Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela 2000
Directed by
Rama Narayanan
Made by
Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Parvathi is a wealthy and arrogant matriarch who runs a restaurant in Chennai, living with her three sons — Kandha, Kadamba, and Kathirvela — and a daughter, Mallika, who is married to Vadivelan, a barber. Parvathi disowns Mallika.
Her son-in-law’s act of defiance sparks a plan. [Vadivelan] decides to teach Parvathi a lesson and discovers that Parvathi’s three sons are in love with girls from economically backward communities. He decides to help them marry these women against his mother-in-law’s wishes, hoping to reveal her true nature and the consequences of her controlling ways.
To fuel the plan, Kandha is married to Rupini, Kadamba to Rohini, and Kathirvela to Ragini. Parvathi had originally planned to secure lavish dowry by marrying her sons to a rich London family, and she despises her daughters-in-law for being poor. This fuels her motivation to drive a wedge between the couples. She stages a careful, staged display of affection toward the daughters-in-law to lure them into staying away from their husbands and even brings in a new maid to sow fear about imagined affairs, suggesting that the husbands might be cheating.
Parvathi’s scheme appears to work at first, and the daughters-in-law leave the family home after misunderstandings with their husbands. She presses forward, pushing her sons toward divorce and re-marriage to match her own desires. But the maid—hired by Parvathi—turns the tables, threatening to reveal the truth and demanding Rs. 5 crores to stay silent. Parvathi is kidnapped by the maid and her men, leaving the family in turmoil.
The rescue arrives when her sons, along with their wives, come to Parvathi’s aid. The dramatic intervention forces Parvathi to confront the reality of her daughters-in-law and the strength of their bonds. With a new understanding, she begins to see beyond money and status, recognizing the value of the women in her life. In a final reversal of her earlier stance, Parvathi accepts her daughters-in-law and also reconciles with her daughter Mallika and with Vadivelan, choosing family over pride.
Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Timeline
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Parvathi's wealth and family control
Parvathi is rich and arrogant, using her wealth to control the family. She runs a restaurant in Chennai with her three sons and disowns her daughter Mallika after Mallika marries Vadivelan. This sets the tone for her domineering attitude toward the whole family.
Vadivelan's plan to teach a lesson
Vadivelan, Mallika's husband, decides to teach Parvathi a lesson. He realizes his brothers love women from economically backward communities and hatches a plan to get them married to such women against Parvathi's wishes. The plan aims to challenge Parvathi's dowry-driven mindset.
Parvathi's London dowry scheme
Parvathi schemes to marry her sons to a rich family from London to secure a hefty dowry. She despises any daughter-in-law who is poor. Her obsession with wealth drives her to manipulate the future of her sons' marriages.
Kandha's wedding to Rupini
Kandha marries Rupini, beginning the trio of marriages that defy Parvathi's expectations. The union challenges Parvathi's control over the household. The newlyweds start their life together with the undercurrent of Parvathi's disapproval.
Kadamba's wedding to Rohini
Kadamba weds Rohini, further testing Parvathi's plans and patience. The bond between the brothers and their wives strengthens, much to Parvathi's growing frustration. The family dynamic shifts as the in-laws integrate.
Kathirvela's wedding to Ragini
Kathirvela marries Ragini, completing the set of marriages that challenge Parvathi's ambitions. The three couples begin to support each other, undermining Parvathi's attempt to divide them. Parvathi's grip on the family weakens as loyalty to the wives grows.
Parvathi stages a drama to separate wives
Parvathi pretends to be affectionate toward her daughters-in-law while secretly steering them away from their husbands. She brings in a new maid and sows fear of alleged illegitimate affairs. The plan aims to create rifts within the family and erode trust.
Daughters-in-law leave the home
The manipulated drama leads the daughters-in-law to leave the family home after misunderstandings with their husbands. Parvathi's scheme appears to be succeeding as the wives seek independence. The house grows quiet as the family splits apart.
Parvathi pushes for divorce
Parvathi doubles down on her plan by trying to persuade her sons to divorce their wives and marry her chosen matches. She believes that breaking the couples apart will restore her control and secure the dowries she desires. Her ruthlessness becomes more evident.
The maid's threat to Parvathi
The maid, installed by Parvathi, suddenly demands 5 crores to keep the truth hidden. She wields leverage earned from the fear she instilled in the household. Parvathi realizes the depth of danger her schemes have created.
Parvathi is kidnapped
The maid and her men kidnap Parvathi, aiming to coerce her into complying with their demands. The abduction throws the family into chaos and heightens the stakes of the conspiracy. The brothers and their wives soon mobilize to respond to the crisis.
Rescue and realization
The three brothers and their wives rescue Parvathi, breaking the criminal hold over her. In the aftermath, Parvathi sees the true loyalty and character of her daughters-in-law. She recognizes the mistakes of her earlier judgments and begins to reassess her stance.
Reconciliation and acceptance
Parvathi forgives and accepts her daughter Mallika and Vadivelan, as well as her daughters-in-law. She embraces the unity of the family and abandons her old prejudices. The family reconciles, ending the drama with a restored bond and mutual respect.
Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Characters
Explore all characters from Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Kandha (Prabhu)
Kandha is one of Parvathi's three obedient sons who runs a Chennai restaurant with his brothers. He is loyal to his wife Rupini and resistant to his mother's attempts to control his personal life, embodying the tension between familial duty and romantic devotion.
Kadamba (S.Ve. Sekar)
Kadamba is another son who supports his wife and shares his brothers' dedication to family duties. He represents a traditional, compliant son who values harmony at home and adheres to his mother's plans only to a point.
Kathirvela (Vivek)
Kathirvela is the third son, married to Ragini, and part of the cooperative, family-first unit. He, too, wrestles with his mother's ambitions and supports his wife, reflecting the film's focus on spousal solidarity.
Parvathi Amma (Latha Sethupathi)
Parvathi is a rich, arrogant matriarch who directs the family’s fortunes and relationships. She schemes to use wealth and status to control her sons’ marriages and disownes her daughter, showcasing ruthless maternal power.
Mallika (Bhuvaneswari)
Mallika is Parvathi's daughter, married to Vadivelan. Her position in the family becomes central to Parvathi’s plan, as she and the other daughters-in-law navigate the tensions caused by the mother’s manipulation.
Rupini (Roja Selvamani)
Rupini is Kandha’s wife, a woman from an economically backward community who stands with her husband against her mother-in-law’s schemes. She represents the voice of loyalty and love within a class-stratified marriage.
Rohini (Nirosha)
Rohini is Kadamba’s wife, one of the daughters-in-law who navigates the emotional turmoil caused by Parvathi’s manipulations while maintaining her dignity and support for her husband.
Ragini (Kovai Sarala)
Ragini is Kathirvela’s wife who, along with the other daughters-in-law, faces the drama instigated by Parvathi. She embodies resilience and solidarity with her husband.
Vadivelan (Vadivelu)
Vadivelan is the barber who marries Mallika. He hatches a plan to provoke Parvathi into accepting her daughters- and sons-in-law, and ultimately helps trigger the family’s resolution.
Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Settings
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Location
Chennai, London
Set mainly in Chennai, the story follows a family running a restaurant in a bustling urban space. The city backdrop reflects a middle-class Indian milieu where wealth and status shape relationships. A subplot moves to London, representing Parvathi's plan to marry off her sons to a rich family abroad to secure a dowry. The contrast between Chennai's local life and the foreign allure underscores the class tensions at the heart of the drama.
Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Themes
Discover the main themes in Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Family loyalties
The film centers on a matriarch wielding power over her sons, testing how far family bonds can bend under wealth and status. The sons remain devoted to their wives, illustrating the pull between filial duty and personal happiness. The drama explores how loyalty and affection survive orchestrated manipulations and misunderstandings. Ultimately, family unity drives the resolution as secrets are exposed and forgiveness is offered.
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Class and dowry
Parvathi's dream of a wealthy London alliance exposes the social class divide at play. The daughters-in-law from an economically backward background challenge the caste-like expectations embedded in marriage. Dowry money becomes a procedural lever that drives the plot and creates tension within the family. The narrative critiques how wealth can corrupt relationships and conspire to separate loved ones.
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Deception and revelation
Parvathi stages a drama to drive a wedge between her sons and their wives, manipulating perceptions and fueling mistrust. The maid's ominous threat adds a layer of coercion and danger. The plan collapses when truth surfaces, revealing the true nature of each character. The arc emphasizes how deception wounds trust but can also pave the way for truth and reconciliation.
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Forgiveness and acceptance
Facing the consequences of manipulation, Parvathi eventually sees the strength and loyalty of her daughters-in-law. The family comes together to rescue Parvathi and acknowledge the worth of all her children and their spouses. The film closes with a reconciled household, where affections and social barriers soften through empathy. Acceptance replaces pride, allowing old wounds to heal.
Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In bustling Chennai, an ambitious matriarch runs a popular restaurant that doubles as the heart of her sprawling household. Parvathi commands the space with iron resolve, surrounding herself with her three sons—Kandha, Kadamba and Kathirvela—and her only daughter, Mallika. The family’s daily rhythm is a mix of clattering kitchenware, lively conversation, and the unspoken weight of expectations that ripple through every corner of the home.
Parvathi’s worldview is firmly rooted in the belief that financial security is the cornerstone of a prosperous future. When Mallika chooses to marry Vadivelan, a humble barber, her mother’s disapproval erupts into a stark disowning, underscoring a fierce pride that borders on obsession. Determined to safeguard the family’s legacy, Parvathi meticulously arranges high‑profile matches for her sons, convinced that wealth‑laden alliances will cement the family’s standing for generations.
Yet the sons follow the pull of their own hearts, each drawn to women whose lives are grounded in modest means rather than opulent promises. Their quiet, steadfast romances quietly challenge the grand designs Parvathi has laid out, creating a subtle but powerful clash between tradition and personal desire. The household, once a harmonious blend of business and family, begins to feel the tremors of divergent aspirations, each interaction tinged with a mix of affection, defiance, and unspoken tension.
The film unfolds with a warm, comedic drama that captures the everyday hustle of a restaurant‑run household while probing deeper questions of pride, belonging, and the true value of family. As loyalties are tested and old convictions wobble, the audience is invited to watch a colorful tableau of characters navigating love, ambition, and the ever‑present allure of a life lived on one’s own terms.
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