Charlie Chaplin (2002 film)

Ramakrishnan is a rich businessman in Ooty who owns an advertising company and tea estates. He is married to Mythili who is very possessive about her husband. Mythili always suspects her husband fearing that he would end up having an affair with some other girl as they are childless after 5 years of marriage, and this brings frequent quarrel between the couple. But Ramakrishnan is a kind hearted honest man and he takes care of his wife with great love.

Thirunavukkarasu alias Thiru is a poor photographer in the same town and initially, Ramakrishnan misunderstands Thiru to be a rogue. Later understands his good nature and provides him a job in his own company. Thiru, who was orphaned after his mother died 3 years ago, is very loyal to Ramakrishnan and Mythili and respects Ramakrishnan as his brother. Ramakrishnan is also very kind to Thiru. One day, Thiru meets a girl Susi and the two fall in love with each other. Susi is a social activist who voices for women empowerment, and daughter of the district judge. Vishwa is a close friend of Ramakrishnan and is married to Amudha. But Vishwa is a playboy and has affairs with many girls. One day, a small quarrel erupts between Ramakrishnan and Mythili following which Ramakrishnan worries thinking about his wife's continuous suspecting behaviour. Vishwa plans to relax Ramakrishnan by engaging a call girl Thilothama.

Ramakrishnan although not interested in it, finally decides to spend some time with Thiliothama when Mythili is away to Tirupathi. Thilothama comes to Ramakrishnan's guest house where Thiru lives. Suddenly, Mythili cancels her trip and returns home. On the way, she finds Ramakrishnan's car in Thiru's home and she also comes to Thiru's home. Mythili gets shocked to see Thilothama and Ramakrishnan in Thiru's home. Ramakrishnan suddenly manages the situation by lying that Thilothama is none other than Thiru's lover. Mythili believes this while Thiru does not reveal the truth knowing that it would separate Ramakrishnan from Mythili.

Then it is cat and mouse game where Thiru tries to act as Thilothama's love in front of Mythili, at the same time tries hard not to get caught by Susi as she is short-tempered and hates someone lying to her. Finally, Mythili and Susi get to know about the lies told by Thiru and Ramakrishnan. Ramakrishnan and Thiru try hard to find Thilothama and make her tell the truth that nothing happened between them. But to their shock, Thilothama committed suicide and they have no other proof now.

Susi decides to break up with Thiru while Mythili applies for divorce with Ramakrishnan. Finally, in the court, Ramakrishnan expresses how much he loves Mythili and tells all the truth and requests her to believe him. Also, Amudha and Vishwa convince Susi and Mythili whereby Amudha says that she very well knows about Vishwa's affair with so many girls but she still lives with a hope of getting him back as a loyal husband someday. Mythili and Susi understand Ramakrishnan and Thiru's good nature and they unite in the end.

{{cast listing|

• Prabhu as Ramakrishnan
• Prabhu Deva as Thirunavukkarasu (Thiru)
• Livingston as Vishwa
• Abhirami as Mythili Ramakrishnan
• Gayathri Raghuraman as Suseela (Susi)
• Vindhya as Amudha Vishwa
• Monal as Thilothama
• Pyramid Natarajan as Justice Samandham, Suseela's father
• Chinni Jayanth as Thirupathiraj
• Mahanadi Shankar as Police Inspector
• Pandu as MLA Erimalai
• Besant Ravi as Rouge
• Priyanka as Lakshmi, Home maid

}}

Sakthi Chidambaram revealed that the story was based on a real life incident that had happened to his friend, but altered the happenings to present it in a comedy format.{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2002 |title="For a film to succeed, its music must become a massive hit" |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg155/culture.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022213751/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg155/culture.htm |archive-date=22 October 2013 |access-date=5 August 2012 |website=Tamil Guardian}} Despite that, some critics noted the film's similarities to the 1975 Tamil film Yarukku Mappillai Yaro.{{Cite web |date=25 January 2019 |title='Charlie Chaplin 2' review: Did 2019 really need this dated Prabhu Deva sequel? |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/charlie-chaplin-2-review-did-2019-really-need-dated-prabhu-deva-sequel-95663 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912134244/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/charlie-chaplin-2-review-did-2019-really-need-dated-prabhu-deva-sequel-95663 |archive-date=12 September 2021 |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=The News Minute}} The film was initially called Uthama Purushan, but was later changed to Charlie Chaplin.{{Cite web |last=Swamy |first=A |title=Prabhu: The comeback story |url=http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/Interviews%20-%20Prabhu%20The%20comeback%20story.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227202322/http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/Interviews%20-%20Prabhu%20The%20comeback%20story.htm |archive-date=27 February 2014 |access-date=12 December 2015 |website=cinematoday2.itgo.com}} The initial choices for the two leading female roles had been Gayatri Jayaraman and Sanghavi, but the two were replaced due to date issues.

There are 7 songs in this film composed by Bharani.{{Cite web |date=1 January 2002 |title=Charlie Chaplin |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/charlie-chaplin/srjyk1FJ5KY_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313094902/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/charlie-chaplin/srjyk1FJ5KY_ |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |website=JioSaavn}}

{{track listing|

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| headline = Track listing

| total_length = 30:53

| title1 = Ava Kannapaatha

| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harish Raghavendra

| lyrics1 = Pa. Vijay

| length1 = 5:05

| title2 = Kannadi Selai Katti

| extra2 = Krishnaraj, Swarnalatha, Karthik, Harini

| lyrics2 = Palani Bharathi

| length2 = 5:39

| title3 = Mammu Mammu

| extra3 = Tippu

| lyrics3 = Pa. Vijay

| length3 = 2:42

| title4 = Mudhalaam Sandhippil

| extra4 = P. Unnikrishnan, Swarnalatha

| lyrics4 = Pa. Vijay

| length4 = 5:06

| title5 = Ponnu Oruthi Summa

| extra5 = Tippu, Anuradha Sriram

| lyrics5 = Snehan

| length5 = 5:09

| title6 = Shansha Shalpashaa

| extra6 = Tippu, Harini

| lyrics6 = Sakthi Chidambaram

| length6 = 4:05

| title7 = Vaarthai Thavari Ponathanaley

| extra7 = Harish Raghavendra

| lyrics7 = Kabilan

| length7 = 3:07

}}

Chennai Online wrote, "It is a laugh riot that will drive away your blues. Prabhu with his perfect timing and penchant for comedy, and Prabhu Deva the perfect prop, strike a good chemistry on screen to provide some unpretentious fun-filled time to the viewers, leaving them no time to think or get bored. Livingston pitches his own bit to form the comic-trio".{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |title=Charlie Chaplin |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov175.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313112909/http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov175.asp |archive-date=13 March 2005 |access-date=14 March 2022 |website=Chennai Online}} The Hindu wrote "A Comic fare with a clear storyline, a neat screenplay that has no gaping loose ends and witty dialogue with all the essential punches make watching Roja combines' Charlie Chaplin an enjoyable experience".{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=22 February 2002 |title=Charlie Chaplin |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/22/stories/2002022201180200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002234041/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/22/stories/2002022201180200.htm |archive-date=2 October 2003 |access-date=21 September 2023 |website=The Hindu}} Cinesouth wrote "After 'Ullathai Allitha', this is one film that had tickled the audience so much. So, lets hear it for director Shakthi Chidhambaram".{{cite web |title=Charlie Chaplin |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/charliechaplin.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040411075409/http://www.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/charliechaplin.shtml |archive-date=11 April 2004 |access-date=22 October 2024 |website=Cinesouth}}

The film's commercial success led to remakes in several languages, such as:

It is the one among the second highest remade film in Indian cinema after Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (nine languages) along with Anuraga Aralithu, Poovinu Puthiya Poonthenal, Kireedam, Pavitra Bandham, Don, Vikramarkudu, Shutter, Brindavanam, Drishyam, U Turn, Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam, Kaadhal and Okkadu– all of which have been remade six times. A sequel titled Charlie Chaplin 2 released in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Sundar |first=Mrinalini |date=7 November 2017 |title=Prabhudheva and Nikki Galrani team up for Charlie Chaplin 2 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/prabhudheva-and-nikki-galrani-team-up-for-charlie-chaplin-2/articleshow/61531484.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404032912/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/prabhudheva-and-nikki-galrani-team-up-for-charlie-chaplin-2/articleshow/61531484.cms |archive-date=4 April 2020 |access-date=18 November 2017 |work=The Times of India}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Sakthi Chidambaram}}

Category:2000s Indian films

Category:2000s Tamil-language films

Category:2002 comedy films

Category:2002 films

Category:Films directed by Sakthi Chidambaram

Category:Films scored by Bharani (composer)

Category:Indian comedy films

Category:Indian films based on actual events

Category:Tamil films remade in other languages

Category:Tamil-language Indian films