Kalavani (2010)

Arikki is the despair of his village: lazy, cocky and always in trouble, kept afloat only by his devoted mother while his father works abroad. He falls for Mahesh, a schoolgirl from the neighbouring village, whose family has a long-running feud with his own people, and courting her becomes a campaign in itself. Kalavani ("rascal") was the debut of director A. Sarkunam and is loved for its affectionate, authentic picture of village life in the Thanjavur region, its banter, festivals and petty rivalries. Saranya Ponvannan's doting mother is a highlight, and the film made stars of Vimal and Oviya. It was a sleeper hit and was followed by Kalavani 2 in 2019.