Kolamavu Kokila


Kolamavu Kokila is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language black comedy crime film written and directed by debutant Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Lyca Productions. The film stars Nayanthara in the lead role alongside a supporting cast including Yogi Babu, Saranya Ponvannan, R. S. Shivaji, Charles Vinoth, and Hareesh Peradi. Anirudh Ravichander composes the film's music. The film was released on 17 August 2018 to positive response and become a commercial success.

Plot

The film opens with the killing of a police officer by cocaine mafia lord Bhai and his henchmen. Kokila struggles to find a job to take care of her parents and sister. She stumbles on the cocaine smuggling business of Mohan. When her mother is diagnosed with lung cancer, Kokila is forced to work for Mohan. Her cunning earns her a name in the business. The new inspector Guru is a no-nonsense cop and cracks down on drug dealers. Kokila is almost caught a couple of times but manages to evade the authorities. She convinces Mohan to kill two of his henchmen suspected of leaking information and then decides to quit the business. Mohan seemingly accepts but tries to rape her. She beats him up and tries to flee with her family but is caught by Bobi, who had recruited her initially. He demands that she deliver a one last consignment of 100 kilos to Alphonse. Kokila is forced to accept and enlists the help of her family. Shekhar and Lakshman Kumar join them unaware of their smuggling. She delivers the load, but it is revealed that she switched most of it for salt. She then tricks Bobi to double-cross Bhai and then frames him for swindling Bhai. She has him killed and continues the shipment run. On the way, she is caught by the police, who were Alphonse's men in disguise. She manages to avoid getting raped and kills off her captors with the help of her family. Guru tracks her down and arrests her. Kokila makes a deal with him to nab Bhai and bring the whole drug business down. The plan works out, Bhai is shot dead, and Kokila and her family escape punishment. In the end, the family starts a business of Kolam powder, calling it 'Kokila Kolamavu'.

Cast

; Special appearances in the promotional song "Kabiskabaa CoCo"
In July 2017, Lyca Productions announced that they would be making a film starring Nayanthara in the lead role, which would be directed by Nelson Dilipkumar. Nelson had previously worked as a creative director with the television channel Star Vijay, as well as completing half the shoot of a project titled Vettai Mannan starring Silambarasan, Deeksha Seth and Hansika Motwani, which ran into production trouble. Described as a "dark comedy", the makers held discussions with Saranya Ponvannan and Yogi Babu in July 2017 to cast them in key roles. Anirudh Ravichander was signed up to compose the film's score and soundtrack.
Sivakumar Vijayan the cinematographer of Irudhi Suttru and Iraivi was signed up to do the cinematography for the film.
The shoot began in August 2017, with television anchor Jacqueline joined the cast during the first schedule. As of January 2018, it was revealed that the film was completed barring two more days of shoot.

Soundtrack

Controversy

The song "Kalyana Vayasu" was accused of plagiarising the tunes from Sannan's "Don’t Lie" and Chibz's "Feeling me". To end the allegations, Anirudh tweeted that the beat was used with license from BeatsByMantra.

Release

Production budget of the film was valued at 8 crore. Kolamavu Kokila was released on 17 August 2018.

Box office

The film collected close to in first day and to in second day. The film collected in five days in Tamil Nadu. The film collected in United States, in Canada, in UK, in Australia and in Malaysia. In its first nine days, the film had grossed.

Awards and nominations