{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Kusthi | image = | caption = | director = Raj Kapoor | producer = M. Gnanasundari | writer = Raj Kapoor | starring = Prabhu <br />Karthik <br />Vadivelu <br />Manya <br />Flora <br />Vijayakumar <br />Radha Ravi | music = D. Imman | cinematography = B. Balamurugan | editing = G. B. Venkatesh | studio = Sundari Films | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2006|06|23}} | runtime = 151 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil | budget = }} '''''Kusthi''''' is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Raj Kapoor, starring Prabhu and Karthik, while Vadivelu, Manya, Flora, Vijayakumar and Radha Ravi play supporting roles. The music is composed by D. Imman.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.starmusiq.fun/movies/kusthi-2006-tamil-movie-songs-1722-starmusiq-download.html |title=Kusthi (2006) Tamil Movie mp3 Songs Download - Music by D.Imman - StarMusiQ.Com |access-date=16 October 2018 |archive-date=17 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017043051/https://www.starmusiq.fun/movies/kusthi-2006-tamil-movie-songs-1722-starmusiq-download.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The film released on 23 June 2006 and was an average hit at the box office.
==Plot==
The movie begins with Jeeva (Prabhu), running away from his village to Chennai fearing a possible marriage with the daughter of a local chieftain (Radha Ravi), arranged by his father. He joins his old-friend Velu (Vadivelu), who runs an eatery in the city. Meanwhile, he saves a youth (Mahanadi Shankar), a henchman of a local goon Singam (Karthik) from some gangsters. Thus he gets the acquaintance of Singam. Meanwhile, Singam come across Abi (Flora), a research scholar and Jeeva meets Divya (Manya). Both fall in love with them. Enters another goon (Raj Kapoor), who leaves his stolen money with Singam. He runs behind Singam to get the money back.
Meanwhile, Radharavi and his men come down to Chennai in search of Jeeva. Following a mishap, Jeeva admits Singam and an old woman Lakshmi (Latha) in a hospital. Mistaking Jeeva to be their missing grandson, father of Latha (Vijayakumar) and his relatives take him to Kodaikanal. Fearing the Nattamai, Jeeva decides to go to Kodaikanal and acts as their grandson.
Comes Singam with a plan to murder Vijayakumar. However he manages to win the heart of the family members and they arrange for Jeeva and Singam's wedding with Vijayakumar's grand daughters Abi and Divya. Raj Kapoor and Radharavi enter the scene and all confusion begins. The rest is all but how both Jeeva and Singam succeed in walking away with Abi and Divya.
==Cast== {{Cast listing| * Prabhu as Jeeva * Karthik as Singam * Vadivelu as Velu * Manya as Divya * Flora as Abi * Vijayakumar as Abi & Divya's grandfather * Radha Ravi as Aruval Rathnam Nattamai Chieftain * Y. G. Mahendran as Vayram * Ilavarasu as Abi's father * Raj Kapoor * Chitra Lakshmanan * Manobala * T. P. Gajendran * Madhan Bob * Chitti Babu * Balu Anand * Latha * Sabitha Anand * Aarthi as Sulukku Sundari * Vijayan * Besant Ravi * Mahanadi Shankar * Thalapathi Dinesh * Crane Manohar * R. S. Shivaji * Scissor Manohar * Kovai Senthil }}
==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album | name = Kusthi | type = Soundtrack | artist = D. Imman | cover = | alt = | released = 2006 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = | language = Tamil | label = | producer = | prev_title = Kalinga | prev_year = 2006 | next_title = Vathiyar | next_year = 2006 }}
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s) | headline = Track listing | total_length = 21:29 | all_writing = | all_lyrics = | all_music = D. Imman<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.starmusiq.com/tamil_movie_songs_listen_download.asp?MovieId=1722 |title=Kusthi Tamil Movie High Quality mp3 Songs Listen and Download Music by D.Imman StarMusiQ.com |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=11 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511053418/http://www.starmusiq.com/tamil_movie_songs_listen_download.asp?MovieId=1722 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| title1 = Kalavani Kalavanipayale | lyrics1 = Raj Kapoor | extra1 = Anuradha Sriram, D. Imman | length1 = 04:01
| title2 = Kokkarakko | lyrics2 = Palani Bharathi | extra2 = Karthik | length2 = 04:23
| title3 = Masala Maharani | lyrics3 = P. Vijay | extra3 = Priyadarshini, Ranjith | length3 = 04:17
| title4 =Roottu Pudichom | lyrics4 = P. Vijay | extra4 = Tippu, Srinivas | length4 = 04:13
| title5 = Thakadheem | lyrics5 = Snehan | extra5 = Harish Raghavendra, D. Imman, Lavanya | length5 = 04:35
}}
==Critical reception== S. Sudha of ''Rediff.com'' opined that "Coming from a director of B grade films and with out-of-work actors, the film is surprisingly refreshing. A bit of trimming would have helped to quicken the pace, though".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/26gusthi.htm|title=Gusthi: Surprisingly fun|author=S. Sudha|date=26 June 2006|work=Rediff.com}}</ref> ''Sify'' wrote "The weakest link in Kusthi is its story which has been ripped off a Malayalam film in the first half and a Telugu film in the latter half! It is nothing but a mish-mash of mistaken identities, slapstick comedy, a bit of glamour, a comic villain, loving grandfather, mother sentiments and lots of crass jokes".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kusthi-review-tamil-pclvXdddideid.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305001746/http://www.sify.com/movies/kusthi-review-tamil-pclvXdddideid.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016|title = Kusthi|website=Sify}}</ref> Malathi Rangarajan of ''The Hindu'' wrote "Comparisons are odious all right, but even as you watch `Gusthi,' you cannot but think of the imposing parts Prabhu and Karthik portrayed together in `Agni Nakshatram' and heave a sigh of sadness at their present plight ... and yours too. Because the screenplay wipes out chances of what could have been a fairly enjoyable fare".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/caught-in-a-sea-of-characters-gusthi/article3218615.ece | title=Caught in a sea of characters -- Gusthi | newspaper=The Hindu | date=29 June 2006|first=Malathi|last=Rangarajan|access-date=9 January 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505040420/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/caught-in-a-sea-of-characters-gusthi/article3218615.ece|archive-date=5 May 2022 }}</ref> ''Indiaglitz'' wrote ""The movie unfortunately lacks coherence. Almost all the characters speak lengthy dialogues. Imman's music is a big letdown. Had the movie been released almost an year ago, it could have made some difference".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/kusthi-tamil-movie-review-7244.html|title = Kusthi review. Kusthi Tamil movie review, story, rating|website=Indiaglitz.com}}</ref> ''Cinesouth'' wrote one can appreciate Raj Kapoor for making a comedy film in the midst of action films.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Tamil Cinema Review - Kusti, Prabhu, Karthik, Manya, Flora | url=http://www.tamil.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/kusti.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720222048/http://www.tamil.cinesouth.com/scopes/reviews/new/kusti.shtml | archive-date=2006-07-20 |language=ta | access-date=2025-11-26|website=Cinesouth}}</ref> Malini Mannath of ''Chennai Online'' wrote "It has a huge star cast, playing characters with various hues who bungle through the story, leading to goof-ups and mix-ups. It may not be the best of comedies, but at least it doesn't bore you, and it keeps the pace moving, generating laughs now and then".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/2006/06kusthi.asp|website=Chennai Online|access-date=9 January 2026|date=4 July 2006|title=Kusthi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715160550/http://chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/2006/06kusthi.asp|archive-date=15 July 2006}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:2006 films Category:2006 Tamil-language films Category:2006 Indian films Category:Indian comedy films Category:Films directed by Raj Kapoor (Tamil director) Category:Tamil-language Indian films