Pattinathar is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language devotional film, directed by K. Somu, and written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and Akilan.

[1] The movie starts with a dream by a pious couple, where Lord Shiva appeared and told them that they would find a baby boy at a certain spot.

Then Marudhavaanan gives his father just a small box containing three cow dung cakes and palm leaf documents which are loan promissory notes from his friends.

The angered father throws the cow dung cakes out, and to his surprise sees there are gold coins and precious gems like diamonds & pearls in them.

Then Pattinathar realised the philosophy and wisdom of the words and renounced everything, his wife, his wealth, kith, kin and with only a loincloth he left his home.

Meenakshi (S. D. Subbulakshmi), his sister feels that the dignity of her family will suffer by his conduct, and she decides to kill him by giving him poisoned Appam (Breakfast pancake).

Then deciding not to beg for alms in future, he goes to a lonely Lord Ganesha Temple in the jungle and sits behind the Vigragam (God's idol) for meditation.

A band of robbers returning from a successful loot of King Badragiri's palace throw a pearl necklace at the Vigragam as their offering to God.

After this incident and several years later, Badragiri attains salvation by thinking of Lord Shiva and surrendering to God's feet.

After visiting various Shaivite shrines, Pattinatthar finally comes to Tiruvottiyur and eats sugarcane and its bottom stalk gives a sweet taste.