Samuthirakani

Samuthirakani^[1] (born 26 April 1973) is an Indian actor and film director who works predominantly in Tamil films besides few Telugu and Malayalam films. He worked as an assistant to director K. Balachander, in Paarthale Paravasam. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for Visaranai,^[2][3] he is also an recipient of three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, a Filmfare Award and a SIIMA award

Samuthirakani
Samuthirakani at the audio launch of Sandamarutham in 2015
Born	(1973-04-26) 26 April 1973 (age 51) Seithur, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma mater	Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College
Occupations	Actor Film director
Years active	1998-present
Spouse	Jayalakshmi
Children	2

Early life

Samuthirakani was born on 26 April 1973 in Seithur, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu.^[1][4], He did his B.Sc. in Mathematics from the Rajapalayam Rajus College and he also earned a Bachelor of Law from Ambedkar Law College. However, he aimed to become an actor. He has said that people used to tell him that he did not have the physical appearance or talent necessary to be an actor.^[5]

Career

In 1997, he joined as an assistant director under Sundar K. Vijayan.^[6] He was then noticed by K. Balachander and was recruited as assistant director for Balachander's 100th film Paarthale Paravasam. He also assisted Balachander in the mega-serial Anni telecasted by Jaya TV. Samuthirakani recalled that the work experience he gained under Balachander helped him in many ways while shooting Arasi and Selvi, the mega-serial telecasted in Sun TV, which were massive hits among housewives.^[7]

In the early 2000s, Samuthirakani began his career as a director. He notably launched a shelved film titled Uyir Nanbanukku starring Cheran, before making Unnai Charanadaindhen (2003) for S. P. B. Charan.^[8][9]

He worked as an assistant director for K. Balachander in Parthale Paravasam (2001) and Poi (2006) and for Ameer in Paruthiveeran (2007).^[10][7]

However, it was the success of Naadodigal (2009) that established Samuthirakani as a director. Since then he has directed films such as Poraali (2011), Nimirndhu Nil (2014) and Appa (2016). All these films have been remade in Telugu and Kannada.^[11][12] He gained appreciation for his acting in Velaiilla Pattadhari (2014) as Dhanush's father and in Visaranai (2016) as a police inspector.^[13][14]

He also played important role in Rajinikanth's film Kaala (2018).^[15]

In 2020, he appeared in Telugu film, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.^[16] Samuthirakani's returned to directing with Naadodigal 2, a film that takes up the topic of equality.^[17] He played the main role in the Telugu film, Aakashavaani (2021).^[18] He also directed two fantasy comedy Vinodhaya Sitham (2021) ^[19] and Bro (2023).^[20]

Filmography

Tamil films

Key

†	Denotes films that have not yet been released

List of Samuthirakani film Tamil acting credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Parthale Paravasam	Back-pain patient	Uncredited role
2004	Neranja Manasu	Villager	Uncredited role
2006	Poi	Kamban's friend	Uncredited role
2008	Subramaniapuram	Kanagu	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil
2010	Easan	ACP Sangayya	Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male)
2012	Saattai	Dayalan
	Neerparavai	Uduman Gani
2014	Ninaithathu Yaaro	Himself	Guest appearance
	Nimirndhu Nil	Car driver	Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Third Prize)
	Velaiyilla Pattathari	Raghuvaran's father	Nominated—Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil
	Poovarasam Peepee	Gani	Guest appearance
	Kaadu	Nandha
2015	Sandamarutham	Inspector Thirumalai
	Massu Engira Masilamani	Radha Krishnan (RK)
	Buddhanin Sirippu	Vettri
	Kaaval	Inspector Chandrasekar
	Kamaraj	Corporation officer
	Adhibar	Raja
	Paayum Puli	Selvaraj (Selvam)
	Strawberry	Aathi
	Pasanga 2	Father	Guest appearance
2016	Tharkappu	Iraianbu
	Rajini Murugan	"Ezhrai" Mookan
	Visaranai	Inspector Muthuvel	Won—National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil
			Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
	Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum	Kumar
	Vetrivel	Vetrivel's friend	Cameo
	Amma Kanakku	Principal Ranganathan
	Appa	Dhayalan
	Achamindri	Inspector Sathya
2017	Thondan	Maha Vishnu
	Kootathil Oruthan	Sathyamurthy (Sathya)
	Velaiilla Pattadhari 2	Raghuvaran's father
2018	Nimir	Vellaiyappan	Also dialogue writer
	Madura Veeran	Rathnavelu
	Yemaali	Inspector Aravindh
	Kaala	Vaaliyappan
	Goli Soda 2	Natesan
	Maniyaar Kudumbam	S.Nallavan	Cameo
	60 Vayadu Maaniram	Ranga
	Aan Devathai	Elango
	Vada Chennai	Gunaa
2019	Peranbu	Dr. Dhanapal	Cameo
	Pettikadai	Physical trainer
	Kolanji	Appasamy
	Jackpot	Film Director	Special appearance
	Kaappaan	Joseph Selvaraj
	Namma Veettu Pillai	Chandrabose
	Adutha Saattai	Dayalan	Also producer
	Sillu Karupatti	Dhanapal
2020	Naadodigal 2	Bus driver	Special appearance; also voice-over
	Ettuthikkum Para	Ambedkar
	Walter	Bala
	Naanga Romba Busy	Himself	Cameo
2021	Pulikkuthi Pandi	Karumbalai Pandi
	Sangathalaivan	Sivalingam
	Aelay	Muthukkutty Sudhakar (Imbuttu Kanji)
	Vellai Yaanai	Vellai Kunju
	Devadas Brothers	The writer
	Thalaivi	R. N. Veerappan
	Vinodhaya Sitham	Time
	Udanpirappe	Sargunam Vaathiyaar
	MGR Magan	Agnishwaran
	Chithirai Sevvaanam	Muthu Pandi
	Writer	Thangaraju
2022	Kombu Vatcha Singamda	Eelam fighter
	Maaran	Palani
	Don	Ganesan
	Yaanai	Ramachandran
2023	Thunivu	Commissioner Dayalan
	Naan Kadavul Illai	Senthooran
	Thalaikoothal	Pazhani
	Vaathi	Thirupathi
	Are You Ok Baby?	Balachandhran
2024	Mudakkaruthaan
	Siren	DSP S. Nagalingam IPS
	Singappenney		Special appearance
	Yaavarum Vallavare	Krishnan
	Rathnam	MLA Panneer Selvam
	Garudan	Inspector E. Muthuvel
	Hit List	Vijay's father
	Indian 2	Varadharajan
	Nandhan	BDO Marudhudurai
	Rajakili †	TBA

Other language films

List of Samuthirakani film other language acting credits

Year	Title	Role	Language	Notes
2010	Shambo Shiva Shambo	Car driver	Telugu	Cameo
	Shikkar	Abdullah	Malayalam
2012	Masters	Protestor		Cameo in the song "Suhruth Suhruth"
	Thiruvambadi Thamban	Ramu
	The Hitlist	SP Anapazhakan		Cameo
2013	D Company	Chaukidar
2014	Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil	P. Krishna Pillai
2015	The Reporter	Parthasarathy
2016	Karinkunnam 6'S	Saravanan		Cameo
	Oppam	Vasudevan		Nominated—Asianet film award for best actor in a negative role
				Won—IIFA Utsavam for performance in a negative role Malayalam
2020	Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo	Appala Naidu	Telugu	Won—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu
2021	Krack	Katari Krishna
	Aakashavaani	Chandram Master		Released on SonyLIV
2022	Bheemla Nayak	Jeevan Kumar
	RRR	Venkateswarulu
	Sarkaru Vaari Paata	MP Rajendranath		Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu
	Macherla Niyojakavargam	MLA Rajappa
	Dongalunnaru Jaagratha	Chakravarthi
	Godfather	ACP Indrajeet IPS
	Panchathantram	Ramanathan
2023	Sir	Tripathi
	Dasara	Shivanna
	Nenu Student Sir	Arjun Vasudevan
	Vimanam	Veerayya		Partially reshot in Tamil[21]
	Bro	Shankaranna		Cameo
2024	Hanu-Man	Vibhishana
	Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam		Malayalam	[22]
2025	Game Changer †	TBA	Telugu	Filming
TBA	RRR 2 †	TBA		Filming[23]

Television

List of Samuthirakani television credits as actor

Year	Serial	Role	Network	Notes
1998	Sila Nijangal Sila Nyayangal	Reporter	Sun TV Raj TV	Part of Jannal TV series (episode 7)[24]
2000	Kadavulukku Kobam Vanthathu	Smoking guy in theatre	DD Podhigai	TV series (Episode 1)[25]
2001	Marmadesam Edhuvum Nadakkum	A tribal man	Raj TV	Part of Marmadesam TV Series (Episode 1)[26]
	Ramany vs Ramany Part II	Sales person, Census taker, bride groom		TV series (Episode 11, 31, 51)[27][28][29]
	Guhan	Rishi's assistant		TV series[30] also Co-director
	Oru Kathavu Thirakirathu	Veerappan (Manikkam/Santhapandian/Pazhaniappan)		Part of K. Balachanderin Chinnathirai: Micro Thodargal Macro Sinthanaigal[31] TV series
2007	Arasi	Undercover police officer (Chinna Thambi)	Sun TV	TV Series
2012	7C		Star Vijay	TV Series (Special Appearance)
2020	Chithi 2	Himself	Sun TV
2021	Live Telecast	Deva	Disney+ Hotstar	Web-series

Dubbing artist

List of Samuthirakani film credits as 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

As director

Films

List of Samuthirakani film credits as director

Year	Film	Language	Notes
2003	Unnai Charanadaindhen	Tamil	Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer
2004	Neranja Manasu	Tamil
	Naalo	Telugu	Remake of Unnai Charanadainthen
2009	Naadodigal	Tamil	Won—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	Sambho Siva Sambho	Telugu	Remake of Naadodigal
2011	Poraali	Tamil	Won—Vijay Award for Best Dialogue Writer
2012	Yaare Koogadali	Kannada	Remake of Poraali
2014	Nimirndhu Nil	Tamil
2015	Janda Pai Kapiraju	Telugu
2016	Appa	Tamil
2017	Thondan	Tamil
	Aakashamittayee	Malayalam	Remake of Appa, Co-directed with M. Padmakumar
2020	Naadodigal 2	Tamil
2021	Vinodhaya Sitham	Tamil
2023	Bro	Telugu	Remake of Vinodhaya Sitham[32]

Television

List of Samuthirakani television credits as director

Year	Title	Channel	Notes
2001	Paasa Paasangugal	Raj TV	Part of K. Balachanderin Chinnathirai: Micro Thodargal Macro Sinthanaigal[33][34][35][36][37][38]
2001	Gunangalum Ranangalum
	Idho Boopalam
	Theadathey Tholainthu Povai
	Addi Ennadi Asattu Pennea
	Kodi Rubai Kealvi
	Ramani vs Ramani (Part 2)	Raj TV	As Sales person in few episodes
	Anni	Jaya TV	Directed along with K. Balachander
2004	Engirundho Vandhal	Jaya TV	Directed along with K. Balachander and Ilakkiyan
2005	Idhu Oru Kadhal Kadhai	STAR Vijay
	Thangavettai	Sun TV	Game Show
	Selvi
2007	Arasi
	Thenmozhiyal	Kalaignar TV	Directed along with K. Balachander
2010	Alaipayuthey	Jaya TV	Directed along with Raja

Singer

List of Samuthirakani film credits as 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

Narrator

• Eye of the Leopard (2006) - Tamil version - National Geographic
• Sundarapandian (2012)
• Roar of the Royals (2020) - Tamil version - National Geographic
• Serndhu Polama (2015)
• Anandham Vilayadum Veedu (2021)
• The Way Of The Cheetah (2021) Tamil version - National Geographic

References

1. "SAMUTHIRAKANI P." Tamilnadu Film Director's Association. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
2. Rao, Subha J. (16 October 2018). "Cinema must be useful to society, says Samuthirakani". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
3. M, Ramakrishnan (8 April 2017). "Samuthirakani: The angry director". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
4. Anantharam, Chitra Deepa (21 November 2017). "Hunger makes you stronger: Samuthirakani". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
5. "Rebel with a pause". The Hindu. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
6. "முறுக்கு விற்றேன்!". Kalki (in Tamil). 12 October 2003. p. 60. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
7. "Success didn't come easy to me: Samuthirakani". The New Indian Express. 7 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
8. "09-08-03". 15 November 2004. Archived from the original on 15 November 2004.
9. "08-07-03". 15 April 2005. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005.
10. Srinivasan, Latha (2 April 2016). "I couldn't sleep when I was shooting 'Visaranai', says National Award-winner Samuthirakani". DNA. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
11. "Happy Birthday Samuthirakani - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
12. "Kalidas Jayaram requests people not to let down 'simple' movies like Aakashamittayee". 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
13. Manoj Kumar R (11 August 2020). "South Stream: Dhanush's Velaiyilla Pattathari". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
14. "Tamil film 'Visaranai' is India's official entry for Oscars 2017". The Economic Times. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
15. "Samuthirakani talks about his experiences with Rajinikanth on Kaala sets". 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
16. "Samuthirakani interview: 'I aspire to be as pure as my characters'". 21 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
17. "Naadodigal 2 review: Skip it". Sify. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
18. Chowdhary, Y. Sunita (23 September 2021). "'Aakashavaani' movie review: Definitely an original gem". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
19. "Vinodhaya Sitham -A feel-good fantasy drama". Sify. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
20. "Bro Movie Review : Banks more on Pawan Kalyan's fame than the story". The Times of India.
21. Today, Telangana (19 May 2023). "Vimanam Teaser | Samuthirakani | Anasuya Bharadwaj | Meera Jasmine". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
22. Features, C. E. (27 October 2024). "Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam trailer promises a gripping investigative thriller". Cinema Express. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
23. "Video : Ramam Raghavam Teaser (Samuthirakhani, Dhanraj)". 123 Telugu. 27 April 2024.
24. "- YouTube". www.youtube.com.^{[dead YouTube link]}
25. Kadavulukku Kobam Vanthathu - Episode 1. Youtube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
26. Edhuvum Nadakkum — Marma Desam — Episode 1. YouTube. 26 February 2013.^{[dead YouTube link]}
27. Ramani vs Ramani 2 - Episode 11. Youtube. 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
28. Ramani vs Ramani 2 - Episode 31. Youtube. 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
29. Ramani vs Ramani 2 - Episode 51. Youtube. 2 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
30. Guhan Tamil TV Serial Episode - 8. YouTube. 29 March 2013.^{[dead YouTube link]}
31. Oru Kadhavu Thirakirathu. YouTube. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
32. "'PKSDT' set to hit theatres: Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej fans rejoice". The Times of India. 24 March 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
33. "Paasa Paasangugal". YouTube. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
34. "Gunangalum Ranangalum". YouTube. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
35. "Idho Boopalam". YouTube. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
36. "Theadathey Tholainthu Povai". YouTube. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
37. "Addi Ennadi Asattu Pennea". YouTube. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
38. "Kodi Rubai Kealvi". YouTube. 31 October 2020. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2021.

External links

• Media related to Samuthirakani at Wikimedia Commons
• Opera king
• His still dreams to make it
• Instagram