Nayagan(1987)
Nayagan is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language epic crime drama film written and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film stars Kamal Haasan as Velu Naicker, a slum dweller who rises to become a powerful crime lord in Bombay's underworld. Saranya Ponvannan makes her feature debut as Neela, Velu's wife, with supporting performances from Janagaraj, Karthika, Nizhalgal Ravi, Nassar, and Delhi Ganesh. The story follows Velu from his childhood in a Tamil Nadu village, through his escape to Bombay after his father's murder, to his transformation into a respected and feared don in Dharavi. The film explores themes of family, violence, and the moral ambiguity of power. Nayagan won three National Film Awards, including Best Actor for Kamal Haasan, and was India's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. TIME magazine included it in its list of the 100 greatest films of all time. The film was released on Diwali day, 21 October 1987, and ran for over 175 days in theatres.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- VI Movies and TV, Prime Video, Apple TV
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1987
- Director
- Mani Ratnam
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 36m
- Rating
- 5.8/10
Storyline
A young boy watches the police murder his father. He stabs the killer and escapes to Bombay. There, he grows up in the slums and becomes a smuggler. Over decades, he rises to rule the city's underworld. But his power comes at a terrible cost: he loses his wife, his son, and his daughter. In the end, he faces a violent death from an unexpected source.
“From slums to power. From hero to victim.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Nayagan
Cast reunions in this film: Kamal Haasan & Ilayaraja (60 films together), Ilayaraja & Janagaraj (59 films together), Nassar & Ilayaraja (49 films together), Nizhalgal Ravi & Ilayaraja (34 films together), Delhi Ganesh & Ilayaraja (33 films together), and Nassar & Delhi Ganesh (21 films together).
Trivia
- The film was inspired by the real-life Mumbai gangster Varadarajan Mudaliar, and also draws from the story of Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
- Mani Ratnam initially wanted Rajinikanth for the lead role, but the actor felt he was too young to play a character aging over decades.
- Cinematographer P.C. Sreeram used diffused lighting and smoke to create a distinctive, painterly look, inspired by Rembrandt's portraits.
- The iconic scene where Velu Naicker carries his dying friend was shot in a single, unbroken take lasting over two minutes.
- The film's background score by Ilaiyaraaja was recorded with a 100-piece orchestra in Madras, a large ensemble for its time.
- Nayakan was India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 60th Academy Awards, though it was not nominated.
- The young Velu Naicker is played by Master Udayaraj, who is the son of veteran actor Delhi Ganesh.