# Kalavani (களவாணி)
**Kalavani** (களவாணி) is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by A. Sarkunam in his debut, starring Vimal as the wayward village youth Arivazhagan (Arikki) and [Oviya](https://www.edgepedia.org/oviya), in her first film role, as the schoolgirl Maheshwari from a rival village.[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalavani) It was released on 25 June 2010, produced by Nasir under the banner Sherali Films, with music composed by S. S. Kumaran.[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html) • [3](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/index.htm) Made on a low budget, the film became a commercial success and is remembered as the film that established both its director and its lead actress.[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html) • [4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vimal-oviya-will-play-in-kalavani-2/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 25 June 2010, Tamil language, U certificate[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html) |
| Director | A. Sarkunam, his first film; he also wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html) • [5](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/59/kalavani/story) |
| Lead cast | Vimal as Arivazhagan (Arikki); Oviya as Maheshwari, her Tamil debut[1](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html) • [4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vimal-oviya-will-play-in-kalavani-2/) |
| Production | Sherali Films, producer Nasir; music by S. S. Kumaran[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalavani) • [3](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/index.htm) |
| Runtime | 2 hours 24 minutes (144 minutes)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalavani) |
| Budget and gross | About ₹15 million (₹1.5 crore) budget; collected more than ₹50 million (₹5 crore)[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vimal-oviya-will-play-in-kalavani-2/) |
| Reception | IMDb 7.1/10; The Times of India gave 4/5[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1815775/ratings/) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kalavani/movie-review/6094360.cms) |
| Sequel | Kalavani 2, released 5 July 2019 with the same lead pair and director[8](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/kalavani-2-team-celebrates-its-success-meet-119071800045_1.html) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story is set in the [Thanjavur](https://www.edgepedia.org/thanjavur) countryside of [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) and centers on two neighboring villages locked in a long-running feud that extends even to the children's cricket matches.[9](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/gautaman-bhaskaran-s-review-kalavani/story-6sbXvKL29pPyjvEeIHgBqN_amp.html) Arikki is an irresponsible young man who has not cleared his higher secondary course, bullies his mother ([Saranya Ponvannan](https://www.edgepedia.org/saranya-ponvannan)) into giving him money, and spends his father's remittances from Dubai on drinking and mischief with his friends.[10](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/2644/review.htm) A chance encounter with Maheshwari, a school student from the rival village, grows into love despite the hostility between the two communities.[9](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/gautaman-bhaskaran-s-review-kalavani/story-6sbXvKL29pPyjvEeIHgBqN_amp.html)
The main obstacle is Maheshwari's elder brother Ilango (Thirumurugan), a feared man with old scores to settle against Arikki.[10](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/2644/review.htm) • [11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2010/Jul/03/kalavani-166607.html) After comic escapades the couple elopes, and the brother pursues Arikki vowing to avenge his humiliation; the climax resolves the confrontation in a humorous register rather than through bloodshed.[12](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/kalavani) • [11](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2010/Jul/03/kalavani-166607.html) [Ganja Karuppu](https://www.edgepedia.org/ganja-karuppu) plays Panchayathu, a comic character repeatedly made a scapegoat by Arikki and his gang, and Soori appears as Manikandan.[10](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/2644/review.htm) • [13](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BF_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29)
## Production
A. Sarkunam made his directorial debut with the film, having also written its story, screenplay, and dialogues.[5](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/59/kalavani/story) It was Vimal's second film as a lead after *Pasanga* (2009), and it made Oviya's first appearance in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema).[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vimal-oviya-will-play-in-kalavani-2/) The film was shot in the Thanjavur area of Tamil Nadu, and reviewers noted its grounding in the region's paddy-farming culture and dialect.[14](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/1973-kalavani-2010) • [15](https://mayyam.com/talk/archives/Tamil_Films_Archived/t8513-KALAVAANI.html) [Om Prakash](https://www.edgepedia.org/om-prakash) handled cinematography.[16](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/reviews/2010/kalavani-movie-review-290610.html)
## Reception
**Critical response.** The film received largely positive reviews. The Times of India's critic gave it 4 out of 5, praising a smooth screenplay, humor-laced dialogue, and the depth of characterization.[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kalavani/movie-review/6094360.cms) [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu)'s review board scored it 3 out of 5, calling it a heart-warming tale with true-to-life characters, while [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) gave 2 out of 5 and described it as lighthearted and unpretentious.[5](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/59/kalavani/story) • [17](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/kalavani-movie-review.html) Gautaman Bhaskaran of Hindustan Times, rating it three stars, wrote that the feud-between-villages premise was a familiar one on the Tamil screen but that the performances were natural and the humor restrained.[9](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/gautaman-bhaskaran-s-review-kalavani/story-6sbXvKL29pPyjvEeIHgBqN_amp.html) Reviewers repeatedly singled out Vimal's natural performance, Oviya's debut chemistry with him, and Ganja Karuppu's comedy track.[10](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/2644/review.htm) • [17](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/kalavani-movie-review.html)
**Box office.** Made for about ₹15 million (₹1.5 crore) at then-current values, the film collected more than ₹50 million (₹5 crore) and brought favorable recognition to everyone in its cast.[4](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vimal-oviya-will-play-in-kalavani-2/) On IMDb it holds a weighted rating of 7.1/10 from about 640 users.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1815775/ratings/)
## Legacy and sequels
The film's screenplay influenced several Tamil films released in the following years, and it is described in later coverage as a trendsetter among rural comedies.[18](https://tamilcinetalk.com/kalavaani-2-movie-review/) A sequel, *Kalavani 2*, began shooting in 2018 with Vimal and Oviya reprising the lead roles under Sarkunam's direction, and was released on 5 July 2019 after a [Madras High Court](https://www.edgepedia.org/madras-high-court) ban over a payment dispute involving the director was lifted.[19](https://www.dailythanthi.com/amp/story/cinema/cinemanews/kalavani-movie-part-2-started) • [20](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/kalavani-2-will-finally-release-after-the-madras-high-court-lifted-a-ban-on-the-film-today/articleshow/70083575.cms) The sequel, which had no direct story connection to the first film, underperformed commercially.[18](https://tamilcinetalk.com/kalavaani-2-movie-review/) • [8](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/kalavani-2-team-celebrates-its-success-meet-119071800045_1.html) A separate film titled *Kalavani Mappillai* (2018), directed by Gandhi Manivasagam and starring Dinesh, uses the title but is not a continuation of the story.[21](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/109334-.html) The original film later became available on streaming platforms including JioHotstar.[12](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/kalavani)
## References
1. [களவாணி, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/movies/kalavani.html)
2. [Kalavaani, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalavani)
3. [Kalavaani Tamil Movie, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/index.htm)
4. [விமல், ஓவியா நடிக்கும் 'களவாணி 2', Tamil Indian Express](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/vimal-oviya-will-play-in-kalavani-2/)
5. [Kalavani tamil Movie Overview, Moviecrow](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/59/kalavani/story)
6. [Kalavani (2010) Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1815775/ratings/)
7. [Kalavani Movie Review {4/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kalavani/movie-review/6094360.cms)
8. [Kalavani 2 team celebrates its success meet, Webdunia Tamil](https://tamil.webdunia.com/article/tamil-cinema-news-movie-film/kalavani-2-team-celebrates-its-success-meet-119071800045_1.html)
9. [Gautaman Bhaskaran's Review: Kalavani, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/gautaman-bhaskaran-s-review-kalavani/story-6sbXvKL29pPyjvEeIHgBqN_amp.html)
10. [Kalavaani Movie Review by Mythily Ramachandran, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7638/tamil/kalavaani/2644/review.htm)
11. [Kalavani, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2010/Jul/03/kalavani-166607.html)
12. [Kalavani streaming: where to watch movie online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/kalavani)
13. [களவாணி (திரைப்படம்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BF_%28%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29)
14. [Kalavani (2010) OTT Release Date – Watch on JioHotstar, Prime Video | Cast & Review | GudVibe](https://www.gudvibe.app/movies/1973-kalavani-2010)
15. [KALAVAANI forum thread, Mayyam.com](https://mayyam.com/talk/archives/Tamil_Films_Archived/t8513-KALAVAANI.html)
16. [Kalavani Movie Review, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/reviews/2010/kalavani-movie-review-290610.html)
17. [KALAVANI MOVIE REVIEW, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/kalavani-movie-review.html)
18. [களவாணி-2 சினிமா விமர்சனம், Tamil Cine Talk](https://tamilcinetalk.com/kalavaani-2-movie-review/)
19. [விமல்-ஓவியா ஜோடியுடன் 'களவாணி-2' பாகம் தொடங்கியது, Dina Thanthi](https://www.dailythanthi.com/amp/story/cinema/cinemanews/kalavani-movie-part-2-started)
20. [Kalavani 2 will finally release after the Madras High Court lifted a ban, Samayam Tamil](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/kalavani-2-will-finally-release-after-the-madras-high-court-lifted-a-ban-on-the-film-today/articleshow/70083575.cms)
21. [தினேஷ் நடிப்பில் உருவாகும் களவாணி மாப்பிள்ளை, Hindu Tamil](https://www.hindutamil.in/amp/story/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/109334-.html)
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*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 2010s › Tamil romantic films of the 2010s*
*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*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license