R. Velraj

Rajamani Velraj is an Indian cinematographer, director and writer who primarily works in Tamil and Hindi cinema. He is well known for his camera work in films like Asuran, Aadukalam, Vada Chennai, Kadaikutty Singam and Komban, and for directing Velaiilla Pattadhari^[2] and Thanga Magan.^[3]

R. Velraj
Born	Rajamani Velraj (1969-10-21) 21 October 1969 (age 54) Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupations	Actor Film director cinematographer
Years active	2003-present
Parent	S Rajamani[1]

Personal life

Rajamani Velraj was born in the village Kootthiyar Kundu near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He went to PKN Boys Higher Secondary School (Tirumangalam), and studied at Madurai Sourastra College.^[2]

Career

Early in his career, he worked as an assistant to ace cinematographer Tirru in several Tamil films. After working with actor Dhanush in Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram, Dhanush recommended Velraj for his next film, Polladhavan, directed by then debutant, Vetrimaaran. He won the Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer in 2008.^[4] Velraj and Vetrimaaran continued working together, from Aadukalam to their most recent film, Viduthalai Part 1 (2023). He made his directional debut with Velaiilla Pattadhari, starring Dhanush and Amala Paul and with Anirudh as the music director. The film was extremely successful and became a cult film. In 2015, he directed his second film, Thanga Magan. Velraj is a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers.^[5]

Filmography

As cinematographer

Year	Title	Language	Notes
2002	23rd March 1931: Shaheed	Hindi	Ra Operator
2003	Supari	Hindi
2006	Phir Hera Pheri	Hindi
2007	Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram	Tamil
	Polladhavan	Tamil	Winner, Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer[6]
2008	Kabhi Bhi Kahin Bhi	Hindi
	Malabar Wedding	Malayalam
2010	Kandahar	Malayalam	Collaborated with Ravi Varman
2011	Aadukalam	Tamil	Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – Tamil Winner, Vikatan Award For Best Cinematographer (Cameo appearance)[6]
	Siruthai	Tamil	[2]
	Engeyum Eppodhum	Tamil	Winner, Vikatan Award For Best Cinematographer[7]
2012	3	Tamil	[2]
	Savaari	Kannada
	Leelai	Tamil
2013	Naan Rajavaga Pogiren	Tamil
	Ethir Neechal	Tamil
	Udhayam NH4	Tamil	[8]
	Naiyaandi	Tamil	[9]
2014	Velaiyilla Pattathari	Tamil	Director (Cameo appearance)[10]
	Poriyaalan	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
2015	Komban	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
	Vai Raja Vai	Tamil	[11]
	Paayum Puli	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
	Thanga Magan	Tamil	Director (Cameo appearance)[12]
2016	Pugazh	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[13]
	Marudhu	Tamil
2017	Power Paandi	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[14]
2018	Kadaikutty Singam	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
	Vada Chennai	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[15]
2019	Dev	Tamil
	Asuran	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[16]
	Sangathamizhan	Tamil
2021	Pulikkuthi Pandi	Tamil	[17]
	Udanpirappe	Tamil	[18]
2022	Veerapandiyapuram	Tamil	[19]
	The Legend	Tamil	[20]
	Anel Meley Pani Thuli	Tamil	[21]
	Pettaikaali	Tamil	TV series on Aha Tamil[22]
	Kuttram Kuttrame	Tamil	[23]
2023	Viduthalai Part 1	Tamil	[24]
	Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam	Tamil
2024	Viduthalai Part 2	Tamil

As director

Year	Title	Language	Notes
2014	Velaiilla Pattadhari	Tamil	Winner, Edison Award for Best Debut Director Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil Cameo as Traffic Police
2015	Thanga Magan	Tamil	Cameo as Ramalingam

As actor

• Poriyaalan (2014)
• Kaalidas (2019)
• Asuran (2019)
• Udanpirappe (2021)
• Kuttram Kuttrame (2022)
• Viduthalai Part 1(2023)

Awards

• Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer for Pollathavan (2007)
• Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – South for Aadukalam (2011)^[25]
• SIIMA Award for Best Cinematographer for Aadukalam (2011)
• SIIMA Award for Best Debut Director for Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014)
• SIIMA Award for Best cinematographer for Asuran (2019)
• Vikatan Cinema Awards for Best cinematographer for Viduthalai Part 1 (2023)

References

1. The Times of India (5 July 2020). "Cinematographer-director Velraj's father passes away". Retrieved 24 July 2022.
2. "Cinema cinema!". The Hindu. 31 July 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
3. Kumar, Karthik (17 December 2015). "Five Reasons Why You Don't Wanna Miss Dhanush's Thanga Magan". TheQuint. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
4. "A reluctant director". The Hindu. 19 July 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
5. "Acclaimed cinematographer Velraj gets the prestigious ISC recognition". www.zoomtventertainment.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
6. Kumar, Pradeep (16 February 2019). "The Usual Suspects: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran and R Velraj". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
7. "Engeyum Eppodhum". Deccan Herald. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
8. "NH4: Take this route". The Hindu. 20 April 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
9. "Dhanush Helped With Script, Says Vellai Illa Pattathari Director". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
10. "A reluctant director". The Hindu. 19 July 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
11. "'Vai Raja Vai' gearing up for April 24". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
12. ""It was all Dhanush"". The Hindu. 19 December 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
13. "Surbhi: My role in Pugazh a reflection of my real self | India.com". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
14. "Dhanush Tweets First Look of Power Paandi, His Debut as Director". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
15. "Blow for Dhanush's Vada Chennai: Amala Paul exits after Vijay Sethupathi". Hindustan Times. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
16. Kumar, Pradeep (16 February 2019). "The Usual Suspects: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran and R Velraj". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
17. "'புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி' ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் வெளியீடு". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
18. The Hindu Net Desk (5 October 2021). "Jyotika: 'Udanpirappe is special, as it shows the strength of a woman's silence'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
19. "Veerapandiyapuram Movie Review: An uninventive, dull revenge drama". Cinema Express. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
20. "The Legend gets U/A certficate". Cinema Express. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
21. Sudevan, Praveen (18 November 2022). "'Anel Meley Pani Thuli' movie review: Andrea excels in a gritty crime drama about sexual assault". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
22. IANS. "Vetri Maaran's Jallikattu-Based Series 'Pettaikaali' To Stream From Diwali". Outlook India. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
23. "Kuttram Kuttrame Movie Review: Jai, Harish Uthaman shine in Susienthiran's return to form". Cinema Express. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
24. "Vijay Sethupathi begins dubbing for Viduthalai". OTTPlay. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
25. "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". The Times of India. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.

External links

• R. Velraj at IMDb