Samuthirakani
Samuthirakani (born 26 April 1973) is an Indian film actor and director who predominantly works in the Tamil film industry besides appearing in a number of Malayalam and Telugu films.[3] He worked as an assistant to director K Balachander.[4] His 2009 directorial Naadodigal was a runaway hit,[5] which was later remade in three languages. He has acted in several films as well and is best known for his performances in Subramaniapuram, Easan (both directed by M Sasikumar), Saattai and Oppam. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for Visaranai.[6][7][7]
Samuthirakani | |
---|---|
Samuthirakani at the audio launch of Sandamarutham | |
Born | [1] | 26 April 1973
Occupation | Film director, film actor, screenwriter, voice actor |
Years active | 1998-present |
Career
Samuthirakani studied school in T.N.P.M.M.N.Hr.Sec School and B.Sc.(Mathematics), in Rajapalayam Rajus College, and Bachelor of Law from Ambedkar Law College, Chennai. He entered cinema with dreams of making it as an actor. "People said I don't have the looks or the physique for it. I was unfazed. ‘Insults are a part of life,' I told myself and persevered. So when did he finally get a chance to don the greasepaint? "Pandiarajan's Padikkira Vayasu in which I had just a line to say! And to squeeze myself into the scene I had to cringe and crawl before the assistant director!" Not a tinge of self-pity! "Why at all? Slights can't hold me back."
In 1997, he joined as an assistant director under K. Vijayan. Samuthirakani who always used to keep himself busy with work was noticed by K. Balachander and was roped in as assistant director for his 100th film Paarthale Paravasam. He also assisted Balachander in the mega-serial Anni telecasted by Jaya TV. The director recalls that the work experience he gained under his mentor helped him in many ways while shooting Arasi and Selvi, the mega-serial telecasted in Sun TV, which were massive hits among housewives.[8]
And that's bharath writing out scenes and dialogue which he would enact within the confines of his room. Soon it led to the discovery that inside him was a capable storyteller.
M. Sasikumar's Subramaniapuram (2008) showcased Samuthirakani as an actor with potential and his own Nadodigal (2009) helped him prove his mettle as a director. From maker of megas to director of films that began with Unnai Charan Adaindhain, Kani has always been busy, primarily because he's absolutely ego-less. The lukewarm response to his début film and the disaster ero—didn't deter him. "If the film is a hit everyone vies for the laurels. And if the result is negative, it's the director who has to bear the onus," he shrugs. He went back to television, joined his mentor K Balachander's unit, worked as an assistant of Ameer for Paruthiveeran and kept himself as busy as ever. "I continued working till better things came my way". And the best did happen—Sasikumar gave him that solid role in Subramaniapuram, followed it up with another in Easan, played hero under Sasikumar's direction, and is back with him for Porali.[9] His performance in Vetrimaaran's Visaranai (2016) fetched him the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 63rd National Film Awards.[10]
Filmography
As director
- Films
Year | Film | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Unnai Charanadaindhen | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer |
2004 | Neranja Manasu | Tamil | |
2004 | Naalo | Telugu | |
2009 | Naadodigal | Tamil | Vijay Award for Favourite Director Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Director Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Story, Screenplay Writer |
2010 | Shambo Shiva Shambo | Telugu | |
2011 | Poraali | Tamil | Vijay Award for Best Dialogue Writer |
2012 | Yaare Koogadali | Kannada | |
2014 | Nimirndhu Nil | Tamil | |
2015 | Janda Pai Kapiraju | Telugu | |
2016 | Appa | Tamil | |
2017 | Thondan | Tamil | |
2017 | Aakashamittayee | Malayalam | Co-directed with M. Padmakumar |
2020 | Naadodigal 2 | Tamil | [11] |
TBA | Kitna | Tamil Malayalam Telugu Kannada | Delayed[12] |
- Television
Year | Title | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Adi Ennadi Asathu Penne | Tamil | [13] |
2001 | Idho Boopalam | Tamil | [14] |
2003 | Anni | Tamil | TV Serial |
2005 | Thangavettai | Tamil | Game Show |
2007 | Arasi | Tamil | TV Serial |
As Actor
- Television
Year | Serial | Role | Channel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Jannal - Sila Nijangal Sila Nyayangal | Reporter | Sun TV | TV series (episode 7)[15] |
2000 | Kadavulukku Kobam Vanthathu | Smoking guy in theatre | DD Podhigai | TV series (Episode 1)[16] |
2001 | Marmadesam - Edhuvum Nadakkum | A tribal man | Raj TV | TV Series (Episode 1)[17] |
2001 | Ramany vs Ramany Part II | Sales person,Census taker, bride groom | TV series (Episode 11, 31, 51)[18][19][20] | |
2001 | Guhan | Rishi's assistant | TV series[21] also Co-director | |
2012 | 7C | Star Vijay | TV Serial (Cameo) | |
2020 | Chithi 2 | Himself | Sun TV |
- Films
Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Parthale Paravasam | A back-pain patient | Tamil | |
2004 | Neranja Manasu | Villager | Tamil | Cameo appearance |
2006 | Poi | Tamil | Cameo appearance | |
2007 | Paruthiveeran | Tamil | Cameo appearance | |
2008 | Subramaniapuram | Kanugu | Tamil | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil |
2010 | Shambo Shiva Shambo | Car driver | Telugu | Cameo appearance |
2010 | Shikkar | Abdullah | Malayalam | |
2010 | Easan | ACP Sangayya | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male) |
2012 | Masters | Malayalam | Cameo appearance | |
2012 | Thiruvambadi Thamban | Ramu | Malayalam | |
2012 | Saattai | Dayalan | Tamil | |
2012 | Neerparavai | Uduman Gani | Tamil | |
2012 | The Hit List | Malayalam | Cameo appearance | |
2013 | D Company | Chaukidar | Malayalam | |
2014 | Ninaithathu Yaaro | Himself | Tamil | Guest appearance |
2014 | Nimirndhu Nil | A car driver | Tamil | Guest appearance Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Third Prize) |
2014 | Velaiyilla Pattathari | Raghuvaran's father | Tamil | Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil |
2014 | Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil | P. Krishna Pillai | Malayalam | |
2014 | Poovarasam Peepee | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
2014 | Kaadu | Nandha | Tamil | |
2015 | Sandamarutham | Inspector Thirumalai | Tamil | |
2015 | The Reporter | Parthasarathy | Malayalam | |
2015 | Massu Engira Masilamani | Radha Krishnan (RK) | Tamil | |
2015 | Buddhanin Sirippu | Vettri | Tamil | |
2015 | Kaaval | Inspector Chandrasekar | Tamil | |
2015 | Kamaraj | Tamil | ||
2015 | Adhibar | Raja | Tamil | |
2015 | Paayum Puli | Selvaraj (Selvam) | Tamil | |
2015 | Strawberry | Aathi | Tamil | |
2015 | Pasanga 2 | Father | Tamil | Guest appearance |
2016 | Tharkappu | Iraianbu | Tamil | |
2016 | Rajini Murugan | "Ezhrai" Mookan | Tamil | |
2016 | Visaranai | Inspector Muthuvel | Tamil | National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role |
2016 | Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum | Kumar | Tamil | |
2016 | Vetrivel | Tamil | Cameo appearance | |
2016 | Amma Kanakku | Principal Ranganathan | Tamil | |
2016 | Appa | Dhayalan | Tamil | |
2016 | Karinkunnam 6'S | Saravanan | Malayalam | Cameo appearance |
2016 | Oppam | Vasudevan | Malayalam | Nominated, 19th Asianet film awards for Best actor in a negative role IIFA Utsavam for performance in a negative role Malayalam |
2016 | Achamindri | Inspector Sathya | Tamil | |
2017 | 1971: Beyond Borders | Malayalam | ||
2017 | Thondan | Maha Vishnu | Tamil | |
2017 | Kootathil Oruthan | Sathyamurthy (Sathya) | Tamil | |
2017 | Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 | Raghuvaran's father | Tamil Telugu | |
2018 | Nimir | Vellaiyappan | Tamil | also dialogue writer |
2018 | Madura Veeran | Rathnavelu | Tamil | |
2018 | Yemaali | Inspector Aravindh | Tamil | |
2018 | Keni Kinar | Malayalam Tamil | ||
2018 | Kaala | Vaaliyappan | Tamil | |
2018 | Goli Soda 2 | Natesan | Tamil | |
2018 | Maniyaar Kudumbam | S.Nallavan | Tamil | Cameo appearance |
2018 | 60 Vayadu Maaniram | Ranga | Tamil | |
2018 | Aan Devathai | Elango | Tamil | |
2018 | Vada Chennai | Guna | Tamil | |
2018 | Walter | Bala | Tamil | |
2019 | Peranbu | Dr. Dhanapal | Tamil | Cameo appearance |
2019 | Pettikadai | Tamil | ||
2019 | Kolanji | Appasamy | Tamil | |
2019 | Jackpot | Film Director | Tamil | Special Appearance |
2019 | Kaappaan | Joseph Selvaraj | Tamil | |
2019 | Namma Veettu Pillai | Chandrabose | Tamil | |
2019 | Adutha Saattai | Dayalan | Tamil | also producer |
2019 | Sillu Karupatti | Dhanapal | Tamil | |
2020 | Ala Vaikunthapurramloo | Appala Naidu | Telugu | |
2020 | Naadodigal 2 | Bus driver | Tamil | Special appearance; also voice-over |
2020 | Ettuthikkum Para | Ambedkar | Tamil | |
2020 | Walter | Bala | Tamil | |
2020 | Krack | Telugu | ||
2020 | 2 Days | Malayalam | delayed | |
2020 | Vellai Yaanai | Tamil | completed | |
2020 | Sanga Thalaivan | Tamil | Filming | |
2020 | Ka. Pae Ranasingam | Tamil | filming | |
2020 | RRR | Telugu | Filming | |
2021 | Indian 2 | Tamil | Filming | |
Dubbing artist
Year | Film | For actor |
---|---|---|
2009 | Pasanga | Sivakumar |
2011 | Aadukalam | Kishore |
2012 | Dhoni | Murli Sharma |
2014 | Goli Soda | Madhusudhan Rao |
2016 | Kathakali | Madhusudhan Rao |
Singer
Year | Film | Song | Composer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Vamsam | "Suvadu Suvadu" | Taj Noor | Sang along with M Sasikumar and Pandiraj |
2011 | Poraali | "Vidiya Potri" | Sundar C Babu | |
References
- "SAMUTHIRAKANI P." Tamilnadu Film Director's Association. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- Anantharam, Chitra Deepa (21 November 2017). "Hunger makes you stronger: Samuthirakani". Retrieved 12 October 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
- "What's in a name?". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 24 April 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
- "Samuthirakani: My mother may not understand mywork". www.indiaglitz.com. Indiaglitz. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- "A tale of triumph". The Hindu. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2009.
- Rao, Subha J. (16 October 2018). "Cinema must be useful to society, says Samuthirakani" – via www.thehindu.com.
- M, Ramakrishnan (8 April 2017). "Samuthirakani: The angry director" – via www.thehindu.com.
- "GoerGo - Most Trusted Training Partner". www.goergo.in.
- Rangarajan, Malathi (26 November 2011). "Rebel with a pause". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
- "Tamil film 'Visaranai' is India's official entry for Oscars 2017". The Economic Times. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- "Samuthirakani and Sasikumar to reunite for Naadodigal 2". 16 January 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- "Dhansika signs Samuthrakani`s `Kitna`". Sify.
- Adi Ennadi Asattu Penne. YouTube.
- Idho Boopalam — Tamil Tv Serial. YouTube.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ytnqIXV70
- Kadavulukku Kobam Vanthathu - Episode 1. Youtube.
- Edhuvum Nadakkum — Marma Desam — Episode 1. YouTube. 26 February 2013.
- Ramani vs Ramani 2 - Episode 11. Youtube. 2 January 2020.
- Ramani vs Ramani 2 - Episode 31. Youtube. 2 January 2020.
- Ramani vs Ramani 2 - Episode 51. Youtube. 2 January 2020.
- Guhan Tamil TV Serial Episode - 8. YouTube. 29 March 2013.