"Chandramukhi" movie of 2005, starred superstar Rajinikanth in the lead role and directed by P. Vasu, was one of the most successful horror films of the Indian film industry. The star cast of this Tamil film also includes Jyothika Saravanan, Prabhu Ganesan, Nayantara and Vineeth. The music for the film was provided by Vidyasagar. Chandramukhi was one of the top grossers in the history of Tamil cinema. It is also hailed as the comeback film of Rajnikanth. "Chandramukhi" was released on 14th April 2005. "Chandramukhi" was released in 37 theatres in Malaysia, 15 in Europe, 9 in Sri Lanka, 7 in the United States, 4 each in Canada and the Persian Gulf countries and 2 each in Australia and Singapore.

Plot of Chandramukhi
The plot of Chandramukhi revolves around an Indian psychiatrist who is settled in America. Saravanan (Rajnikanth) returns to India and goes to meet his friend Senthilnathan (Prabhu Ganesan) and his wife Ganga (Jyothika Saravanan). The first hint of danger is presented when it is revealed that his family had bought the Vettayapuram Palace. But the local people are of the opinion that the palace is haunted. However Saravanan comes to know about the truth from the temple priest.

The temple priest narrated to Saravanan the tale behind the haunted palace. Once upon a time the palace was occupied by King Vettayan. A trip to Andhra Pradesh provided him an opportunity to meet Chandramukhi. The king was smitten by just one look at her. He wanted to bring her back with him. But Chandramukhi was already in love with someone. It was Gunasekaran, a dancer. However on the king`s insistence she was compelled to return with him to the Vettayapuram Palace. Chandramukhi was smart enough to arrange to make living arrangements for Gunasekaran in a house near the palace. However the king was completely in dark about this. When he came to know about the love affair of Chandramukhi and Gunasekaran, he was furious. On Durgashtami he slew Gunasekaran and burnt Chandramukhi alive. The people believed that it was the dancer`s ghost that haunted the palace seeking revenge. It was also said that her soul resided in a King Cobra that resided in the southern room of the palace.

Meanwhile Saravanan helps Priya to unite with her lover, Viswanathan (Vineeth). He is a dance professor. On the other hand when Ganga comes to know about Chandramukhi`s story, she sympathises with her. However, she is also of the opinion that it was only a tale that was cooked to keep the thieves at bay from the treasure supposedly locked up in the palace. Later, Ganga herself opens Chandramukhi`s room and since then many mysterious things started to happen. It is suspected that the ghost of the palace has been freed and so she is creating such things.

Senthil asks Saravanan to help. So his psychiatrist friend comes to help him. While he is at the palace two attempts are made to kill Priya (Nayantara) and Senthil. To top it all, a woman`s voice is heard singing at midnight. At the wedding night of Priya and Viswanathan it is revealed that Ganga has been supposedly harassed by Viswanathan. Senthil is enraged but Saravanan calms him down and tells him that Ganga is suffering from a split personality disorder. The mysterious incidents were of her making and she is the ghost of the palace. Saravanan further tells them that Ganga tried to kill Priya and Senthil, and framed Viswanathan for sexual harassment because from Chandramukhi`s view, Viswanathan is her lover Gunashekaran, since he stays at the same place where Gunashekaran did. By framing Vishwanathan, Chandramukhi wanted to stop the reception. The only way to stop Chandramukhi is to make her believe that she killed Vettaiyan on Durgashtami. With the help of a famous exorcist, Ramachandra Acharya, Saravanan puts up a brilliant act. While they burn an effigy of the king, Chandramukhi is convinced that she has avenged her death by burning the king. Then, being satisfied with her revenge, she leaves Ganga`s body as well as the palace premises. The film ends on a positive note with Ganga cured and Saravanan finding love in Durga, the gardener`s daughter. The film was successful in evoking the fear factor.

Cast of Chandramukhi
The star cast of "Chandramukhi" is presented below:

Rajinikanth as Saravanan and Vettaiyan
Prabhu as Senthilnathan
Jyothika as Ganga Senthilnathan and Chandramukhi
Nayantara as Durga
Vineeth as Viswanathan and Gunashekaran
K. R. Vijaya as Kasthuri
Avinash as Ramachandra Acharya
Manobala as a fake exorcist
Malavika as Priya Kandaswamy
Unnikrishnan Namboothiri as the temple priest
Soundtracks of Chandramukhi
Vidyasagar composed the soundtracks and the background music of "Chandramukhi". The album consists of six tracks in total and they are: