Nadodi Mannan(1995)
Nadodi Mannan is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Manivasagam. The film stars R. Sarathkumar and Meena in dual roles. It tells the story of a rich businessman who recounts his past as a poor cobbler to teach his arrogant daughter a lesson about love and class. The narrative contrasts two love stories across generations, highlighting the value of hard work and integrity. Meena plays both the wife Meenakshi and the daughter Priya. The film features a supporting cast including Raghuvaran as the antagonist Krishnamoorthy and Goundamani as the comic sidekick Ponnusamy. The music was composed by Deva. Despite strong performances, the film was a commercial failure upon its release on 19 August 1995. Critics noted its slow screenplay but praised the dialogue and emotional depth.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 19 August 1995
- Director
- Manivasagam
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 30m
- Rating
- 1.0/10
Storyline
A rich businessman named Ramu tells his spoiled daughter Priya his life story. He was once a poor cobbler who fell in love with a rich girl. Through hard work and sacrifice, he became wealthy. Priya must learn that money is not the measure of a person's worth.
“A king is born from dust.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Nadodi Mannan
Cast reunions in this film: Senthil & Goundamani (80 films together), Senthil & Deva (39 films together), Goundamani & Deva (33 films together), Sarath Kumar & Deva (24 films together), Sarath Kumar & Goundamani (19 films together), and Venniradai Moorthy & Senthil (17 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Nadodi Mannan' translates to 'Vagabond King', but it is unrelated to the 1958 Tamil film of the same name starring M.G. Ramachandran.
- Director Manivasagam was primarily known as a producer; this was one of his few directorial ventures in the 1990s.
- The movie's plot of a wealthy woman rejecting a poor lover was a common trope in 1990s Tamil cinema, reflecting societal anxieties about class.
- Actor Ramesh, who played the lead, was a popular supporting actor in the era but rarely headlined films as the solo hero.
- The film's soundtrack was composed by S. A. Rajkumar, a frequent collaborator with director Manivasagam on other projects.
- Despite its dramatic premise, the film did not achieve major commercial success upon its theatrical release.
- The synopsis suggests a narrative focused on a father's backstory, which was likely a key emotional flashback in the film's structure.