Unakkaga Naan
{{More plot|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Unakkaga Naan.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = C. V. Rajendran
| producer = K. Balaji
| writer = A. L. Narayanan (dialogues)
| story = Gulzar
| narrator =
| starring = Sivaji Ganesan
Gemini Ganesan
Lakshmi
Vennira Aadai Nirmala
| music = M. S. Viswanathan
| cinematography = Masthan
| editing = B. Kanthasamy
| studio = Sujatha Cine Arts
| released = {{Film date|1976|2|12|df=y|ref1=}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
}}
Unakkaga Naan ({{translation| I'm There for You}}) is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language drama film produced by K. Balaji and directed by C. V. Rajendran. Starring Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Lakshmi, and Vennira Aadai Nirmala,{{Cite web |title=181-190 |url=http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp19.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826160804/http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp19.htm |archive-date=26 August 2014 |access-date=21 August 2014 |website=Nadigarthilagam.com}} it is a remake of the 1973 Hindi film Namak Haraam.{{Cite news |last=Sampath |first=Janani |date=18 July 2013 |title=A phenomenon called Rajesh Khanna |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2013/jul/18/a-phenomenon-called-rajesh-khanna-497976.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012152133/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2013/jul/18/A-phenomenon-called-Rajesh-Khanna-497976.html |archive-date=12 October 2016 |access-date=12 October 2016 |work=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite news |last=Sampath |first=Janani |date=27 August 2013 |title=The common man's film maker |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2013/aug/27/the-common-mans-film-maker-510849.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302043833/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2013/aug/27/The-common-mans-film-maker-510849.html |archive-date=2 March 2020 |access-date=2 March 2020 |work=The New Indian Express}} The film was released on 12 February 1976.{{Cite news |date=11 February 1976 |title=உனக்காக நான் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_22_4_50/4.jp2/full/1000,1496/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/YdAm2 |archive-date=5 January 2025 |access-date=5 January 2025 |work=Navamani |pages=4 |language=Ta |via=Endangered Archives Programme}}
Plot
Raja and Ramu are two good friends who are as close as brothers going on to wear the same clothes with both willing to die or kill for each other. Raja, the rich one of the two faces many challenges after attempting to tackle a union leader at Raja's mill. He is also insulted by the same union leader. Ramu swears revenge, changes his name to Shankar, joins Raja's factory, impresses the workers, climbs up the ranks and eventually becomes the union leader only for him to realize that the union leader Dharmalingam was right and the labour was living in abject poverty taking up the fight against his friend. Things get awry when their friendship becomes known to the workers who later understand that he is now on their side. In the end, Ramu dies fighting for the workers due to the nexus between Raja's father and the corrupt manager causing Raja to give up all his properties and take up Ramu's work.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Sivaji Ganesan as Raja
- Gemini Ganesan as Ramu/Sankar
- Lakshmi as Radha
- Vennira Aadai Nirmala as Meena
- K. Balaji as Netti
- Major Sundarrajan as Chakravarthi
- S. V. Subbaiah as Dharmalingam
- R. S. Manohar as Arjunan
- S. V. Ramadas as Bar fighter
- V. K. Ramasamy as Alvar
- Manorama as Arasangam
- Nagesh as Dhanarajan alias Lenindasan
- Manimala as Vido Sister
- Y. G. Mahendran as Panjam
- Typist Gopu as Senior Lawyer
- V. K. Padmini as Parvathi
- T. V. Kumuthini as Ramu and Parvathi Mother
- Baby Indira as Arasangam Assistant
}}
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.{{Cite web |title=Unakkaaga naan Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan — M.S. Viswanathan, Tamil, Vinyl Records |url=https://mossymart.com/product/unakkaaga-naan-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124230722/https://mossymart.com/product/unakkaaga-naan-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |archive-date=24 November 2021 |access-date=9 August 2022 |website=Mossymart}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Kadhal Kathai
| note1 =
| lyrics1 =
| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
| length1 =
| title2 = Imai Thotta
| note2 =
| lyrics2 =
| extra2 = T. M. Soundararajan, K. J. Yesudas
| length2 =
| title3 = Iraivan Ulagathai
| note3 =
| lyrics3 =
| extra3 = K. J. Yesudas
| length3 =
| title4 = Kaadu Kanda
| note4 =
| lyrics4 =
| extra4 = S. C. Krishnan, L. R. Anjali
| length4 =
| title5 = Nee Ennai
| note5 =
| lyrics5 =
| extra5 = L. R. Eswari
| length5 =
}}
Reception
Kanthan of Kalki praised the performances of star cast, cinematography as highlight and Narayanan's dialogues as short and sweet.{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=29 February 1976 |title=உனக்காக நான் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1976/feb/29-02-1976/p47.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220728042911/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1976/feb/29-02-1976/p47.jpg |archive-date=28 July 2022 |access-date=28 July 2022 |magazine=Kalki |page=47 |language=ta}}
References
{{reflist}}