{{short description|Indian drama film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox film | image = Nandhan poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Era. Saravanan | writer = Era. Saravanan | producer = Era. Saravanan | starring = {{plainlist| * M. Sasikumar * Suruthi Periyasamy }} | cinematography = R. V. Saran | editing = Nelson Anthony | music = Ghibran Vaibodha | studio = Era Entertainment | distributor = Trident Arts | released = {{film date|2024|9|20|df=yes}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Tamil }}
'''''Nandhan''''' is a 2024 film Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by Era. Saravanan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=எதிர்பார்ப்பை எகிற செய்திருக்கும் சசிகுமாரின் 'நந்தன்' திரைப்பட பாடல் |url=https://www.virakesari.lk/article/193510 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913101625/https://www.virakesari.lk/article/193510 |archive-date=2024-09-13 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Virakesari.lk |language=en}}</ref> The film stars M. Sasikumar and Suruthi Periyasamy in the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nandhan: Sasikumar's next is a rural flick; the actor to play a unique role in this political drama |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/nandhan-sasikumars-next-is-a-rural-flick-the-actor-to-play-a-unique-role-in-this-political-drama/36dce0a9ad113 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201092527/https://www.ottplay.com/news/nandhan-sasikumars-next-is-a-rural-flick-the-actor-to-play-a-unique-role-in-this-political-drama/36dce0a9ad113 |archive-date=2022-12-01 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DIN |date=2024-09-11 |title=நந்தன் படத்தின் புதிய பாடல்! |url=https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2024/Sep/11/yekki-yekki-paakuraan-lyric-video-nandhan-m-sasikumar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913101616/https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2024/Sep/11/yekki-yekki-paakuraan-lyric-video-nandhan-m-sasikumar |archive-date=2024-09-13 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Dinamani |language=ta}}</ref>
''Nandhan'' was theatrically released on 20 September 2024 to positive reviews.
== Plot == In Vanangankudi village, Koppulingam from the dominant community, has held the village board presidency consecutively for two terms. For the upcoming elections, they nominate him again but Nandan, a Scheduled Caste member asks for representation. However, he is chased out of the temple and later killed in a lorry accident. At Nandan's funeral, Koppulingam receives a phone call announcing the village panchayat's conversion to a reserved constituency, rendering him ineligible to contest. Concealing this fact, Koppulingam deceitfully announces his willingness to allow an SC candidate, exploiting the situation to maintain control.
Koozhpaana, a loyal domestic worker from the SC community, is manipulated by Koppulingam to contest and wins unopposed. However, Koppulingam undermines Koozhpaana's authority, sending him away from the panchayat office. The village men protest against Koozhpaana's name on the board, but Koppulingam intervenes, feigning support, when Koozhpaana's original name, Ambedkumar is revealed. During Independence Day celebrations, Koozhpaana is humiliated when Koppulingam hoists the flag instead of him. Further indignity follows when Koozhpaana's grandmother's corpse is denied entry by Koppulingam and his men into the burial site, forcing Koozhpaana to bury the body amidst the downpour.
Seeking justice, Koozhpaana meets the Block Development Officer (BDO) Marudhudurai, who allocates 10 cents of government land for a cremation ground which appears to be encroached by Koppulingam. When officials arrive to remove the encroachment, Koppulingam acts generously, allowing the clearance. But he later claims the village men's land as his own and demands Koozhpaana's resignation in exchange for letting the villagers stay. Koozhpaana complies, despite BDO Marudhudurai explaining reservation rules.
Koppulingam's men brutally beat Koozhpaana, and Selvi, vandalize their home, and vacate them for Koozhpaana's defiance. Marimuthu, Nandan's father, is coerced into contesting the election. However, Koozhpaana filed nomination papers, determined to challenge Koppulingam's dominance. Koppulingam terrorizes villagers, forcing Koozhpaana to withdraw his nomination. Unexpectedly, the BDO discovers Marimuthu's withdrawal letter, making Koozhpaana the unopposed president with the villager's support.
The movie concludes with Koozhpaana aka Ambedkumar making his first signature sitting in the village president's chair which was refused earlier.
== Cast == {{cast listing| * M. Sasikumar as Ambedkumar aka Koozhpaana * Suruthi Periyasamy as Selvi * S. Mathesh as Ashwagandha * Mithun Bose as Nandan * Balaji Sakthivel as Koppulingam * Katta Erumbu Stalin as Clerk * Samuthirakani as BDO Sa. Marudhudurai * V Gnanavelu as Maavattam * G. M. Kumar as Periyayya * Sithan Mohan as Thandapani * Saravana Sakthi as Pothiyappa Rasu }}
== Production == The film was shot 35 days in Pudukottai district and Thanjavur.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Sasikumar-Era Saravanan’s film titled Nandhan |url=https://www.dtnext.in/cinema/2022/12/01/sasikumar-era-saravanans-film-titled-nandhan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307202345/https://www.dtnext.in/cinema/2022/12/01/sasikumar-era-saravanans-film-titled-nandhan |archive-date=2023-03-07 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.dtnext.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2024-08-28 |title=M Sasikumar-Era Saravanan film Nandhan gets a release date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Aug/28/m-sasikumar-era-saravanan-film-nandhan-gets-a-release-date |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828152828/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Aug/28/m-sasikumar-era-saravanan-film-nandhan-gets-a-release-date |archive-date=2024-08-28 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> The film was produced by Era Saravanan under the banner of Era Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-30 |title=Sasikumar paired opposite Bigg Boss Tamil fame Suruthi Periyasamy in Era Saravanan's Nandhan |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/sasikumar-paired-opposite-bigg-boss-suruthi-periyasamy-in-era-saravanans-nandhan/articleshow/95881870.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913101616/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/sasikumar-paired-opposite-bigg-boss-suruthi-periyasamy-in-era-saravanans-nandhan/articleshow/95881870.cms |archive-date=2024-09-13 |access-date=2024-09-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The cinematography was done by R. V. Saran while editing was handled by Nelson Anthony and music composed by Ghibran Vaibodha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=R |first=Chandhini |date=2022-11-30 |title=M Sasikumar-Era Saravanan's next titled Nandhan; First look out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Nov/30/m-sasikumar-era-saravanans-next-titled-nandhan-first-look-out-37212.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828150235/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2022/Nov/30/m-sasikumar-era-saravanans-next-titled-nandhan-first-look-out-37212.html |archive-date=2024-08-28 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=தினத்தந்தி |date=2024-09-12 |title='நந்தன்' படத்தின் பர்ஸ்ட் சிங்கிள் வெளியானது |url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/CinemaNews/the-first-single-of-the-film-nandhan-was-released-1121949 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913101617/https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/CinemaNews/the-first-single-of-the-film-nandhan-was-released-1121949 |archive-date=2024-09-13 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.dailythanthi.com |language=ta}}</ref>
== Release == === Theatrical === The film was released on 20 September 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-04 |title=Soori praises Sasikumar's 'Nandhan'; Says, 'I am still in awe' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/soori-praises-sasikumars-nandhan-says-i-am-still-in-awe/articleshow/113054663.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905171447/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/soori-praises-sasikumars-nandhan-says-i-am-still-in-awe/articleshow/113054663.cms |archive-date=2024-09-05 |access-date=2024-09-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
=== Home media === The satellite and streaming rights of the film were acquired by Vijay TV and Amazon Prime.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2024 |title=நந்தன் படத்தின் தொலைக்காட்சி ஒளிபரப்பு உரிமத்தைப் பெற்ற பிரபல நிறுவனம்! |url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/CinemaNews/sasikumar-starrer-nandhan-film-tv-broadcast-license-get-vijay-tv-1121713 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915102358/https://www.dailythanthi.com/amp/Cinema/CinemaNews/sasikumar-starrer-nandhan-film-tv-broadcast-license-get-vijay-tv-1121713 |archive-date=15 September 2024 |access-date=15 September 2024 |website=Daily Thanthi}}</ref> ''Nandhan'' began streaming on Amazon Prime from 12 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=M |first=Narayani |date=2024-10-12 |title=Sasikumar's Nandhan gets an OTT premiere |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/ott/news/2024/Oct/12/sasikumars-nandhan-gets-an-ott-premiere |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> == Reception == Gopinath Rajendran of ''The Hindu'' wrote "Despite focusing on a pertinent issue that needs immediate attention and holding up a mirror to society on caste oppression and power dynamics, Sasikumar and Era Saravanan’s Nandhan suffers from shallow writing and amateurish making."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajendran |first=Gopinath |date=2024-09-20 |title=‘Nandhan’ movie review: Sasikumar’s anti-caste film is high-hearted, but lacks subtlety and finesse |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/nandhan-movie-review-sasikumars-anti-caste-film-is-high-hearted-but-lacks-subtlety-and-finesse/article68659811.ece |access-date=2024-09-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
Avinash Ramachandran of ''The Indian Express'' stated that "Now, the last act of Nandhan is carefully placed to elicit a particular response. Unlike the previous 100-odd minutes, the last 10 minutes take up the documentary approach, and it leaves a strong impact, for sure."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-20 |title=Nandhan Movie Review: A good-intentioned misfire that needed to have a lot more than just its heart in the right place |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/nandhan-movie-review-a-good-intentioned-misfire-that-needed-to-have-a-lot-more-than-just-its-heart-in-the-right-place-9576391/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922171046/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/nandhan-movie-review-a-good-intentioned-misfire-that-needed-to-have-a-lot-more-than-just-its-heart-in-the-right-place-9576391/ |archive-date=2024-09-22 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
Roopa Radhakrishnan of ''The Times of India'' rated two point five out of five and wrote that "All in all, Nandhan is a film with good intent made on a serious subject that has its moments, especially on the comedy front"<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nandhan Movie Review : A middling film with occasional moments and underwritten characters |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/nandhan/movie-review/113480656.cms |access-date=2024-09-20 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|id=tt33298423}} Category:2024 Tamil-language films Category:2024 Indian films Category:Tamil-language Indian films Category:Indian comedy-drama films Category:Films about the caste system in India Category:Indian political drama films