Ellam Inba Mayyam

Ellam Inbamayyam
Directed by	G. N. Rangarajan
Produced by	Meena Panju Arunachalam
Written by	Panju Arunachalam
Starring	Kamal Haasan Madhavi Y. G. Mahendra Jaishankar Thengai Srinivasan Manorama K. A. Thangavelu Suman
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography	N. K. Viswanathan
Edited by	K. R. Ramalingam
Production company	P. A. Art Productions
Distributed by	P. A. Art Productions
Release date	11 December 1981
Country	India
Language	Tamil
Budget	25 lakhs

Ellam Inba Mayyam is a 1981 Tamil Comedy film directed by G. N. Rangarajan, starring Kamal Haasan and Madhavi in the lead. While actor Jaishankar and Y. G. Mahendran plays supporting role. The music was handled by Ilaiyaraaja. This was the movie perhaps for the first time that Kamal Haasan played seven or more different getups. The movie was a Superhit at the box office.

Pazhani (Y. G. Mahendran) and Velu (Kamal Haasan), two country bumpkins, arrive at Chennai in search of a job. They end up getting conned the very first day and lose all their meager possessions. The next day, each man decides to go his own way in search of a job and both agree to meet up in the evening to share prospects. Velu manages to enter the service of Kailasa Mudaliyar (Jaishankar) who is a building contractor and eventually becomes his personal servant. Meanwhile, Pazhani gets a job at a hotel and eventually starts to develop feelings for his boss's daughter Savitri. Although Pazhani picks up the knack of living in a city, Velu remains the same old innocent fellow, loyal to his employer.

A businessman visits Mudaliyar and brings with him illegal gold biscuits worth Rs. 12 lakh. Mudaliyar warns the businessman about venturing out with the gold and asks him to stay in his house. Later that day, Mudaliyar steals gold worth Rs. 10 lakh when the businessman is away. Velu is unaware of all the dealings and goes about doing his household chores. The next day, Mudaliyar rushes the businessman to make a quick deal with a buyer; when he seems too nervous to do it, he sends Velu instead to deliver the remaining gold worth Rs. 2 lakh and get the cash. The innocent Velu, who is unaware of the trap, proceeds to fulfill his employer's command. Meanwhile, Mudaliyar calls the police and informs them about Velu in the car with the gold. Policemen give chase and catch up with Velu. When they trace the car back to Mudaliyar, he pretends innocence and tricks Velu into owning up for the crime. Velu takes the blame, hoping Mudaliyar will save him. Instead, he is sentenced to three years in prison. It is only then that he realizes that he has been cheated by his employer.

While Velu is lamenting in prison, Mudaliyar has started an Export Import business through which he gains fame and riches. In prison, Velu is mentored by a fellow convict. At the end of the term, he emerges as a completely reformed man who is ready to take on Mudaliyar. His old friend Pazhani meets him outside the prison complex and takes him home. Pazhani who is now married to Savitri introduces Velu to his wife and sister-in-law Gomathi (Surekha). Velu goes to meet Mudaliyar and demands half of his fortune. When Mudaliyar refuses, Velu challenges him that he will extract what is rightfully due to him.