Still from the film Kasethan Kadavulada (1972) directed by Chitralaya Gopu. Actors Lakshmi, Thengai Srinivasan, Muthuraman and Srikanth can be seen from left to right in the frame.

Kasethan Kadavulada (1972) was the first directorial venture by Chitralaya Gopu, even though he had been writing scripts since 1959. He was involved with many comic films by his childhood friend C.V. Sridhar, including Kalyana Parisu which was the duo’s debut film. The famous ‘Thangavelu comedy’ in the film is still hailed as some of the best in Tamil cinema by movie buffs. In fact, the comedy track by Thangavelu and his wife M. Saroja of the movie was released in separate audio cassettes and vinyl records and sold successfully. The duo went on to be associated with many more famous films like Nanjil Oru Aalayam, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Kalaikovil, Nenjirukkum Varai, Ooty varai Uravu and Utharavindri Ulle Vaa – the majority of them being superhits.