Kannadi Pookal

Kannadi Pookal is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Shahjahan. It was released on 18 February 2005, and it received positive reviews from critics. The film was a remake of Malayalam film Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum.

Plot
Meera marries her neighbour Sakthivel, after Sakthi's wife dies giving birth to Vasudevan. Meera decides not to have children and raises vasu as her own son, and the trio leads a very happy life. But, Meera's widowed father Big bird is unhappy as his lineage will die out and his wealth will get depleted, with Meera caring for someone else's child. When vasu reaches the age of 9, Meera accidentally becomes pregnant. This changes the focus of the entire family to the unborn child, deeply hurting vasu. He is often belittled for his attention-seeking actions, and ignored more when the baby boy is born. Within weeks, Vasu is pushed to the limits, and he kills the baby using bug spray. Due to a complaint filed by Sakthi, Vasu is arrested and put in a government-run juvenile prison. His family is devastated, but they forgive him wholeheartedly.

Slowly, Vasu regrets his actions, spirals into depression and his health worsens. The family doctor advises Sakthi that the only way to save Vasu from depression is for them to have another baby, and make Vasu raise that baby. That way, he will get over the guilt of his mistake. The couple agrees. Slowly, he begins to get along well with other children and wants to move back to his family. Eventually, Meera is pregnant, but the doctor tells Sakthi not tell Vasu until his release day. On the day he's released, Vasu meets his former schoolmates at an interschool event and realises that society will always see him as a murderer. Vasu refuses to return home after the competition. But the family manages to console him, and Vasu returns home to his waiting family. He sees his baby brother in the crib, is overjoyed and picks him up. Everything ends well with the family altogether.

Production
The scene featuring Parthiban and Kaveri was shot at a bungalow near VGP Golden Beach at Chennai.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by S. A. Rajkumar.

Reception
Indiaglitz wrote "The director has kept the narrative tight and simple. The film may be slow for some, but the point is that such emotional dramas take time to evolve. If you are looking for speed, head for F-1 circuit. If you like your film to be serious and sensitive, head for Kannadi Pookal". Bizhat wrote "The film comes as a whiff of fresh air. It is a steamy tearjerker that leaves a lump in your throat". Visual Dasan of Kalki wrote Kurinji flower blossoms once in twelve years, films such as Kannadi Pookkal are also like that and praised director Shahjahan for narrating the plot naturally while also praising the acting of child actor, music and editing.