Synopsis

Avvai Shanmugi is a 1996 Tamil comedy film inspired by the English-language film Mrs Doubtfire starring Robin Williams. It was directed by K. S. Ravikumar and written by Crazy Mohan. The film features Kamal Haasan in the lead role role with Meena, Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Heera, Manivannan and Nassar.

Plot: The film starts in a courtroom where a woman Janaki (Meena) is fighting for divorce from her husband Pandian (Kamal Haasan). She offers various reasons for wanting a divorce. She has married Pandian against the wishes of her rich father Vishwanathan Iyer (Gemini Ganesan). But she isn't able to come to terms with living in Pandian's small house without amenities. Pandian is an assistant dance director with a modest income and is not able to spend much time with the family. All this accumulates and Janaki decides to apply for divorce, which is granted. The court orders that Pandian can meet his daughter Barathi, once a week and this is his only solace. His daughter, however, loves him a lot and doesn't like the arrangement. Basha (Nassar), Pandian's Muslim friend who works in a hotel as a chef, advises him to steal his daughter from Janaki. Pandian goes about trying to do as his friend suggests. In doing so, he is discovered; and now he cannot meet her at all. Then Pandian finds out that Vishwanathan Iyer has advertised for a woman to look after his granddaughter. Joseph (Nagesh) is a makeup man in films. In conversation with him, Pandian gets the idea of playing an old woman, so that he can be with his child and ex-wife without knowing them. Joseph agrees to this plan and the transformation is done from Pandian to "Avvai Shanmugi"-- (Kamal Haasan) a dignified, elderly Iyer woman. She applies for the job, but is rejected as another woman had been chosen. When Barathi is hurt shooting fireworks & catches on fire, Shanmugi throws her into a pond against the wishes of the household, who believe that wrapping in woolens is the proper way to put out a fire. When a doctor comes to take a look at Barathi's wound, he praises Shanmugi for administering the right treatment, which causes the family to dismiss the other girl and hire Shanmugi. When Barathi gets to properly meet Shanmugi, she recognizes her as Pandian almost immediately, as she could recognize her father's smell. Pandian begs her not to reveal his secret, to which she happily agrees.

Star Cast

Kamal Haasan,Nassar,Meena

Release Date

10-11-1996