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Amaidhipadai () is a 1994 Indian Tamil language-language political satire film, written and directed by Manivannan. The film stars Sathyaraj (in a dual role), Ranjitha, Kasthuri Shankar and Sujatha. It revolves around a politician who builds his career through unethical means, while his son, an honest law enforcer, seeks to take him down.
Amaidhipadai was released on 13 January 1994. It went on to run more than 25 weeks and was a silver jubilee hit. The film has since developed a strong Cult film following. It was remade in Telugu language as M. Dharmaraju M.A. (1994), and in Hindi as Jallaad (1995). A spiritual successor, Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA was released in 2013, with Sathyaraj returning.
During the prepoll events of the 1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, Mani's party refuses to give him the ticket. Mani instructs Amavasai to stand for the MLA election as an independent candidate to teach his party a lesson. Amavasai campaigns hard and also renames himself Nagaraja Cholan (lying about being a Chola dynasty descendant) to elevate his social status. Amavasai wins the election by a huge margin, while Mani's party manages to retain power with huge majority. Amavasai rejoins the party immediately and his behaviour also changes as he grows more arrogant much to Mani's shock. After his electoral win, he forces Mani to become his crony.
Amavasai, knowing that a local zamindar is looking for a groom for his daughter, Sivakami, quickly arranges to be married to her as he wants to become rich and respected. He abandons the now pregnant Thayamma. Distraught over this betrayal, Thayamma and her parents call for a Panchayati raj, where Amavasai successfully defends himself. Thayamma's family move out of the village to avoid humiliation. Amavasai marries Sivakami and gets her palace as dowry. The same day, Thayamma gives birth to a boy and dies. Sivakami vows to be celibate as Amavasai refused to adopt Thayamma's infant son.
Over the next 24 years, Amavasai grows into a highly influential and corrupt politician. He builds a strong political network through shortcuts. He has been re-elected to his position as MLA for five elections. To remain in power, he kills anyone who comes in his way. His ultimate goal is to become Chief Minister as he will then be unstoppable.
Raised by his maternal grandparents in a village afar, Thayamma's son, Thangavel becomes a Reserve Police constable. Thangavel is betrothed to a twelfth grade girl, Kuyili. They fall in love, but during their engagement event, a dispute arises as people ask about Thangavel's father's identity, and the wedding is cancelled. An enraged Thangavel asks his grandparents about his father, but they remain silent. He accuses his mother of being characterless to which his grandfather slaps him and tells him about Amavasai. Upon learning the truth about his father and his corruption which led to the betrayal and death of his mother, Thangavel seeks revenge.
Simultaneously, the state assembly is about to be dissolved earlier to hold the general elections. Amavasai realises that even if the party nominates him, the voters will not support him as they are fed up with his corrupted ways. He instigates a caste-based riot in his constituency and pretends to stop it, so that the people will re-elect him. A police inspector, who belongs to the Dalit caste is burnt alive by Amavasai, and the riot intensifies.
Thangavel is posted as the riot police's head constable where he has to protect Amavasai. Thangavel saves Amavasai from an assassination attempt. Later, he goes to Amavasai's house and reveals his identity. He challenges his father that he will stop all his illegal activities and kill him. Amavasai brushes off his threats.
Thangavel is transferred to regular police and gets posted as a Sub-inspector in the same area. Thangavel meets Sivakami and realises she is a good woman. He begins to see her as a motherly figure in his life. They decide to plot Amavasai's downfall together. Thangavel informs the CBI of Amavasai's activities while Sivakami plans to testify against Amavasai. Amavasai learns of this and plans to kill both. Thangavel fails to stop Amavasai's henchman from murdering Sivakami. During her funeral, Amavasai feigns grief which provokes Thangavel into beating up Amavasai in public. Thangavel is arrested.
A crooked Tantra advises Amavasai to get remarried to a young girl to ensure his re-election. He kidnaps Kuyili and her younger sister. He forces Kuyili into agreeing to marry him by threatening to kill her sister. He then takes part in a tantric wedding ritual. Thangavel escapes from prison, reaches his father's house, rescues the girls and stops the ritual. After fighting Amavasai and his henchmen, Thangavel holds Amavasai at gunpoint. Amavasai begs Thangavel to spare his life but, remembering all the atrocities committed by his father, including the deaths of his mother and stepmother, Thangavel shoots Amavasai. In his dying moments, Amavasai throws flowers on Thangavel and Kuyili, and wishes them well.
| "Sollividu Velli Nilave" | Mano, Swarnalatha | Vaali |
| "Enakku Unnai Ninaicha" | Swarnalatha | Pulamaipithan |
| "Ada Naan Aatchu" | Mano | Pulamaipithan |
| "Muthumani Ther Irukku" | Mano, S. Janaki | Vaali |
| "Vetri Varuthu" | Mano, S. N. Surendar, Deepan Chakravarthy | Ponnadiyan |
| "Amma Thaaye" | Ilaiyaraaja |
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