Naan Kadavul(2009)
'Naan Kadavul' is a 2009 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Bala. The film stars Arya as Rudran, a man who becomes an Aghori sadhu, and Pooja Umashankar as Hamsavalli, a blind beggar. Based on Jeyamohan's novel 'Yezhaam Ulagam', the story follows a father who abandons his son in Kashi and later finds him transformed into a fearsome holy man. The narrative also exposes the brutal world of forced begging controlled by a cruel gangster. The film is known for its raw, unflinching portrayal of suffering and its spiritual themes. It won the National Film Award for Best Director and was screened at the Fantastic Fest and Beloit International Film Festival. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. 'Naan Kadavul' was released on 6 February 2009.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 6 February 2009
- Director
- Bala
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 55m
- Rating
- 7.6/10
Storyline
A father abandons his young son in the holy city of Kashi. Fourteen years later, he returns to find the boy has become an Aghori — a fierce, detached holy man who lives among the dead. Meanwhile, a blind beggar woman is trapped in a world of cruelty and violence. Their paths collide in a shocking act of mercy.
“I am God. I grant death.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Naan Kadavul
Cast reunions in this film: Singampuli & Rajendran (14 films together), Bala & Ilayaraja (4 films together), Arya & Rajendran (4 films together), Arya & Pooja (4 films together), Singampuli & Ilayaraja (4 films together), and Bala & Rajendran (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's climax was shot at the actual Aghori mutt in Varanasi, with real Aghori ascetics present.
- Arya, who played the lead, lived with Aghori ascetics in Varanasi for a month to prepare for his role.
- The film's release was delayed for years due to its intense and disturbing content.
- The beggars' colony scenes featured many real-life differently-abled individuals as actors.
- Director Bala insisted on using minimal artificial lighting to achieve a raw, documentary-like feel.
- The film's original soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, but most songs were cut from the final edit.
- It won two National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Tamil.