Meendum Kokila (transl. Kokila, again) is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by G. N. Rangarajan from a screenplay written by Ananthu and story by Haasan Brothers. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi. Deepa, M. Krishnamoorthy, Thengai Srinivasan and Omakuchi Narasimhan are featured in supporting roles. The narrative follows a young woman who fights to win back her husband after his infatuation with an actress.
Meendum Kokila was released theatrically on 14 January 1981.[2] Upon its release, the film was a critical and commercial success. For her performance, Sridevi received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. The film was dubbed in Telugu as Chilipi Mogudu and released on 4 September 1981.[3]
Subramaniam, a lawyer is married to Kokila and has a daughter. Things go well until he meets Kamini, a movie star in a party. He gets attracted towards Kamini and becomes ready to sacrifice his own family for her. Kokila's efforts in bringing back her husband forms the rest of the story.
The film was originally directed by Mahendran with Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Bollywood actress Rekha—in her Tamil cinema debut—playing the lead roles.[4][5] Rekha was the original choice for the role of Kamini, and scenes featuring her were shot till 3000 feet.[4] Initially Mahendran opted out of the film after a song sequence was shot. Later as the film progressed Rekha pulled out citing no reason.[4] It was Haasan who requested G. N. Rangarajan to take over the film as director.[4][6] Rekha's father Gemini Ganesan claimed he told her not to play "second fiddle" to Sridevi.[7] Rekha was replaced by Deepa.[4][8] Haasan's character in the film twitches his eye, for which he took inspiration from Krishnamachari Srikkanth.[9]
Nalini Sastry of Kalki lauded Rangarajan's direction, Ananthu's dialogues, Viswanathan's cinematography and the performances of the main cast.[13] Sridevi received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil;[14] the first of her four Filmfare Awards.[15] Just 17 years old, when released, the film's success consolidated Sridevi's position as the highest paid actress in South Indian cinema.[16]
Re-release
The film's digitally restored version was released on 15 December 2017.[17][18][19]
^சாஸ்திரி, நளினி (8 February 1981). "மீண்டும் கோகிலா". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 52–53. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
