Kovil (film)

{{More plot|date=August 2022}}

Puliyankulam and Veppankulam are nearby villages with an enmity that has lasted for a number of generations. Periyasamy is a Hindu from Puliyankulam and is widely respected by the villagers. Michael Soosai is a devout Protestant from Veppankulam and does not trust other religions. Sakthivel is Periyasamy's son, who studies in a college in Nagercoil. Angel is Michael's daughter, who also attends the same college. Sakthivel and Angel meet in college and fall in love. Angel is afraid that her father will never allow her to marry a Hindu, especially from the rival village. Michael and Periyasamy learn about the relationship between Sakthivel and Angel. Michael gets enraged and scolds his daughter, while Periyasamy agrees for the wedding. Michael does not want an inter-religion marriage and decides to force his daughter to become a nun. Periyasamy arrives and tells the truth in front of everyone that Angel Devi is Michael Susai's adopted daughter whose real name is Fathima Begum was born to Muslim parents Jaffer Hussain and Ayesha Beevi. Michael realises his mistake and agrees for the wedding.

{{cast listing|

• Silambarasan as Shakthivel
• Rajkiran as Periyasamy
• Sonia Agarwal as Fathima Begum / Angel Devi
• Nassar as Michael Susai, Angel Devi's adoptive father
• Vadivelu as 'Bullet' Pandi, Shakthivel's younger paternal uncle
• Rekha as Mary, Angel Devi's adoptive mother
• Charle as Boothapandi
• Sathyan as Murugan, Shakthivel's friend
• Ganeshkar as Senthil, Shakthivel's friend
• Rajesh as Church Father Anthony James
• S. N. Lakshmi as Kamatchi, Shakthivel's grandmother
• Singamuthu as Astrologer Shanmugam
• Sathya Rangavasan as Sivagami, Shakthivel's mother
• Akash as Joseph, Angel Devi's adoptive cousin
• Bava Lakshmanan as Cycle Susai
• S. Ramana Girivasan as Namasivayam, Police Control Room Officer
• Paravai Muniyamma (special appearance in the song "Kadhal Panna")

}}

Filming was held in locations including Tenkasi, Coutralam, Nagercoil and Munnar, and was completed within 59 days and two duet songs were shot at Thirunelveli.{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=9 December 2003 |title='Kovil' |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/location/kovil.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040426122515/http://www.chennaionline.com/location/kovil.asp |archive-date=26 April 2004 |access-date=29 April 2013 |website=Chennai Online}}{{cite web |date=9 October 2003 |title=Devotees to visit Kovil during December! |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/09102003-3.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212001850/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/09102003-3.shtml |archive-date=12 December 2003 |access-date=15 November 2024 |website=Cinesouth}}

The soundtrack was composed by Harris Jayaraj. All lyrics were written by Snehan, except for "Collegikku" (Na. Muthukumar).{{Cite web |title=Kovil Tamil Film Audio CD by Harris Jayaraj |url=https://mossymart.com/product/kovil-tamil-film-audio-cd-by-harris-jayaraj/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115081915/https://mossymart.com/product/kovil-tamil-film-audio-cd-by-harris-jayaraj/ |archive-date=15 January 2023 |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=Mossymart}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| headline = Track listing{{Cite web |date=1 January 2003 |title=Kovil |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/kovil/NZE6Eq75gvE_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523231642/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/kovil/NZE6Eq75gvE_ |archive-date=23 May 2022 |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=JioSaavn}}

| total_length = 27:37

| title1 = Arali Vidhaiyil

| extra1 = Palakkad Sreeram

| lyrics1 = Snehan

| length1 = 3:06

| title2 = Collegikku

| extra2 = Karthik

| lyrics2 = Na. Muthukumar

| length2 = 5:16

| title3 = Kadhal Panna

| extra3 = Kovai Kamala, Silambarasan, Vadivelu, Tippu

| lyrics3 = Snehan

| length3 = 4:33

| title4 = Kokku Meena

| extra4 = Shankar Mahadevan, Srilekha Parthasarathy

| lyrics4 = Snehan

| length4 = 4:37

| title5 = Puyalae Puyalae

| extra5 = Karthik , Mahathi

| lyrics5 = Snehan

| length5 = 4:59

| title6 = Silu Silu

| extra6 = Tippu

| lyrics6 = Snehan

| length6 = 5:06

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| headline = Telugu track listing{{Cite web |title=Rudrudu |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/rudrudu/F65PW5JC6JI_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208104619/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/rudrudu/F65PW5JC6JI_ |archive-date=8 December 2022 |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=JioSaavn}}

| total_length = 31:56

| title1 = Ravika Leni

| extra1 = Ranjith, Sumangali

| lyrics1 = Sahithi

| length1 = 4:48

| title2 = Kasi Kasiga

| note2 = Happy Version

| extra2 = Harish Raghavendra

| lyrics2 = Sahithi

| length2 = 5:05

| title3 = Poovamma

| extra3 = Murali, Sumangali

| lyrics3 = Sahithi

| length3 = 5:00

| title4 = Vishapu Vanilo

| extra4 = Dr. Narayana

| lyrics4 = Sahithi

| length4 = 2:06

| title5 = Gunde Ninda Dhairyam

| extra5 = Murali, Malgudi Subha

| lyrics5 = Ponduri

| length5 = 4:33

| title6 = Kasi Kasiga

| note6 = Sad Version

| extra6 = Harish Raghavendra

| lyrics6 = Sahithi

| length6 = 5:04

| title7 = Collegeki Podam

| extra7 = Ranjith

| lyrics7 = Ponduri

| length7 = 5:20

}}

Kovil was released on 10 January 2004.{{Cite web |date=12 January 2004 |title=Pongal Attractions |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/pongal-attractions-news-tamil-kkfvNUhhgiesi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129122414/http://www.sify.com/movies/pongal-attractions-news-tamil-kkfvNUhhgiesi.html |archive-date=29 January 2017 |access-date=24 March 2020 |website=Sify}} Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu praised Silambarasan's performance as being "restrained and mature", but criticised the story for lack of originality.{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=30 January 2004 |title="Kovil" |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/kovil/article28575527.ece |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219213344/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/kovil/article28575527.ece |archive-date=19 December 2019}} Sify reviewed the film more negatively, criticising its similarities to Alaigal Oivathillai (1981) and said, "Anyone who sees the film can find this out and is sure to compare it with the original". The reviewer appreciated Silambarasan because he was lacking "his usual mannerisms and style looks cool and is a relief to watch", although they criticised Aggarwal's performance and Harris Jayaraj's music.{{Cite web |date=12 January 2004 |title=Kovil |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/kovil-review-tamil-pclvyUagdjcca.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129124718/http://www.sify.com/movies/kovil-review-tamil-pclvyUagdjcca.html |archive-date=29 January 2017 |access-date=24 March 2020 |website=Sify}} Visual Dasan of Kalki praised Hari for handling a controversial subject while also appreciating Priyan's cinematography and Harris Jayaraj's music.{{Cite magazine |last=தாசன் |first=விஷுவல் |date=25 January 2004 |title=கோவில் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-01-25/page/n97/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230208083033/https://archive.org/details/kalki2004-01-25/page/n97/mode/2up |archive-date=8 February 2023 |access-date=11 January 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=95 |language=Ta |via=Internet Archive}} Malini Mannath wrote for Chennai Online, "The director's two earlier films Thamizh and Samy reveald him as a maker who thought differently. But this film is a routine, same romance, predictable and a little outdated".{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=17 January 2004 |title=Kovil |url=http://chennaionline.com/moviereviews/tammov323.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040302013347/http://chennaionline.com/moviereviews/tammov323.asp |archive-date=2 March 2004 |access-date=8 February 2023 |website=Chennai Online}} Cinesouth wrote "The screenplay fumbles like the lovers do when they arent able to make the right decision. Unfortunately, the solutions they think up only gets the screenplay into further troubles".{{cite web|url=http://cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/kovil.shtml|website=Cinesouth|access-date=13 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040412194936/http://cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/kovil.shtml|archive-date=12 April 2004|title=Tamil cinema review - Koviel review by Cinesouth}} Deccan Herald wrote "Hari beginning the movie with scene of religious misunderstanding between two sects of people arouses interest. But the screenplay is inconsistent and is predictable".{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb152004/mr3.asp|title=Kovil|first=G. |last=Ulaganathan|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=16 March 2025|date=15 February 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040829133111/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/feb152004/mr3.asp|archive-date=29 August 2004}}

{{reflist}}

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

{{Hari (director)}}

Category:2000s Indian films

Category:2000s Tamil-language films

Category:2004 films

Category:2004 romantic drama films

Category:Films directed by Hari (director)

Category:Films scored by Harris Jayaraj

Category:Films shot in Munnar

Category:Films shot in Tirunelveli

Category:Indian interfaith romance films

Category:Indian romantic drama films

Category:Tamil-language Indian films

Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films