S. U. Arun Kumar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 26 February 1987 [1] Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation | Film director Screenwriter |
| Years active | 2014–present |
S. U. Arun Kumar is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in the Tamil film industry. He is from Paravai near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. [2] He is known for directing the films Pannaiyarum Padminiyum (2014), Sethupathi (2016), Sindhubaadh (2019), and Chithha (2023).
Kumar became interested in filmmaking and made a few short films. He joined the second season of Nalaya Iyakunar (a TV competition for short films) to build his portfolio. [3]
Kumar made his feature film directorial debut with Pannaiyarum Padminiyum (2014) starring Vijay Sethupathi. [4] The film was originally a short film and later made into a feature film, retaining the main characters but with a completely different storyline. [5] Though it won critical acclaim and was screened at many international film festivals, [6] it was not successful at the box office. [1]
Kumar later collaborated with Vijay Sethupathi again for Sethupathi (2016) as they both wanted to give a commercial hit together. [7] [8] It released to positive reviews and ended up being a commercial success. [1] The film was remade in Telugu as Jayadev with newcomer Ganta Ravi. [9] Arun Kumar joined hands with Vijay Sethupathi for the third time for Sindhubaadh (2019). [10] The actor was cast in the film after 11 other actors could not work in the film due to various reasons. [11] Kumar cast Vijay Sethupathi's son, Surya, in Sindhubaadh although Sethupathi was insistent to cast someone else. [12] Most of the film's footage was shot in Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. [13]
Kumar made a documentary called Imaikka Vizhigal in 2020 about the chain snatching epidemic in Tenkasi. [14] In addition to being its writer and director, he was also the Cinematographer.
Kumar then directed Chithha (2023) starring Siddharth in the lead. It released on September 28, 2023 and received critical acclaim. [15] [16]
His next project is Veera Dheera Sooran Part 2 starring Vikram. [17]
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Pannaiyarum Padminiyum | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film Third prize Special jury award at 7th Bengaluru International Film Festival | |
| 2016 | Sethupathi | ||
| 2019 | Sindhubaadh | ||
| 2023 | Chithha | Filmfare Award for Best Director - Tamil | |
| 2025 | Veera Dheera Sooran | [18] |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Pannaiyarum Padminiyum |
| 2012 | 5 Rupees |
| 2012 | Nadodi Mannan |
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Tamil film lead actors. The Filmfare Awards South Awards were extended to "Best Actor" in 1972. The year indicates the year of release of the film.
Senthamizhan Seeman is an Indian politician, actor and former filmmaker. He is the leader and chief-coordinator of the Naam Tamilar Katchi political party in Tamil Nadu. He is a strong advocate for regional autonomy and Tamil nationalism by focusing on the Tamil language, identity, and culture.
Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi Kalimuthu is an Indian actor and film producer who predominantly works in Tamil films. Sethupathi is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film directed by debutant S. U. Arun Kumar, based on his own eponymous short-film. Arun Kumar was a contestant in Naalaya Iyakunar. It features Vijay Sethupathi, Jayaprakash, and Aishwarya Rajesh in the lead roles, with Thulasi, Bala Saravanan, Neelima Rani, and Mahadevan in supporting roles. Sneha and Attakathi Dinesh appear in brief guest roles. Music for the film was composed by debutant Justin Prabhakaran and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad while the cinematography is by Gokul Binoy.
Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, also referred to as iDhaaba, is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film, written and directed by Gokul. Produced by Leo Visions, the film stars Vijay Sethupathi, Ashwin, Swathi, Nandita, and Pasupathy. It was released on 2 October 2013. The film received positive reviews from critics and became a success. It was remade in Kannada as Jackson (2015).
SIIMA Award for Best Actor – Tamil is presented by Vibri media group as part of its annual South Indian International Movie Awards, for best acting done by an actor in Tamil films. The award was first given in 2012 for films released in 2011.
Justin Prabhakaran is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer. He has scored music mostly for Tamil films and also a few Malayalam and Telugu films besides one Hindi film. He made his debut as a film composer in the 2014 Tamil film Pannaiyarum Padminiyum.
Vijay Sethupathi is an Indian actor who works mainly in Tamil films. He has also worked in a few Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films. He began his career in 1996 by playing small uncredited roles in films, before his first lead role in Thenmerku Paruvakaatru (2010), under Seenu Ramasamy's direction. 2012 marked a turning point in Sethupathi's career; all his three releases were critical and commercial successes, resulting in a rise in his popularity.
Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Nalan Kumarasamy in his second feature film after Soodhu Kavvum. Produced by C. V. Kumar under his Thirukumaran Entertainment banner, with K. E. Gnanavel Raja also co-producing the film under Studio Green, it stars Vijay Sethupathi with Madonna Sebastian, the latter in her Tamil film debut. It is an official remake of the 2010 Korean film My Dear Desperado.
Sethupathi is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by S. U. Arun Kumar and produced by Shan Sutharsan under the Vansan Movies banner. It feature Vijay Sethupathi as Police Officer. The film revolves around a police officer whose reputation runs into trouble when a young suspect is severely injured in his custody and threats from his enemies increase.
Vansan Movies is an Indian entertainment company that specializes in film production, film distribution and live entertainment. The company was founded in 2015 by Shan Sutharsan, CEO of Vansan Group.
Seeman is an Indian film director and actor, who has worked in Tamil cinema. He made his directorial debut in 1996, with the Tamil film Panchalankurichi. Since then, he has directed four more films and also appeared in acting roles in films of other directors.
Kathanayagan is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Tha. Muruganantham. Produced by Vishnu Vishal, the film also stars him alongside Catherine Tresa, Anandaraj, and Soori. Featuring music composed by Sean Roldan, the venture began production in September 2016. The film was released on 8 September 2017 and received negative reviews from film critics and the audience.
'96 is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by C. Prem Kumar in his directorial debut. Produced by S. Nanthagopal of Madras Enterprises, the film was distributed by Lalit Kumar under his banner, Seven Screen Studio. Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha Krishnan are in the prominent roles as Ram and Jaanu, while newcomers Gouri G. Kishan and Aadithya Bhaskar played the younger versions. The film also stars an ensemble cast including Bagavathi Perumal, Devadarshini, Aadukalam Murugadoss, and others. The film revolves around the reunion of former students from the batch of 1996, twenty-two years after their graduation. The reunion also serves as an opportunity for two former lovers, Ram and Jaanu, to resolve issues surrounding their separation.
Sindhubaadh is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by S. U. Arun Kumar and produced by S. N. Rajarajan and Shan Sutharsan Vansan Movies and K Productions. The film stars Vijay Sethupathi and Anjali in the lead roles, while Linga, Vivek Prasanna and Surya Vijay Sethupathi appear in supporting roles. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, while the cinematography was handled by Vijay Kartik Kannan and editing by Ruben.
Mersal is the soundtrack of the 2017 Indian vigilante action film of the same name directed by Atlee, which stars Vijay in a triple role with Nithya Menen, Kajal Aggarwal and Samantha as the female leads. The film, which marked the 100th production of Thenandal Studio Limited, has a soundtrack album features four tracks composed by A. R. Rahman, in his first collaboration with Atlee and his third collaboration with Vijay after composing for Udhaya (2004) and Azhagiya Tamizh Magan (2007), whilst Vivek penned the lyrics for all the songs in the film's soundtrack, also in his first association with Rahman.
Annabelle Sethupathi is a 2021 Indian Tamil-language horror comedy film directed by Deepak Sundarrajan and produced by Sudhan Sundaram and G Jayaram under the banner of Passion Studios. The film stars Vijay Sethupathi in a dual role alongside Taapsee Pannu, Jagapathi Babu and Yogi Babu. The film was released worldwide on Disney+ Hotstar on 17 September 2021 to unfavorable reviews from critics.
Seven Screen Studio is an Indian film production and distribution company headed by S. S. Lalit Kumar.
Chithha is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language crime drama film written and directed by S. U. Arun Kumar and produced by Siddharth, who stars in the lead role alongside Nimisha Sajayan, and Anjali Nair in addition to Baby Sahasra Shree and Baby S. Aafiyah Tasneem in the prominent roles. The film revolves around the relationship between a paternal uncle and his niece which goes through several circumstances after the latter goes missing.
Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by S. U. Arun Kumar. It is produced by Riya Shibu under HR Pictures. The film stars Vikram in the titular role, alongside S. J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Dushara Vijayan and Siddique. Its prequel, Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 1, has yet to begin production.