On recollecting the story to write the review, the tears drop on to the writing pad, clearly indicating how moving the film is.

The families of the 2 brothers have split like the earth after an earthquake. The heirs of elder brother Virumandi (GM Kumar) show off their bravado with bitter enmity to the core. In contrast, the heirs of younger brother Mayandi (Manivannan) are always full of affection.

Virumandi's family picks up quarrels on the slightest pretexts and blows things out of proportion and as their animosity grows, Mayandi suddenly passes away. His 3elder sons are married. The youngest Tarun Gopi studies to be an engineer as per his father's wish.

After his father's death, the 3 sisters-in-law break up the family. Tarun Gopi is left floundering in loneliness. His only solace now and then is his dear Poonkodi but even she is one day made the bride of another man and Tarun Gopi's heart breaks.

Mayandi always wanted his children to be happy and amiable till the end. Do his wishes come true or not, form the rest of the story.

Manivannan as Mayandi is a father whose heart if full of affection as well as purity. Even though he dies half way through the film, his character remains with us in the background.

Manivannan's 4 sons are played by Ponvannan, Seeman, Jagannath and Tarun Gopi and each have their moments to display their talents and earn applause. That's because they show no artificiality in their portrayals. The 3 sisters-in-law also do well as meddlesome ladies who all the time seek to run separate households.

At one time, the eldest sis-in-law insults her brother-in-law just for giving some food and when he happens to save her life, her change of heart makes for some poetic moments.

Tarun Gopi attends the ear piercing ceremony of his elder sister's child and his brother-in-law Raj Kapoor throws him out calling him a good for nothing. Seeing her younger brother gift Rs.50,000 but leaving without even having any food, his sister runs after him falling on the tar road and crying that he's not her younger brother but like a father.
Only the hard hearted would fail to weep along with her.

The 3 sons of Virumandi are all the time at their haughtiest. It is only the slightly imbalanced Singampuli, who loiters around soulfully and gives us some soothing balm.
While his elder brothers are busy fighting with the uncle's sons, he just sucks on a stick ice with a bored look that has the audience in splits. The comedy that arises out of his naïve question, "How is a child born" is quite good to give him the comedian of the film title.

Tarun Gopi's character forms the foundation of the story. After his father's demise, he is beset with loneliness, he is insulted and rejected and his portrayal of such a tormented heart has been quite successfully portrayed by him to 90% accuracy. If he had made the other 10% more effort, it would have been that much more realistic.  The romantic episodes with Poonkodi are enjoyable.

Seeman has the appropriate character of fighting for the rights of workers. Seeman sings the song "Pesaama pesaama irundhu kozhi kunjugalai thookudhadaa parundhu" and the veins stand out in the power of the lyrics.

When the elder brothers partake of the food cooked by the younger brother, one can almost taste the fragrance of the fish stew.

All the songs by Sabesh-Murali are good. Every time the old song "muthu muthaaga…" is featured, it is difficult to dam the overflowing tears. In the climax scene, Tarun Gopi holds uncle Virumandi's feet and cries for peace. The tears that GM Kumar sheds then are a victory not only for Mayandi's family but for director Rasu Madhuravan.

'Mayandi Kudumbathar' is a very good family.