Karuppu Durai, an 80-year-old man, bedridden for the past three months in a coma, suddenly wakes up one fine day to overhear his family planning to kill him by performing an ancient euthanasia or thalaikoothal ritual. Hurt, heartbroken, and afraid, Karuppu Durai runs away from the only home he has ever known. On an aimless path with nowhere to go, he accidentally meets a 8-year-old orphan named Kutty. Kutty is everything that Karuppu Durai is not: smart, spunky and full of life. The fiercely independent Kutty encourages KD to chalk out a bucket list and start living for himself. Thus begins an eventful road trip of this unlikely pair - an old man running away from his family and a young boy who never had one. The duo set out to complete KD's bucket list during which a strong bond forms between the two. Eventually, Kutty gets an offer to get admitted in a school in Chennai, and KD, although initially hesitant to let him, decides that Kutty should go to Chennai to lead a good life. KD then returns to his home, and signs the document handing over the property to his sons. The morning before KD's family decides to kill him by performing euthanasia, KD leaves his family for good.
Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards – was the Closing film
Tasveer South Asian Film Festival
Soundtrack
wrote and composed music for this film, consisting of 3 songs apart from the OST. The album & OST received positive reviews from critics with Times of India reviewing the music as "jaunty and moving in the right places, do the magic" and Firstpost said "With a bubbly score that feels like childlike mischief made tangible" amongst others.
Critical Response
KD Karuppu Durai opened to strong critical acclaim with Times of India, The New Indian Express, The Indian Express and several other critics giving 4/5, while popular Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan gave a very positive review and 48 marks for the movie. Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "One part of why KD is so entertaining is the chemistry between the old man and the young boy — the other part is that their characters have been sketched out so well. Mu Ramaswamy plays Karuppudurai movingly, but with a twinkle in the eye". Jigar Ganatra of Mumbai Live gave the film 4.5 stars and wrote "Madhumita's vision to share a message thereby connecting emotionally with the audience comes across thoroughly in this project. KD aka Karuppudurai is more like embarking on a journey only two observe the lives of two beautiful souls who have no other intention but to keep each other happy and entertained. This film, as expected, fills your heart with various emotions."
