Avvai Shanmugi (1996)

Pandian, a dance choreographer, is separated from his wife Janaki, the daughter of a wealthy and disapproving businessman, and the courts give her custody of their little girl. Desperate to be near his child, Pandian turns himself into Avvai Shanmugi, a cheerful middle-aged Brahmin woman, and talks his way into the household as a maid and nanny. The disguise works too well: the grandfather falls for "her", the cook grows suspicious and a series of near-exposures pile up. Inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire, Avvai Shanmugi is one of Kamal Haasan's best-loved comedies, with fast wordplay by Crazy Mohan and a scene-stealing Gemini Ganesan. Kamal later directed the Hindi remake, Chachi 420 (1997), and the transformation make-up was much discussed at the time.