Reviewer's Summary - A Fine Film
Language: Tamil
Year: 1987
Actors: Kamal Haasan, Janak Raj, Saranya
Story - Mani Rathnam
Screenplay - Mani Rathnam
Direction - Mani Rathnam
Nayagan is not The Godfather. For sure, Kamal Haasan is no Marlon Brando or even Al Pacino.
And Mani Rathnam is no patch on Francis Ford Coppola or Mario Puzo.
So why then should you watch Nayagan?
Because, its limitations notwithstanding, Nayagan, which traces the life story of Velu Naicker, a Tamil gangster in Mumbai, is a fine movie.
Kamal Haasan's inspired performance as Velu, some fine songs and a few memorable dialogs sets this film apart from the tripe that the Indian movie industry routinely dishes out.
Although, Nayagan is supposedly based on the real life story of a Tamil Mafia leader who actually lived in Mumbai, the film is more influenced by that 1972 English classic - The Godfather.
Kamal Haasan dominates Nayagan with others reduced to bit roles.
Compared to The Godfather, Nayagan appears obscenely crude and positively garish at times. But since when has subtlety been a hallmark of Indian movies?
At times, Kamal Haasan's mannerisms seem like a desperate imitation of Marlon's portrayal of Don Corleone.
Nayagan got Kamal Haasan an Indian National Award for Best Actor. - Copyright SearchIndia.com.
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