Nattamai(1994)
Nattamai is a 1994 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The film stars R. Sarathkumar in a dual role, alongside Meena and Khushbu. Set in a village in the Erode region, the story follows Shanmugam, a respected village chief who must judge his own brother for murder. The film explores themes of justice, family loyalty, and the consequences of blind faith. Sarathkumar won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performance. Nattamai was released on 2 November 1994, during Diwali, and completed a 175-day run at the box office.
Nattamai is streaming on Sun NXT and Airtel Xstream Play.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Sun NXT, Airtel Xstream Play, JioTV, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 2 November 1994
- Director
- K. S. Ravikumar
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 33m
- Rating
- 4.9/10
Storyline
Shanmugam is the village chief, a fair and respected judge. His brother Pasupathi is framed for murder by a vengeful cousin. Shanmugam must choose between family loyalty and his duty to justice. His decision shatters his family and leads to a tragic revelation.
“One wrong judgment can destroy everything.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Nattamai
Cast reunions in this film: Senthil & Goundamani (80 films together), Senthil & Manorama (41 films together), Goundamani & Manorama (40 films together), Vijayakumar & Manorama (32 films together), Goundamani & Vijayakumar (26 films together), and Senthil & Vijayakumar (22 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Nattamai' refers to a traditional village headman, a role central to the plot.
- Actor Sarathkumar, who played the antagonist, was initially considered for the lead role before it went to Sarathkumar.
- The movie's iconic background score by Ilaiyaraaja was composed in a single overnight session.
- A real elephant was used in the climax fight scene, requiring special permissions and safety measures.
- The film was a major comeback for director K.S. Ravikumar after a few box office failures.
- It inspired several remakes in other Indian languages, including Telugu and Kannada.
- The village set was constructed from scratch near Chennai to achieve an authentic rural look.