Sure, Virasat was a good film, but this one's far superior. Kamal and thespian Sivaji Ganesan, who plays his dad, in one movie is a treat for any Tamil film buff. After studying in the US Kamal returns to his village along with his girlfriend, not too impressed with his family's feudal ways, but his father's death forces the mantle on him. The film is steeped in the Tamil idiom, as Mahanadhi was, but that doesn't shut them out.

16 Vayadhinile (1977)

Kamal as the lame Chappani, the village bloke in love with everyone's dream girl, the newly turned 16 year old Sridevi. Does he get her in the end?

The film ushered in a revolution of sorts, in that it took the sets outdoors, into the countryside. Village-based themes, with rustic tunes, became all the rage. An awesome cast, refreshing music from Ilayaraja, spectacular cinematography, there was no looking back after this for the newly minted director, Bharati Raja.

Sure, it was a Kamal-Sridevi film, but the dialogue everyone remembers from it - idhu eppadi irukku? (howzzat) - was mouthed by Rajnikant.