Director: Poomani
Cast:Nasser, Radhika, Thalaivasal, Vijay, Charlie, Balasingh, Sonia, Baby Monisha & Master Satyaraj.

Karuvelam PookkalBased on a novel written by a distinguished Tamil writer who has 5 novels and 4 short story collections to his credit, the flim is a realistic and authentic portrayal of the life of the rural poor and is re-created with intense sincerity. The director deliberates on the plight of some poor families, especially their children who get trapped in a horrifying, harsh, cruel and ruthless existence.

Not only well-known artistes like Nasser, Radhika and Thalivasal Vijay have come up with riveting portrayals, but the child artistes, also appear spontaneous. To drive home his point, the director has taken up one particular family consisting of Nallamuthu (Nasser), Vadivu (Radhika), Dhanalakshmi (Sonia), the elder daughter who is a grown up, the second daughter Valli (Baby Monisha) and litle son Raju (Master Satyaraj).

Vadidu is virtually the sole bread-winner of the family doing odd jobs while Nallamuthu is a lazy-bone and a drunkard. Owing to the force of circumstances, Dhanalakshmi takes up a job in a match factory in the neighbourwood. As she begins to bring home some money, Nallamuthu becomes lazier and even refrains from arranging for her marriage.

Dhanalakshmi, sensing her father's indifference and her mother's helpnessness, elopes with a coworker following which things take a dramatic turn which culminates in her committing suicide. Unable to bear the agony, Vadivu too chooses the easy way out.

Result? Valli and Raju begin to work, unmindful of their father who is lost in his own world! The issue of finding a solution to wipe out the miseries of these 2 children caught in the web of the complexity of life, still remains a problem. Poomani is a prestigious addition to the bandwagon of directors who are capable of sketching realistic portraits on the celluloid.
Both NFDC and Doordarshan need to be complimented for backing such a worthwhile project.
Ilayaraja's music is nothing to shout about.