Navarathri(1964)
Navarathri is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language drama film written, produced, and directed by A. P. Nagarajan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan in nine distinct roles and Savitri as the lead actress Nalina. The story follows Nalina, a wealthy young woman who leaves home after a disagreement with her father over an arranged marriage. Over nine nights during the Navaratri festival, she encounters nine different men, each representing one of the nine human emotions known as Navarasas. The film was Sivaji Ganesan's 100th film and set a record for the most characters played by a single actor in an Indian film at the time. It was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres, and was later remade in Telugu and Hindi. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Tata Play, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1964
- Director
- A. P. Nagarajan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 44m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A young woman named Nalina runs away from home after a fight with her father over her marriage. Over nine nights, she meets nine different men, each representing a different human emotion. She must survive danger, misunderstanding, and heartbreak before finding her true love.
“Nine nights. Nine emotions. One love.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Navarathri
Cast reunions in this film: Nagesh & Manorama (39 films together), Nagesh & Sivaji Ganesan (38 films together), Nagesh & K. V. Mahadevan (37 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & K. V. Mahadevan (35 films together), Sivaji Ganesan & Manorama (32 films together), and Sivaji Ganesan & V. K. Ramasamy (31 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Navarathiri' refers to the nine-night Hindu festival of Navaratri, mirroring the nine days of the protagonist's journey.
- This was one of the few films where actor Sivaji Ganesan played a dual role, portraying both a father and his son.
- Director A. P. Nagarajan was known for mythological films, making this social drama a slight departure from his usual style.
- The movie features a famous song 'Aayiram Thamarai' by M. S. Viswanathan, which is still remembered for its melody.
- It was partly shot in Mysore, utilizing the city's palaces and gardens as key backdrops for the story.
- The film's plot structure, with each day representing a different human behavior, was considered an innovative narrative for its time.
- Actress Devika, who played the lead role Nalina, was a popular star in Tamil and Telugu cinema during the 1960s.