# Periyar (2007 film)

Periyar is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language biographical film, made about the life of the social reformer and rationalist Periyar E. V. Ramasamy with Sathyaraj who himself is a rationalist in the lead role. This movie was partly funded by the then Tamil Nadu government headed by Karunanidhi. The film was dubbed in Telugu and released as Periyar Ramaswamy Naicker.

## Plot

The film details the life of Periyar right from childhood to his marriage to Nagammal to his pilgrimage to Kashi which changed his life where he understands the cruelty of the Caste System that only Brahmins are welcomed and he was refused meals at choultries which exclusively fed Brahmins forbidding other Hindu castes. Having starved severely, Periyar found no other better way than to enter a choultry disguises himself with the appearance of a Brahmin wearing a thread on his bare chest but it is found out and is disgusted with life in Kashi. Periyar returns and joins his father's business and later becomes the Chairman of the Erode Municipality. Later, which he resigns from this post and joins the freedom struggle. He becomes the President of Congress party of Madras Presidency. Later he quits the Congress party and joins the Justice Party. He goes on to form the DK. His role in the Anti-Hindi agitation and Vaikom struggle, his second marriage, the formation of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) by his lieutenant C. N. Annadurai, and Periyar's death and its aftermath.

## Cast

* Sathyaraj as Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
* Chandrasekhar as Ramanathan, Periyar's friend
* Jyothirmayi as Nagammai
* Khushbu Sundar as Maniammai
* Manorama as Chinnathayamma, Ramasamy's mother
* Kaikala Satyanarayana as Venkatappa Nayakkar, Ramasamy's father
* S. S. Stanley as C. N. Annadurai
* Mohan Ram as B. R. Ambedkar
* Vasu Vikram as M. R. Radha
* Vijay Adhiraj as K. Veeramani
* Vennira Aadai Nirmala as Moovalur Ramamirtham
* Swarnamalya as a Thanjavur Dancer
* Typist Gopu as a reporter
* Madhan Bob as a musician performing Kathakalakshepam
* Lavanya as Kannamma
* Nizhalgal Ravi as Ayyamuthu
* Ajay Rathnam as Subramaniyam
* Ilavarasu

## Production

Gnana Rajasekaran revealed he prompted to do Periyar due to the "enormous pressure" from audience after the success of Bharathi. It took four years for him to complete the script. The film's budget was funded by ₹95 lakh (worth ₹3.9 crore in 2021 prices) grant by Government of Tamil Nadu. The filming was held at various locations in Tamilnadu and also at Malaysia and Russia.

## Music

The music for the film has been scored by Vidyasagar.

## Reception

Rediff wrote "Whether it is well-received or not, just as the last line of the film says, this film will hopefully help the spirit of Periyar live forever and ever". Filmy South wrote "Overall, Gnana Rajashekharan has done a commendable job in depicting a legendary leader’s life.Though there are some inadequacies in the narration the bold attempt should be appreciated and encouraged so that more such efforts would be made.". Sify wrote "Rajasekharan has done a decent job in presenting the majestic life and times of Periyar, with a brilliant performance from Sathyaraj in the title role. What makes it convincing is that the director has conveyed dramatic tension and an underlining of the humane moments in a very subtle manner".