes the film among retro Rajini films that still work, citing the Rajini-Kamal pairing, the screenplay, and Rajinikanth's antagonistic role.[13](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/10-retro-rajini-films-that-still-work/moondru-mudichu.html)\n\nFor Sridevi, the film was her first major adult role after years as a child artiste, and it is regularly cited alongside later films such as *16 Vayathinile* in accounts of her early career.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/did-you-know-sridevi-was-paid-more-than-rajinikanth-for-moondru-mudichu/articleshow/63081754.cms) • [14](https://epaper.navhindtimes.in/PageImages/pdf/NAVHINDTIMEPDFMERGER/Merged/06032018-md-ga-all.pdf)\n\n## Availability\n\nThe film is available for streaming on the Eros Now Select Apple TV channel in India and the United States, according to JustWatch's service listings.[8](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/moondru-mudichu) • [15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/moondru-mudichu)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Moondru Mudichu, Apple TV (US)](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/moondru-mudichu/umc.cmc.1zbri3niu5r8egfui5834z1qp)\n2. [Moondru Mudichu (1976), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/1607/1976-moondru-mudichu)\n3. [Moondru Mudichu (1976), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/)\n4. [Moondru Mudichu (1976) – Rajinikanth Movie Review, Rajinifans.com](https://rajinifans.com/review/m_mudichu.php)\n5. [Moondru Mudichu, eTimes, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/moondru-mudichu/movieshow/61315166.cms)\n6. [Moondru Mudichu (1976) – Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154898/fullcredits/)\n7. [Did you know Sridevi was paid more than Rajinikanth for 'Moondru Mudichu'?, Times of India, 26 February 2018](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/did-you-know-sridevi-was-paid-more-than-rajinikanth-for-moondru-mudichu/articleshow/63081754.cms)\n8. [Moondru Mudichu streaming: where to watch online?, JustWatch (India)](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/moondru-mudichu)\n9. [MAMI Festival Catalogue 2018, Mumbai Film Festival (Kamal Haasan tribute)](https://www.mumbaifilmfestival.com/images/archive/festival%20catalogues/Festival%20Catalogue%202018.pdf)\n10. [When 13-year-old Sridevi and newbie Rajinikanth were completely starstruck by Kamal Haasan, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/when-young-sridevi-rajinikanth-were-starstruck-by-kamal-haasan-stardom-salary-moondru-mudichu-10744570/lite/)\n11. [Moondru Mudichi Full Movie HD, RajVideoVision, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vHkO9TYVI)\n12. [Moondru Mudichu – Rajinikanth Box Office & Paper Ads, Rajinifans.com](https://rajinifans.com/boxoffice/moondru-mudichu.php)\n13. [Moondru Mudichu, 10 Retro Rajini films that still work, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/10-retro-rajini-films-that-still-work/moondru-mudichu.html)\n14. [Navhind Times e-paper, 6 March 2018](https://epaper.navhindtimes.in/PageImages/pdf/NAVHINDTIMEPDFMERGER/Merged/06032018-md-ga-all.pdf)\n15. [Moondru Mudichu streaming: where to watch online?, JustWatch (US)](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/moondru-mudichu)\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 1952 to 1991*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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/moondru-mudichu-1976-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film.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": "\"Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு) (1976 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு) (1976 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Moondru Mudichu (மூன்று முடிச்சு) (1976 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Moondru Mudichu is a 1976 K." }