'Thevar Magan' (1992), one of Tamil cinema’s most celebrated films, stands as one of Kamal Haasan’s brilliance as both a writer and an actor. Directed by the renowned Bharathan, the film featured a stellar cast including the legendary Sivaji Ganesan, Revathi, Gauthami, and Nasser.

What makes the film’s legacy even more remarkable is the speed with which its screenplay was crafted. Kamal Haasan, who wrote the script himself, completed it in just seven days; a feat that has since become a part of Tamil cinema’s history. It was also the first Tamil film to be scripted using screenwriting software, “Movie Magic.”

Haasan has acknowledged that 'Thevar Magan' was inspired by the Hollywood classic The Godfather (1972) and the Kannada film Kaadu (1973). Interestingly, in the 1980s, director Muktha Srinivasan had planned to adapt The Godfather for Tamil cinema with Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan in the lead roles. However, the project was eventually shelved as Haasan’s associate, Ananthu, felt it would become a Ganesan-centric film rather than a balanced narrative.

Determined to create a film with a compelling father-son dynamic, Kamal Haasan took it upon himself to write a new story, which would later become 'Thevar Magan'. Initially titled 'Nammavar', the film was later renamed 'Thevar Magan.'

Upon its release, Thevar Magan not only achieved critical and commercial success, running for 175 days in theaters, but also won five National Film Awards, solidifying its place as a landmark in Indian cinema.

Source / Image Credit : TimesofIndia