Sridevi and Rajinikanth in Kavikkuyil (1977)

Released on 29 July 1977, Tamil film Kavikkuyil was directed by Devaraj Mohan, with a lead cast of Sivakumar, Sridevi and Rajinikanth, and music by Ilaiyaraja.

Directed by the duo Devaraj–Mohan, Kavikkuyil (1977) is a tragic romantic drama set in a rural backdrop. The narrative centers on Gopal (Sivakumar), a musically gifted flautist, and Radha (Sridevi), a village girl whose brother is Murugan (Rajinikanth). After Gopal and Radha fall in love and share an intimate bond, Gopal suffers a severe accident on a stormy night that leaves him with amnesia. Left unwed, pregnant, and facing societal stigma, Radha must navigate immense grief while waiting for Gopal to regain his past memories. 

Sridevi plays Radha, a vulnerable yet emotionally resilient young woman. Just 13 years old during filming, she took on a mature, demanding character forced to endure societal pressure, class divide, and abandonment after discovering her pregnancy while her lover fails to recognize her. Her performance anchors the emotional core of the film, particularly in scenes where she confronts Gopal’s memory loss and fights to preserve her self-respect.

Though Kavikkuyil underperformed at the box office, Sridevi’s performance received strong critical appreciation. Coming right on the heels of her breakthrough adult leading role in Moondru Mudichu (1976), critics and audiences lauded her ability to portray deep sorrow, maternal anxiety, and quiet dignity well beyond her age. Her expressive eyes and subtle facial expressions brought intense pathos to Ilaiyaraaja's soundtrack—especially during emotional renditions of iconic tracks like "Kuyiley Kavi Kuyiley". 

Her work in Kavikkuyil established her as a remarkably versatile dramatic actor, laying crucial groundwork for her rapid rise to leading stardom in Tamil cinema.