Padayappa

Padayappa is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It stars Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya with Abbas, Lakshmi, Radha Ravi and Nassar playing supporting roles. The soundtrack album and background score were composed by A. R. Rahman. The plot revolves around the titular character, Aarupadayappan, and his family being targeted in a generations-long revenge by his cousin Neelambari, a vamp who was left humiliated after Padayappa rejected her love proposal as he was in love with her good-natured home worker Vasundhara. Principal photography for the film began in October 1998. Padayappa was released on 10 April 1999 on the eve of Tamil New Year's Day. This was the first Tamil film to be released worldwide with 210 prints and 700,000 audio cassettes. It became Tamil cinema's highest-grossing film at that point. Ramya Krishnan's performance was praised, winning her a Filmfare Award under the Best Actress category. The film also won five Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. Plot Padayappa is a mechanical engineer who returns to his village near Thanjavur to attend his sister Nandhini's engagement to Suryaprakash, the son of their maternal uncle Rajarathnam. His father Dharmalingam is the respected village Chieftain. During his stay, he comes across Vasundhara, his uncle's maid, and falls in love with her. Suryaprakash's sister, Neelambari, also falls in love with Padayappa, making Vasundhara scared to admit her feelings. When Dharmalingam's brother Ramalingam demands a share in the family property because he wants wealth and respect like his brother, Dharmalingam refuses to divide the property and instead gives the entire property and wealth to Ramalingam. The family leaves their home the same evening to go to Padayappa's home in Madras, but unable to bear the shock, Dharmalingam passes away just as they leave. Within days, Suryaprakash marries Ramalingam's daughter without the village's knowledge, craving their newfound wealth and status. Padayappa's mother Savithri is insulted by her brother, but she blesses the couple and leaves. While Padayappa sets to clean his land for agriculture, Ramalingam's spy finds small rocks, and Ramalingam discovers that a hill on that property is solid granite, which is very valuable. He tries to get that granite hill by giving the family property back to Padayappa, but after many obstacles, Savithri cancels the deal.