Mattukkara Velan

Mattukkara Velan
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	P. Neelakantan
Screenplay by	A. L. Narayanan
Based on	Emme Thammanna by A. K. Velan
Produced by	N. Kanagasabai
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran Jayalalithaa Lakshmi
Cinematography	V. Ramamoorthy
Edited by	K. Narayanan
Music by	K. V. Mahadevan
Production company	Jayanthi Films
Release date	14 January 1970 (1970-01-14)
Running time	173 minutes[1]
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Mattukkara Velan (transl. Velan, the cowherd) is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Pa. Neelakandhan. It is a remake of the 1966 Kannada film Emme Thammanna.^[2] The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and Lakshmi, with S. A. Ashokan as the villain. It was released on 14 January 1970^[3] and ran for 100 days.

Velan is an innocent villager whose livelihood is rearing cattle, and he holds them in high regard. Nagalingam, the municipal chairman, is crooked and cruel, committing many atrocities in the town and engaging in anti-social and illegal activities. He has an arrogant daughter, Kamala, and a well-natured son, Sundharam. Sundharam often teases and opposes his father’s evil deeds.

When Velan's cows obstruct Kamala’s way, she beats the cattle. In retaliation, Velan beats her but becomes frightened upon discovering that Kamala is the chairman’s daughter. Nagalingam sends his men to kill Velan, but Sundharam rescues him and disguises him as a college student. Meanwhile, Advocate Sattanathan, an honest person who supports justice, fights against Nagalingam. He leads a happy family life with his ideal wife, Annapurna, and their daughter, Radha.

Sattanathan arranges a marriage for Radha with his childhood friend Sripathi's son, Raghu, who resembles Velan. On Sundharam's advice, Velan goes to Sattanathan’s house, where he is mistaken for Raghu and honored. Velan and Radha fall in love. Eventually, Raghu arrives to meet Sattanathan but is captured by Nagalingam's goons and beaten. Raghu escapes and arrives at Sattanathan’s house, where he is surprised to find Velan. Raghu explains his situation, and Velan's identity is revealed.

Raghu, knowing that Velan loves Radha, allows him to stay. They engage in a confusing drama to avoid revealing their identities. Raghu meets Kamala, who initially mistakes him for Velan but later falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Sundharam falls in love with their maidservant, Kaveri. Radha mistakenly believes Velan is involved with Kamala when she sees Raghu and Kamala together. Raghu clears up the misunderstanding, but Sattanathan, believing Velan is the cause, decides to arrange Radha's marriage to Raghu. Raghu, however, refuses and declares his intention to marry Kamala.

Narasimha reveals that Nagalingam is responsible for his father's death, which was falsely portrayed as a suicide. Raghu learns that his father had gathered evidence against Nagalingam and hidden it. Angered, Raghu confronts Nagalingam, who then captures him and blackmails Sattanathan for the evidence. Sattanathan rushes to Nagalingam's house, and just as Nagalingam is about to kill him, Velan intervenes, pretending to have murdered Sattanathan.

In the end, Velan’s virtues are recognized, and Raghu is rescued. Velan uncovers the secret evidence, finds the route to Nagalingam’s hideout, and defeats him, saving Raghu. The movie concludes with the happy marriages of Velan and Radha, Raghu and Kamala, and Sundharam and Kaveri.

The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and the lyrics were written by Kannadasan and Vaali.^[5]

• Mattukkara Velan at IMDb