nayak

Nayak is a word in several Indian languages meaning "leader" or "hero." It derives from the Sanskrit nayaka and is used in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, and other languages to denote a person who leads or plays a heroic role. In everyday usage, nayak or its variants can refer to a chief or notable figure, and feminine forms such as nayika appear in some languages.

As a name, Nayak is a common Indian surname and given name, found across multiple linguistic communities and among diaspora populations. Spelling and transliteration vary, with forms such as Nayak appearing in different regions.

In Indian cinema and culture, Nayak has been used as a title that signals leadership or celebrity. The most famous example is Nayak, a 1966 Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray, starring Uttam Kumar and Sharmila Tagore. The story follows a matinee idol who travels by train to Calcutta and uses the journey to examine his life, fame, and personal relationships. The film is acclaimed as a character study that explores authenticity versus public image and the human side of celebrity. The term Nayak thus continues to resonate in discussions of Indian popular culture, reflecting its associations with nobility, authority, and heroism.