Shaji Chen | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Writer, actor |
Shaji Chen (also credited as Shaji and Shaji Chennai [1] ) is an Indian writer and actor. Shaji's main area of writing is music and cinema related. Shaji writes in Tamil, Malayalam, English languages and acts in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.
As a writer he is known for his music and film related write-ups and autobiographical articles. His various articles have published in The Hindu, [2] Times of India, India Today, AV Max, Ananda Vikatan, [3] The Hindu Tamil, [4] Uyirmmai, [5] Kalachuvadu, [6] Theeranadhi, Vikatan Thadam, Kaalam, Kumkumam, Puthiya Thalaimurai, Sunday Indian, Andhimazhai, Padachurul, Bhashaposhini, Mathrubhumi Azhchappathippu, Madhyamam Weekly, Chandrika Weekly, Kalakaumudi, Malayalam Vaarika, [7] [8] Mangalam Daily, Mangalam Annual, [9] Deepika Daily and others.
His articles in the series Music Beyond Words were translated to Tamil by Tamil writer Jeyamohan as Sollil Adangaatha Isai. Published in the Tamil literary magazine Uyirmmai, this was a popular column in the Tamil serious literature. Another Tamil writer S. Ramakrishnan has also translated many of Shaji's articles to Tamil. After the first few years of these translations, Shaji started writing directly in Tamil. In 2016 a complete collection of his music-related articles was published by Vikatan Publications. [10] [11] In the 2023 Chennai Book Fair an updated and improved collection of his music-related articles published by Discovery Books. Director Mani Ratnam, Director Mysskin, Director Vasanth, Director Seenu Ramasamy, Director Vasanthabalan and Actor composer G. V. Prakash Kumar introduced and endorsed the book.
His column named Paattinappuram (Beyond the Song), was published in the Malayalam weekly Chandrika. His first Book in Malayalam, 'Paattalla Sangeetham', was released [12] by Malayalam publisher Green Books. [13] Many of his Malayalam articles are published in the notable literary magazine of Malayalam, Bhashaposhini [14] [15] [16] and his article series named Cinema Bhraanthinte Naalpathu Varshangal (40 Years of Cinema Craze) was published therein for one year in 2017–18. Portions from this series were also published as shorter chapters in Malayala Manorama Online. [17] In 2019 October, Matrubhumi Books published this series as a book [18] and it went on to be a best seller [19] in the first week of the publication itself.
As a music critic, Shaji appeared in national dailies such as Times of India, The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle, New Indian Express, [20] [21] and others. His monthly column in Tamil 'Cinema Veriyin 40 Aandukal' [22] ' was published in Vikatan Thadam Magazine. The last 2 chapters of the same were published in Andhimazhai Magazine. His columns in Tamil, Mullarumbu Marangal in Andhimazhai monthly and Isaiyezhuthu in Uyirmai monthly are well known. In Malayalam, the web magazine Truecopythink publishes most of his writings from 2020. [23]
Shaji has also worked in the advertising industry for many years providing storylines, scripts, jingle lyrics, and translations and he also acted in some advertisements. He has written many advertisement films and ad campaigns. [24] [25] He worked for brands such as South Indian Bank, [24] Muthoot Fincorp, Nippo [25]
Title | Language |
---|---|
Sollil Adangaatha Isai (Music Beyond Words) [26] | Tamil |
Isaiyin Thanimai (The Music of Solitude) [27] | Tamil |
Isaiyin Oliyil (In The Light of Music) [28] | Tamil |
Isai Thirai Vaazhkai (Music, Movies and Life) [29] | Tamil |
Shaji Isai Katturaikal Muzhuththokuppu (Shaji Writings on Music Complete Collection) [30] | Tamil |
Paattalla Sangeetham (Music is not Mere Songs) [31] | Malayalam |
Cinema Praanthinte 40 Varshangal (40 Years of Cinema Craze) [32] | Malayalam |
Cinema VeRiyin 40 Aandugal (40 Years of Cinema Craze) [33] | Tamil |
Thirumbi Paarkaiyil (When I Look Back) [34] | Tamil |
Shaji Isai Katturaikal Muzhuththokuppu (Improved Edition) [35] | Tamil |
In September 2013 Shaji Chen acted in the acclaimed Tamil film Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum [36] (A Wolf and a Lamb) directed by Mysskin, as the pivotal character CBCID Lal. Then he acted in the Tamil film Maan Karate as the boxing coach of the hero, Sivakarthikeyan. [37] Aaranyam [38] [39] was his next Tamil film. He made his Malayalam film debut with the Vineeth Sreenivasan film Aby . [40] Thupparivalan [41] (Tamil) / Detective (Telugu)/ Dashing Detective (Hindi) directed by Mysskin, Spyder (Telugu &Tamil) [42] directed by A R Murugadoss and Savarakathi written and produced by Mysskin followed. In Thupparivalan he acted as the crucial character ACP Vijayakumar. This film was later dubbed into Telugu as Detective and to Hindi as Dashing Detective. In the film Spyder, he portrayed the role of Intelligence Bureau Head, Mathews. In Savarakathi he played the cameo of a mentally ill person. In Kanne Kalaimaane directed by Seenu Ramasamy he played the role of Bank Manager Mathrubhootham. In Iruttu directed by V. Z. Durai he played the role of a Muslim sage living in a forest graveyard. In Psycho directed by Mysskin he played the part of the father of the heroine acted by Aditi Rao Hydari. In Doctor directed by Nelson Dilipkumar Shaji played a two scene cameo as a distressed metro train driver. [43] In the Vijay starrer movie Beast directed by Nelson Dilipkumar he acted as the scheming Home Minister. [43] In Maamanithan directed by Seenu Ramasamy Shaji acted as the real estate fraudster Mathavan. in Cobra (2022) directed by R. Ajay Gnanamuthu Shaji did the short cameo of the father of one of the heroines played by Mirnalini Ravi. In Raavana Kottam directed by Vikram Sukumaran, Shaji acted as the judicious district collector. In Thalaimai Seyalagam Web Series on Zee5 [44] directed by Vasanthabalan Shaji acted as the scheming political power broker Krishnaswamy.
Hit List [45] directed by Soorya Kathir Kakkallar & K Karthikeyan,Chera [46] (Malayalam) directed by Lijin Jose, Blackmail [47] directed by Mu.Maran, Vettaiyan directed by T. J. Gnanavel, Train directed by Mysskin are some of his forthcoming films.
Shaji Chen is the Trustee in South India for the Salil Chowdhury Foundation of Music formed in the name of the notable composer of Indian popular music. [49] He also represents Ritwik Ghatak Memorial Trust [50] in South India. [51] [52] He has also been the Judge of Sujatha Ilakkiya Viruthu, a Tamil literary award instituted in the name of the Tamil writer Sujatha. [53] Shaji Chen is an advocate of informal education for children and the rights of special children. [54] He is also a supporter of sustainable nature farming and native food culture. [55] [56]
Shaji Chen was born [57] in Kattappana, Idukki District, Kerala near the Tamil Nadu border. He lives in Chennai with his wife and daughter. [58]
Malayalam cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Malayalam language, which is widely spoken in the state of Kerala, India. In 1982, Elippathayam won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival, and Most Original Imaginative Film of 1982 by the British Film Institute. The film Marana Simhasanam has won the prestigious Caméra d'Or at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.
Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty, is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam-language films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English-language productions. In a career spanning five decades, he has appeared in more than 420 films, predominantly in lead roles. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards, nine Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South. For his contribution to film, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 1998. In 2022, he was honoured with Kerala Prabha Award, the second-highest civilian honour given by the Government of Kerala.
Suresh Gopi is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Bollywood films. Suresh made his acting debut as a child in the 1965 film Odayil Ninnu and as an adult in 1986 and has since acted in more than 250 films. In 1998, he won the National Film Award for Best Actor and Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Kaliyattam.
Sarathkumar Ramanathan is an Indian actor, politician, filmmaker and former bodybuilder who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. He has acted in more than 145 films and won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
Prithviraj Sukumaran is an Indian actor, director, producer and playback singer primarily active in Malayalam cinema. He has also featured in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu films, adding to over a 100 films involving diverse genres and variety of roles. Prithviraj's accolades include a National Film Award, three Kerala State Film Awards, a Tamil Nadu State Film Award and a South Filmfare Award.
Mamta Mohandas is an Indian actress, film producer and a playback singer who predominantly works in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. She has won several accolades including two Filmfare Awards South for Best Female Playback Singer in Telugu in 2006 and for Best Actress in Malayalam in 2010 and also won Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress in 2010. She has launched her own film production company under the banner Mamta Mohandas Productions.
Urvashi is an Indian actress, dubbing artist, television host, scriptwriter and film producer known for her works in the Southern film industry, predominantly in Malayalam films also worked in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films. In a career spanning over four decades, she has won one National Film Award, five Kerala State Film Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and two Filmfare Award South respectively. Known for her distinct style of acting, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in Malayalam cinema.
Sunil Kumar, known by his stage name Narain, is an Indian actor, who has starred in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. He made his debut in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Nizhalkuthu (2002), followed by performances in Malayalam films 4 the People (2004), Achuvinte Amma (2005), and Classmates (2006). Narain's Tamil and Telugu debuts were in Mysskin's Chithiram Pesuthadi (2006) and Jayaraj's Yuvasena (2004).
Murugadas Arunachalam, known professionally as AR Murugadas, is an Indian film director, screenwriter and film producer who predominantly works in the Tamil film industry. He is best known for directing action films mainly on social issues. In addition, he has worked in Telugu films and Hindi films. Murugadoss won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for his 2014 Tamil action drama Kaththi.
Vinay Rai is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Tamil films apart from a few Telugu and Malayalam films. He is best known for his performance in the films Unnale Unnale (2007), Jayamkondaan (2008), Endrendrum Punnagai (2013) and Aranmanai (2014). He turned villain in Thupparivaalan (2017) and has played negative roles in several films including Doctor (2021), Etharkkum Thunindhavan (2022), Christopher (2023) and Hanu-Man (2024).
Vishal Krishna Reddy, professionally known as Vishal, is an Indian actor and producer who works in Tamil films. Born to film producer G. K. Reddy, Vishal is known for his roles in action films. He also produces films under his production company, Vishal Film Factory. Vishal was conferred with the Kalaimamani award in 2006, for his contributions to Tamil cinema.
Bharath Srinivasan, known professionally as Bharath, is an Indian actor, who works predominantly in Tamil cinema, along with few films in Malayalam, Hindi and Telugu.
Mugamoodi is a 2012 Indian Tamil-language superhero film directed by Mysskin and produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur. The film stars Jiiva, Narain, Pooja Hegde, Nassar, Selva and Girish Karnad. The film is about Bruce Lee, who wears a superhero costume and performs martial arts techniques, in order to impress Shakthi. However, he gets involved in a police chase and helps the officers seize the offenders.
Revathy, known by her stage name Kadhal Sandhya, is an Indian former actress who appeared mainly in Tamil film industry and in a few Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films.
Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language neo-noir thriller film written, directed, and produced by Mysskin. Sri of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame, Mysskin, and Shaji Chen play the lead roles in the film. The film score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film had no heroine and no songs. Filming began on 11 March 2013 and the crew shot the entire film in and around Chennai city. Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum was released on 27 September 2013 and got universal acclaim. This film acquired cult status in Tamil cinema and inspired similar themes.
Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language road-comedy film directed by G. Prajith and scripted by Vineeth Sreenivasan. The film features Nivin Pauly, Manjima Mohan, Aju Varghese, Neeraj Madhav, and Vineeth Sreenivasan. The music was composed by Shaan Rahman. It was released on 27 March to positive reviews, and became one of the biggest grossing Malayalam films of the year. Some news media and the Kerala Film Producers Association called it the first successful Malayalam film of 2015. This movie marks the debut of Manjima Mohan as an actress in a Malayalam movie. Earlier, she appeared as a child artist in films, including Priyam and Sundara Purushan. The film was remade in Telugu as Meda Meedha Abbayi which received good responses from critics and audiences.
Anu Emmanuel is an American actress of Indian descent who primarily works in Telugu films along with Tamil and Malayalam films. Emmanuel is a recipient of a Producers Guild Film Award.
Thupparivaalan (transl. Detective) is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by Mysskin, and produced by Vishal, who also enacts in the lead role with Prasanna. The film also features Vinay Rai, Anu Emmanuel, Andrea Jeremiah and K. Bhagyaraj. It is loosely inspired by Sherlock Holmes, British writer Arthur Conan Doyle's detective character. The film follows Kaniyan, a private detective, and his associate Manohar, who investigates the death of a kid's pet dog which leads to a bigger criminal.
Spyder is a 2017 Indian Telugu/Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced by N. V. Prasad. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil languages, and stars Mahesh Babu, S. J. Suryah and Rakul Preet Singh in the lead roles. Murugadoss wrote the Tamil dialogue while the Paruchuri Brothers wrote the Telugu version. The film was edited by A. Sreekar Prasad, with cinematography by Santosh Sivan and music by Harris Jayaraj.
N. B. Srikanth is an Indian film editor, working primarily in the Tamil film industry. He worked along with Praveen K. L. in various successful films.