The story centers on Arun (Ramesh Aravind), a managing director of an export company, who is unhappily married to his dutiful but plain-looking and overweight wife, Leelavathi (Kalpana). Embarrassed by his wife, Arun begins an extramarital affair with the glamorous Priya (Heera Rajagopal). One day, while on a trip with Priya, Arun runs into his old college friend, Dr. Sakthivel Gounder (Kamal Haasan). Dr. Sakthivel and his wife Palani (Kovai Sarala) get entangled in Arun's secret, leading to a chaotic turn of events. The truth of the affair is revealed to Leela through a video accidentally taken by Sakthivel's son. Kicking her husband out of the house, Leela vows to end his relationship with Priya. The rest of the film follows the comedic and dramatic struggle between a wife determined to win back her husband and the other woman.
The late actress Kalpana delivered a stellar performance. She made the audience root for her, bringing both comedy and empathy to the character of the abandoned wife.
Balu Mahendra (who also handled cinematography and editing). Music: Composed by Ilaiyaraaja .
Sathi Leelavathi is a landmark Tamil comedy-drama directed by Balu Mahendra and written by Crazy Mohan. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Ramesh Aravind, Heera Rajagopal, and Kovai Sarala in lead roles. Known for its sharp wit, situational humour, and heartfelt moments, the movie revolves around a henpecked husband, his manipulative wife, and an unexpected turn of events involving a diary. Kamal Haasan’s performance as the quirky Dr. Sakthivel and Crazy Mohan’s legendary dialogues make it a timeless entertainer. The film is widely regarded as one of the finest comedy classics in Tamil cinema, celebrated for its clean humour and strong character arcs.
She played the role of the "other woman" with sophistication and charm. 3. Why Sathi Leelavathi is a Cult Classic