Thambi Ramaiah | |
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Born | Thambi Ramaiah Jagannathapillai 19 June 1962 |
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, director, lyricist |
Years active | 1998–present |
Spouse | Shanthy Ramaiah |
Children |
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Thambi Ramaiah is an Indian actor, director and comedian who works in the Tamil film industry. He has also worked occasionally as a lyricist. [2] He directed three films, Manu Needhi (2000), Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008) and Maniyaar Kudumbam (2018).
Thambi Ramaiah was born in Rarapuram village in Pudukkottai, and initially entered the film industry hoping to become a screenwriter. His father was a poet and a fiction writer and his mother was a housewife, while Ramaiah was their eldest child. He earned pocket money during his school days by writing love letters for his classmates. [3] He also had an interest in lyric writing, often writing lyrics for parody versions of popular songs, while becoming trained in various instruments including the harmonium and guitar. At the age of 20, he moved to Chennai and tried to make a breakthrough into the film industry, but was hindered by his lack of contacts and instead worked for a private company for nine years. [4] He got a break in 1994 and took up a job as a dialogue writer for a serial on Sun TV, doubling up as an assistant director, script writer and lyricist. He then earned opportunities to work as an assistant director in films directed by T. Rajender and P. Vasu, and he considers the latter his teacher of screenplay-writing. [3] He made a cameo acting appearance in Vasu's film Malabar Police (1999) in a scene featuring Goundamani. The following year, he made his directorial début with Manu Needhi (2000), which starred Murali and Napolean. He carried on playing supporting roles in films as well as writing comedy tracks, also directing the Vadivelu-starrer Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008).
He made a breakthrough as an actor portraying a friendly cop in Prabhu Solomon's romantic film Mynaa (2010) and won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. He subsequently won positive reviews for his performances in films including Saattai , Kumki (2012) and Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam (2014). At the peak of his career in 2013–2014, he worked for up to four films a day, while being on locations for close to 25 days a month. He also served as his own manager and often was in charge of his own make-up and costumes in films. [3]
In 2014, he announced plans to introduce his son, Umapathy Ramaiah, as an actor. His son later made his debut in Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay (2016). [5]
Year | Title | Role | Network |
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2022 | Victim | Kandan, Sikkandar | SonyLIV |
Year | Film | Cast | Notes |
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2000 | Manu Needhi | Murali, Prathyusha | |
2008 | Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan | Vadivelu, Yamini Sharma | |
2018 | Maniyaar Kudumbam | Umapathy, Mrudula Murali | |
Oru Koodai Mutham |
Year | Film | Song | Composer | Lyrics | Notes |
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2013 | Vu | "Oru Padi Mela" | Abhijith Ramasamy | Murugan Manthiram | |
2015 | Asurakulam | "Polladhavaa" | C. Sathya | Yugabharathi | [6] |
2010 | Oru Koodai Mutham | "Nongala Enakku" | Shanthan | Thambi Ramaiah | [7] |
2010 | Oru Koodai Mutham | "Pappa Poranthathu" | Shanthan | Thambi Ramaiah | [7] |
Indralohathil Na Azhagappan is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language fantasy comedy film directed by Thambi Ramaiah, who directs his second feature film after Manu Needhi. After the success of Vadivelu's debut film as the protagonist in Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi, Ramaiah signed him up for the project. It is based on the film Rambaiyin Kaadhal (1956).
Chinna Thambi is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language romantic musical drama film written and directed by P. Vasu. The film stars Prabhu as the titular character, an uneducated village simpleton and Khushbu as Nandini, a homeschooled wealthy girl. Manorama, Radha Ravi, Uday Prakash, Rajeshkumar, and Goundamani play supporting roles. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and the film released on 12 April 1991.
Prabhu Solomon is an Indian film director who has primarily worked on Tamil films. After making his directorial debut in 1999 with Kannodu Kanbathellam, he had a middling career before rising to prominence with the success of the romantic tragedy film Mynaa (2010).
Snehan is an Indian lyricist, politician, poet, and actor who has worked in the Tamil film industry. In the year 2018 he entered politics with Makkal Needhi Maiam and contested in the Lok Sabha election. In 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, he contested on behalf of Makkal Needhi Maiam as a candidate for Virugambakkam Constituency. Born as the eighth son in a farmer family with 6 elder brothers and 1 elder sister, Snehan, a qualified Intermediate teacher, started to write songs in the year 2000. After serving as an assistant to poet Vairamuthu, he began working as a lyricist in the film Putham Pudhiya Poove and has written lyrics for more than 2500 songs and has worked in more than 750 films. Snehan has since also appeared in films as an actor and made his acting debut with Yogi (2009).
Vikram Prabhu is an Indian actor working in Tamil language films who made his debut in Prabhu Solomon's Kumki (2012). He also played the protagonist in Ivan Veramathiri (2013) and Vellaikaara Durai (2014). He is the son of actor Prabhu and grandson of the veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan.
Mandhira Punnagai is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language romantic psychological thriller film written and directed by Karu Pazhaniappan, starring himself, along with Meenakshi, Santhanam, Rishi, and Thambi Ramaiah. The music was composed by Vidyasagar. The film was released on 19 November 2010.
Mynaa is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed and written by Prabu Solomon. Jointly distributed by Udhayanidhi Stalin and Kalpathi S. Aghoram, it stars Vidharth, Amala Paul and Thambi Ramaiah. Featuring an acclaimed soundtrack by D. Imman, the film, which garnered much anticipation prior to release, released on 5 November 2010, coinciding with the Diwali festival, receiving critical acclaim and going on to win the Best Film Award at the 58th Filmfare Awards South. Actor Thambi Ramaiah went on to win the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2011. Mynaa became a major success and ended as a blockbuster among 2010 Deepavali releases and was released along with Dhanush's Uthamaputhiran. The core plot was reported to be loosely inspired by the 2006 Hong Kong movie Dog Bite Dog.
Vaagai Sooda Vaa is a 2011 Tamil-language period drama film directed by A. Sarkunam, making it his second film after Kalavani (2010). It stars Vimal and Ineya, with Bhagyaraj, Ponvannan and Thambi Ramaiah playing supporting roles. The film is a period piece set in the 1960s in a remote village in Tamil Nadu. The film released on 30 September 2011 to mostly positive reviews but become an average grosser. The film was subsequently honored with the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for 2012.
Kumki is a 2012 Indian Tamil-language musical adventure romantic drama film written and directed by Prabhu Solomon. It was presented by N. Lingusamy and produced by N. Subash Chandra Bose, under the banner Thirrupathi Brothers, and distributed by K. E. Gnanavel Raja under the banner Studio Green. It features Vikram Prabhu, making his acting debut, while Lakshmi Menon, Thambi Ramaiah and Ashvin Raja appear in other prominent roles.
Yugabharathi is a Tamil poet and lyricist. He started his career as editor in Kanaiyazhi and turned into a lyricist in Tamil film industry. Debuting in the film Aanandham with lyrics for the song "Pallankuzhiyin vattam parthaen", he has become a successful lyricist penning more than 1000 songs.
Pulavar Pulamaipithan was an Indian scholar, poet and lyricist who got recognition through the song "Naan yaar nee yaar" which was featured in the Tamil film Kudiyirundha Koyil in 1968. He briefly served as the presidium chairman of AIADMK from 2002 to 2003, when he resigned citing ill-health.
Saattai (transl. Whip) is a 2012 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by M. Anbazhagan. The film features Samuthirakani and Thambi Ramaiah in pivotal roles. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by D. Imman. The shooting took place in NLC and Thiruvannamalai. The film is the first installment of the film series and was followed by a spin-off, Appa (2016), and a sequel Adutha Saattai (2019). The movie was officially remade in Kannada in 2020 as Drona.
Vu is a 2014 Tamil comedy film directed by Ashik, a student of Film technology from MGR Govt. Film and TV Institute in Chennai. The film features Thambi Ramiah for first time in lead role, alongside newcomers Varun, Madhan Gopal, Kuran, Simile Selva and Sathyasai. The film was released on 7 February 2014.
Summa Nachunu Irukku is a 2013 Tamil-language comedy film directed by A. Venkatesh, who also starred in the film. The film stars Thaman Kumar, Vibha Natarajan and Archana Vishwanath along with an ensemble cast including Thambi Ramaiah, Srinivasan, Appukutty, and Erode Mahesh. The film, produced by B. Vimal, had musical score by Achu Rajamani and was released on 30 August 2013. The story of the film was inspired by the 1997 Malayalam film Chandralekha.
Ashvin Raja is an Indian actor who has appeared in Tamil language films. He is the son of film producer Late V. Swaminathan of Lakshmi Movie Makers.
Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language independent satirical drama film written and directed by R. Parthiepan and produced by K. Chandramohan and independent producer, Haresh Vikram Vijayakumar. The project stars an all-new cast along with several experienced actors in cameo roles and becomes Parthiepan's first directorial film in which he does not feature in the lead role. The film, which has a tagline reading "a film without a story", began production in late 2013 and was released on 15 August 2014.
Manu Needhi is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Thambi Ramaiah. The film stars Murali and Prathyusha, while Vadivelu, Napoleon and Nassar play other supporting roles. The film has music by Deva, cinematography by B. Balamurugan, and editing by Pazhanivel. The film released on 23 December 2000.
Piraisoodan was a Tamil poet and lyricist.
Mahanadi Shankar is an Indian actor and stuntman who has appeared in Tamil language films and television serials, playing mostly supporting and negative roles. He has starred in films such as Mahanadhi (1994), Baashha (1995), Ratchagan (1997), Amarkalam (1999), and Dheena (2001). The success of the former film meant that he used the title as a prefix to his stage name.
Maniyaar Kudumbam is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by Thambi Ramaiah and produced by Thenmozhi Sungra. This was only the third directorial venture for Ramaiah after the film Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008) merely after a decade.