Lovely (2001 film)

Lovely is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by S. K. Jeeva (credited as Sakthi) who previously directed Pudhumai Pithan. The film stars Karthik, Malavika, and Monal, while Vivek, Manivannan, Nizhalgal Ravi, and Vinu Chakravarthy play supporting roles. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Deva. The film was released on 6 July 2001. It was remade in Telugu as Andamaina Abaddham.

Plot
The movie revolves around Chandru and his lover Niveditha in the backdrop of Ooty. Niveditha's father Mahadevan is against love marriages, and he finds out that his daughter is in love with someone. Mahadevan asks Niveditha for the details of her lover, and Niveditha as per Chandru's plan, hands over a photo of Chandru's friend Azhagesh to her father and informs him as her lover. Mahadevan sends some goons to attack Azhagesh, and the proceedings happen comically.

Meanwhile, Chandru and Niveditha keep planning on how to make Mahadevan nod for their wedding. One day, Mahadevan's car gets repaired on the way. Chandru, along with his family, also comes on the same way. Seeing Mahadevan helpless on the road, Chandru picks him up and drops him at home, thereby getting into Mahadevan's good books. Slowly, Mahadevan and Chandru become good family friends. But still, Chandru and Niveditha do not reveal their love to their parents and are happy that both families are on good terms now.

Chandru's parents decide to get him married to Niveditha, and they meet Mahadevan with a marriage proposal. Mahadevan also agrees for the wedding and informs Niveditha, who still pretends that she is in love with Azhagesh. Chandru and Niveditha feel happy that things are proceeding well as per the plan and their wedding is going to be a smooth one. But to everyone's surprise, a few days before the wedding, Chandru's brother elopes with Niveditha's sister. Both families start searching for them, and in the meantime, the families start quarrelling over each other due to this issue and separate. Finally, Chandru finds the eloped couple in a police station. It is revealed that Niveditha's sister wanted to cancel Niveditha's wedding with Chandru as she thought that Niveditha was in love in Azhagesh. Hence, Chandru's brother helps in the plan, and they staged the drama so that both the families will fight and the wedding will be cancelled.

Chandru is shocked hearing this and reveals that Niveditha was in love only with him and Azhagesh was just meant to divert Mahadevan. But Mahadevan overhears this and gets furious that Chandru and Niveditha cheated him. Finally, Chandru apologizes, and Mahadevan forgives him as he really is impressed with his character. Chandru and Niveditha are united.

The story is about two lovers, Chandru and Niveditha. Niveditha’s father, Mahadevan is against love marriages. His friend Panneerselvam sees Chandru and Niveditha together in Chennai and informs Mahadevan. Mahadevan asks for Chandru’s photo and Panneer’s assistant takes a photo of Chandru which Niveditha sees. They both trick him and change the photo with Chandru’s friend, Azhages aka Algates, thinking that Algates has gone to America. In reality, Algates is still in Ooty. Mahadevan receives the photo and gets furious. He arranges a local don named, Thottabetta Gaja to threaten Algates. The follow-ups between Gaja and Algates go in a comical way. Chandru and Niveditha return to Ooty and plan to make Mahadevan accept them. While Niveditha tricks her family into making them belief that she is madly in love with Algates, Chandru plans to make them family friends. While on a temple trip, the bus Niveditha’s family is travelling breaks down as per plan, and Chandru’s family come that way. They share a ride and become friends. Similarly, Chandru and his father Varadharajan see Mahadevan stranded on the road after his vehicle breaks down and gives him a lift. They become business partners. The family unite for Niveditha’s sister’s function and slowly they decide to get Chandru and Niveditha married. Chandru also learns that Mahadevan is against love because his sister eloped and his father died, making his life difficult. Panneer comes for the function and both Chandru and Niveditha trick everyone into thinking Panneer is affected mentally. Eventually the wedding day arrives and but Niveditha’s sister and Chandru’s brother go missing. The family argue that they eloped and the wedding is halted. Chandru’s brother Naveen is found by the police and Chandru comes there. Naveen tells him that they did not elope but wanted to leave the home, hoping that the wedding stops so that Niveditha can marry Algates. Chandru tells about their whole plan which Mahadevan overhears. Niveditha’s sister is kidnapped by an auto driver whom Mahadevan berated for his love marriage. Chandru rescues her and tells Mahadevan that he is leaving. Mahadevan finally approves of the marriage.

Production
The film was announced with Karthik and Devayani, but the actress's impending marriage meant that she was replaced by Malavika. The film was directed by Sakthi who earlier directed Parthiban starrer Pudhumai Pithan (1998) under the name S. K. Jeeva.

Soundtrack
Soundtrack was composed by Deva.

Reception
The Hindu wrote "Lovely has enticing visuals and guileless humour - Vivek, Vinu Chakravarthy style. If only the unwarranted convolutions in the end had been avoided, the film would have probably been as enjoyable [..]". Visual Dasan of Kalki wrote since it is director's second film, he has carefully crafted the screenplay. If he had shown the same attention to visuals, the frequent yawns could have been avoided.