{{for|the 2011 film of a similar name|Kaavalan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = Kaavalkaaran | image = Kaavalkaaran poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = P. Neelakantan | writer = {{plainlist| *Ve. Lakshmanan *R. M. Veerappan }} | producer = R. M. Veerappan | starring = {{plainlist| *M. G. Ramachandran *J. Jayalalithaa }} | cinematography = V. Ramamoorthy | editing = C. P. Jambulingam | music = M. S. Viswanathan | studio = Sathya Movies | released = {{film date|df=y|1967|9|7}} | runtime = 150 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Kaavalkaaran''''' ({{Translation|Protector}}) is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language spy action film, directed by P. Neelakantan and produced and co-written by R. M. Veerappan. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with M. N. Nambiar, S. A. Ashokan, Sivakumar and Nagesh in supporting roles. It was released on 7 September 1967 and became a major success. The film was remade in Hindi as ''Rakhwala'' (1971).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Gayatri |date=1 October 2016 |title=Mere dil ne jo manga mil gaya – Lata – Kalyanji-Anandji – Leena/Dharmendra {{!}} Rakhwala (1971) |url=https://lemonwire.com/2016/10/01/mere-dil-ne-jo-manga-mil-gaya-lata-kalyanji-anandji-leenadharmendra-rakhwala-1971/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117000312/https://lemonwire.com/2016/10/01/mere-dil-ne-jo-manga-mil-gaya-lata-kalyanji-anandji-leenadharmendra-rakhwala-1971/ |archive-date=17 January 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=LemonWire}}</ref>
== Plot == {{more plot|date=May 2022}} Mani, from a modest background, starts working as a driver for the billionaire Maruthachalam. The daughter of this billionaire, Susheela, falls in love with Mani. However, he seems to be very worried. He does not confine himself only to his driver's job. He is upset by the terrible secret that her mother reveals to him about his young brother, Chandran, plus intrigued by the strange behaviour and the actions of his boss, Maruthachalam. Manikkam looks actively for the answers! In spite of the opposition of her father, Susheela marries Manikkam. But does she really know Manikkam? And who is Mani? What does he want?
== Cast == <!-- sorted according to the opening credits --> {{Cast listing| * M. G. Ramachandran as Mani alias Manickam * Jayalalithaa as Susheela * Sivakumar as Chandra (alias Chandran) * Nagesh as Gobi (alias Gobinath) * V. K. Ramasamy as Vaithilingham * Pandari Bai as Karpagam * M. N. Nambiar as Maruthachalam * S. A. Ashokan as Nagu * Usilai Mani as Patient * Karikol Raju as Patient * Kallapetti Singaram as Patient * Ennathe Kannaiah as Doctor * Vijayarani as Gobi's lover * Pusphamala as Pushpa *Rangammal (uncredited role) }}
== Production == Before ''Kaavalkaaran'' began production, Ramachandran's voice had been damaged due to a gunshot to his throat caused by M. R. Radha. Despite this, Ramachandran refused others' suggestion to use a dubbing artiste, and dubbed in his own voice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=19 December 2017 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 41 {{!}} Near Death Experience and its Aftermath |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-41/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224003449/http://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-41/ |archive-date=24 December 2017 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=Ilankai Tamil Sangam}}</ref> The song "Ninaithen Vanthai" has him and Jayalalithaa dressed as Mark Antony and Cleopatra respectively, re-enacting the William Shakespeare play ''Antony and Cleopatra,'' and later ''Layla and Majnun''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Archana |date=18 July 2017 |title=Picture the song: In 'Ninaithen Vandaai', MGR and Jayalalithaa are Antony and Cleopatra |url=https://scroll.in/reel/842991/picture-the-song-in-ninaithen-vandaai-mgr-and-jayalalithaa-are-antony-and-cleopatra |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122143504/https://scroll.in/reel/842991/picture-the-song-in-ninaithen-vandaai-mgr-and-jayalalithaa-are-antony-and-cleopatra |archive-date=22 November 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=Scroll.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Narayanan |first=Sujatha |date=6 December 2016 |title=How Jayalalithaa's onscreen image helped establish her political one: From 'glam doll' to Amma |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/how-jayalalithaas-onscreen-image-helped-establish-her-political-one-from-glam-doll-to-amma-3142094.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212418/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/how-jayalalithaas-onscreen-image-helped-establish-her-political-one-from-glam-doll-to-amma-3142094.html |archive-date=2 June 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=Firstpost}}</ref>
== Soundtrack == The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaavalkaaran (1967) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=t0001337 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104015326/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001337 |archive-date=4 January 2012 |access-date=27 March 2012 |website=Raaga.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kavalkaran ( EP, 45 RPM ) |url=https://avdigital.in/products/kavalkaran-ep-45-rpm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303140431/https://avdigital.in/products/kavalkaran-ep-45-rpm |archive-date=3 March 2022 |access-date=25 May 2022 |website=AVDigital}}</ref>
{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = 19:52 <!-- Automatically generated with User:JPxG/TrackSum.js --> | title1 = Ninaithen Vanthai | extra1 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | lyrics1 = Vaali | length1 = 5:22 | title2 = Mellappo Mellappo | extra2 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela | lyrics2 = Vaali | length2 = 4:02 | title3 = Adangoppuraane | extra3 = T. M. Soundararajan | lyrics3 = Alangudi Somu | length3 = 3:00 | title4 = Kaathu Koduthukettaen | extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan | lyrics4 = Vaali | length4 = 4:23 | title5 = Kattazhagu Thangamagal | extra5 = P. Susheela | lyrics5 = Alangudi Somu | length5 = 3:05 }}
== Release and reception == ''Kaavalkaran'' was released on 7 September 1967.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Table: Chronological List of MGR's Movies released between 1960 and 1967 |url=https://sangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Table-Chronological-List-of-MGR-Movies-released-1960-1967.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616112435/http://sangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Table-Chronological-List-of-MGR-Movies-released-1960-1967.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2016 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=Ilankai Tamil Sangam}}</ref> ''The Indian Express'' wrote that Veerappan and Neelakantan "made the story gripping with well-punctuated romantic, dramatic and fighting scenes."<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 September 1967 |title=Kavalkaran is enjoyable |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19670923&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=The Indian Express |pages=3 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''Kalki'' called the film a flawless, entertaining film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1 October 1967 |title=காவல்காரன் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1967/oct/01-10-1967/p43.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220725041744/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1967/oct/01-10-1967/p43.jpg |archive-date=25 July 2022 |access-date=24 December 2021 |magazine=Kalki |page=43 |language=ta}}</ref> The film became a major success, and Ramachandran considered it his ninth turning point.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=6 June 2015 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 28 {{!}} Heroines and Muses |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-28/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818072711/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-28/ |archive-date=18 August 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |website=Ilankai Tamil Sangam}}</ref> It won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1978 |title=Tamil Nadu State Awards |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXhTAAAAYAAJ&q=Aalayam |access-date=8 January 2024 |magazine=Film World |page=64 |volume=14}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb title}}
{{P. Neelakantan}} {{TamilNaduStateFilmAwardBestFilm}}
Category:1960s spy action films Category:1967 action films Category:1967 films Category:1967 Indian films Category:1967 spy films Category:1967 Tamil-language films Category:Films directed by P. Neelakantan Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan Category:Indian spy action films Category:Intelligence Bureau (India) in fiction Category:Tamil films remade in other languages Category:Tamil-language action films Category:Tamil-language Indian films