Kadal is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language drama film co-written, co-produced and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film stars debutantes Gautham Karthik, and Thulasi Nair, with Arjun Sarja, Aravind Swamy and Lakshmi Manchu in supporting roles. The music was composed by A. R. Rahman. The film revolves around life of fishermen who instill the fact that faith can sometimes lead to the triumph of humanity.

Gopalaratnam Subramaniam, known professionally as Mani Ratnam, is an Indian film director, film producer and screenwriter who predominantly works in Tamil cinema and few Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. He is one of India's most acclaimed and commercially successful filmmakers. Ratnam has won six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards, six Filmfare Awards South, and numerous awards at various film festivals across the world. In 2002, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, acknowledging his contributions to film.