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{{About|the 2003 Tamil film|other uses|Nala Damayanthi (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|2003 film by Mouli}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Nala Damayanthi
| image = Nala Damayanthi (2003).jpg
| caption = Theatrical release Poster
| director = [[T. S. B. K. Moulee|Mouli]]
| writer = {{plainlist|
* [[Kamal Haasan]]
* Mouli
}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
* [[Chandrahasan|Chandra Haasan]]
* Kamal Haasan
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]]
* [[Geetu Mohandas]]
* [[Shrutika]]
* [[Sriman (actor)|Sriman]]
* [[Anu Hasan]]
}}
| cinematography = Siddharth
| editing = [[Raja Mohammad]]
| music = [[Ramesh Vinayakam]]
| studio = [[Raaj Kamal Films International]]
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|df=y|2003|6|12}}
| runtime = 138 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
}}
'''''Nala Damayanthi''''' is a 2003 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[comedy film]] directed by [[T. S. B. K. Moulee|Mouli]], written and produced by [[Kamal Haasan]]. The film stars [[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]] in the lead role, with [[Geetu Mohandas]] and [[Shrutika]] playing supporting roles. The film follows the story of a naive Tamil cook stuck in [[Australia]]. It was released on 12 June 2003 to positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/kadhal/20030806.htm|title=Target Dhanush!|website=Rediff}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=${FullName} |url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/330/tamil/nala-damayanthi/121/review.htm |title=Nala Damayanthi Review — Tamil Movie Review |publisher=Nowrunning.com |date=10 June 2003 |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> Madhavan, later remade in [[Hindi]]-language as ''[[Ramji Londonwaley]]'' in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/281216/madhavan-takes-up-the-pen-again.html |title=Madhavan to write dialogues for Hindi version of Vikram Vedha |publisher=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=28 December 2016 |access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Ramji Narayanaswami Iyer ([[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]]), a naive and docile [[Tamil Brahmin]] ([[Kerala Iyers|Palakkad Iyer]]) cook, dreams of marrying off his sister Bhagyam ([[Dhivyadharshini]]) to a good family, as they are orphans and it becomes his sole responsibility. As per convention, he has shell out dowry for the marriage and somehow falls short of the agreed sum. Incidentally, the groom's family happens to admire the food cooked by Ramji and plans him to send to [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] as a cook for a multimillionaire Australian-based Indian family. In return, he has to send part of his salary as compensation for the dowry he owes.

The millionaire dies of [[indigestion]] the day Ramji arrives, leaving him jobless and without his passport and visa, which had been stolen. Desperate to stay and earn, he starts working illegally as a cook in an Indian hotel owned by an [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|NRI]] Badri ([[Sriman (actor)|Sriman]]), but to stay on, he needs to get a legal work permit as the immigration police are on his heels. Ivan (Bruno Xavier), Badri's cunning lawyer friend, explains to him that the only way out is marriage with an Australian citizen. Ramji reluctantly agrees for a fake marriage with Ivan's fiancé Damayanthi ([[Geetu Mohandas]]), a free-spirited motorbiker of [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] [[Christianity|Christian]] background, and they get married over the weekend. For all these gimmicks, Ivan charges heavy fees from Badri and deposits in the joint account of his with Damayanthi. Ramji converts to Christianity, becoming Robert, and then moves into Damayanthi's house.

The police believes this is a fake marriage and decides to refer the matter to the consulate. Constant stalking by the police forces the couple to stay together to avoid detection by authority. Damayanthi is deeply troubled with the rural mannerisms of Ramji. To break the ice, Ramji cooks delicacies for Damayanthi and wins her heart. Over a period of time, Damayanthi realises that Ivan is fooling around with her and does not love her.

Meanwhile, Ramji is not able to send the dowry installments as promised and his sister's in-laws throw her out. Damayanthi handles this situation smartly, sends all the money received for the fake marriage in their joint account to her, and makes sure her long-time friend takes care of her. In their confrontation with the consulate, Ramji answers more than he is asked at the immigration office then is forced to return to India. Damayanthi eventually comes along to Palakkad and the film ends with a happy note where couple starts off a restaurant. Actors [[Kamal Haasan]] and [[Jayaram]] come to inaugurate their restaurant and wish the couple luck.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
*[[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]] as Ramji Narayanaswami Iyer
*[[Geetu Mohandas]] as Damayanthi
*[[Shrutika]] as Malathi
*[[Sriman (actor)|Sriman]] as Badri
*[[Anu Hasan]] as Ammulu
*[[Dhivyadharshini]] as Bhagyam
*Bruno Xavier as Ivan
*Mark Jensen as Hector
*[[Delhi Ganesh]] as Ramji's uncle
*[[Manobala]] as Passport Officer
*[[T. S. B. K. Mouli|Mouli]] as Immigration Officer
*[[Santhana Bharathi]] as Flight Passenger
*Gurpreet Singh Dipak as Bhupinder (Customs Officer)
*[[Sashikumar Subramani|Sashikumar]] as Kicha
*[[Bala Singh]] as Chettiyar
*[[Madhan Bob]] as Ramji's cousin
*[[Vaiyapuri]] as Ramji's cousin
*[[Bombay Gnanam]]
*Jeeva Iyer as Priest
*[[Kamal Haasan]] as himself
*[[Jayaram]] as himself
*[[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] as himself
*[[Vikram Dharma]] as Australian NRI (special appearance)
{{colend}}

== Production ==
Kamal Haasan had written the script with himself in mind to play the lead role in the late 1990s, but never got down to making it because he felt it would not have been cost-effective.<ref name="rediff2003">{{cite web|url=http://inhome.rediff.com/entertai/2003/jun/21sand.htm |title='Someone has taken a political ride on my vehicle' – Rediff.com India News |publisher=Inhome.rediff.com |date=21 June 2003 |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> Through the project, he had aimed to reprise his character of the [[Palakkad]] [[Brahmin]] cook Kameshwaran from ''[[Michael Madana Kama Rajan]]'' (1990) and place him in funny situations occurring in a foreign country. He had briefly considered making the film in early 1999 with the title of ''Londonil Kameshwaran'' after ''[[Marudhanayagam]]'' had run into production troubles, but instead chose to prioritise his commitments for ''[[Hey Ram]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.rediff.com/movies/1999/mar/10ss.htm|title=Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry|website=m.rediff.com}}</ref> After the profitable ''[[Pammal K. Sambandam]]'' (2002), Mouli asked Kamal Haasan to re-collaborate with this particular script but Kamal Haasan was uninterested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://election.rediff.com/movies/2003/feb/15mouli.htm |title=Director Mouli on Nala Damayanthi — Rediff.com Movies |publisher=Election.rediff.com |date=15 February 2003 |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> [[R. Madhavan|Madhavan]] was selected by Kamal Haasan to replace him, after the pair had shot for ''[[Anbe Sivam]]'' together in the period.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mypage.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/09kamal.htm |title=Kamal Haasan and Madhavan on their film Anbesivam |publisher=Mypage.rediff.com |date=9 January 2003 |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> [[Geetu Mohandas]] was signed in February 2003 after Mouli had seen her picture in a magazine, and thus she made her comeback to the Tamil film industry after having appeared as the child in the 1988 film, ''[[En Bommukutty Ammavukku]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chennaionline.com/reeltalk/may24.asp#rtalk7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030609032956/http://chennaionline.com/reeltalk/may24.asp#rtalk7|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 June 2003|title=Reel Talk for 26th May 2003|date=9 June 2003}}</ref> While casting for the role of the lead actress, the makers had made several broadcasts over [[Radio Australia]] without success. Mouli had been insistent on casting a new actress in Tamil and subsequently considered Malayalam actresses [[Kavya Madhavan]] and [[Navya Nair]] before finalising Mohandas. The actress was also recommended to the team by actor [[Jayaram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/feb/11geetu.htm|title=Geetu Mohandas is Damayanthi|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/12/stories/2003061200270202.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030901073638/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/12/stories/2003061200270202.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-09-01|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=In the big league}}</ref> Bruno Xavier, an Australia-based Sri Lankan Tamil actor, was selected to play the antagonist's role after a successful audition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/14/stories/2003081400240100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024102615/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/14/stories/2003081400240100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 October 2003 |title=Winsome Villains |date=14 August 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>

The film was shot predominantly in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]] in February and March 2003 to make most of the daylight hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/22/stories/2003042200330406.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040530124253/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/22/stories/2003042200330406.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2004 |title=Success graph |date=22 April 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> [[Anu Hasan]], daughter of producer Chandra Haasan, helped with production duties and cut costs of the team's shoot in Australia, as well leading post-production works while also provided voice for the film's lead actress Geethu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/12/16/stories/2006121600320300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211221636/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/12/16/stories/2006121600320300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 December 2007 |title=Metro Plus Madurai / Profiles : Spreading fragrance everywhere |date=16 December 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Nala Damayanthi
| type = [[soundtrack]]
| artist = [[Ramesh Vinayakam]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 10 May 2003
| recorded = 2003
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 28:22
| label = Ayngaran Music<br>An Ak Audio
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| producer = Ramesh Vinayakam
| prev_title = [[University (film)|University]]
| prev_year = 2002
| next_title = [[Azhagiya Theeye]]
| next_year = 2004
| misc = {{External media
| audio1 = {{YouTube|28Oa5S8Bi8Y| Audio Jukebox}}
}}
}}
The film's music was composed by [[Ramesh Vinayakam]], which is his third Tamil project he signed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nala Dhamayanthi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://www.deezer.com/en/album/7478198 |website=Deezer |publisher=Anak Audio |access-date=27 October 2018}}</ref> Actor [[Kamal Haasan]] sang an English folk song, titled "Stranded On The Streets", which was written by Pradeep Govind, and also contained the Tamil version of the song "Sudupattadha". The remaining songs were written by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]&[[Na. Muthukumar]].

The soundtrack for the film was released on 10 May 2003. The album got positive reviews with the songs "Stranded On The Streets" and "Enna Ithu" was liked by the audiences and became a success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/11/07/stories/2008110750391600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110131252/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/11/07/stories/2008110750391600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2012 |title=Cinema Plus / Columns : My first break |date=7 November 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/09kamal.htm |title=Kamal Haasan sings in English |publisher=Rediff|access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>
{{tracklist
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 28:22
| title1 = Thirumaangalya Dharunam
| lyrics1 = [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
| extra1 = [[Sujatha Mohan]], [[Sriram Parthasarathy]], Saijanani
| length1 = 4:45
| title2 = Pei Muzhi
| lyrics2 = Na. Muthukumar
| extra2 = Sharath, Sindhu
| length2 = 5:47
| title3 = Sudupattadha
| lyrics3 = Pradeep Govind
| extra3 = [[Kamal Haasan]]
| length3 = 6:18
| title4 = Enna Ithu
| lyrics4 = Vaali
| extra4 = [[Ramesh Vinayagam]], [[Chinmayi]]
| length4 = 5:14
| title5 = Stranded On The Streets
| lyrics5 = Pradeep Govind
| extra5 = [[Kamal Haasan]]
| length5 = 6:18
| title6 = Enna Ithu II
| lyrics6 = Vaali
| extra6 = [[KK (singer)|KK]]
| length6 = 5:16
| all_writing =
}}

== Release ==
The film was a success at the box office and performed well in multiplexes across Chennai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/kadhal/20030806.htm|title=Target Dhanush!|website=Rediff}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=${FullName} |url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/330/tamil/nala-damayanthi/121/review.htm |title=Nala Damayanthi Review — Tamil Movie Review |publisher=Nowrunning.com |date=10 June 2003 |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> [[Sify]] gave a verdict that the film was a "comedy caper" and a "clean comedy with some warm moments".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/nala-damayanthi-review-tamil-13169606.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124115823/http://www.sify.com/movies/nala-damayanthi-review-tamil-13169606.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2014 |title=Movie Review:Nala Damayanthi|publisher=Sify |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref> [[The Hindu]] called the film a "decent offering", adding that "a logical storyline and a well thought out script by Kamal Hassan are definite scoring points that sustain viewers' interest till the end".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/06/13/stories/2003061301190200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031205170957/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/06/13/stories/2003061301190200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2003 |title=Nala Damayanti |date=13 June 2003 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>

Kamal Haasan stated that he intended of remaking the film in Hindi, with the title of ''Maharaj'', but the project did not take off.<ref name="rediff2003" /> Madhavan later wrote and starred in a Hindi version, ''[[Ramji Londonwaley]]'', which released in September 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2005/sep/02ramji.htm |title=Alas, Ramji could have been good — Rediff.com movies |publisher=Inhome.rediff.com |date=2 September 2005 |access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0382866|title=Nala Damayanthi}}

{{Kamal Haasan}}
{{RaajKamalFilmsInternational}}

[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2003 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about immigration]]
[[Category:Films shot in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Indian romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Kamal Haasan]]
[[Category:Tamil films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ramesh Vinayakam]]
[[Category:Films set in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by T. S. B. K. Moulee]]

Nala Damayanthi (2003 film) - Revision history

Rkrakeshboro: Expanded content with additional details

imported>Nardog: infobox wikilink cleanup following an RFC