# Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae
**Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae** (சங்கிலி புங்கிலி கதவ தொற; roughly "Sangili Bungili, open the door") is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language horror comedy film written and directed by Ike, and produced by Fox Star Studios together with Atlee's A for Apple Productions, Atlee's first venture as a producer.[1](https://www.onlykollywood.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-wrapped-up/) • [2](https://www.rspnetwork.in/2017/04/atlees-production-house-for-apple.html) It stars Jiiva as Vasu, a real estate broker who buys the mansion of his dreams, only to find that it is already occupied by a ghost.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/movie-review/58751508.cms)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 19 May 2017 (India), 18 May 2017 (Malaysia); runtime about 2 hours 20 minutes[4](https://assets.moviebuff.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thora) |
| Director | Ike (Ike Radha), grandson of M. R. Radha, in his directing debut[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ikes-confident-about-his-debut/articleshow/57021134.cms) |
| Production | Fox Star Studios and Atlee's A for Apple Productions[1](https://www.onlykollywood.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-wrapped-up/) |
| Cast | Jiiva, Sri Divya, Soori, Radha Ravi, Radhika Sarathkumar, Thambi Ramaiah[6](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-review.html) |
| Music | Vishal Chandrasekhar; album released 24 April 2017[6](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-review.html) • [2](https://www.rspnetwork.in/2017/04/atlees-production-house-for-apple.html) |
| Censor rating | U/A in India[7](https://tamilcinetalk.com/sangili-pungili-kathava-thora-movie-gets-ua-certificate/) |
| Opening weekend | Rs 63.6 million (Rs 6.36 crore) gross in Tamil Nadu; called a sleeper hit by the makers[8](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/article/news-ians/fox-star-continues-its-winning-streak-in-tamil-cinema-117052300331_1.html) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Vasu (Jiiva) has moved through rented houses since childhood and grows up to work as a real estate broker, selling houses with tricks staged alongside his friend Sooranam (Soori).[9](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%B1) He spends his life's savings on a spacious mansion and moves in with his mother and extended family, only to find that another family, led by Jambulingam ([Thambi Ramaiah](https://www.edgepedia.org/thambi-ramaiah)), claims the same house.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/movie-review/58751508.cms) • [10](https://sudhir-srinivasan.com/2017/05/21/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-a-moderate-entertainer-saved-by-its-final-stretches/) While the two families fight over ownership, Vasu and Sooranam try to scare the other family away by pretending the house is haunted, not realizing that a real ghost, Sangili Andavar ([Radha Ravi](https://www.edgepedia.org/radha-ravi)), lives there.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/movie-review/58751508.cms)
The ghost's backstory gives the film its theme of family unity. Sangili Andavar killed himself so that his family could live in the house together; after his death the property became the object of a dispute among his warring relatives, who decided to raze the house and sell it, and he returned as a ghost to stop them.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-movie-review-chills-and-laughs-this-horror-comedy-gives-you-both-4663685/) A romance between Vasu and Shwetha ([Sri Divya](https://www.edgepedia.org/sri-divya)), Jambulingam's daughter, runs through the story.[12](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/sangili-pungili-kathava-thora-movie-review/)
## Production
In December 2015 Jiiva announced that he would act in a film to be directed by Ike, who had worked as an assistant director on [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s *Vishwaroopam* and on about eight films with [Priyadarshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/priyadarshan) before that; his uncle Radha Ravi introduced him to Priyadarshan.[9](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%B1) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ikes-confident-about-his-debut/articleshow/57021134.cms) The first schedule of shooting began in March 2016 in Palani, and the shoot wrapped by early August 2016, when post-production began.[9](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%B1) • [1](https://www.onlykollywood.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-wrapped-up/)
**Producers and crew.** Atlee, then a director coming off *Theri*, made this his first production under A for Apple Productions, co-producing with Fox Star Studios; he said A. R. Murugadoss and Shankar had inspired him to back new talent.[2](https://www.rspnetwork.in/2017/04/atlees-production-house-for-apple.html) • [13](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/article/news-ians/murugadoss-shankar-inspired-me-to-be-producer-atlee-117042500310_1.html) The technical team included cinematographer Sathyan Sooryan, editor T. S. Suresh, and art director Lalgudi N. Ilayaraja.[6](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-review.html) • [14](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/060217/a-slick-horror-comedy-for-jiiva.html) The film received a U/A certificate from the Indian censor board in early May 2017.[7](https://tamilcinetalk.com/sangili-pungili-kathava-thora-movie-gets-ua-certificate/)
**Title.** The title is taken from a song in [Raghava Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/raghava-lawrence)'s horror comedy *Kanchana: Muni 2*.[15](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-kamal-haasan-is-impressed-by-this-spooky-trailer-so-are-we-watch-video-4626478/) The audio launched on 24 April 2017, with the album released that day; the soundtrack, composed by [Vishal Chandrasekhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/vishal-chandrasekhar), features singers including Simbu, Anirudh Ravichander, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Gangai Amaran, and [Premgi Amaren](https://www.edgepedia.org/premgi-amaren).[2](https://www.rspnetwork.in/2017/04/atlees-production-house-for-apple.html) • [16](https://nammatamilcinema.in/sangili-pungili-audio-launch/)
## Reception
**Box office.** In its opening weekend in [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) the film grossed Rs 63.6 million (Rs 6.36 crore), and the makers described it as a [sleeper hit](https://www.edgepedia.org/sleeper-hit) and the first Tamil hit since *Baahubali 2: The Conclusion* released in the state.[8](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/article/news-ians/fox-star-continues-its-winning-streak-in-tamil-cinema-117052300331_1.html)
**Critical response.** Reviews were moderate. [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) rated it 2.5 out of 5, crediting the horror element and Ike's use of suspense while noting that the film "fails to work as a whole" and entertains only in parts.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-movie-review-chills-and-laughs-this-horror-comedy-gives-you-both-4663685/) [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) also gave 2.5 out of 5, praising the packaging and performances but noting that the film does not experiment and that the flashback falls flat.[6](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-review.html) India Today gave 2.5 out of 5, calling the film funny but lacking a soul, with unsatisfactory backstories for the ghost and for Vasu.[17](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/reviews/story/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-movie-review-jiiva-sri-divya-978141-2017-05-20) The Times of India gave 3 out of 5, writing that despite the familiar haunted-house set-up the film does not feel like a by-the-numbers horror comedy.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/movie-review/58751508.cms) On IMDb the film holds a rating of 5.3 out of 10 from 587 votes.[18](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6904340/ratings/)
**Awards.** Soori won Best Comedian at the 2018 [South Indian International Movie Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-indian-international-movie-awards) (SIIMA, Tamil) and a Jury Award for Best Comedian at the 2018 Vijay Awards.[19](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6904340/awards/)
## Distribution and availability
The film released theatrically in India on 19 May 2017 and in Malaysia a day earlier, on 18 May 2017.[4](https://assets.moviebuff.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thora) A Hindi-dubbed version circulated under the title *Sangili Bungili Darwaza Khol*.[20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRlkuuktcGc) It later became available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with digital purchase or rental on Amazon Video and the Apple TV Store.[21](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae)
## References
1. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae wrapped up, Only Kollywood](https://www.onlykollywood.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-wrapped-up/)
2. [Atlee's Production house - A for Apple, RSP Network](https://www.rspnetwork.in/2017/04/atlees-production-house-for-apple.html)
3. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Review {3/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/movie-review/58751508.cms)
4. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thora, Moviebuff](https://assets.moviebuff.com/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thora)
5. [Ike's confident about his debut, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ikes-confident-about-his-debut/articleshow/57021134.cms)
6. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae movie review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-review.html)
7. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae gets U/A certificate, Tamil Cine Talk](https://tamilcinetalk.com/sangili-pungili-kathava-thora-movie-gets-ua-certificate/)
8. [Fox Star continues its winning streak in Tamil cinema, Business Standard/IANS](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/article/news-ians/fox-star-continues-its-winning-streak-in-tamil-cinema-117052300331_1.html)
9. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae, TamilAr Wiki](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%B1)
10. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae: A moderate entertainer, Sudhir Srinivasan](https://sudhir-srinivasan.com/2017/05/21/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-a-moderate-entertainer-saved-by-its-final-stretches/)
11. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae movie review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-movie-review-chills-and-laughs-this-horror-comedy-gives-you-both-4663685/)
12. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae cinema review, Tamil Indian Express](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/sangili-pungili-kathava-thora-movie-review/)
13. [Murugadoss, Shankar inspired me to be producer: Atlee, Business Standard/IANS](https://www.business-standard.com/amp/article/news-ians/murugadoss-shankar-inspired-me-to-be-producer-atlee-117042500310_1.html)
14. [A slick horror comedy for Jiiva, Deccan Chronicle](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/060217/a-slick-horror-comedy-for-jiiva.html)
15. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae: Kamal Haasan is impressed by this spooky trailer, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-kamal-haasan-is-impressed-by-this-spooky-trailer-so-are-we-watch-video-4626478/)
16. [Audio launch report, Namma Tamil Cinema](https://nammatamilcinema.in/sangili-pungili-audio-launch/)
17. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae movie review, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/reviews/story/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae-movie-review-jiiva-sri-divya-978141-2017-05-20)
18. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6904340/ratings/)
19. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6904340/awards/)
20. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae lifetime worldwide box office, Bolly Views (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRlkuuktcGc)
21. [Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/sangili-bungili-kadhava-thorae)
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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 horror films of the 2010s*
*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 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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