Naam Pirandha Mann

During the British Raj, Vettaikara Thevar is a rich landlord who lives with his wife Devanayaki and younger sister Valliyammai. He is in the good books of the people and the British. Unknown to his family, he is also Santhana Thevar, the masked vigilante leader of a group that terrorises the British colonisers in town and helps the locals.

Joseph, a former soldier, joins Santhanam's group and also works for Vettaikaran's, unaware that both are the same man. Santhanam is hurt during a mission and Joseph rescues him sacrificing himself and is presumed dead. Eventually, the British learn his secret identity and Valliyammai is raped publicly and murdered in an attempt to draw out Santhanam. He comes out in rage, murders the perpetuators and bound by a promise he made to Devanayaki, he surrenders. He escapes his death sentence at the last moment and is freed as India gains independence. He, however, has already been financially ruined.

Years later, the Santhanam family is now reduced to penury and Santhanam's son Ranjith is a bitter young man. He resents the fact that his father's sacrifices have resulted in only misery for the family and that the country is ungrateful to freedom fighters. He also hates the fact that even in poverty, his father refuses pension on account of self-respect. The two clash due to their contrasting world views. Ranjith, at one time, has had enough and takes to crime. In the end, Santhanam finds out that his own son is betraying the country he fought so hard to free and takes his gun again as Vettaikaran. Does the father get killed or does the son?

The story was written by Rajasekhar, in his film career debut. He went to become a successful director in the 1980s.^[5] The film began production in April 1976 at Prasad Studios.^[6]

The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.^[7]