In my opinion, Kamal's performance in "Nayakan" as Velu Naikkar is matchless among his whole array of charcters spanning over a period of 3 decades.
Some say that Nayakan has the same story line as the film "God Father", but Kamal and Director Mani Ratnam insists that Nayakan was based on a real life character, who lived in Tharavi in Bombay. Kamal's acting style reminded me and
very closer to method acting style of Marlon Brando, which I told him, when I met him in 2000 for an interview.
The hospital scene, where he shows his power in a way of arrogance in getting treatment for a poor child is still in my memory as a master piece of acting.
Nayakan was selected as one of the best ALL-TIME 100 films by Time magazine along with "The God Father"
.
