# Kanchana (2011 film)
**Kanchana** (காஞ்சனா), marketed as *Muni 2: Kanchana*, is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language horror comedy film written, directed and produced by [Raghava Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/raghava-lawrence), who also plays the lead. It is the second installment of the Muni franchise, following Lawrence's 2007 film *Muni*, and it stars Lawrence alongside [R. Sarathkumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/r-sarathkumar), [Raai Laxmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/raai-laxmi), Kovai Sarala, Sriman, and Devadarshini.[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) Released on 22 July 2011, it became a major commercial success and spawned a franchise that later included *Kanchana 2* (2015) and *Kanchana 3* (2019).[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) • [3](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 22 July 2011 (Tamil); Telugu version released 15 July 2011[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) • [4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/9304/telugu/kanchana/index.htm) |
| Director, writer, producer | Raghava Lawrence, who also stars as Raghava[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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) |
| Lead cast | Raghava Lawrence, R. Sarathkumar, Raai Laxmi, Kovai Sarala, Sriman, Devadarshini[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) |
| Music | S. Thaman; cinematography by Vetri[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) |
| Budget | Reported as ₹70 million (₹7 crore), ₹85 million (₹8.5 crore) including publicity, or ₹90 million (₹9 crore) depending on the source[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) • [5](https://www.giriblog.com/kanchana-movie-review/) • [1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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) |
| Box office | ₹700 million (₹70 crore)[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) |
| Franchise | Second film in the Muni series, after *Muni* (2007) and before *Kanchana 2* (2015) and *Kanchana 3* (2019)[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Raghava (Raghava Lawrence) is a jobless young man who spends his days playing cricket with his friends and suffers from an extreme fear of darkness and ghosts; even as an adult he sleeps close to his mother ([Kovai Sarala](https://www.edgepedia.org/kovai-sarala)).[6](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/kanchana/umc.cmc.spw777uwldt69pw2us7y4y5n) • [7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/K/Kanchana/Kanchana_Review.html) When he and his friends begin using an abandoned ground, rumored to be haunted, as a cricket field, a lingering spirit follows him home, and paranormal activity begins to torment the household.[6](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/kanchana/umc.cmc.spw777uwldt69pw2us7y4y5n) • [8](https://www.cinema.com.my/movies/details.aspx?search=2011.7486.kanchana.13739)
The possession changes Raghava's behavior: he begins dressing in women's clothing, and it emerges that he has become a vessel for Kanchana, a transgender woman (played by Sarathkumar) whose spirit, together with other ghosts, seeks revenge on the people who killed her.[9](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2011/kanchana-movie-review-150711-aid0017.html) • [8](https://www.cinema.com.my/movies/details.aspx?search=2011.7486.kanchana.13739) The possessed Raghava carries out the revenge, and the film's final stretch centers on Kanchana's story and the difficulties faced by transgender people.[10](https://embed.letterboxd.com/colinmcev/film/kanchana-2011/)
## Production and release
Lawrence, a choreographer who had turned to directing, made *Kanchana* as the sequel to *Muni* (2007) and handled the story, screenplay, production, direction, and lead role himself.[7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/K/Kanchana/Kanchana_Review.html) • [1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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) The film was made as a Tamil and Telugu bilingual, with the Telugu version produced by Bellamkonda Suresh and released on 15 July 2011, a week before the Tamil original's 22 July release.[11](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kanchana.html) • [4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/9304/telugu/kanchana/index.htm) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) It was distributed by [Sri Thenandal Films](https://www.edgepedia.org/thenandal-studio-limited).[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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)
Sarathkumar played a transgender character for the first time in his career, in the title role.[11](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kanchana.html) Reported budgets differ across sources: ₹70 million (₹7 crore), ₹85 million (₹8.5 crore) including a ₹15 million (₹1.5 crore) publicity cost, and ₹90 million (₹9 crore).[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) • [5](https://www.giriblog.com/kanchana-movie-review/) • [1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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)
## Reception and box office
The film was a major commercial success, with a reported box office collection of ₹700 million (₹70 crore) against a budget in the ₹70 million to 90 million (₹7 to 9 crore) range.[2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana) • [1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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) Critics were more divided. The Telugu-focused review site 123Telugu gave it 2.25 out of 5, describing a wafer-thin story built from a repeating cycle of horror scene, song, comic scene, and calling the film devoid of emotion despite its spine-chilling moments.[7](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/K/Kanchana/Kanchana_Review.html) A Filmibeat review credited the film with genuine scary moments and called the subject of the troubles faced by transgender people a good concept, while faulting the screenplay.[9](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2011/kanchana-movie-review-150711-aid0017.html) A Letterboxd reviewer found the comedy-horror blend uneven over the long running time but credited the film for attempting a sympathetic portrayal of a transgender character in its final stretch.[10](https://embed.letterboxd.com/colinmcev/film/kanchana-2011/)
The film's popularity has endured. In March 2026 the Telugu version returned to cinemas in [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh), Telangana, and [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu), with trade estimates of around ₹20 million to 30 million (₹2 to 3 crore) gross on its opening day, a strong figure for a re-release.[12](https://tmv.in/article/old-horror-new-craze-kanchana-rerelease-draws-crowds-back-to-theatres-date%3D2026-03-15)
## Awards
Sarathkumar's performance drew particular recognition: he won Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the [South Indian International Movie Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-indian-international-movie-awards) (SIIMA) and a Jury Award for Best Supporting Actor at the Vijay Awards.[13](https://www.imdb.com/hi/title/tt2034026/awards/) Kovai Sarala won Best Comedian (Female) at the Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards and a Special Jury Award at the Vijay Awards, and Devadarshini Chetan won Best Comedy Actress at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, where Lawrence also won Best Choreography.[13](https://www.imdb.com/hi/title/tt2034026/awards/) • [2](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana)
## Remakes and franchise
*Kanchana* was remade in Kannada, Bengali, and Sinhala, all of which were profitable.[3](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting) • [14](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/cinemanews/kanchana-movie-in-hindi-akshay-kumar-is-transgender) Lawrence later remade it in Hindi himself as *Laxmii* (2020), starring [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar) and [Kiara Advani](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiara-advani), which premiered on [Disney+ Hotstar](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-hotstar).[3](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting)
Within the Muni series, *Kanchana* is regarded as the turning point. The four Tamil films of the franchise, *Muni* (2007), *Kanchana* (2011), *Kanchana 2* (2015), and *Kanchana 3* (2019), are together estimated to have earned about ₹3.13 billion (₹313 crore), making Kanchana the third highest grossing Tamil film franchise.[3](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting) Each film follows the same core idea, a coward possessed by a ghost who takes revenge on its killers, with a social message wrapped in the comedy.[3](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting) A fourth film, *Kanchana 4*, directed by and starring Lawrence, was in production as of 2026.[3](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting)
## References
1. [காஞ்சனா (2011 திரைப்படம்), TamilArWiki](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%9E%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE_%282011_%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)
2. [Kanchana (2011), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/5148/2011-kanchana)
3. [Kanchana 4 Production Delayed By Call Sheet Issues, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/news/kanchana_4_production_delayed_by_call_sheet_issues_as_raghava_lawrences_horror_comedy_crosses_125_days_of_shooting)
4. [Kanchana (2011) Telugu Movie, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/9304/telugu/kanchana/index.htm)
5. [காஞ்சனா (2011) | ஹாரர் நகைச்சுவை, giriblog](https://www.giriblog.com/kanchana-movie-review/)
6. [Kanchana, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/kanchana/umc.cmc.spw777uwldt69pw2us7y4y5n)
7. [Kanchana Movie Review, 123Telugu](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/K/Kanchana/Kanchana_Review.html)
8. [Kanchana, Cinema.com.my](https://www.cinema.com.my/movies/details.aspx?search=2011.7486.kanchana.13739)
9. [Kanchana movie review, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2011/kanchana-movie-review-150711-aid0017.html)
10. [Kanchana review by colinmcev, Letterboxd](https://embed.letterboxd.com/colinmcev/film/kanchana-2011/)
11. [Kanchana, Filmibeat (Tamil movie page)](https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/kanchana.html)
12. [Old horror, new craze: Kanchana re-release draws crowds back to theatres, The Morning Voice](https://tmv.in/article/old-horror-new-craze-kanchana-rerelease-draws-crowds-back-to-theatres-date%3D2026-03-15)
13. [Kanchana (2011) Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/hi/title/tt2034026/awards/)
14. [இந்தியில் காஞ்சனா படம் திருநங்கையாக அக்ஷய்குமார், Daily Thanthi](https://www.dailythanthi.com/cinema/cinemanews/kanchana-movie-in-hindi-akshay-kumar-is-transgender)
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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 › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Horror and slasher series film entries › 2010s releases › Released 2010 to 2015*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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