Ganga(1972)
Ganga is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language Western film directed and filmed by M. Karnan. The film stars Jaishankar as the titular hero and Rajakokila as the female lead, with S.A. Ashokan portraying the primary antagonist. Set in a lawless rural village, the story follows Ganga, a man who returns to his hometown to exact revenge on the cruel landlord who murdered his father. The film blends the visual and narrative conventions of American Westerns with Tamil cinematic traditions, featuring gunfights, horseback chases, and a lone-wolf protagonist. It was written by J. Mahendran, who later became a celebrated director in Tamil cinema. Ganga was released on January 15, 1972, and is notable for being a rare Tamil film in the Western genre, earning a cult following over the years for its stylistic ambition and emotional storytelling.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1972
- Director
- M. Karnan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 30m 0
Storyline
A lone gunman named Ganga returns to his dusty hometown with one mission: to destroy the ruthless landlord who killed his father. The landlord rules the village with an iron fist, and no one dares to oppose him. Ganga must use his wits and his gun to take down the tyrant and his gang, one by one, before facing him in a final showdown.
“One man. One mission. One bullet.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Ganga
Cast reunions in this film: Nagesh & Jaishankar (53 films together), Nagesh & Major Sundarrajan (43 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Jaishankar (38 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Nagesh (27 films together), Sankar Ganesh & Major Sundarrajan (16 films together), and Jaishankar & Major Sundarrajan (15 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director, A. C. Trilogchander, was also a successful producer known for launching new talent.
- This was one of the few Tamil films where actor Ravichandran played a character with a negative shade.
- The movie's climax was shot in the rocky terrains of Andhra Pradesh, which was uncommon for Tamil films then.
- Lyricist Kannadasan wrote the songs, but the music by M. S. Viswanathan did not become a major hit.
- The film's release coincided with a wave of action dramas but did not perform well at the box office.
- Actress Jayalalithaa was initially considered for the female lead, but the role eventually went to a different actress.