Originally released in 1959.
Commercial Blockbuster
Winner of Best Film, Best Actor, Best Music in Asia-Afro Film Festival 1960.
Sivaji Ganesan - Best Actor - Asia Afro Continent

First International Award for an Indian Actor - The Original Ulaga Nayagan !

Great Film ! Legendary Performance at the age of 30 by Nadigar Thilagam !

None can surpass his performance Ever !

Honestly, I am too small a person to review this blockbuster masterpiece which won matinee idol Sivaji Ganesan his first international award for his gutsy performance.From a generation that has watched most of the actor's fine movies on T.V as re runs during my school days, seeing this wonderful actor's tour-de -force performance in th titular role on the big screen is nothing short of spectacular.The freshly reconstructed version is proof of the actor's powerful chaste tamil dialogue delivery..two scenes pre intermission and pre climax are proof enough to see what a master class performer he was.The film too me seemed disjointed as it hurries through various subplots keeping the patriotic angle intact..too many songs which are merely distracting..barring the lovely "Inbam pongum vennila" and "singara kanne", none registered for me.The scenes may be too melodramatic and over acted for gen-2k15 but the lavishness/scale on which the movie has been mounted needs special mention.
The film is supported by good performances notably from Gemini Ganesan who plays the king's chieftan ,Varalaksmi as the queen who spells grace and elegance and Padmini who looks bewitching.Theperfromances a re uniformly good even if they border on melodramatic.For me watching this one amidst the modern day tepid and terrible silver screen dramas..this one was very hatke.Recommended for all Sivaji's die hard fans and for his powerful dialogue delivery.