Kairasi (transl. Auspicious hands) is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Shankar and produced by N. Vasudeva Menon. The film stars Gemini Ganesan (credited as Ganesh) and B. Saroja Devi. It revolves around a doctor whose father is wrongfully convicted.

Kairasi was released on 19 October 1960, during Diwali, and became a commercial success. It was later remade in Hindi as Jhoola (1962).^[1]

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Sundaram, an honest police constable, is falsely accused of murder and subsequently imprisoned. Ramanathan, a judge, adopts Sundaram's son, Mohan, who goes on to become a successful doctor.

Kairasi was directed by K. Shankar, who doubled as editor.^[3] N. Vasudeva Menon produced the film under Vasu Films, and this was his second film as producer.^[4] The story was written by Kothamangalam Sadanandan, while the dialogues were written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan and K. D. Santhanam, who also appeared onscreen as a judge. Cinematography was handled by Thambu, and K. Narayanan co-edited the film, while A. Balu was the art director.^[2] The final cut of the film measured 163 minutes.^[5]

The music was composed by R. Govardhanam. The lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Kothamangalam Subbu and K. S. Gopalakrishnan.^[2] Music historian Vamanan wrote that Kairasi "brought out the best in Govardhanam, with its limpid melodies brimming forth sweetly with lyrical intimations of love and romance."^[6]

Kairasi was released on 19 October 1960,^[3] during Diwali.^[7] It was distributed by Solar Film Distributors in Madras, and other distributors in other districts in Tamil Nadu.^[8] The Indian Express positively reviewed the film, praising the performances of Ganesh, Rajamma, Sahasranamam and Radha, as well as the songs written by Kannadasan and the title track written by Subbu.^[9] Despite facing competition from Mannathi Mannan, Petra Manam and Paavai Vilakku, released on the same day,^[10] the film became a commercial success.^[4][11]