Nammavar
| Nammavar | |
|---|---|
| File:NammavarKamal.jpg Promotional Poster | |
| Directed by | K. S. Sethumadhavan |
| Written by | Ananthu Kamal Haasan Kanmani Subbu (dialogues) |
| Produced by | R. Venkatarama Reddy |
| Starring | Kamal Haasan Gouthami Nagesh Srividya Karan |
| Cinematography | Madhu Ambat |
| Edited by | N. P. Satish |
| Music by | Mahesh Mahadevan |
Production company | Chandamama Vijaya Combines |
| Distributed by | Chandamama Vijaya Combines |
Release date | 2 November 1994 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | ₹3.7 crore (US$440,000) |
Nammavar is a 1994 Tamil language film directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan and starring Kamal Haasan and Gouthami in lead roles.
Kamal Hassan plays a revolutionary history lecturer of a college. The movie is about how he tries to reform the downtrodden college by his initiatives and its consequences. The background score and music was composed by Mahesh.
The film is a remake of Hollywood film The Principal. The film was among 1994 Deepavali releases. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Plot
Dr.Selvam (Kamal Haasan) is the new Vice-principal History professor in a college ruled by the Donor's son Ramesh (Karan) who is essentially a spoiled brat who owing to the lack of parental guidance turns into a no-gooder and also influences the other students in the college by his tyrannical use of money and power. Sparks fly between the two, but Selvam manages to transform most of the college.
Vasanthi (Gouthami) is also a Professor in the same college who initially disapproves of Selvam's methods, but later falls for him. Selvam is revealed to be a cancer patient, who is seeking answers to fight his inner demons by doing good to the college. When all his methods to insult Selvam fail, and when one of his gang turns against him, Ramesh retaliates by implicating his ex-friend's lover, Nirmala (Brinda), who is also the daughter of one of the college lecturers, Prabhakar Rao (Nagesh), in a brothel raid, which leads to her suicide.The inevitable final clash ensues, where Selvam still does not want to harm Ramesh and is still willing to offer him a second chance. In the end, Selvam and Vasanthi leave for the US seeking a cure for his Cancer and hoping that the college will be truly reformed when they return.
Cast
- Kamal Haasan as Selvam
- Gouthami as Vasanthi
- Nagesh as Prabhakar Rao
- Srividya
- Karan as Ramesh
- Senthil as Perumal
- Kovai Sarala as Julie
- Santhana Bharathi as Sakthivel
- Delhi Ganesh
- Brinda as Nirmala
- Bobby Bedi as Prakesh Moolchandani
Production
The first day shoot was at held at the Vijaya Vauhini studios, with Karan as a student and Kamal Haasan as professor in a classroom scenario.[1]
Release
The film received positive reviews from critics, but flopped at the box office. In 1995 at the National Film Awards, Nagesh was awarded Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal in the film, as well winning the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.
Soundtrack
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
This movie features 6 songs composed by Mahesh Mahadevan while lyrics written by Pulamaipithan and Vairamuthu. The music director, prior to signing the project had been diagnosed with blood cancer and since, it has been debated that Kamal Haasan's cancer-ridden role in the film was a tribute to Mahesh.[2] Before his death in 2002, Mahesh went on to work in the sound department in Kamal Haasan's Kuruthipunal and Aalavandhan. The soundtrack was also marked the debut of noted singer, Srinivas.[3]
- Poonnkuyil Paadinal - S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
- Ethilum Valvlan Da - Kamal Hassan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
- Mannil Engum - Mano, Neol James
- Sorgam Enbathu Namakku - Srinivas, Swarnalatha
- Udai Oodu Pirakkavillai - S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha
- Instrumental Theme Music
References
- ^ "Emotions interest him". The Hindu.
- ^ "lazygeek.net". lazygeek.net.
- ^ "The Hindu : Metro Plus Madurai : Singing, swinging and swaying".