Padayappa is a 1999 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. It stars Sivaji Ganesan in his penultimate release and Rajinikanth in the titular lead. Ramya Krishnan and Soundarya share other lead roles, while Lakshmi, Radha Ravi, Nassar, Abbas, Sithara and Preetha play supporting roles. The soundtrack album and background score were composed by A. R. Rahman. The film revolves around the title character and his family being targeted in a generations-long revenge by his cousin Neelambari, a narcissistic woman who was left humiliated after Padayappa rejected her love proposal as he was in love with her good-natured home worker Vasundhara.

Principal photography for the film began in October 1998. Padayappa was released on 10 April 1999 on the eve of Tamil New Year's Day. This was the first Tamil film to be released worldwide with 210 prints and 700,000 audio cassettes. It became Tamil cinema's highest-grossing film at that point. Ramya Krishnan's performance was praised, winning her a Filmfare Award under the Best Actress category. The film also won five Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.

Padayappa is a mechanical engineer who returns to his village to attend his sister Nandhini's engagement to Suryaprakash, the son of their maternal uncle Rajarathnam. His father, Dharmalingam, is the respected village chieftain. During his stay, Padayappa comes across Vasundhara, Rajarathnam's maid, and falls in love with her. Suryaprakash's sister, Neelambari, also falls in love with Padayappa, making Vasundhara scared to admit her feelings. Dharmalingam's younger brother Ramalingam demands a share in the family property because he wants wealth and respect like his brother, but Dharmalingam refuses to divide the property and instead gives the entire property and wealth to Ramalingam. The family leaves their home the same evening to go to Padayappa's home in Madras, but unable to bear the shock, Dharmalingam dies just as they leave. Within days, Suryaprakash marries Ramalingam's daughter Meena without the villagers' knowledge, craving their newfound wealth and status. Padayappa's mother, Savitri is insulted by Rajarathnam, but she blesses the couple and leaves.

While Padayappa sets to clean his land for agriculture, Ramalingam's spy finds small rocks, and he discovers that a hill on that property is solid granite, which is very valuable. He tries to get that granite hill by giving the family property back to Padayappa, but after many obstacles, Savitri cancels the deal. Ramalingam tries to force them to sign over, and reveals the reason for the deal. Padayappa bashes his men and leaves with his family. He starts the granite business, becoming wealthy and taking over the chieftain position of his father while his family settles in a new mansion and regains their respect. Nandhini marries Sivaraman, one of the chief engineers who works in Padayappa's company.

Neelambari learns about Padayappa's love for Vasundhara and is furious; she tries to harm herself. Her parents beg Savitri to allow Neelambari to marry Padayappa. However, to everyone's surprise, Savitri proposes marriage to Vasundhara; she was aware of Padayappa's love for Vasundhara, and wanted to get revenge on Rajarathnam for humiliating her. Unable to bear the humiliation, Rajarathnam commits suicide the same night. Neelambari vows to get revenge, but fails twice, and Padayappa marries Vasundhara. Suryaprakash brings Neelambari to his home, but she locks herself in her room, and refuses to come out, watching Padayappa's wedding video on repeat.

18 years later, Neelambari is still staying in her room, while Suryaprakash becomes the home minister. Ramalingam is in financial straits, and he and his family are in danger of being evicted from their home. Suryaprakash refuses to help because it would endanger his position. Padayappa comes to their rescue, saving Ramalingam and his family. Ramalingam becomes indebted to Padayappa and seeks forgiveness for his misdeeds. Padayappa pardons him.

Neelambari plans her revenge on Padayappa, now a father of two daughters. Suryaprakash also has a son, Chandraprakash alias Chandru, who studies at the same college as Padayappa's elder daughter, Anitha. Neelambari advises Chandru to make Anitha fall in love with him. At the same time, Padayappa plans to get Anitha married to Nandhini's son Sarathi. Neelambari, having made Chandru pretend to fall in love with Anitha, plans to humiliate Padayappa by making Anitha say that she does not wish to marry a groom of her parents' choice, and that she is in love with someone else. At the marriage ceremony, after Anitha does what Neelambari told her to do, Padayappa then makes an oath to unite Anitha with her lover by the next Muhurta. Padayappa discovers that Chandru really did fall in love with Anitha, even though he was only initially pretending to do so on Neelambari's orders. When Padayappa takes Chandru and Anitha to the temple to get married, Neelambari and Suryaprakash give chase to stop them. During the chase, Suryaprakash is killed in a car accident.

Armed with a machine gun, Neelambari reaches the temple where Chandru and Anitha are married, and tries to kill Padayappa. Instead, Padayappa saves her life by preventing a bull from attacking her, while at the same time dodging the bullets she fires at him. Furious at being defeated again, Neelambari commits suicide, promising to take revenge on Padayappa in her next birth, but Padayappa is certain it will never work. He prays for her soul to find peace.