It stars Vijay and Simran, while Manivannan, Dhamu and Vaiyapuri among others play supporting roles.

The film is produced by R. B. Choudary and has its music composed by S. A. Rajkumar and cinematography performed by R. Selva.

The movie starts with Kutty revealing, on a train journey from Pune to Hyderabad, that he just got out of jail after seven years.

His past is revealed in a flashback.Kutty is an aspiring but struggling singer who works for a local cable provider Mani.

Seven years later, Kutty is released from prison and returns to Chennai, only to find out that Rukmini had moved out of their locality and is now a collector, her eyesight having been restored as well.

On the suggestion of his friends, Ezhil decided to make the film with a commercial hero and changed the entire script retaining only the emotional core of City Lights.

[2] Principal photography began with the song "Dhuddu" as the director felt it would give the team some time to gel, this was choreographed by Raju Sundaram.

Rajkumar told him not to worry and gave him the tune of "Innisai Paadi Varum",[2] which is set to the raga Keeravani.

The film received positive reviews and became a huge commercial success (ran over 200 days at the box office).

[7] Rajitha of Rediff.com praised the "unusual premise" and wrote that Ezhil "makes a strong debut with this film".

[10] D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote, "Debutant director S. Ezhil makes his bow on a high note in Super Good Films', Thullatha Manamum Thullum, making a good blend of the entertainment elements through his screenplay based on his story".

[3] The film went on to be remade in Telugu as Nuvvu Vastavani,[16] in Kannada as O Nanna Nalle,[6] and in Odia as I Love You.