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Nayagan
Directed by	Mani Ratnam
Produced by	Mani Ratnam G. Venkateswaran
Written by	Mani Ratnam
Starring	Kamal Haasan Saranya Janagaraj Tinnu Anand Nasser
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography	P. C. Sriram
Distributed by	Sujatha Films
Release date(s)	1987
Running time	145 mins
Language	Tamil
IMDb profile

Nayagan (1987) (a.k.a. Nayakan) is a Tamil feature film written and directed by Mani Ratnam. Nayagan means 'The Hero' or 'The Leader' in Tamil.

Nayagan has been called "The Godfather" of Tamil cinema, as it portrays the life of an underworld don in Bombay (now Mumbai). While the film draws inspiration from "The Godfather trilogy", it is well adapted to an Indian scenario. The story is based on the life of a real underworld don called "Varada" or Varadarajan Mudaliar. The film sympathetically depicts the struggle of South Indians living in Mumbai.

The don is played by the actor Kamal Haasan. The cast also includes Saranya, Karhtika, Nasser, Delhi Ganesh and Janagaraj. The film music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, a well-known music director for Tamil films. The film also went on to win an Indian National Award for Kamal Haasan for his brilliant performance. Nayagan was nominated by India as its entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 1987.

Nayagan is in the Time Magazine "All-Time 100 Best Films" issued in 2005 (see list and article).

Contents 1 Plot 2 Awards 3 Soundtrack 4 See also 5 External links

Velu Nayagan, the protagonist, is born to a union leader involved in various anti-government movements. Velu's father is a wanted man. The child Velu, witnesses his father's death - betrayed by a seemingly friendly policeman, he leads him to his father's hideout - at a shootout by a police officer. At the funeral, Velu grabs the bayonet from a police constable and stabs the officer responsible for his father's death. He then escapes to Bombay.

Stranded and homeless in the big city, he is rescued by a kind-hearted Muslim fisherman who takes him into his home, in the sprawling suburban slums of Dharavi. His foster-father is also a small-time smuggler who is known for his generosity in the slum. Upon his running afoul of a senior crimelord, a corrupt local police officer, arrests the fisherman on smuggling charges, murdering him and setting him up as a suicide. Velu Nayagan, now a young man who has come into his own, goes in search of the officer and bludgeons him to death.

With this act, he is seen as a saviour and a man to be feared amongst the slum residents. As their Godfather and protector, he flourishes in local smuggling activities, marries a destitute school-girl turned prostitute and sires two children. Conflicts and power-struggles continue in the smuggling world and Velu's wife gets shot and killed by some goons. Velu's kids are sent away and they return years later to their father's home, as young adults.

The son, a chip off the old block, is eager to carry on the work of his father. He takes on an assignment to eliminate a potential witness against his father. In the process, an unfortunate accident consumes his life. Velu's daughter is at odds with her father over his form of justice and killings. The death of her brother was the final straw. She cuts herself off from her father and her home.

In a twist of fate, a new Assistant Commissioner of police starts a hunt for Velu Nayagan over his alleged activities, this time with an arrest warrant. He shows this warrant to his wife, who happens to be Velu Nayagan's daughter. More encounters take place but Velu gives himself up for arrest to spare the lives of his beloved residents of Dharavi. His day in court arrives but he is released on account of inadequate evidence in his involvement in the various alleged nefarious activities. A large supportive and emotional crowd is gathered at the courthouse, awaiting the release and return of their beloved Godfather, with much anticipation. Velu emerges to greet the tumultuous crowd. In a split second, he is shot dead right on the court premises by inspector Kelkar's mentally challenged son (Played by Tinu Anand),when he learns that Velu was responsible for his father's death.The camera freezes as Velu's young grandson(Played by Aditya Modi - A well regarded Sound Engineer today) who had just met Nayagan for the first time, kneels alongside his mother, in a prayerful recognition of tragedy.

The very famous dialog of the movie goes like this:-"naan adichaa nee sethuduve" which means "if I hit you, you will die". One corrupt police officer takes the hero to the police station on meager grounds and thrashes him severely. When he releases the hero near his slum, the officer asks the hero in Hindi "mujhe maarnaa hai? maroo..maroo.." (do you want to hit me? then hit me..hit me) At this point of time, the hero utters the above dialogue, which was a much appreciated one liner with masses.

The film has won the following awards since its release:

1988 National Film Awards (India)

• Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Actor - Kamal Hasan
• Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Cinematography - P.C. Sriram
• Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Art Direction - Thotta Tharani

The soundtrack features five songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Vaali, Ilaiyaraaja and Gangai Amaran.

• Nee oru Kaadhal Sangeetham - Mano & K.S.chitra
• Thenpaandi Cheemayile - Ilaiyaraaja & Kamal Hassan
• Nila Adhu Vaanathumele - Ilaiyaraaja
• Naan Sirithal Deepawali - Jamunarani, Rajeswari, Chorus
• Andhi mazhai megam- T. L. Maharajan and Chorus

• List of India's official entries to the Oscars
• Time top 100 movies

• Nayakan at the Internet Movie Database
• TIME 100: Nayakan

v • d • e Films directed by Mani Ratnam

Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983) • Unaru (1985) • Pagal Nilavu (1985) • Idaya Kovil (1985) • Mouna Raagam (1986) • Nayagan (1987) • Agni Natchathiram (1988) • Geethanjali (1989) • Anjali (1990) • Thalapathi (1991) • Roja (1992) • Thiruda Thiruda (1993) • Bombay (1995) • Iruvar (1997) • Dil Se (1998) • Alaipayuthey (2000) • Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) • Aayitha Ezhuthu (2004) • Yuva (2004) • Guru (2007)