Nandanar (தமிழ்: நந்தனார்) is 1942 Indian devotional film, based on the Nandan, a low-caste farmhand, and his deep devotion to Lord Nataraja of Chithambaram. Nandanar was a major success, in part because of an innovative prize scheme.

Plot

Nandan (M. M. Dandapani Desikar), a pariah (Untouchable) by caste, is a simple farmer. He is the bonded slave of Brahmin landlord Vediyar (Serukalathur Sama), who is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva (Ranjan). Vediyar's assistant Jambu (Narayana Rao) treats the slaves badly. However, Vedhiyar has a soft corner for Nandan for his devotion and disciplined way of living. Nandan, who lives with his mother, prays to Lord Shiva all the time and propagates good living by praising the lord to his fellow villagers. Valluvan (M. R. Swaminathan), a priest at the village's Karuppuswamy temple, gets angry with Nandan's propaganda on Lord Shiva. When Valluvan and the villagers try to sacrifice goats at the local temple festival, Nandan stops them and convinces them that animals are also like human beings, so no God will demand animal sacrifice.