Thiagarajan

Last updated

Thiyagarajan
Born
Thiyagarajan Sivanandam

(1946-06-21) 21 June 1946 (age 78) [1]
Vilathur, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality Indian
Occupations
Years active1980 – 1999
2003 – present
Spouse
Shanthi
​
(m. 1972)​
Children Prashanth, Preethi
Relatives

Thiagarajan Sivanandam (born 21 June 1946) is an Indian actor, film director and film producer in Tamil cinema. Besides Tamil, he has acted in several Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films. He is the father of Tamil actor Prashanth, son-in-law of actor-director Peketi Sivaram and the maternal uncle of Tamil actor Vikram. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Basically a businessman, Thiagarajan made his acting debut with Alaigal Oivathillai (1981), appearing as the elder brother of the film's lead actress Radha. [4] The film became successful and offers poured in for him. [5]

His portrayal of a jungle bandit in Malaiyoor Mambattiyan (1982) provided him a major breakthrough in his career. He was part of such successful films as Komberi Mookan (1984) and Neengal Kettavai (1984).

He acted in the 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 (1990), based on the character which he had played in that film. He then directed Aanazhagan (1995), with his son Prashanth in the leading role. According to Prashanth, the film was an average grosser. [6]

Thiagarajan then stayed away from the limelight, paving the way for his son. He later returned to acting, appearing in a small role as a father to his son in Jai . [7] Thiagarajan then directed Shock , remake of the Hindi film Bhoot in 2004. Apart from directing and producing the film, Thiagarajan handled the art and costumes department and also appeared in the film as police inspector. The film's shoot was completed in twenty-six days, with meticulous pre-planning arranged by Thiagarajan. [8] The film received positive reviews citing that the makers "deserve an appreciation for his honest and sincere attempt on the screen". [9]

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. [10] He then returned to acting with the films Bodyguard (2010) and Drohi (2010). [11]

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 role. [12] The film was released in 2011 to mixed reviews and did average business. [13] He directed Mambattiyan (2011), a remake of his successful 1983 film in which he had acted. His son played the title 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, it failed to recover costs. [14]

In 2014, he revealed that he would direct the remakes of Hindi films Special 26 and Queen in four south Indian languages; although he did not remake those films. [15]

He later starred in supporting roles such as Vaaimai (2016), Yaman (2018), Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018) and Ponmagal Vandhal (2020). [16] [17] [18] [19]

He is a producer of his son's films Saagasam (2016), Johnny (2018) and Andhagan (2024). [20] [21] [22]

Filmography

Tamil films

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 Alaigal Oivathillai David
Tik Tik Tik Victor
1982 Garuda Saukiyama Deenadayalu
Nenjil Oru RagamSiva
Deviyin ThiruvilaiyadalMannar Perumane
Nadodi Raja Muruga
Nenjangal Kidnapper
Neram Vandhachu Ravi
1983 Paayum Puli Thiyagu
Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate Boodalingam
Malaiyoor Mambattiyan Mambattiyaan
Ennai Paar En Azhagai Paar
Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai Unreleased
1984 Nalla Naal Kaali
Komberi Mookan Komberi Mookan
Neengal Kettavai Arun
Nerupukkul Eeram
SankariRaghu
1985Raja YuvarajaYuvaraja
ErimalaiShankar Dada
KaavalInspector Anand
Karuppu ChattaikaranYuvendran
1986 Murattu Karangal Veeran
Machakaran
1988Oomai Dhurai
Poovukkul Boogambam
1990 Salem Vishnu Vishnu
1991Theechatti GovindhanTheechatti Govindan
2004 Jai Veerapandi
Shock Police Inspector
2006 Adaikalam Sathyamurthy
2010 Drohi Narayanan
2016 Vaaimai Dheenadayalan
2017 Yaman Karunakaran
2018 Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Chinnappadasan
2020 Ponmagal Vandhal Varadharajan
2024 PT Sir Guru Purushothaman
Andhagan ArtistSpecial appearance;
also director

Other language films

YearMovieRoleLanguageNotes
1984 John Jani Janardhan GopaldasHindi
1985 Chillu Malayalam
1987 New Delhi Nataraj Vishnu a.k.a. Salem Vishnu
1988 Adholokam Nandakumar
Manu Uncle Gomas
Oohakachavadom
Oru Muthassi Katha Chemparundu Machan
Abkari Chidambaram
Anthima Theerpu Nataraj Vishnu a.k.a. Salem Vishnu Telugu
New Delhi Hindi
New Delhi Kannada
Arjun DennisMalayalam
1989 State Rowdy Telugu
Miss PameelaVictorMalayalam
Jeevitham Oru RaagamRaghavan
1990 No.20 Madras Mail HimselfCameo appearance
Magadu Telugu
Ashoka ChakraSoorappaKannada
1991CBI Siva
1992 Marana Mrudanga Thyagaraj
Police Lockup
1993 Sangharsha
1994Sididedda Shiva
1997Police Bete
1999 Ravimama
Vishwa
2003 Thilakkam Maheswaran ThampiMalayalam
2010 Bodyguard Ashokan
2016Pachakkallam

As director, producer, writer and art director

YearTitleCredited asLanguageNotes
Director Producer Writer Art director
1984 Komberi Mookan NoNoStoryNo Tamil
1988 Poovukkul Boogambam YesYesYesNo
1990 Salem Vishnu YesYesYesNo
1995 Aanazhagan YesNoYesNo
1997 Mannava NoNoNoYes
2004 Shock YesYesScreenplayYes
2004 Jai NoYesNoNo
2011 Ponnar Shankar YesYesNoNo
2011 Mambattiyan YesYesYesYes
2016 Saagasam NoPresenterScreenplayNo
2018 Johnny NoYesScreenplayNo
2024 Andhagan YesYesScreenplayNo [23]

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References

  1. ↑ "POI". 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Director Thiagarajan on his latest film". The Times of India . 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "Vikram and Prashanth are cousins". The Times of India . 5 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "It's all about choices". The Hindu . 9 October 2002. Archived from the original on 12 March 2003.
  5. ↑ Shiva Kumar, S (20 December 1981). "In fool's paradise". Mid-Day . Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Young and mature at once". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 25 March 2002. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "Reel Talk for 4th October 2002". chennaionline.com. 4 October 2002. Archived from the original on 25 February 2003. Retrieved 25 February 2003.
  8. ↑ "Prashanth in 'Shock'". The Hindu . 21 June 2004. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Shock review. Shock Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2004. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Will Amitabh star in Prashanth's film?". behindwoods.com. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Thyagarajan plays Nayanthara's dad!". Sify . Archived from the original on 26 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Prashanth, on 'Ponnar-Shankar'". newindianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Ponnar Shankar Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". The Times of India.
  14. ↑ Rangarajan, Malathi (17 December 2011). "Return of Robin Hood". The Hindu– via www.thehindu.com.
  15. ↑ "Thiagarajan to direct four remakes of 'Special 26'". Sify . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "Vaaimai". 8 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "Yaman Movie Review". 24 February 2017.
  18. ↑ "Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Review".
  19. ↑ "'Ponmagal Vandhal' review: This courtroom drama about big issues has big issues". 30 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "Saagasam". 5 February 2016.
  21. ↑ "Johnny Review".
  22. ↑ "Andhagan". MovieCrow.
  23. ↑ Lakshmi, V (18 March 2021). "Priya Anand on Andhagan: The character will have my own interpretation". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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