Thevar Magan (1992) User Reviews

The Mother of all caste-based movies

[you_can_do_it · 10/10 · 15 June 2006]

One of the most successful movies of Kamal Hassan's Rajkamal International production company. A cult classic that got both critical acclaim and huge box office collections. About a dozen movies were released along with it, on Diwali '94 but all these were reduced to box-office disasters(including the Rajinikant starrer 'Pandian'). Such was the impact of Thevar Magan. The thespian Sivaji Ganesan was aptly cast in the role of Kamal's father, the village chief. Nasser, Revathi and Gouthami reveled in their roles and Revathi won the National award for 'Best Supporting actress'.

But more than everything, this is the movie which spawned a deluge of flicks based on the caste-feuds happening in villages, none of which could match the original in terms of grandeur, story or performances. Thevar Magan, upon its release, was literally worshipped by the 'Thevars', a warring caste in Tamil Nadu's rural areas. Some political organizations still argue that the movie itself is the reason for the violence happening in these villages.

The telugu dubbed version 'Kshatriya Putrudu' was an equally big hit. Later the movie was remade in Hindi as 'Virasat', starring Anil Kapoor, Tabu, Amrish Puri and Pooja Batra. The Hindi version too was a success.

Class unmatchable !

[de-prakash · 10/10 · 26 April 2008]

Shivaji and Kamal are two great legends of Indian cinema and if there was a movie that could get them together it had to be a movie as strong as "Thevar magan". Yes it has shades of Godfather but not completely. This story couldn't have asked for better screenplay.Role of Shivaji could be performed only by him. Kamal is often criticized for suppressing other characters in his movies but this is an exception , it has great characterization for everybody in the movie right from Shivaji to vadivelu. PC Sriram is amazing with his camera work and gives us pleasant visuals throughout the movie.The biggest asset of the movie is Illayaraja, his back ground music is heavenly, he brings out the intensity in the scene superbly with his BGM score. The story is already discussed by others but the highlights of the movie are - The Scene were Kamal argues with Shivaji on his decision to leave the village, The Panchayat scene were Nasser shows disrespect to Shivaji and the aftermath, Kamal's entry with the Devar getup(he looks majestic in it), The marriage scene,The Hospital scene were Vadivelu excels as a faithful servant to Kamal,Kamal's acting when he fails to convince Gautami, The climax scene after he kills Nasser. Every dialogue in the movie is carefully and masterly crafted. Bharathan has done a splendid job. Overall it is a movie which highlights the Thevar community in a very realistic way. It will go down as one of the Best movies of Indian cinema.

Don't compare it to God Father please!!!

[Neels-2 · 1 July 1999]

Asokan, Thevar Magan is no way similar to Godfather... Nayakan is. It was unnecessary to force the comparison because Thevar Magan is a very original story... and brings out the psyche of the Thevar community, their heroism, violence and honor.

Your review otherwise reflected my opinion on the movie. It's one of the few films where every character has been well-conceived. And what a brilliant performance from all!!! Unfortunately, the director of this classic, Bharatan is no more. (He like many of his peers went unsung, largely due to the step-motherly attitude of the POP media (read Hindi dominated media) to regional movie makers. Thevar Magan is a great movie that deserves a hall of fame in the annals of Indian Films.

N Sharma

Devar magan - a tribute to tamil Cinema

[elametly · 10/10 · 14 June 2009]

Devar magan is my all time favourite movie.It brings the two versatile actors of Tamil Cine industry,even Indian Film Industry together to give a movie which depicts the reality of most villages and Devar's religion.The scene between Kamal and Shivaji remains one of the best ever scene in tamil cinema.May be Urban people may find it different, but the peoples from villages, will find at least one character or one event similar to their place or peoples.Though two Gems acting in same movie there is lot of scope for others to act and they all used it well.(Nasser,Gautami,Revathi and even Vadivelu).KamalHaasan-Ilayaraja music combination once rocks for the nth time.

Don't forget to watch it.

my best Indian movie...

[pearlmaharajan · 9/10 · 22 September 2011]

What a 3hr show by the crew. Kamal Hassan and Bharathan has done their home work very well. The script is flawless. As many has said, this movie is like a village based Godfather. Outline may resemble like that. But the story plot is different in many aspects.

Important things to be noted in the movie are the locations, BGM, dialogues with the peculiar language slang etc.,

I would call this to be the perfect acting by the veteran Shivaji Ganesan. This is different from his usual films which lacks reality in acting and more like a stage drama acting. Kamal hassan has done the best as always he does. Another couple of people to be mentioned for the acting are 'Kaakkaa' Radhakrishnan and Nassar. I still remember the acting of this man in the crew filled with masters. I think Nassar played an equal amount of natural acting just like Shivaji Ganesan. If I am awarded as a jury to pick an actor in the movie for his performance, I would go with Nassar.

Again, this film is a tank circuit of Kamal Hassan and the maestro Ilayaraja. I really don't know from were the later gets his music specially for Kamal Hassan. Anyone can watch the film with the eyes closed. BGM will narrate the entire plot. This film's BGM can be considered as an example for the upcoming youngsters.

PC Sriram, once again proved he is the best in business. Also the lyricist were equally good. You would never feel the songs as a disturbance in the movie. And the special song features the Tamilan's special martial arts "Silambattam" is too good.

I would really select this movie to be one of the all time favorite of Indian and International film. Do you people still want me to put any review points ?????

The best inspiration of godfather.One of the best Indian movie ever

[vaishak_ibm · 10/10 · 15 February 2006]

So far many films are copied or inspired from godfather....but this is the best inspiration!.In fact the best example for an inspiration! The plus of the movie is the actor selection!Shivaji Ganesan as the father of Kamal.....the best possible combination of father-son in India.Shivaji with his memorable performance played his part to perfection.Kamal shines as a writer more than an actor in this movie.Nasser must be specified too..a good performance indeed.The movie looks so good due to the direction of Barathan..a renowned Malayalam director..who made the movie look so realistic and entertaining too!

Music by Ilayaraja.Ilayaraja is always good in rural based movies...and he shines here too.

Photography by P.C.Sriram which won him the national award..really an award winning photography.

Story and dialogue by Kamalhaasan...one of the best screenplays in Indian cinema.Dialogues are so powerful.In climax Kamal saying "pongada..poi pulla kuttigala padikka vaingada"(make your children study...don't let them indulge in violence)is awesome...the relationship between Kamal and Shivaji is explained wonderfully!

Shivaji Ganesan in many aspects resemble Marlon Brando in his acting and Kamal has been inspired by Al Pacino greatly which could be noticed by his acting.With these two great actors on screen with godfather outline..this must be the best inspiration of Godfather..10/10.

Kamal's career best performance!!

[valyriansteel-68349 · 10/10 · 1 April 2020]

Don't miss the scenes between our dear Kamal and late Shivaji Ganeshan. It's an incredible movie with the best of best performances by Kamal and Sivaji Ganeshan Sir. Kamal is in top form and unmatchable when it comes to method acting. The movie grows on you scene to scene. Illayaraja's music is apt for the script. Support cast Revati and Gautami have done their best. I grew up watching Kamal and watching this masterpiece after decades made me salute to Kamal and the makers of yester years.

Awestuck experience!!!

[gane_durairaj · 10/10 · 18 May 2010]

Wow, wow, wow!!!

Such a wonderful movie i would say. Theme, cast and crew at its best. Sivaji Ganesan vs Kamalhaasan Vs Ilaiyaraja vs Bharathan, who will you vote, i have no idea, this is supposed to called as the Show of LEGENDS. Nasser,Revathi, Vadivelu, Gowthami and every others didn't act but lived.The scene between Sivaji and Kamalhaasan is the best ever seen i have seen in my entire life.Dialogues are razor sharp.Some people claim this movie is inspired from Godfather, maybe but it didn't appear like that to me as this film is more concentrated on the traditional way of Devar(a caste in Tamilnadu).Its more like watching a epic.

U want to know the real meaning of a complete classic movie, go for it.

I bet you will like it.

Over all My rating 10/10.

The Best among all Classics...

[therealbosss · 10/10 · 26 June 2010]

The Movie won the all time best Tamil film award in the Vijay awards ceremony(2007), which analyzed the complete list of Tamil movies from the early 1940's. Need i say more?. Its the best movie there is in Tamil cinema even today. The movie is aptly paced and portrays the courage and pride of the Thevar community as realistic as possible. The performance of all the actors are outstanding, especially Kamal Hassan and Nasser in the climax. The duo even outperform the veteran Sivaji Ganeshan, considered to be the greatest Tamil actor of all time, with their stunning acting. Hats off to Kamal and the director for taking Tamil cinema to new unknown heights.

A movie which gives the satisfaction forever

[svd-83320 · 10/10 · 22 August 2020]

This movie shows the best story and screenplay. Kamal shows his acting skill and also achieved by selecting a good director.

Beyond oscars

[goodmoviestowatch · 10/10 · 21 November 2020]

This movie has to be one of the finest to come out of India. The story, screenplay, casting, direction, bgm, dialogues and acting were all top class. Many may stamp the movie as a caste-based one, but it is really not. The movie beautifully captures a family feud and builds on it. Every character in the movie big or small have played their part. A couple of scenes where vadivelu even out shines Kamal and Sivaji. And Nasser as a ferocious & ruthless villain does the job brilliantly. Sivaji Ganesan's body language and expressions as a clan's leader is unmatched. Gautami and Revathy performs the role to perfection. Illayaraja's bgm makes the movie more gripping. There are emotional scenes but not overloaded like today's movies. Qualities of sacrifice, responsibility, leadership and loyalty are excellently portraited. Only a genius could have conceptualized and executed such a project, and we all know who the genius is. Will Indian movie watchers ever get to see an another Thevar Magan?

Copy Paste 75%.

[WorldMovie99 · 3/10 · 22 August 2022]

Most of the story is copy Paste of Part 1 Godfather. Kamal Hasan is Al Pacino. His father is Marlon Brando. Both have same enemies. The son ultimately takes up his father's position and establishes himself. Both share a strong bond and all, similar to the Mario Puzo Classic.

Kamal's father, the village head is envied by his relatives who conspire often to replace him. When he dies his son replaces him and faces the same responses. He unwillingly retains in his father position but succeeds him. He manages his enemies but ultimately succumbs to violence as it always was in their village. His personal life changes due to this decision of following his father's footsteps. He finally becomes the son of Thevar. Even the protagony's love story too is same. One hero two ladies, he gets married to an unknown village girl under strange circumstances and his lover goes away; with a slight difference from the The Godfather I. Rest are same. Lastly Italian-American is replaced by Tamil Nadu.

The differences you could observe is the dresses and costumes, the Southern behaviors, the village set ups, the action sequences and things like that.

Basically its about Thevar's Son. Kamal Hasan who ultimately establishes himself as the village head, retains his father's name. It's about Father Son issue. Similar to The Godfather part 1 where Al Pacino retains his father's name.

3/10 is for cultural differences between the two movie industries. A 44/100.

All Time Best Indian-Tamil Language Movie

[pradeepmek · 10/10 · 15 May 2012]

This is the All Time Best Indian-Tamil Language Movie... extra ordinary straight screenplay...this is the example for neat screenplay...Indian-Tamil culture dependent Movie...extra ordinary work by Kamal Hassan sir...upcoming movie makers definitely watch this movie 2 learn lot.... i watched The God father movie also there's no similarities between this movie..

Acting: classic performance by Shivaji Ganesan & Kamal Hassan sir.. even world actors r also 2 learns acting from Shivaji Ganesan sir exactly conversation scene between Shivaji Ganesan & Kamal Hassan definitely its the world class performance by Shivaji Ganesan sir.....

evergreen movie of Tamil cinema history

[ramanniyan2008 · 21 July 2011]

Devarmagan is the must watching movie for all type of audiences.

Kamal is an evergreen actor ,writer ,producer given the best once again..

Sivaji is the legend and did legendary performance..

Its the movie for narrating the culture of south Tamilnadu, with excellent script and acting..

Gowthami performed well..

Revathi such an excellent actresses performed really well in the character..

Illayaraja music are rocking elements..

Overall this movie is one the best movie of Tamil cinema history.

Thevar Magan

[santhosh-10290 · 8/10 · 12 May 2019]

Superb Movie. Sivaji, Kamal Haasan and everybody acted well in the movie. Kamal the complete actor.

Excellent Film Making and Top notch performance

[naveenvlfk · 9/10 · 9 July 2018]

Tagline : Son taking up the position of the Father amongst all rivalry.

Making : Amazing direction by Bharathan sir and camera by PC Srirram. Every frame is captured very well and even now the film looks fresh with an artistic feel.

Kamalhasan : Elegant performance and would have under played in front of Chevaliar Sivaji , Revathi and others. However he would have added some commercial elements like 5 Songs and 3 fight scenes. Silambattam is a visual treat. Climax performance is awesome and one of the best scenes of that decade.

Giving 9/10 just for Kamal's Casteism push on the title and the representation of a long gory fight sequence in the end. He beheads his cousin brother and a realistic shot which gave me fear those days.

A masterpice in Tamil film industry

[kirthi-lsv · 9/10 · 10 November 2018]

This movie is one of Kamals master pieces in Tamil cinema. Kamal Haasan an unconventional actor cum filmmaker has taken a native village subject to his plate and nailed it with his brilliant performance and screenplay. P.C. Sreeram cinematography blended with the legendary maestro Ilayaraja music is a delight in the movie. Director Bharathan makes sure with his making style that this is not a regular commercial movie. Kamal Haasans screenspace shared with the legendary Shivaji Ganesan is commendable. Nasser as an antagonist and his spectacular performance in the movie will make us to feel he was competing with the other two legends. There were other notable performances from actors Revathi, Gauthami and Kaka Radhakrishnan in the movie. All these factors made this movie a blockbuster and also remains a classic cult in the Tamil film industry.

A Masterpiece!

[privenkatesa · 10/10 · 11 January 2023]

A Classic Masterpiece which cannot be recreated. Kamalhassan wears many hats and this movie shows his talent as an writer. His screenplay is a masterpiece. Each and every scene and character and dialogues are amazingly crafted and executed by another legend the director, Bharathan! PC Shriram's cinematography adds magic to the movie. Every aspect of technical brilliance is seen. Illayaraja Sir's one of the finest albums. You will keep humming to Inji Iduppazaghi (kamal sir and Janaki amma's voice!!) to till this day and in future(30+ years and counting)

Legends Sivaji Ganesan sir takes over the first half and the second half belongs to Revathy Mam!! Wow she comes in only for about 40 mins but steals the show even with Kamalhassan in the frame. That shows her exceptional acting as an innocent village girl. No wonder she swept all awards for best actress in 1992. Of course, Kamalhassan wrote the script and created these characters. He should be very proud for creating this magic. What can I say about his acting, he is absolutely amazing. Vadivelu, his best performance is in this movie. When you ask me one of the cruelest villian of tamil cinema, I would say Nassar Sir what a performance. Gouthami Mam's best performance in her career! A must watch!! Nothing can match this movie. I would easily say this movie should be one of the top 10 movies from the Indian film industry. Bravo team Thevar Magan!

Acting masterclass

[ragingbull_2005 · 8/10 · 13 April 2024]

Thevar Magan (Thevar's son) is one of the best dramas of Indian cinema. It is also not easy to find.

It is not available on any OTT or on YouTube. I found it on Telegram, via a random thread on Redditt. Also, I ended up manually adjusting the subtitles close to 200000 milli seconds on VLC to sync with the film. But, man, it is worth the effort and then, some.

Starring two of the top actors to ever grace the screens, Sivaji Ganesan and Haasan, along with Revathi, Nasar & Gautami, it has too many supremely powerful scenes to describe here.

It was India's official entry to the 1992 Oscars and was *remade in Hindi as Virasat*.

In my formative years of cinematic understanding, in the 2000s, I could never understand the craze for Kamala Haasan. I had seen _Appu Raaja_ (in Hindi), in the 90s and had been blown away by its technical brilliance. However, as Haasan didn't fit into the conventional _hero_ mould, in looks, I could never connect with him.

However, after watching his earlier cult classics, such as Virumandi, Naayakan, Heyy Ram and then this, I believe that he is truly _Ulaga Nayakan_, the hero of the world, the term that his fans use. He is breathtakingly brilliant in both his avatars, one of a urbane, fun loving guy and then, the uber serious Thevar.

This is truly a God level acting masterclass. Can't be recommended highly enough.

Legendary movie

[shanmugha-51907 · 10/10 · 28 November 2020]

Always will be a classic vintage of India. Kamal Hasan and Shivaji Ganesan ...two pillars of Kollywood.

An entertaining rural village Godfather, albeit being casteist

[Jithindurden · 7/10 · 9 July 2023]

Kamal Haasan wrote a simplified version of Godfather set in a rural village of Tamil Nadu and director Bharathan brings life to it. The cast being Shivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan is really the biggest draw. It's a very entertaining movie that really showcases Bharthan's directorial prowess throughout. The legacy of this movie is unquestionable. Even if there were similar movies in Tamil before, this one was the one that successfully showed what this type of film can do. This kind of rural action film about pride and rivalry has almost become a genre in Tamil. Even in Malayalam films, the influence is very apparent. From Dhruvam, in which Gautami plays the opposite role she plays here, to Aaram Thamburan, there are many films that followed this.

But it was really appalling the way the film constantly glorifies this so-called ruling caste of Thevars throughout the movie, even a whole song that constantly plays. Ultimately the film tells us to stop the violence and wants at least the next generation to study and grow beyond it, but all those are more like suggestions and hints in the movie. When it comes to what is directly said and more than that never stops to celebrate is how great Thevars are which really goes overboard. It's something that shows the cultural milieu of that time, where even if the movies weren't explicitly glorifying caste all that much before, any criticism can only be made through such glorification. It really marks how society is at that point but doesn't really justify the filmmakers who could be more responsible about it.

Nonetheless, the film was really entertaining and whatever else is there, for me, the highpoint will be Inji-edupazhaki song in Janaki's voice.

This film i consider is the first of its kind which introduced a very bad tradition of upholding caste pride and creation of a subculture.

[karthik_dravidian · 4/10 · 30 May 2006]

To begin with in this film Nasser has really come up with a sterling performance ,ilaiyaraaja's music is incomparable it gives everyone a feeling of the rural conditions .Sivaji was also good .Despite all this the film 'Thevar Magan' many consider to be a classic and is one of the best in Tamil cinema .But i pity on their sense of understanding this film. Thevar magan is the first film to my knowledge in Tamil to have introduced a kind of subculture where the caste pride comes into fore. The song 'potri paadadi ponnae'is not at all needed in the film but still to show the caste pride a genealogical eulogy takes place.The story is such that Kamal who is an urban educated 'Modern'youth who comes back to village after his studies .He is fed up with the kind of tradition and related incidents that happen in the village where antagonism between two families leads to bloodshed and the whole village is suffering because of the two supposedly bigwigs in the village..The problem to me with this film is the way the frames were produced for instance mythical ancestry claims made and linking Netaji with their caste proving their mettle for valour and taking to international level and how the song created troubles in southern districts seems to worry me. Kamal who speaks in terms of modernity becomes pre modern self by changing his attire to Veshti and having a big moustache showing signs of stiffness and finally finally takes up arms.

What a movie

[siddarthknight · 9/10 · 17 August 2020]

The realistic movie with the Greatest and Great Legends of Acting. Sivaji sir's words/ Acting will mesmerize you and a scene were Kamal will sit down and speak with Sivaji sir is my all time favourite, will never regret watching the film as it will provoke your thinking broader and as said earlier, Sivaji sir and Kamal would have done a master piece. All the songs will be superb.