Periyar, freedom fighter, advocate of Tamil nationalism, exponent of equality in society, atheist by choice and founder of the Dravida Kazhagam which gave rise to the two most powerful outfits in Tamil Nadu in the future. Periyar’s life was as eventful as it can get. To capture all of that on screen is no easy thing to do, no wonder it took so many years to be accomplished. Periyar the film however concentrated more on the latter part of his life and his social activities rather than his early years, his brief involvement with the Congress party. The movie did meet with some harsh remarks from certain sections, but it still remains an effort that needs to be appreciated.