Art film
"Nayakan" received critical acclaim. On 23 October 1987, N. Krishnaswamy of "The Indian Express" said, "["Nayakan"] is a rare Tamil film. Sensitivity is its hallmark. Authenticity is its lifebreath. It has the stamp of nativity. It has class. Yet, it is not an Art film. It could be a watershed in Tamil cinema; an artistically made film that could make money as well." On 1 November, "Ananda Vikatan" stated that Haasan underplayed his role well and demonstrated his histrionics as a godfather in the film well, adding that the film stood out for its sets, taking, colour, richness and international quality camera work. The magazine gave the film one of its highest marks of 60. Writing for "India Today" in 1989, Madhu Jain believed "Nayakan" deserved "a permanent place in the Indian cinema pantheon" after watching it at the 12th International Film Festival in Delhi. A 1988 review published in "Bombay: The City Magazine" described Haasan as having given a "powerhouse performance".