Indian (1996 film)

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'''''Indian''''' is a 1996 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[vigilante film|vigilante]] [[action film]] directed by [[S. Shankar|Shankar]] and produced by [[A. M. Rathnam|Sri Surya Movies]], Set in different timelines, it follows Senapathy, an aging freedom fighter turned vigilante, known as "Indian", who fights against corruption. The film stars [[Kamal Haasan]] in the main dual lead role, alongside [[Manisha Koirala]], [[Urmila Matondkar]], [[Sukanya (actress)|Sukanya]], [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]], [[Goundamani]], [[Senthil]], [[Nedumudi Venu]], [[Kasthuri Shankar|Kasthuri]], [[Nizhalgal Ravi]] and [[Ajay Rathnam]]. The music was composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], while cinematography and editing were handled by [[Jeeva (director)|Jeeva]] and [[B. Lenin]]-[[V. T. Vijayan]]. In the film, Senapathy, a retired [[Indian freedom fighter|freedom fighter]] rebels against [[corruption in India]], which puts him in conflict with his son Chandru, who lives by corruption.

'''''Indian''''' is a 1996 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[vigilante film|vigilante]] [[action film]] directed by [[S. Shankar|Shankar]] and produced by [[A. M. Rathnam|Sri Surya Movies]]. The film stars [[Kamal Haasan]] in dual roles as an aging [[List of Indian independence activists|freedom fighter]] turned vigilante who fights against corruption in India, and his son who lives by corruption and detests his father. [[Manisha Koirala]], [[Urmila Matondkar]], [[Sukanya (actress)|Sukanya]], [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]], [[Goundamani]], [[Senthil]], [[Nedumudi Venu]], [[Kasthuri Shankar|Kasthuri]], [[Nizhalgal Ravi]] and [[Ajay Rathnam]]. The music was composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], while cinematography and editing were handled by [[Jeeva (director)|Jeeva]] and [[B. Lenin]]-[[V. T. Vijayan]].

''Indian'' was released on 9 May 1996 worldwide and became the highest-grossing Tamil film upon release.{{sfn |Dhananjayan |2014 |p=352}} It also helped popularise [[varma kalai]], the martial art practised by the title character.{{Cite news |last=Chandrasekar |first=Preethi |date=2003-04-27 |title=Martial art with a healing touch |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/martial-art-with-a-healing-touch/article28639624.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617222535/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/martial-art-with-a-healing-touch/article28639624.ece |archive-date=17 June 2020 |access-date=2026-01-14 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}} The filmwas selected by [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|India as its entry]] for the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] for the [[Academy Awards]] in 1996, but was [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best International Feature Film|not nominated]]. It won three [[National Film Awards]], including [[National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor]] (Haasan), two [[Filmfare Awards South|South Filmfare Awards]] and two [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]. It was partially reshot in [[Hindi]] as ''Hindustani'' with Manorama being replaced by [[Aruna Irani]] and released on 23 August 1996. A sequel titled ''[[Indian 2]]'' was released in 2024.

''Indian'' was released on 9 May 1996 worldwide and became the highest-grossing Tamil film upon release.{{sfn |Dhananjayan |2014 |p=352}} It also helped popularise [[varma kalai]], the martial art practised by the title character.{{Cite news |last=Chandrasekar |first=Preethi |date=2003-04-27 |title=Martial art with a healing touch |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/martial-art-with-a-healing-touch/article28639624.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617222535/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/martial-art-with-a-healing-touch/article28639624.ece |archive-date=17 June 2020 |access-date=2026-01-14 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en}} The film was selected by [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|India as its entry]] for the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] for the [[Academy Awards]] in 1996, but was [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees for Best International Feature Film|not nominated]]. It won three [[National Film Awards]], including [[National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor]] (Haasan), two [[Filmfare Awards South|South Filmfare Awards]] and two [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]. It was partially reshot in [[Hindi]] as ''Hindustani'' with Manorama being replaced by [[Aruna Irani]] and released on 23 August 1996. A sequel titled ''[[Indian 2]]'' was released in 2024.

== Plot ==

== Plot ==

A series of killings takes place at [[Avadi]] in the same pattern within a few months; stabbing by a knife and the victim becoming paralysed before dying. The [[Tamil Nadu Police|Chennai Police Department]] in liaison with the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] form a joint team led by Krishnaswamy to nab the killer. They scrutinise the evidences and narrow down the killer by his age, which should be more than 70 based on the writing style of a letter left behind by the killer while killing an officer in the [[Government of India|government]] treasury. The old man is later revealed to be Senapathy, a retired [[List of Indian independence activists|Indian freedom fighter]] and a member of [[Indian National Army]] led by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], for threatening a poor old woman to bribe him to hand over compensation amount of ₹10,000 (around US$100) given by the government as her husband was killed in a riot.

A series of killings takes place at [[Avadi]] in the same pattern within a few months; stabbing by a knife and the victim becoming paralysed before dying. The [[Tamil Nadu Police|Chennai Police Department]] in liaison with the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] form a joint team led by Krishnaswamy to nab the killer. They scrutinise the evidences and narrow down the killer by his age, which should be more than 70 based on the writing style of a letter left behind by the killer while killing an officer in the [[Government of India|government]] treasury. The old man is later revealed to be Senapathy, a retired [[List of Indian independence activists|Indian freedom fighter]] and a member of [[Indian National Army]] led by [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], for threatening a poor old woman to bribe him to hand over compensation amount of {{INRConvert|10000|year=1996}} given by the government as her husband was killed in a riot.

Chandrabose "Chandru", a small-time broker stationed outside the [[Regional Transport Office]] at Chennai, and his assistant Subbaiah aid people in bribing the right officials inside the RTO in getting permits and licenses. At the same time Chandru's girlfriend Aishwarya, an [[Animal welfare and rights in India|animal rights]] activist, also comes into conflict with Sapna, the daughter of [[Secretary of Transportation]]. Chandru attempts to win over Sapna and her family to secure a job as a [[Vehicle inspection|brake inspector]] at the same RTO. Aishwarya is irked by the fact that Sapna and her mother are exploiting Chandru's situation, getting him to do household chores. Sapna falls in love with Chandru, but she realises Chandru and Aishwarya's love and keeps her feelings as a secret.

Chandrabose "Chandru", a small-time broker stationed outside the [[Regional Transport Office]] at Chennai, and his assistant Subbaiah aid people in bribing the right officials inside the RTO in getting permits and licenses. At the same time Chandru's girlfriend Aishwarya, an [[Animal welfare and rights in India|animal rights]] activist, also comes into conflict with Sapna, the daughter of [[Secretary of Transportation]]. Chandru attempts to win over Sapna and her family to secure a job as a [[Vehicle inspection|brake inspector]] at the same RTO. Aishwarya is irked by the fact that Sapna and her mother are exploiting Chandru's situation, getting him to do household chores. Sapna falls in love with Chandru, but she realises Chandru and Aishwarya's love and keeps her feelings as a secret.