Nandanar (1942 film)

Nandanar நந்தனார்
Film Poster
Directed by	Murugadasa (A. Muthuswamy Iyer)
Produced by	S. S. Vasan
Written by	Ki. Ra
Based on	Musical Play Nandan Charithram by Gopalkrishna Bharathiyar
Starring	M. M. Dandapani Desikar Serukalathur Sama Sundari Bai M. R. Swaminathan Ranjan
Music by	M. T. Parthasarathy Rajeswara Rao
Cinematography	Silne Bose B. S. Ranga
Edited by	C. Panju N. R. Krishnamoorthy
Production company	Gemini Studios
Release date	20 September 1942
Running time	142 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Nandanar (தமிழ்: நந்தனார்) is 1942 Indian mythological and devotional film, based on the Tamil folk myth of Nandan, a low-caste farmhand, and his deep devotion to Lord Nataraja of Chithambaram. Nandanar was a major success, in part because of an innovative prize scheme.

The film was directed by Muruga Dossa and produced by S. S. Vasan under his production company Gemini Studios. The film script was written by Ki. Ra., with music by M. T. Parthasarathy and Rajeswara Rao. Starring M. M. Dandapani Desikar (his played titled role) and Serukalathur Sama played lead role and M. R. Swamynathan, Sundari Bai and other played portraying supporting role. Actor Ranjan appeared as Lord Shiva in one scene in the film.

The story of Nanda was told as a musical title by Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar's Nandan Charithram in the early 19th century. Bharathiyar's work was an immensely popular example of Harikatha.

This was the fifth series of films on Nandhanar made in Tamil. The earlier versions were made in 1923 (silent), 1930 (talkie), 1935 (talkie) and in 1942. The most successful among these versions was made by Gemini Studios in 1942 with M. M. Dandapani Desikar, a well known Carnatic musician with a melodious voice and one of the early singing stars who played the role Nandhan. Its concept was similar to Nandanar (1935 film) (also known as Bhaktha Nandanar), which starred K. B. Sundarambal as Nandhanar. Though earlier films on Nandhanar failed, this 1942 version was a huge commercial success. The film made an impact among the audience, especially among Harijans (pariah), who were considered untouchable at that time.