# Kanne Kalaimaane (கண்ணே கலைமானே) (2019 film)
**Kanne Kalaimaane** (கண்ணே கலைமானே) is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language drama and romance film written and directed by Seenu Ramasamy, starring [Udhayanidhi Stalin](https://www.edgepedia.org/udhayanidhi-stalin) as an organic farmer and [Tamannaah Bhatia](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamannaah-bhatia) as a rural bank manager who marry, and produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin under his studio [Red Giant Movies](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-giant-movies).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kanne_kalaimaane) It was released in theaters worldwide on 22 February 2019.[2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | Seenu Ramasamy[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kanne_kalaimaane) |
| Producer / studio | Udhayanidhi Stalin, Red Giant Movies[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kanne_kalaimaane) |
| Lead cast | Udhayanidhi Stalin as Kamalakannan; Tamannaah Bhatia as Bharathi[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/) |
| Music and lyrics | Yuvan Shankar Raja; all songs written by Vairamuthu[4](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/exclusive-making-of-kanne-kalaimaane-video.html) • [5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87) |
| Release | 22 February 2019 (India); 21 February 2019 (United States)[2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/) |
| Runtime | Reported as 2h 6m, 2h 8m (128 min), 2h 4m, 2h 2m, and 1h 57m by different sources[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kanne_kalaimaane) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/) • [6](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/kanne-kalaimaane/0-0-1z5481825) |
| Censor certificate | U[2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html) |
| IMDb rating | 6.2/10 from 386 votes; gross worldwide $12,855[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Kamalakannan is an educated farmer in Chozhavandhan, a small town near Madurai, who advocates organic farming and lives with his father Ramasamy (Poo Ram) and grandmother Appatha ([Vadivukkarasi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vadivukkarasi)).[7](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/230219/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-review-simple-and-straightforward-but-mildly-e.html) He has taken bank loans to help nine different people in his village, who praise his character in return.[2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html) Bharathi, the newly appointed manager of the local cooperative bank, initially mistakes him for a wilful defaulter, learns of his good side, and the two fall in love and marry.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kanne-kalaimaane/movie-review/68098608.cms)
The central tension comes from the household: Kamalakannan's grandmother does not want Bharathi to work after marriage, which leads to a tussle between them.[9](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-114376) Bharathi is written as a fiery, independent, career-oriented woman who follows Periyar's ideology; in one wedding scene she calls the shots and there is no priest.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-review-rating-udhayanidhi-stalin-tamannaah-bhatia-5596800/lite/) • [2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html) The film's synopsis ends with the couple seeing their life fall apart after an unspecified day.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kanne_kalaimaane)
## Production
After the commercial success of [Vijay Sethupathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-sethupathi)'s *Dharma Durai* (2016), Seenu Ramasamy announced *Kanne Kalaimaane* with Udhayanidhi Stalin as lead actor and producer, and Tamannaah, the heroine of *Dharma Durai*, returning as the female lead.[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87) Jalandhar Vasan, a former student of cinematographer and director [Balu Mahendra](https://www.edgepedia.org/balu-mahendra), was signed as cinematographer and Kasi Viswanathan as editor.[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87)
**Shooting schedule.** Sources differ on the pace of the shoot. IMDb trivia states that filming began in mid-2018 and ended in 45 days in a single schedule,[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/) and the Tamil wiki records shooting starting in January 2018 in green villages near Madurai and wrapping on 14 March 2018.[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87) [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods), by contrast, reported that the crew finished shooting in about 28 days in two schedules.[4](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/exclusive-making-of-kanne-kalaimaane-video.html)
**Title.** The words "Kanne Kalaimaane" are the opening words of a song from the 1982 film *Moondram Pirai*, starring [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) and Sridevi, directed by Balu Mahendra, with music by [Ilaiyaraaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ilaiyaraaja) and lyrics by the poet [Kannadasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannadasan).[5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87) IMDb lists *Moondram Pirai* among the film's references.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/)
**Release delays.** Although shot at a brisk pace, the film waited in the cans for six months because of release issues. Udhayanidhi Stalin explained that releases of even big stars' films had become restricted to festive days, and that a film like *Kanne Kalaimaane* could pick up only through word of mouth; the Tamil Nadu Producers Council's release committee had been dissolved by the time of the film's release.[11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Feb/19/kanne-kalaimaane-is-my-most-political-film-yet-udhayanidhi-stalin-10182.html) An earlier announcement had targeted a 1 February release, with the audio launch set for 24 January.[12](https://tamil.thesubeditor.com/news/cinema/10151-kanne-kalaimaane-movie-songs-release-date-announced.html)
## Music
[Yuvan Shankar Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuvan-shankar-raja) composed the songs and background score, with lyrics by [Vairamuthu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vairamuthu).[2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html) • [5](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87) The soundtrack includes "Azhaikkatuma" (performed by Mathichiyam Bala), "Neenda Malare" ([Yazin Nizar](https://www.edgepedia.org/yazin-nizar) and Shweta Pandit), "Endhan Kangalai" (Yuvan Shankar Raja and Sooraj Santhosh), "Sevvandhi Poove" (Karthik and Pragathi Guruprasad), and "Vaa Vellai Raasathi" (Yuvan Shankar Raja).[9](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-114376) A Tamil review singled out "Azhaikkatuma" as the one song that stayed in memory.[13](https://kollywoodvoice.com/kanne-kalaimaane-review/)
## Reception
**Critical response.** Reviewers were mixed. The Times of India gave 3 out of 5, writing that for almost two-thirds of the film there is hardly any significant conflict, so it feels like an amiable drama about genial characters, and that the script lacks the depth of the director's previous films.[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kanne-kalaimaane/movie-review/68098608.cms) Behindwoods gave 2.5 out of 5, judging that the film has a beautiful story to tell but loses track early and conveys what it wants to say late; its verdict called the second-half resurrection enough to make it a watchable family drama.[2](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) also rated it 2.5 out of 5, praising Tamannaah's performance as easily one of the best of her career after *Dharmadurai*, but finding that the director's treatment of NEET, farmer suicides, and reduced loan availability for farmers felt generic and that the story lost its way.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-review-rating-udhayanidhi-stalin-tamannaah-bhatia-5596800/lite/) The Hindustan Times gave 3 out of 5, locating the film's appeal in the way Seenu Ramasamy treats romance, feminism, and his lead characters.[14](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kanne-kalaimanne-movie-review-udhayanidhi-stalin-starrer-is-a-rural-romantic-drama-about-feminism-old-school-ideologies/story-DzgMLp1yazF8fLFevW8iEM.html) The Deccan Chronicle described the approach as simple and straightforward without drama or conflict, and the result as only mildly engaging.[7](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/230219/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-review-simple-and-straightforward-but-mildly-e.html)
**Political framing.** Udhayanidhi Stalin, who comes from a prominent political family, called *Kanne Kalaimaane* his most political film yet, noting that his films had hardly touched politics before it.[11](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Feb/19/kanne-kalaimaane-is-my-most-political-film-yet-udhayanidhi-stalin-10182.html) Before release, a special screening for prominent figures drew appreciation from [Thol. Thirumavalavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/thol-thirumavalavan), leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, and Mutharasan, state secretary of the Communist Party of India.[15](https://www.thanthitv.com/news/cinema/thirumavalavan-appreciates-udhayanidhi-new-movie)
**Commercial performance.** IMDb lists a gross worldwide of $12,855 and an aggregate user rating of 6.2/10 from 386 votes.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/) The film later became available for streaming on ZEE5.[6](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/kanne-kalaimaane/0-0-1z5481825)
## References
1. [Kanne Kalaimaane, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kanne_kalaimaane)
2. [Kanne Kalaimaane (aka) Kanne Kalai Maane review, Behindwoods](https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/kanne-kalaimaane/kanne-kalaimaane-review.html)
3. [Kanne Kalaimane (2019), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8042260/)
4. [Exclusive making of Kanne Kalaimaane video, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/exclusive-making-of-kanne-kalaimaane-video.html)
5. [கண்ணே கலைமானே, தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A3%E0%AF%87_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87)
6. [Kanne Kalaimaane, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/kanne-kalaimaane/0-0-1z5481825)
7. [Kanne Kalaimaane movie review, Deccan Chronicle](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/230219/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-review-simple-and-straightforward-but-mildly-e.html)
8. [Kanne Kalaimaane Review {3/5}: The film largely feels like an amiable drama about genial characters](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/kanne-kalaimaane/movie-review/68098608.cms)
9. [Kanne Kalaimaane Movie (2019), Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-114376)
10. [Kanne Kalaimaane review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kanne-kalaimaane-movie-review-rating-udhayanidhi-stalin-tamannaah-bhatia-5596800/lite/)
11. [Kanne Kalaimaane is my most political film yet: Udhayanidhi Stalin, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Feb/19/kanne-kalaimaane-is-my-most-political-film-yet-udhayanidhi-stalin-10182.html)
12. [Kanne Kalaimaane movie songs release date announced, The Subeditor](https://tamil.thesubeditor.com/news/cinema/10151-kanne-kalaimaane-movie-songs-release-date-announced.html)
13. [கண்ணே கலைமானே – விமர்சனம், Kollywood Voice](https://kollywoodvoice.com/kanne-kalaimaane-review/)
14. [Kanne Kalaimanne movie review, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kanne-kalaimanne-movie-review-udhayanidhi-stalin-starrer-is-a-rural-romantic-drama-about-feminism-old-school-ideologies/story-DzgMLp1yazF8fLFevW8iEM.html)
15. [உதயநிதி படத்திற்கு திருமாவளவன் பாராட்டு, Thanthi TV](https://www.thanthitv.com/news/cinema/thirumavalavan-appreciates-udhayanidhi-new-movie)
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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 drama films of the 2010s*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 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