Nadigan

Nadigan

Year: 1990

Runtime: 145 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: P. Vasu

Nadigan (English: Actor) is a 1990 Tamil-language film directed by P. Vasu. The movie stars Sathyaraj in the lead role alongside Kushboo Sundar. Upon its release it garnered largely positive reviews and became a blockbuster, indicating strong box‑office performance. Critics highlighted Vasu's direction and the leads' chemistry as key strengths. It is a Tamil remake of the Hindi film Professor.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Nadigan (1990)

Trace every key event in Nadigan (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Vishwanathan murders Raghu and stages it as suicide

Vishwanathan poisons Raghu to keep all profits for himself, then makes the death look like a suicide. He attends his daughter's wedding later, publicly feigning grief to protect his image. This act of murder triggers a chain of events that drags the story toward a dangerous revelation.

Before the daughter's wedding Vishwanathan's residence and daughter's wedding venue
2

Videographer records the murder plan and hides the evidence

A secretly recorded conversation captures Vishwanathan discussing the murder with a henchman. The videographer hides the incriminating video cassette in Geetha's bag just as she flees by car. The hidden footage becomes a dangerous thread that ties Geetha to the crime.

During the recording Geetha's car
3

Henchmen kill the videographer in a theater

Vishwanathan's men confront and kill the videographer inside a theater, attempting to erase the evidence. The body disappears afterward, leaving the crime unresolved for now. The missing footage keeps the danger alive for Geetha and her family.

Theater
4

Vishwanathan's men close in on Geetha

Vishwanathan's operatives close in on Geetha, who unknowingly carries the incriminating cassette. She flees, hoping to outrun the danger and keep the evidence from falling into the wrong hands. The pursuit tightens the stakes for the ensemble.

5

Geetha and sisters live under strict aunt at Island Estate

Geetha, Radha, and their siblings live with their spinster aunt Anandha Karpagavalli at a vast Island Estate in Kodaikanal. Karpagavalli enforces old-fashioned discipline that confines the teenagers. The estate's isolation sets the stage for the ensuing drama and danger.

Island Estate, Kodaikanal
6

Raja meets Devaraj on a train and swaps suitcases

Raja, a street performer, meets Devaraj on a train and accidentally swaps their suitcases. He finds Devaraj's job offer letter and decides to seize the opportunity to help his mother. Desperate circumstances drive Raja to impersonate Devaraj.

Train
7

Raja becomes Devaraj and joins Island Estate

Disguised with a beard and white hair, Raja takes Devaraj's place and is hired as the Island Estate's music teacher and caretaker. He quickly wins Anandha Karpagavalli's trust, who grows fond of the “unmarried elderly” man she believes is Devaraj. The deception plants him firmly inside the family.

Island Estate
8

Real Devaraj struggles to locate the estate

The real Devaraj cannot locate the Island Estate due to language barriers and confusion about the location. His search underscores the widening gap between the two men and the risk of being exposed. The situation grows more tense as time passes.

Early stage
9

Geetha and Radha's schemes to outsmart Devaraj fail

Geetha and Radha attempt to outsmart the supposed Devaraj, but Raja maintains his cover and influence in the estate. Their plans backfire as the household becomes more dependent on the disguised musician. The sisters' resistance wanes as the deception deepens.

Island Estate
10

Raja saves Geetha from Vishwanathan's men

Raja intervenes when Vishwanathan's henchmen corner Geetha, rescuing her from danger. In the moment, Geetha realizes the man she has grown close to is Raja, not Devaraj, and she begins to fall for him. The revelation complicates their already tangled loyalties.

Road/Estates
11

Kannayiram hides and blackmails Raja

Kurangu Kannayiram hides in Raja's house while evading the police and ends up blackmailing Raja into letting him stay. The pressure creates a volatile dynamic that threatens Raja's carefully maintained disguise. The alliance with Kannayiram adds a new layer of danger to the plot.

Raja's house
12

Vishwanathan sends two women to retrieve the cassette

Vishwanathan dispatches two women to Geetha's house to retrieve the incriminating cassette. The chase around the cassette raises the tension among the main characters. Geetha meanwhile pushes to align with Raja by prompting Karpagavalli to consider him as a groom.

Geetha's house
13

Karpagavalli relaxes rules and considers Raja as a groom

After meeting Raja, Karpagavalli relaxes many restrictions and contemplates him as a potential groom. She invites him to stay and begins to view his influence in the household with a favorable eye, unaware of his true identity. The line between affection and deception becomes thinner.

Island Estate
14

Disguise exposed; climax with abduction, rescue, and arrest

The truth about Devaraj is revealed when Raja's disguise is uncovered, and Geetha learns he is the man she knows as Raja. The cassette resurfaces as Maya sends it to Chinni, and Vishwanathan's henchwoman abducts Geetha to retrieve it. Raja and Kannayiram lead a rescue to save Geetha's family, resulting in arrests of Vishwanathan's men; the real Devaraj eventually arrives at the Island Estate to take up the music teacher position.

Climax Island Estate / City

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:02

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Stories in this thread typically begin with a family facing an imminent threat, such as kidnapping or financial ruin. The protagonist embarks on a dangerous path, often involving crime or deception, to gather resources or information. The narrative builds through escalating threats and tense confrontations, leading to a climactic rescue sequence where the family's safety is ultimately secured.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their core premise of a family under siege and the desperate, often morally complex, actions taken to save them. They share a HIGH intensity, TENSE tone, and VARIABLE pacing that mixes character-driven drama with frantic action. The emotional core is the unwavering theme of family loyalty triumphing over external corruption.

Unlock the Full Story of Nadigan

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Nadigan Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Nadigan, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Nadigan Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Nadigan

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Nadigan

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