Karuppampatti

The story begins in the small, traditional village of Karuppampatti near Trichy, where Kothai (Ajmal Ameer) lives a simple life bound by the customs and expectations of rural Tamil Nadu. The film portrays the village not through the typical romanticized lens often seen in Tamil cinema, but as a place where conservative mindsets and social prejudices can flourish alongside genuine community bonds. Kothai, an ambitious young man with dreams beyond the village boundaries, finds himself increasingly at odds with the limited opportunities and rigid social structures of his hometown.

Driven by his desire for education and a better life, Kothai makes the life-changing decision to leave Karuppampatti and pursue his studies abroad. His journey takes him across continents to Paris, France, where he enrolls in a university and experiences a profound culture shock. The bustling cosmopolitan city, with its liberal values, diverse population, and modern lifestyle, presents a stark contrast to everything Kothai has known.

In Paris, Kothai's life takes a romantic turn when he meets Shanthini, also known as Kaveri (Aparnaa Bajpai), a woman who becomes instrumental in his personal transformation. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of iconic Parisian locations, including scenes shot near the Eiffel Tower. Through Shanthini, Kothai learns to navigate the complexities of modern relationships and begins to question many of the traditional beliefs and practices he grew up with.

The narrative structure employs flashbacks and parallel storytelling to contrast Kothai's current life in Paris with his memories of Karuppampatti. As the story unfolds, it's revealed that Kothai plays a dual role, portraying both father and son across different time periods, highlighting how patterns of migration, ambition, and cultural conflict repeat across generations. This storytelling technique allows the film to explore themes of legacy, inherited dreams, and the cyclical nature of social change.

Back in Karuppampatti, the supporting characters represent different aspects of village life and varying attitudes toward progress and tradition. Don Stanlee (M. S. Bhaskar) embodies a certain worldliness within the rural setting, while Karuppu (Jagan) and Anglee (Srinath) represent the more conventional village perspectives. Sivagami (Devadarshini) and Meenakshi (Lizzie Antony) provide the female viewpoint on the social dynamics, setting up the feminist themes that become prominent in the film's climax.

The story also incorporates Kothai's academic journey, showing him in university classrooms and libraries, struggling with coursework while grappling with homesickness. His determination to succeed academically becomes intertwined with his emotional growth, as he learns to balance respect for his origins with the need to embrace new ideas and perspectives.

As the narrative progresses toward its climax, tensions between traditional and modern values reach a breaking point. The film's most significant moment comes with what critics described as a "mild feminist uprising," where the female characters challenge established patriarchal norms and demand recognition of their agency and rights. This rebellion serves as a catalyst for broader social change within the community, suggesting that progress often comes from unexpected quarters and that women can be powerful agents of transformation in conservative societies.

The resolution sees Kothai having to make crucial decisions about his future - whether to remain in Paris and fully embrace his new life, or return to Karuppampatti and attempt to bridge the gap between his two worlds.

{{colbegin}}

• Ajmal Ameer as Kothai
• Aparnaa Bajpai as Shanthini/Kaveri
• M. S. Bhaskar as Don Stanlee
• Jagan as Karuppu
• Srinath as Anglee
• Devadarshini as Sivagami
• Lizzie Antony as Meenakshi
• Chetan
• Mahadevan
• Alice Tantardini as Melanie Sarkozy
• Ganeshkar
• Archana as item number

{{colend}}

In February 2010, Tha. Prabhu Raja Cholan, a former associate of director Shankar, announced that he would make a titled Karuppampatti, which would be produced by Sundar K it would have cinematography by P. G. Muthaiah and music by D. Imman.{{Cite web |date=2010-02-22 |title=Karuppanpatti: Ajmal's double delight |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/54644.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224082928/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/54644.html |archive-date=24 February 2010 |access-date=2012-08-04 |website=IndiaGlitz}} However, before production, the team was changed and it was announced that Santhosh Sriram{{Cite news |date=2012-08-18 |title=Audio Beat: Karuppampatti |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article3790832.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207021546/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article3790832.ece |archive-date=7 February 2013 |access-date=20 August 2012 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}} would be the cinematographer and Kannan of Tamil Padam fame would be the music composer. The producer of the film approached Hindi actress Sonam Kapoor to play the lead role in the film, but were unsuccessful in convincing her to debut in Tamil films with this venture.{{Cite web |date=2010-04-07 |title=Anil Kapoor's daughter to debut in Tamil films? |url=http://chennaionline.com/movies/preview/20102407022452/Anil-Kapoors-daughter-to-debut-in-Tamil-films.col |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219134651/http://chennaionline.com/movies/preview/20102407022452/Anil-Kapoors-daughter-to-debut-in-Tamil-films.col |archive-date=19 December 2011 |access-date=2012-08-04 |publisher=ChennaiOnline}} Hence Aparnaa Bajpai, who had made her debut in Sasikumar's Easan, was signed on to play the leading female role in the film.{{Cite news |last=Manigandan K R I, TNN |date=2010-11-25 |title=Aparna's film career going great guns |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Aparnas-film-career-going-great-guns/articleshow/6982030.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707220144/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-25/news-interviews/28270531_1_double-role-first-film-film-career |archive-date=2012-07-07 |access-date=2012-08-04 |work=The Times of India}} The shooting of the film began in May 2010 and posters featuring Ajmal with the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, walking in snow, and studying in a university classroom abroad were released. It was also reported that Ajmal plays a dual role as father and son and that the film will be set in two backdrops that of a village and the city, with the director remarking the film would show a person's journey through life from Karuppampatti village near Trichy to Paris, France.{{Cite web |date=2010-05-11 |title=A dual role so early |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/may-10-02/ajmal-prabhu-sozhan-11-05-10.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911045707/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/may-10-02/ajmal-prabhu-sozhan-11-05-10.html |archive-date=11 September 2010 |access-date=2012-08-04 |website=Behindwoods.com}}{{Cite web |title=Ajmal to play double role |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/ajmal-to-play-double-role-news-tamil-kkfq8Mhgegf.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140342/http://www.sify.com/movies/ajmal-to-play-double-role-news-tamil-kkfq8Mhgegf.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Sify}} A song titled "Oh Indira" was shot with Ajmal and Archana in May 2010 at AVM Studios, Chennai with a 1970s bar set out up.{{Cite web |date=22 May 2010 |title=Karuppampatti Song |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcAjsbSas0Q |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/tcAjsbSas0Q |archive-date=2021-12-15 |access-date=2012-08-04 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The team shot a schedule in Pazhani in December 2010 and then returned in August 2011, when Ajmal refused to engage in a scene where there is a kiss sequence with Aparnaa Bajpai and eventually ended up kissing her on the cheek instead.{{Cite web |title=Ajmal refuses to kiss Aparna! |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/ajmal-refuses-to-kiss-aparna-news-tamil-linlSLhcigj.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911183702/http://www.sify.com/movies/ajmal-refuses-to-kiss-aparna-news-tamil-linlSLhcigj.html |archive-date=11 September 2012 |access-date=10 August 2022 |website=Sify}} The final portions of the film were canned in Paris, France and in Valsassina and Lecco, Italy in February 2012 where scenes featuring Ajmal and Italian model Alice Tantardini were canned.{{Cite news |last=TON |date=2012-03-22 |title=Ajmal goes globetrotting! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Ajmal-goes-globetrotting/articleshow/12365270.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707032116/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-22/news-interviews/31224600_1_ajmal-tamil-films-ooty |archive-date=2012-07-07 |access-date=2012-08-04 |work=The Times of India}}{{Cite web |title=Google Translate |url=http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dalice%2Bkaruppampatti%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1C1CHFX_en-GBGB447GB447%26prmd%3Dimvns&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=it&u=http://www.cineturismo.it/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D298%26Itemid%3D271&usg=ALkJrhimMvPZUHhjAskp-brNQl11vI6yuQ |access-date=2012-08-04 |publisher=Translate.googleusercontent.com}} In April 2012, it was announced that Bappi Lahiri would sing a song for the film titled "Naughty Raja Raja" and the team audaciously attempted to bring in international pop star Katy Perry to feature in the music video.{{Cite web |date=2012-04-14 |title=Katy Perry To Dance With Ajmal? |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-02/ajmal-katy-perry-14-04-12.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416134510/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-02/ajmal-katy-perry-14-04-12.html |archive-date=16 April 2012 |access-date=2012-08-04 |website=Behindwoods.com}}{{Cite web |date=2012-04-12 |title=Bappi Lahiri Sings In Tamil |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-02/bappi-lahiri-karuppampatti-12-04-12.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503103933/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-02/bappi-lahiri-karuppampatti-12-04-12.html |archive-date=3 May 2012 |access-date=2012-08-04 |website=Behindwoods.com}}{{Cite news |last=V Lakshmi |date=2012-05-17 |title=Prabhu to release his film in three languages |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Prabhu-to-release-his-film-in-three-languages/articleshow/13164983.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707103005/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-17/news-interviews/31728696_1_languages-film-katy-perry |archive-date=2012-07-07 |access-date=2012-08-04 |work=The Times of India}} To make most of use of Ajmal's popularity in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam film industries, the director confirmed that the film would be dubbed and released in the latter two languages.{{Cite web |title=Ajmal goes mutilingual |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/Ajmal-goes-mutilingual-news-tamil-mfsnssejdee.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520052928/http://www.sify.com/movies/Ajmal-goes-mutilingual-news-tamil-mfsnssejdee.html |archive-date=20 May 2012 |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Sify}} Ajmal also completed his dubbing for the film in French after taking lessons in the language to ensure his voice remains constant in the film.{{Cite news |last=Lakshmi |first=V |date=2012-06-05 |title=Ajmal dubs for film in French |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Ajmal-dubs-for-film-in-French/articleshow/13816831.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103101248/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-05/news-interviews/32032968_1_ajmal-big-screen-film |archive-date=2013-01-03 |access-date=2012-08-04 |work=The Times of India}}

In.com rated the film 2.5 out of 5 and wrote Karuppampatti is a decent attempt and doesn't live up to its expectations because of its half-baked script about portraying family melodrama. Further adding that the screenplay lacked the much needed depth to convey the emotional bonding and the newbie director failed in detailing and his lazy execution only adds to its woes.{{Cite web |last=Vivek Ramz |date=2013-03-23 |title=Movie Review – in.com |url=http://www.in.com/news/entertainment/movie-review-karuppampatti-is-a-decent-attempt-50199282-in-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509192031/http://www.in.com/news/entertainment/movie-review-karuppampatti-is-a-decent-attempt-50199282-in-1.html |archive-date=2013-05-09 |access-date=2013-03-23 |publisher=in.com}} Baradwaj Rangan of the Hindu wrote "Karuppampatti is a rarity in the current Tamil-cinema milieu — it tells us that villagers can be self-centred and intolerant. (In other words, they don’t have to migrate to a big, bad city and then become self-centred and intolerant, their innocence squelched under the callous city-dwellers’ feet.) Rarer still is the (mild) feminist uprising during the climactic stretch."{{Cite news |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |date=23 March 2013 |title=Karuppampatti: Kin deep |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/karuppampatti-kin-deep/article4541626.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213093850/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/karuppampatti-kin-deep/article4541626.ece |archive-date=13 February 2021 |access-date=4 August 2019 |work=The Hindu}}

The soundtrack of the film was composed by Kannan, while lyrics were written by Kabilan. The songs released on 3 July 2012.

{{track listing

| headline = Track-list

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 20:10

| title1 = Adaleru Kaalaiyelam

| extra1 = Mukesh Mohamed

| length1 = 3:42

| title2 = Disco Naughty Naughty Raja

| extra2 = Bappi Lahiri

| length2 = 4:08

| title3 = Hai Papapa

| extra3 = Karthik, Sayanora

| length3 = 2:49

| title4 = Kannamma Chinna Ponnamma

| extra4 = Suchitra, Priya, Thilaka, Anitha

| length4 = 0:57

| title5 = Karupampatti Karupampatti

| extra5 = Naveen, Mukesh Mohamed, Suchitra

| length5 = 4:02

| title6 = Oh Indira

| extra6 = Karthik, Sayanora

| length6 = 4:32

}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title}}
• {{official website|http://karuppampatti-movie.com//}}

Category:2010s Indian films

Category:2010s Tamil-language films

Category:2013 directorial debut films

Category:2013 films

Category:Films shot in Paris

Category:Tamil-language Indian films