Thiagarajan

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Thiagarajan Sivanandam
Born Thiagarajan
(1945-06-21) 21 June 1945 (age 79)[1]
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation Film actor
Director
Producer
Screenwriter
Art Director
Years active 1980–1999
2003–present
Spouse(s) Shanthi (m.1972-present)
Children Prashanth, Preethi
Relatives Peketi Sivaram

Thiagarajan is an Indian actor, director and producer of Tamil films. He is the father of Tamil actor Prashanth.[2]

Career

Thiagarajan made his acting debut with Alaigal Oivathillai appearing as the elder brother of film's lead actress Radha.[3] The film became successful and offers poured in for him. His portrayal of jungle bandit in Malaiyoor Mambattiyan provided him major breakthrough in his career. He was also a part of successful films like Neengal Kettavai, Payum Puli. He acted in Malayalam film New Delhi which became successful and his portrayal of a goon received acclaim. The success of the film prompted Thiagarajan to make his directorial debut titled Salem Vishnu based on the character which he had played in that film. He then directed Aanazhagan with his son Prashanth in the leading role. Prashanth appeared in a drag role and revealed that the most daunting aspects of the role were the "waxing, the threading, the works" as well as "wearing a sari in summer, doing a bharatanatya sequence in a woman's costume, and getting the nuances and variations right were the other challenges", revealing his mum had assisted him.[4] According to Prashanth, the film was an average grosser.[5] Thiagarajan then stayed away from limelight paving way for his son. Thiagarajan then returned back to acting appearing in a small role as a father to his son in Jai.[6] Thiagarajan then directed Shock, remake of Hindi film Bhoot in 2004. Apart from directing and producing the film, Thiagarjan handled art and costumes department and also appeared in the film as police inspector. The film's shoot was completed within twenty six days, with meticulous pre-planning arranged by Thiagarajan.[7] The film received positive reviews citing that makers "deserve an appreciation for his honest and sincere attempt on the screen".[8] In September 2004, Thiagarajan launched Police, a remake of the Hindi film Khakee and the film received coverage from the media after producers had approached Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai for key roles. In interviews during the period, Thiagarajan mentioned the grand scale of the project citing that schedules would also be shot abroad; however the film failed to progress.[9] He then returned back to acting with films Bodyguard, Drohi and Vaaimai.[10] In early 2007, Thiagarajan approached M. Karunanidhi with the intention of making a film on his adaptation of the Ponnar Shankar epic that he had written in the late 1970s. The latter accepted Thiagarajan's offer and approved of his decision to cast his son, Prashanth, in the dual lead roles.[11] The film was released in 2011 to mixed reviews and did average business.[12] In the following year, Thiagarajan directed Mambattiyan, remake of his successful 1983 film which he had acted. His son played the titular role. The film received mixed reviews by critics, it took a good opening at the box office, but petered out to do average business commercially and due to its big budget, failed to recover costs.[13][14] In 2014, he revealed that he would direct the remakes of Hindi films Special 26 and Queen in four south indian languages.[15]

Filmography

As actor

Year Movie Role Language
1981 Alaigal Oivathillai Tamil
Andhi Mayakkam Tamil
Rama Dhandu Telugu
Tik Tik Tik Tamil
1982 Deviyin Thiruvilaiyadal Tamil
Kalyana Kalam Tamil
Avanukku nigar avane Tamil
Billa Ranga Hindi
Ekalavya Telugu
Garuda Saukiyama Tamil
Mullillatha Roja Tamil
Nadodi Raja Tamil
Nenjangal Tamil
Nenjil Oru Ragam Tamil
Neram Vandhachu Tamil
1983 Malaiyoor Mambattiyan Tamil
Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate Tamil
Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai Tamil
Ennai Paar En Azhagai Paar Tamil
Paayum Puli Tamil
1984 John Jani Janardhan Hindi
Nalla Naal Tamil
Neengal Kettavai Tamil
Neruppukkul Eeram Tamil
Komberi Mookan Tamil
Sankari Tamil
1985 Erimalai Tamil
Kaval Tamil
Karuppu Chattaikaran Tamil
Raja Yuvaraja Tamil
Chillu Malayalam
1986 Machakaran Tamil
Murattu Karangal Tamil
1987 New Delhi Nataraj Vishnu Malayalam
1988 Adholokam Nandakumar Malayalam
Manu Uncle Gomas Malayalam
Oru Muthassi Katha Chemparundu Machan Malayalam
Oomai Dhurai Tamil
Poovukkul Boogambam Tamil
Abkari Chidambaram Malayalam
Anthima Theerpu Kannada
Arjun Dennis Malayalam
1989 State Rowdy Telugu
Miss Pameela Victor Malayalam
Jeevitham Oru Raagam Raghavan Malayalam
Magadu Telugu
1990 No.20 Madras Mail Cameo Appearance Malayalam
Salem Vishnu Vishnu Tamil
1991 Theechatti Govindhan Tamil
CBI Siva Kannada
Theechatti Govindan Tamil
1992 Ashoka chakra Tamil
Marana Mrudangam Kannada
Police Lockup Kannada
1997 Police Bete Kannada
1999 Ravimama Kannada
Vishwa Kannada
2003 Thilakkam Maheswaran Thampi Malayalam
2004 Jai Veerapandi Tamil
Shock Police Inspector Tamil
2006 Adaikalam Tamil
2010 Bodyguard Ashokettan Malayalam
Drohi Narayanan Tamil
2014 Vaaimai Tamil

As director

Year Movie Language Cast Notes
1990 Salem Vishnu Tamil Thiagarajan, Rupini
1995 Aanazhagan Tamil Prashanth, Suneha
2004 Shock Tamil Prashanth, Meena
2011 Ponnar Shankar Tamil Prashanth, Pooja Chopra
2011 Mambattiyan Tamil Prashanth, Meera Jasmine Remake of Malaiyoor Mambattiyan

As producer

Year Movie Language
1990 Salem Vishnu Tamil
2004 Shock Tamil
2004 Jai Tamil
2011 Ponnar Shankar Tamil
2011 Mambattiyan Tamil

As art director

Year Movie Language
2004 Shock Tamil
2011 Mambattiyan Tamil

References

  1. http://www.tamilstar.com/profile/actor/thiagarajan/biography-short/364
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/10/09/stories/2002100900150300.htm
  4. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article787902.ece
  5. http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/15/stories/2002021501180300.htm
  6. http://web.archive.org/web/20030225175416/http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/oct031.asp#rtalk1
  7. http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2004/06/21/stories/2004062100650200.htm
  8. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/review/7099.html
  9. http://www.behindwoods.com/features/News/News35/24-10-05/tamil-movies-news-amitabh.html
  10. http://www.sify.com/movies/thyagarajan-plays-nayantharas-dad-news-tamil-kkfs7Maecbhsi.html
  11. http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article460369.ece
  12. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/movie-reviews/Ponnar-Shankar/movie-review/7998113.cms
  13. http://600024.com/specials/chennai-box-office-collections-december-12-to-december-18-2011/10/
  14. http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/return-of-robin-hood/article2723601.ece
  15. http://www.sify.com/movies/thiagarajan-to-direct-four-remakes-of-special-26-news-others-oldmuidhefeei.html?ref=slideout

External links