Sathya (Sathyaraj), a junior artiste manages to get a chance to act as a hero in a movie. His popularity increases, as he becomes a superstar. Arivanandham (Vasu), a corrupt politician and the leader of a major political party requests Sathya to contest in the assembly elections, to which Sathya accepts. Arivanandham makes Sathya the Chief Minister candidate. Arivanandham's party receives a brute majority due to Sathya's popularity and wins the assembly elections. Sathya becomes the CM. After becoming the CM, he jails all the ministers including Arivanandham. Sathya orders many raids into the houses of ministers and acts weird. The story then moves to a flashback.
Muthu (Manoj), a diehard fan of Sathya loses his right hand, in a clash between two actors' fans. This leaves a huge impact on Sathya, who learns from this event that how much his fans had been devoted to him. Sathya begins to care for Muthu and the two become close.
Some days before Sathya's oath taking ceremony, Arivanandham is plotting to kill Sathya and become the CM himself. Arivanandham plants bombs in the marriage hall of Muthu's wedding. Fortunately, Sathya escapes the blast but Muthu dies. Sathya desires revenge for Arivanandham and decides to put it in good use, as the flashback ends.
The rest of the film Sathya introduces many reforms in the government. During the end, he dismisses all the corrupt ministers and selects many youngsters as ministers. He resigns and names Devika (Mallika), an IAS officer who has done much service as the Chief Minister and walks away, as the film ends.
The Hindu wrote "After "Ennamma Kannu" Shakti Chidambaram made the viewer take notice of his wit and comic sense again in "Charlie Chaplin." [..] In "Maha Nadigan" the humour is back, though he could have concentrated a little more on the storyline too".[5]Indiaglitz wrote "Sakthi Chidambaram deserves kudos for a bold and honest film. But usually bold films are laced with anger, but Mahanadigan is full of poignant humor."[6]Sify wrote "Maha Nadigan is a profusion of cleavages, mindless humour, reality check on actors turning politicians and is pointless as it tries to infuse whimsical humour with satire. No go!".[7]
Release
Made on a shoe-string budget, Maganadigan was a hit.[8]
