{ "id": "ep42nhepps", "slug": "mozhi", "title": "Mozhi (மொழி)", "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-of-the-2000s", "label": "Tamil films of the 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "label": "Tamil films of the late 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020: Tamil films of the late 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.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.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.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.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s", "label": "Tamil films of the 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "label": "Tamil films of the late 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Mozhi (மொழி, \"Language\") is a 2007 Tamil romantic comedy directed by Radha Mohan, produced by Prakash Raj, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Jyothika as a musician and a deaf woman; released 23 February 2007, Jyothika's final film.", "snippet": "Mozhi (மொழி, \"Language\") is a 2007 Tamil romantic comedy directed by Radha Mohan, produced by Prakash Raj, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Jyothika as a musician and a deaf woman; released 23 February 2007, Jyothika's final film.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-of-the-2000s.tamil-films-of-the-late-2000s", "markdown": "# Mozhi (மொழி)\n\n**Mozhi** (மொழி, \"Language\") is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language musical romantic comedy written and directed by Radha Mohan and produced by the actor [Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj) through his banner Duet Movies. It stars [Prithviraj Sukumaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/prithviraj-sukumaran) as Karthik, a young film-industry musician who falls in love with Archana (Jyothika), a deaf and mute woman living in his apartment complex, and it is remembered for treating disability without sentimentality or pity.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4474/2007-mozhi) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mozhi) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mozhi-when-prithviraj-transcended-stardom-to-become-a-sensitive-everyman-10308787/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 23 February 2007, Tamil language[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4474/2007-mozhi) |\n| Director / producer | Radha Mohan (writer and director); Prakash Raj, Duet Movies[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4474/2007-mozhi) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mozhi) |\n| Lead cast | Prithviraj Sukumaran (Karthik), Jyothika (Archana), Prakash Raj (Viji), Swarnamalya (Sheela)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mozhi) |\n| Music | Vidyasagar; cinematography by K. V. Guhan; dialogues by Viji[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4474/2007-mozhi) |\n| Runtime | 2h 35m per Rotten Tomatoes and TamilMDb; 2h 32m per JustWatch[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mozhi) • [4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/mozhi) |\n| Major awards | Filmfare Award South 2008 for Best Male Playback Singer (S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, \"Kannal Pesum Penne\"); Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2007 for Best Actress (Jyothika) and Best Music Director (Vidyasagar)[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034053/awards/) |\n| Audience rating | 8.1/10 on IMDb[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/mozhi) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nKarthik and Viji (Prakash Raj) are close friends working as keyboard players for the music director Vidyasagar, and the two bachelors move into a Chennai apartment flat over the objections of the building secretary Ananthakrishnan ([Brahmanandam](https://www.edgepedia.org/brahmanandam)).[6](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm) Karthik, a believer in love at first sight, sees Archana thrashing a man who beats his wife and resolves to know her, then discovers that she is deaf and mute and lives in the same complex.[6](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm) • [7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssmoz/20070226.htm)\n\nUndeterred, he learns sign language with the help of Sheela (Swarnamalya), Archana's friend and colleague at the school where she teaches, and gradually wins her friendship.[6](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm) When he declares his love, she is enraged and rejects him; what holds her back forms the rest of the story.[6](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm) A supporting thread follows Professor Gnanaprakasam ([M. S. Bhaskar](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-s-bhaskar)), a neighbor who lost his son and continues to believe he is living in 1984.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mozhi-when-prithviraj-transcended-stardom-to-become-a-sensitive-everyman-10308787/) • [6](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm)\n\n## Production and casting\n\n**Origin of the story.** Radha Mohan said the idea came from a deaf girl he used to see in his school-days housing colony, whose image stayed with him; when he made the film he moved the setting to an apartment complex and drew its characters and incidents from people he had known there.[8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm) After his first film *Azhagiya Theeye* for Duet Movies, he narrated the story to Prakash Raj, who liked it and produced it as his second film under the banner.[8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm)\n\n**Casting.** Radha Mohan wrote the script with Jyothika in mind. She had decided to retire from films, but agreed after reading the script, telling the director, \"Thank God I read the script. Otherwise, I would have missed something like this\"; after marrying actor Suriya in 2006, Jyothika took a hiatus from films, returning in 2015 with *36 Vayadhinile*.[8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm) • [12](https://indianexpress.com/about/jyothika/) For the hero the director wanted a fresh face without an established Tamil image and chose the Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who accepted the story without demanding fights or songs.[8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm) The film was made on a budget of ₹20 million (₹2 crore).[9](https://www.komparify.com/entertainment/movie/mozhi1)\n\n## Treatment of disability\n\nRadha Mohan said he deliberately broke with [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema)'s convention of portraying physically challenged characters as sad figures in tearjerkers: \"I wanted to portray the deaf-mute Archana as a very independent, positive person who doesn't want any sympathy from anyone.\"[8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm) In the film, Archana has accepted her situation and leads a productive life, and the story does not over-sentimentalize her disability.[7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssmoz/20070226.htm)\n\n[The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) retrospective describes the film as being about \"the linguistics of love\": the title translates to \"Language\", and the film frames deafness as just another language Archana does not understand. In a key scene she tells Karthik and her friends, \"Just like I don't know Hindi or Chinese, music is a language that I don't understand. But there is one thing that I understand that you guys don't, Silence.\"[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mozhi-when-prithviraj-transcended-stardom-to-become-a-sensitive-everyman-10308787/) Reviewers also noted that the comedy comes from the two friends' own blunders rather than from mocking the deaf character, and that the film's women are written as intelligent and independent, on par with the men.[10](https://pulseofcinema.com/en/film/mozhi/) • [7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssmoz/20070226.htm)\n\n## Performances and reception\n\nContemporary reviews were strongly positive. Rediff called *Mozhi* \"a groundbreaking movie for Tamil cinema in many ways\" and praised Jyothika for portraying a deaf and mute girl realistically, \"speaks volumes without ever opening her mouth\", alongside Prakash Raj's comic timing.[7](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssmoz/20070226.htm) NowRunning's review called it \"a fresh breath of air\" amid commercial cinema of violence and double entendres, and credited the director with tailoring the characters to the actors.[6](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm) Rediff's interview with the director reported that the film, which arrived with little hype and no big star cast, drew both rave reviews and strong public response after release.[8](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm)\n\n**Prithviraj's role.** The film marked the first time Prithviraj was offered such a laid-back, restrained part, in contrast to the alpha-hero roles of his Malayalam career, and the retrospective in The Indian Express argues the performance redefined him as a textured, sensitive leading man in Tamil cinema.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mozhi-when-prithviraj-transcended-stardom-to-become-a-sensitive-everyman-10308787/)\n\n## Awards\n\nAt the [Filmfare Awards South](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards-south) 2008, [S. P. Balasubrahmanyam](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-p-balasubrahmanyam) won Best Male Playback Singer for the song \"Kannal Pesum Penne\", while the film was nominated for Best Film, Best Director (Radha Mohan), Best Actress (Jyothika), and Best Music Director (Vidyasagar).[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034053/awards/) At the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for 2007, Jyothika won the Creative Award for Best Actress and Vidyasagar for Best Music Director, with the film taking second place for Best Film.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034053/awards/) Prakash Raj won the Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Supporting Actor.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034053/awards/)\n\n## Legacy\n\nThe film has remained available on streaming platforms such as Eros Now Select Apple TV channel and holds an 8.1/10 rating on IMDb.[4](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/mozhi) Radha Mohan and Jyothika worked together again on *Kaatrin Mozhi* (2018), an official remake of the Hindi film *Tumhari Sulu* rather than of *Mozhi* itself.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kaatrin-mozhi-movie-review-rating-jyotika-5450620/) Retrospective commentary continues to cite *Mozhi* as a rare Tamil romance that handles disability with sensitivity, with The Indian Express calling it one of the most underrated romances of the late 2000s.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mozhi-when-prithviraj-transcended-stardom-to-become-a-sensitive-everyman-10308787/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Mozhi (2007), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/4474/2007-mozhi)\n2. [Mozhi, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mozhi)\n3. [Mozhi: When Prithviraj transcended stardom to become a sensitive everyman, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/mozhi-when-prithviraj-transcended-stardom-to-become-a-sensitive-everyman-10308787/)\n4. [Mozhi streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/mozhi)\n5. [Mozhi (2007) Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034053/awards/)\n6. [Mozhi Movie Review by Mythily Ramachandran, NowRunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3543/tamil/mozhi/1070/review.htm)\n7. [Mozhi is pathbreaking, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/ssmoz/20070226.htm)\n8. [Meet the creator of Mozhi, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/ssmozhi/20070305.htm)\n9. [Mozhi Reviews + Where to Watch, Komparify](https://www.komparify.com/entertainment/movie/mozhi1)\n10. [Mozhi (2007): Plot, Cast & Where to Watch, Pulse of Cinema](https://pulseofcinema.com/en/film/mozhi/)\n11. [Kaatrin Mozhi movie review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kaatrin-mozhi-movie-review-rating-jyotika-5450620/)\n12. [indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com/about/jyothika/)\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 of the 2000s › Tamil films of the late 2000s*\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/mozhi", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/mozhi.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": "\"Mozhi (மொழி)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/mozhi. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Mozhi (மொழி)](https://www.edgepedia.org/mozhi)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/mozhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mozhi). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Mozhi (மொழி)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/mozhi. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Mozhi is a 2007 Tamil romantic comedy directed by Radha Mohan, produced by Prakash Raj, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Jyothika as a musician and a deaf woman; released 23 February 2007, Jyothika's final film." }