Naanum Oru Thozhilali (1986)

Born from the creative mind of C. V. Sridhar in 1980, the film initially christened as Sakthi was to be a Cinemascope masterpiece. This project was a much-anticipated reunion of Sridhar and Kamal Haasan, whose previous collaboration on the 1978 hit film Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu, also starring Rajinikanth, was a grand success. The film was set to mark the debut of Kamal Haasan and Ambika as a leading duo, a pairing that promised sizzling chemistry, evident from pre-release stills of Ambika in a swimsuit. However, the film's journey to the silver screen was far from smooth. The project, simmering on the backburner for a while, was resurrected in 1986 under a new title, Meendum Suryodayam, and production kicked into high gear. The film, initially slated for an April release, was pushed back to 1 May 1986. In the backdrop of these developments, a significant political event unfolded - the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's victory in the March 1986 local authority election. The film's title, Meendum Suryodayam, translating to Rising Sun, now held political connotations. Sridhar, fearing the film might be seen as endorsing the DMK's resurgence symbolized by a rising sun, decided on a title change. Thus, the film became Naanum Oru Thozhilali, a title that had been previously earmarked for a mid-1970s film featuring M. G. Ramachandran, which never saw the light of day. Intrigue, anticipation, and political undercurrents all play a part in the making of Naanum Oru Thozhilali, a film that continues to hold a unique place in Tamil cinema's rich tapestry.

Naanum Oru Thozhilali is an action movie featuring Kamal Haasan and directed by C. V. Sridhar.

Naanum Oru Thozhilali is currently streaming on Eros Now.