''Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga'' is a 2013 Tamil-language
political
Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...
comedy drama
Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple co ...
film written, directed and co-produced by
Pandiraj
Pandiraj (பாண்டிராஜ் in Tamil) is an Indian film director and producer, writer who works in Tamil cinema. His debut film, ''Pasanga'' (2009), was commercially successful and won several awards, including the National Film Aw ...
. It features
Vimal and
Sivakarthikeyan
Sivakarthikeyan (born 17 February 1985), also referred to as SK, is an Indian actor, singer, film producer, lyricist, and television presenter, who works predominantly in Tamil films. He has also won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, four Edison A ...
in lead roles, alongside
Bindu Madhavi
Bindu Madhavi (born 14 June 1986) is an Indian model and actress and a reality show winner, working in Tamil-language and Telugu-language cinema. After starting her acting career in Telugu, she shifted to Tamil cinema where she was part of seve ...
and
Regina Cassandra
Regina Cassandra (born 13 December 1990) is an Indian actress and Model who primarily works in Tamil and Telugu films. She made her acting debut with the Tamil film ''Kanda Naal Mudhal'' in 2005 and made her Telugu film debut with '' Siva Manasu ...
.
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Yuvan Shankar Raja or Abdul Haliq (born 31 August 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He mainly scores music for Tamil films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of Wes ...
composed the soundtrack. The film released on 29 March 2013 and received positive responses from critics as well as audiences. It ran for 100 days in many theatres in Tamil Nadu and was commercially successful. The film was remade in
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
as ''Katte''.
Plot
The film opens with two friends "Billa Kesavan" aka "Theni" Kesavan (
Vimal) and "Ranga Murugan" aka "Pattai" Murugan (
Sivakarthikeyan
Sivakarthikeyan (born 17 February 1985), also referred to as SK, is an Indian actor, singer, film producer, lyricist, and television presenter, who works predominantly in Tamil films. He has also won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, four Edison A ...
), who are unemployed and want to become politicians. Meanwhile, Murugan meets Parvathy aka Paapaa (
Regina Cassandra
Regina Cassandra (born 13 December 1990) is an Indian actress and Model who primarily works in Tamil and Telugu films. She made her acting debut with the Tamil film ''Kanda Naal Mudhal'' in 2005 and made her Telugu film debut with '' Siva Manasu ...
) and falls for her. On the other side, Kesavan meets Mithra Meenalochini (
Bindu Madhavi
Bindu Madhavi (born 14 June 1986) is an Indian model and actress and a reality show winner, working in Tamil-language and Telugu-language cinema. After starting her acting career in Telugu, she shifted to Tamil cinema where she was part of seve ...
) and falls for her. Paappaa and Mithra too fall for them after many confusions. There comes the Councilor Election, and Murugan stands for it. Paappaa gives Murugan money to spend for the election. Eventually, Murugan loses in the election. Seeing this, his father Aachivardham (
Manoj Kumar
Harikrishan Goswami (born 24 July 1937), better known by his screen name Manoj Kumar, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for acting and making films with patriotic theme ...
) dies by falling off of the train platform. Due to this, Murugan gets his father's job. In the meantime, Kesavan marries Mithra. Murugan and Paappaa wait for the acceptance of their parents. Their parents accept for their marriage, and they get married. Soon, Murugan and Kesavan realise the real value of the life, and they decide that life is nothing without doing work, so they both go to their respective homes. While seeing their fathers' photos, Murugan and Kesavan write "DAD IS MY GOD" and "MY FATHER IS HERO" respectively.
Cast
*
Vimal as Theni Kesavan / Billa Kesavan
*
Sivakarthikeyan
Sivakarthikeyan (born 17 February 1985), also referred to as SK, is an Indian actor, singer, film producer, lyricist, and television presenter, who works predominantly in Tamil films. He has also won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, four Edison A ...
as Pattai Murugan / Ranga Murugan
*
Bindu Madhavi
Bindu Madhavi (born 14 June 1986) is an Indian model and actress and a reality show winner, working in Tamil-language and Telugu-language cinema. After starting her acting career in Telugu, she shifted to Tamil cinema where she was part of seve ...
as Mithra Meenalochini
*
Regina Cassandra
Regina Cassandra (born 13 December 1990) is an Indian actress and Model who primarily works in Tamil and Telugu films. She made her acting debut with the Tamil film ''Kanda Naal Mudhal'' in 2005 and made her Telugu film debut with '' Siva Manasu ...
as Parvathy (Paapaa)
*
Soori as Sindru
*
Delhi Ganesh
Delhi Ganesh is an Indian actor who mostly acts in supporting roles in Tamil cinema and serials. He has acted in more than 400 films from 1976 to present. Before films, he was a member of the Delhi-based theatre troupe, ''Dakshina Bharata Natak ...
as Chidambaram
*
Manoj Kumar
Harikrishan Goswami (born 24 July 1937), better known by his screen name Manoj Kumar, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for acting and making films with patriotic theme ...
as Aachivardham
*
Sujatha Sivakumar
Sujatha Sivakumar is an Born: (27 September 1973) Indian actress who has appeared in Tamil films. Sujatha rose to fame with her performance in Ameer's ''Paruthiveeran'' (2007), before appearing in several supporting roles as a mother in Tamil ...
as Murugan's mother
*
Nadodigal Gopal
''Naadodigal'' () is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Samuthirakani and produced by S. Michael Rayappan under banner of Global Infotainment. The film stars Sasikumar along with Vijay Vasanth and Bharani, wh ...
as Mithra's father
*
Namo Narayana
Namo Narayana is an Indian actor who has worked in Tamil films. He made a breakthrough as an actor with his performances in ''Naadodigal'' (2009) and ''Komban'' (2015).
Career
Narayana was a software engineer before he chose to star in a suppor ...
*
Myna Nandhini
Myna Nandhini (born 21 May 1991) is an Indian actress and television personality who is best known as Myna Revathi in ''Saravanan Meenatchi (season 2)'', Alabarai Myna in ''Chinna Thambi'' and for her major breakthrough role Mynavathi in ''Aran ...
as Sindru's wife
* Vazhakku En Muthuraman as Sindru's uncle
* Goutham Purusoth
Production
After ''
Marina
A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.
A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...
'', Pandiraj announced his next project ''Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga'' with
Vimal and
Sivakarthikeyan
Sivakarthikeyan (born 17 February 1985), also referred to as SK, is an Indian actor, singer, film producer, lyricist, and television presenter, who works predominantly in Tamil films. He has also won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, four Edison A ...
two of his proteges in lead roles. The director noted that he was initially interested in also casting
Arulnithi
Arulnithi Tamilarasu (born 21 July 1987) is an Indian actor best known for playing the lead roles in '' Vamsam'', directed by Pandiraj, Mouna Guru, and Demonte Colony.
Personal life
Arulnithi's grandfather is M. Karunanidhi, former Chief Minist ...
, another protege, in a third leading role, but was unable due to the script.
Bindhu Madhavi
Bindu Madhavi (born 14 June 1986) is an Indian model and actress and a reality show winner, working in Tamil language, Tamil-language and Telugu language, Telugu-language cinema. After starting her acting career in Telugu, she shifted to Tamil ...
was selected as first heroine while
Regina Cassandra
Regina Cassandra (born 13 December 1990) is an Indian actress and Model who primarily works in Tamil and Telugu films. She made her acting debut with the Tamil film ''Kanda Naal Mudhal'' in 2005 and made her Telugu film debut with '' Siva Manasu ...
who earlier appeared in ''
Kanda Naal Mudhal
''Kanda Naal Mudhal'' ( there) is a 2005 Indian Tamil language romantic comedy film written and directed by newcomer V. Priya, who had earlier assisted Mani Ratnam. Produced by Prakash Raj under the Duet Movies banner, the film stars Prasanna ...
'' and ''Azhagiya Asura'' was selected as second heroine.
The film is all set shooting in
Trichirapalli
Tiruchirappalli () ( formerly Trichinopoly in English), also called Tiruchi or Trichy, is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli district. The city is credited with bein ...
around the areas of
Ponmalai(Golden Rock), Subramaniyapuram,
Jamal Mohamed College
Jamal Mohamed College is a Government-aided and self-financed institution founded in 1951 by M. Jamal Mohamed Sahib and N.M. Khajamian Rowther. The college campus is located in Tiruchirappalli, India and is affiliated to Bharathidasan Universi ...
, Lakshmi Nivas Hotel, Places near Rathna Stores Firm, Kattur, Jai Nagar,
Malaikovil, Frontline Hospital and
Thiruverumbur
Thiruverumbur (also spelt as Tiruverambur) is a neighbourhood in the city of Tiruchirapalli (Trichy or Tiruchi) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was merged with the Tiruchirappalli Corporation in 2011.
Demographics
India census, Thiruver ...
. The makers of the film initially wanted Silambarasan and
Dhanush
Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja (born 28 July 1983), known professionally as Dhanush, is an Indian actor, producer, director, lyricist and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Starring in 46 films over his career, among hi ...
to sing the song "Oru Porumbokku", but Dhanush's involvement in foreign shooting for ''
Maryan'', meant that Yuvan Shankar Raja ended up singing the song.
Marketing
Teaser of the film was released on 11 Jan 2013 along with Studio Green's Karthi Pongal mass masala ''
Alex Pandian
''Alex Pandian'' is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language action comedy film written and directed by Suraj that features Karthi and Anushka Shetty, with Karthi in the title role, while Santhanam, Milind Soman, Suman, Prathap Pothen and Nikita Thukr ...
''.
Venkat Prabhu
Venkat Kumar Gangai Amaren (born 7 November 1975), better known by his stage name Venkat Prabhu, is an Indian filmmaker, actor and playback singer in Tamil films. After completing his education, he began pursuing an acting career, with his first ...
,
Premgi Amaren
Prem Kumar Gangai Amaren (born 26 February 1979), better known as Premgi, is an Indian playback singer, composer, songwriter, actor and comedian. The son of composer and director Gangai Amaran, he often composes rap songs in Tamil cinema and i ...
and
VTV Ganesh
Ganesh Janardhanan, also known by his stage name VTV Ganesh is an Indian actor, comedian and film producer. He is best known for his hoarse voice, and his appearances in films featuring Silambarasan. He had made his debut in Tamil movie ''Red'' ...
were roped in for a promotional video, in addition to the film's cast. It was launched on the net and television before the film's theatrical release.
Soundtrack
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Yuvan Shankar Raja or Abdul Haliq (born 31 August 1979) is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He mainly scores music for Tamil films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of Wes ...
composed the soundtrack for ''Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga'', working the first time with director Pandiraj. The audio of the film was to be launched on 6 February 2013 at the Satyam Cinemas in Chennai, but had been cancelled, owing to the case filed by R Jayaraman of RS Infotainment against P Madan the co-producer of ''Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga''. The director revealed that he had initially planned for four songs, but decided to add one more track at the last minute.
Silambarasan
Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar, nicknamed as Simbu or his initials S. T. R., is an Indian actor, filmmaker and musician in Tamil cinema. He began his acting career by playing roles as a child artist in films directed by his father T. Rajendar, b ...
has sung the opening song of the film with Yuvan.The soundtrack received positive reviews from the critics.
Release
K.E. Gnanavel Raja's
Studio Green
Studio Green is an Cinema of India, Indian film production and distribution company based in Chennai. The company was founded in 2006 by K. E. Gnanavel Raja, relative of actor Sivakumar and many of their films feature his sons Suriya and Karthi ...
secured the distribution rights for ''Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga'' in November 2012. The satellite rights of the film were purchased by
Zee Thamizh. The film was released on 29 March 2013 for the Easter weekend along with three other film, ''
Chennaiyil Oru Naal
''Chennaiyil Oru Naal'' () is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language thriller film written by brothers Bobby and Sanjay and directed by Shaheed Kader. The film has an ensemble cast including R. Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj, Cheran, Devan, Prasanna, Ra ...
'', ''Azhagan Azhagi'' and ''Keeripulla''. It was Released in 332 Screens. The film was also dubbed and released in
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
as ''Sabse Bada Zero 2'' in 2020.
Reception
KBKR opened to positive reviews.
in.com
In.com was an online venture from Web18, a Network 18 group company and one of India’s online networks based in Mumbai. It was on-line 11 years, from August 2008 to August 2019. In.com was ranked No. 18 in the Alexa traffic rankings in India. ...
rated it 3 out of 5 and stated that Pandiraj got his casting right and rides on them without worrying much about the plot. The film works in bits and pieces. Go for it only if you have nothing better to do!. Behindwoods gave the movie 3 out of 5 and stated that it was an enjoyable funny ride for summer.
Shailesh K Nadar of CinemaSpice.in rated the movie as 3.5/5 and mentioned in his review that "Though KBKR isn’t content rich like the director’s debut Pasanga, it is undeniably a family entertainer this summer!". Rediff wrote:"Director Pandiraj injects a good dose of humour and makes the film enjoyable to watch". Times of India said, "By now, the tale of a wastrel turning responsible has been done to death in Tamil cinema but what sets this film apart is in the refreshingly effortless manner in which the director spins his tale."
Baradwaj Rangan
Baradwaj Rangan is an Indian film critic, writer, and formerly the deputy editor of ''The Hindu''. He later became a senior editor of Film Companion. Rangan won the National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 2006. Before joining ''The Hindu'' ...
of the Hindu wrote "Let’s not get into the depressing aspect of youths opting to stand in elections simply because it’s an easy career opportunity, apparently requiring no real skills – this is supposed to be a comedy, after all. But it’s galling, in a movie that’s content to milk laughs from a hero’s bleeding bum, when we’re fed messages about our youngsters entering politics (new blood and all that) and leading useful lives."
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2013 films
Indian romantic comedy-drama films
2013 romantic comedy-drama films
Films shot in Tiruchirappalli
Films scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja
Tamil films remade in other languages
2010s Tamil-language films
Films directed by Pandiraj
Films set in Tiruchirappalli
2013 comedy films
2013 drama films