Naan Avanillai

Intriguing story of a trickster who goes from place to place donning different disguises, cheating women and stealing all along the way. Gemini Ganesan does a fine job as the smooth operator, but the real star is the screenplay and K Balachander's direction.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Excellent K. Balachander offering - gripping, thought-provoking and ahead of its time, I sincerely hope the remake "Catch Me If You Can (2002)" lives up to the original! Gemini Ganesan plays the charming yet ruthless inpersonator who manages to keep up the charade and the chase until the very end. Look for Kamalahaasan in a minor role before he became the matinee idol of the 80s. All supporting cast do an admirable job (not surprising, since K. Balachander was at the helm) and the pace of the movie keeps one interested until the last scene. May be a good idea to rent this one and compare it with CMIYC.

Both Catch me if you can and this movie are good movies agreed. But the similarity ends there. It is definitely not a "remake" not a "broad adaptation" not even a "mild similarity".

This movie was later remade again with same working title starring Jeevan, Sneha, Namitha and a host of other girls and did moderately in the box office. In this movie, Gemini ganesan poses false identity and goes on to cheat a variety of girls (from all regions, sub castes, tastes etc).

The climax is somewhat of an unconventional since it doesn't say in clear plain terms whether the hero was really the culprit.