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IMDbPro

Nayakan

  • 1987
  • 16
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
27K
YOUR RATING
Nayakan (1987)
A common man's struggles against a corrupt police force put him on the wrong side of the law. He becomes a don, who is loved and respected by many, but his growing power and influence exact a heavy toll.
Play trailer1:29
1 Video
99+ Photos
EpicGangsterTragedyCrimeDrama

A common man's struggles against a corrupt police force put him on the wrong side of the law. He becomes a don, who is loved and respected by many, but his growing power and influence exact ... Read allA common man's struggles against a corrupt police force put him on the wrong side of the law. He becomes a don, who is loved and respected by many, but his growing power and influence exact a heavy toll.A common man's struggles against a corrupt police force put him on the wrong side of the law. He becomes a don, who is loved and respected by many, but his growing power and influence exact a heavy toll.

  • Director
    • Mani Ratnam
  • Writers
    • Balakumaran
    • Rajasri
    • Mani Ratnam
  • Stars
    • Kamal Haasan
    • Saranya Ponvannan
    • Delhi Ganesh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.6/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mani Ratnam
    • Writers
      • Balakumaran
      • Rajasri
      • Mani Ratnam
    • Stars
      • Kamal Haasan
      • Saranya Ponvannan
      • Delhi Ganesh
    • 239User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Nayakan trailer
    Trailer 1:29
    Nayakan trailer

    Photos100

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    Top cast11

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    Kamal Haasan
    Kamal Haasan
    • Velu Naicker (Sakthivelu)
    Saranya Ponvannan
    Saranya Ponvannan
    • Neela
    • (as Saranya)
    Delhi Ganesh
    Delhi Ganesh
    • Iyer
    Janakaraj
    Janakaraj
    • Selva
    • (as Janagaraj)
    Karthika
    Karthika
    • Charumati
    Nassar
    Nassar
    • Assistant Commissioner Patil
    • (as Nasser)
    Tinnu Anand
    Tinnu Anand
    • Ajit Kelkar
    Nizhalgal Ravi
    Nizhalgal Ravi
    • Surya
    M.V. Vasudeva Rao
    • Hussain Bhai
    Aditya Modi
    • Sakthivel
    • (uncredited)
    Pradeep Shakti
    • Inspector Kelkar
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mani Ratnam
    • Writers
      • Balakumaran
      • Rajasri
      • Mani Ratnam
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews239

    8.626.6K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Nayakan' is a seminal work in Indian cinema, celebrated for its compelling narrative, stellar performances, and profound themes. Kamal Haasan's portrayal of Velu Naicker is widely praised for its depth and nuance. Mani Ratnam's direction and Ilaiyaraaja's music are highlighted for enhancing the film's emotional impact. The film's exploration of power, morality, and socio-economic disparities is noted for its relevance and universal appeal. Despite some criticisms regarding its pacing and certain cultural elements, 'Nayakan' is regarded as a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    Hemanth-2

    The Godfather comes to Tamil, with a difference

    Even though Nayagan seems like a compressed version of The Godfather series and despite the fact that a lot of the scences in the movie give you sense of deja vu(after you've watched Godfather. Nayagan is probably one of the best movies made in Tamil(and may be in any Indian language). Apart from changing the very face of movie making in India, it had send so many refreshing trends.

    Nayagan is the story of a boy(Velu), who loses his father(a Trade Union leader) and runs away to Bombay, after assualting the Police who kills his father. In Bombay he is brought up by a pious Muslim fisherman. By turn of events, Velu is pulled into committing Crime(and fighting too). Velu grows into a Don and slowly the power of it takes him to a different world, where he is the command, but he slowly losses his dear ones and it finally ends with his death at an old age, with a moral message that one who lives by the sword(gun), dies by it.

    Kamal had given one of his best performances in this movie, for which he rightfully won the National Award for Best Actor. The Music of Illayaraja, Photography of P C Sreeram and the Art of Thotta Tharani were other High points of the movie, not to mention the magical touch of Manirathnam, who made a permanent name for himself after making Nayagan.

    A must watch movie, for anyone who hasn't seen it.
    9dvdfile

    The best middle-of-the-road Indian film

    Mani Ratnam rose to fame with this superb, Godfather-inspired, crime story. Kamal Hassan, in a National Award-winning role, is the highlight of this film. WAtch out for the scene where he says "Naa adichcha nee sethuruve (You will die if I hit you)" to a police officer. Based on a real-life don, Varadarajan Mudaliar, Nayagan was praised by critics and audience alike, a rarity in India. Illayaraja's music is haunting. "Tenpaandi Cheemayile", sung by Kamal Hassan, is a classic. Photography is brilliant. Mani Ratnam is top-of-the-pops. Sign of things to come? Janakaraj as the gangster's friend is an inspired selection. This is as good as it gets for bridge cinema.
    10pvsk

    One of all time greats

    One of the movies where the star cast have lived the roles not just performed , well supported by Editing, Cinematography and background score . A must see. KamalHasan has given really a masterly performance for which he got the national award rightly.
    AvinashPatalay

    Mani Ratnam & Kamal Hassan create history with this masterpiece

    "Nayagan" is akin to a rare astronomical event wherein the constellations form a perfect alignment to create a spectacular extravaganza. Mani Ratnam, Kamal Hassan & Ilayaraja weaved magic that captured the heart of audience by storm.

    There cannot be a second opinion if I were to state that this role was destined for one and only Kamal Hassan. You cannot fail to notice the subtle changes in the body language, mannerism, gait and dialogue delivery that go about with the ageing process of the Sakthivelu. Starting with the rebel youth and all the way to the ageing Godfather, the natural transformation was effortlessly essayed by Kamal. Saranya, Ravi, Kartika, Nasser and Tinnu Anand leave a mark otherwise there isn't much scope for supporting star-cast.

    Ilayaraja compositions were a raging hit back then. P C Sriram (cinematography) & Thota Tharani (art direction) ensured to give a distinct Mani Ratnam feel to the visuals (a spillover of "Agni Natchathiram").

    Though the plot rests on the basic premise of Mario Puzo's "The Godfather", top notch writing narrating the biography of Mumbai based Tamil gangster of the 80s, Varadarajan Mudaliar stands to its own.

    If "Mouna Ragam" and "Agni Natchathiram" got him noticed then "Nayagan" stamped the title of maverick to Mani Ratnam. It goes without saying that while "Nayagan" set a precedent for fellow film-makers, Mani Ratnam started the revolution in the Tamil cinema.

    PS: The Hindi remake, "Dayavan" attempted by Feroz Khan and Vinod Khanna was sadly a classic case of "lost in translation".
    10ozzyrocks86

    KAMAL

    Kamal Hassan's extraordinary performance is the highlight of the film. This movie is perhaps the greatest gangster movie made in India, even though it is heavily inspired by the Al Pacino-starrer The Godfather. Kamal rightfully won the National Award for his performance. Great cast, great performances, solid direction from Mani Rathnam, great screenplay = one great movie. Highly recommended. A+.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      India's entry for the best foreign language film at the Oscars in 1987. Rated as one of the best 100 films of all time by the Time Magazine in 2005
    • Quotes

      Kid: Are you a good person or a bad person?

      Velunayakan: I don't know.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Onbadhule Guru (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Nee Oru Kaadhal Sangeetham
      Written by: Pulamaipithan

      Produced by: Ilaiyaraaja

      Performed by: Mano and K.S. Chithra

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 1987 (India)
    • Country of origin
      • India
    • Language
      • Tamil
    • Also known as
      • Velu Nayakan
    • Production companies
      • Muktha Films
      • Sujatha Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ₹10,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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