Dhavanik Kanavugal
Poster
Directed by	K. Bhagyaraj
Written by	K. Bhagyaraj
Produced by	K. Bhagyaraj
Starring	K. Bhagyaraj Radhika Sivaji Ganesan
Cinematography	A. V. Ramakrishnan
Edited by	A. Selvanathan
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Production company	Praveena Film Circuit
Release date	14 September 1984 (1984-09-14)
Running time	148 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Dhavanik Kanavugal (transl. Sweet Dreams) is a 1984 Indian Tamil-language drama film written, directed and produced by K. Bhagyaraj, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Bhagyaraj. The film was released on 14 September 1984.^[1] It was partially reshot in Telugu as Ammaayiluu... Preminchandi!.^[2][3]

Subramaniam "Subramani", an economics graduate from PSG College in Coimbatore, struggles to make ends meet. With five younger sisters to support, he takes on menial jobs to provide for his family. Captain Chidambaram, a retired army officer, owns a cycle shop in the same village and rents a portion of his house to Subramaniam. Chidambaram is a well-wisher of Subramaniam's family, and his eldest sister even works part-time at the cycle shop. Subramaniam's mother arranges for his eldest sister to marry a mute groom, citing the absence of dowry demands. However, Captain Chidambaram intervenes, advising the eldest daughter to wait for a more suitable match rather than settling for an unsatisfactory arrangement.

Subramaniam's gets into a physical altercation with a manager during an interview, leading to a court case. Fortunately, Captain Chidambaram comes to his rescue, arguing on his behalf and securing his release. The family's poverty takes a toll on Subramaniam's fourth sister, who hesitates to inform her family about her puberty, fearing the additional financial burden. Meanwhile, Subramaniam's cousin, who harbors feelings for him, provides clandestine support. However, her family proposes that Subramaniam leave his family and live with them, a condition he refuses, ultimately leading to his cousin's marriage to someone else. Unbeknownst to his family with Captain Chidambaram's help, he embarks on a journey to Madras to seek employment opportunities. In Madras, he encounters a young woman who poses as a police officer and convinces him to stay nearby. However, she is later revealed to be the daughter of Chidambaram's friend. Subramaniam first tries to break into the Tamil film industry as an actor but faces rejection. He then ventures into smuggling, only to meet with failure once again.

Once Subramaniam saves Chidambaram's friend's daughter from a group of miscreants, she eventually develops feelings for him. However, Subramaniam does not reciprocate her emotions. To maintain the illusion that Subramaniam has secured employment, Captain Chidambaram discreetly sends money to his family through money orders, with the help of postman Ponnusami. Chidambaram suffers a heart attack but refuses surgery, opting instead to allocate the funds to support Subramaniam's family. Meanwhile, the struggling Subramaniam is found lying unconscious on the street but is rescued by Chidambaram's friend's daughter. She offers him work in the film industry as a junior artist for a daily wage of Rs.25. Captain Chidambaram suffers a second heart attack, prompting him to transfer his properties to Subramaniam's mother's name. He also makes arrangements to provide a monthly stipend to Subramaniam's family, making it appear as though the support is coming from Subramaniam himself. Also, he builds his own grave and expresses his unwavering faith in Subramaniam's future success.

At the film shoot, Subramaniam impresses director Bharathiraja with his improvised dialogue, so he appoints Subramaniam as the film's hero and writer. Subramaniam's career as an actor takes off, and he achieves great success. On Bharathiraja's sister's advice, Subramaniam moves into Bharathiraja's house. Meanwhile, Captain Chidambaram, on his deathbed, requests that Subramaniam not be informed about his condition, asking his family to let Subramaniam focus on his career. After the film's success, Subramaniam arranges marriages for his three sisters. He also accepts the love of Chidambaram's friend's daughter. However, during the wedding ceremony, Subramaniam discovers that his sisters are not interested in marrying the groom Subramani had chosen as they were motivated by money.

Subramaniam then realizes that his sisters are actually in love with three other men: a tailor, a laundry man, and Postman Ponnusamy. These men had helped Subramaniam during his struggling days and were willing to marry his sisters without demanding any dowry. Subramaniam wholeheartedly accepts the three men as his brothers-in-law and agrees to their marriages.

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.^[8][9] The song "Sengamalam Sirikkudhu" is set to Lalitha raga.^[10][11] The song "Oru Nayagan" was remixed by Premgi Amaren in Thozha (2008).^[12]

Jayamanmadhan of Kalki called Bhagyaraj's humour as the film's only saving grace.^[14] The film was also reviewed by Balumani of Anna.^[15] According to Bhagyaraj, the film failed at the box-office as audiences did not expect a serious subject from him.^[16]

• Dhavanik Kanavugal at IMDb 
• Dhavanik Kanavugal at Rotten Tomatoes

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