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{{short description|Indian film director and screenwriter (born 1976)}}
{{short description|Indian film director and screenwriter (born 1979)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Thiagarajan Kumararaja
| name = Thiagarajan Kumararaja
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| caption = Thiagarajan Kumararaja at Launch of Stone Bench Films and Originals in 2017
| caption = Thiagarajan Kumararaja at Launch of Stone Bench Films and Originals in 2017
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|05|07|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|11|25|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Tamil Nadu, India
| birth_place = [[Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]),<br/>[[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
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==Career==
==Career==
Thiagarajan Kumararaja was born and raised in [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu, India. His parents thought he would pick up bad habits if he stepped out, so he stayed mostly at home. He likes books of [[Sujatha Rangarajan|Sujatha]], [[Rajesh Kumar (writer)|Rajesh Kumar]], [[Kovi. Manisekaran|Kovi Manisekaran]] & [[Sandilyan]]. But the real entertainment was the bus ride from his home in Porur to [[Santhome|Santhome Higher Secondary School]]. He used to stand next to the driver, observing the driver. "I wanted to be a PTC bus driver," he says. At the Class XII failed in Mathematics subject. On his words "If I didn’t like the teacher, I wouldn’t study."
Thiagarajan Kumararaja was born and raised in [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu, India. His parents thought he would pick up bad habits if he stepped out, so he stayed mostly at home. He likes books of [[Sujatha (writer)|Sujatha]], [[Rajesh Kumar (writer)|Rajesh Kumar]], [[Kovi. Manisekaran|Kovi Manisekaran]] & [[Sandilyan]]. But the real entertainment was the bus ride from his home in Porur to [[Santhome|Santhome Higher Secondary School]]. He used to stand next to the driver, observing the driver. "I wanted to be a PTC bus driver," he says. At the Class XII failed in Mathematics subject. On his words "If I didn’t like the teacher, I wouldn’t study."


He enrolled for a [[Visual Communications]] course at the [[Loyola College, Chennai]], but dropped out shortly after to make films. Kumararaja cited that it was composer [[Ilaiyaraaja]]'s music that animated him to come to films and to study Visual Communications in the first place.<ref name="rediff1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-aaranya-kaandam-is-a-story-of-gangsters/20110609.htm |title=Aaranya Kaandam: A day in a gangster's life |publisher=Rediff |date=9 June 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> However, he discontinued his studies in 1998 and started to work as a freelance copywriter and photographer for a while.<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web|author=Sudhish Kamath |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1158882.ece |title=A new chapter |newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 February 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dearcinema.com/interview/no-south-indian-actor-was-ready-to-play-an-impotent-don-kumararaja-aaranya-kaandam-director/0859#.T65DVcWo3tk |title=No South Indian actor was ready to play an impotent don: Kumararaja, Aaranya Kaandam director |publisher=DearCinema.com |date=4 August 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> He went on to shoot advertisement films and also directed a five-part documentary on South Indian Temples, ''Sthala Puranam'' for [[Vijay TV]].<ref name="thehindu1" /> In 2005, he participated at the one-minute film competition ''60 Seconds to Fame'' by Ability Foundation, aiming for the prize money.<ref name="thehindu1" /> His short film ''Becky'' was awarded the first prize at the Ability Fest 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abilityfoundation.org/ability_fest_2005.html# |title=Ability Fest 2005 |publisher=Ability Foundation |date= |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Kumararaja then collaborated with [[Pushkar-Gayathri]], writing the dialogue of their directorial debut ''[[Oram Po]]'' (2007).<ref name="thehindu1" /> He would later write all songs for their second project ''[[Va (film)|Va]]'' (2010) as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-music-review-va-quarter-cutting/20100913.htm |title=Va Quarter Cutting music is worth a listen |publisher=Rediff |date=13 September 2010 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Through Pushkar-Gayathri, Kumararaja met [[S. P. B. Charan]], who agreed to produce his first feature film ''[[Aaranya Kaandam]]''.
He enrolled for a [[Visual Communications]] course at the [[Loyola College, Chennai]], but dropped out shortly after to make films. Kumararaja cited that it was composer [[Ilaiyaraaja]]'s music that animated him to come to films and to study Visual Communications in the first place.<ref name="rediff1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-aaranya-kaandam-is-a-story-of-gangsters/20110609.htm |title=Aaranya Kaandam: A day in a gangster's life |publisher=Rediff |date=9 June 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> However, he discontinued his studies in 1998 and started to work as a freelance copywriter and photographer for a while.<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web|author=Sudhish Kamath |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1158882.ece |title=A new chapter |newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 February 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dearcinema.com/interview/no-south-indian-actor-was-ready-to-play-an-impotent-don-kumararaja-aaranya-kaandam-director/0859#.T65DVcWo3tk |title=No South Indian actor was ready to play an impotent don: Kumararaja, Aaranya Kaandam director |publisher=DearCinema.com |date=4 August 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> He went on to shoot advertisement films and also directed a five-part documentary on South Indian Temples, ''Sthala Puranam'' for [[Vijay TV]].<ref name="thehindu1" /> In 2005, he participated at the one-minute film competition ''60 Seconds to Fame'' by Ability Foundation, aiming for the prize money.<ref name="thehindu1" /> His short film ''Becky'' was awarded the first prize at the Ability Fest 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abilityfoundation.org/ability_fest_2005.html# |title=Ability Fest 2005 |publisher=Ability Foundation |date= |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Kumararaja then collaborated with [[Pushkar-Gayathri]], writing the dialogue of their directorial debut ''[[Oram Po]]'' (2007).<ref name="thehindu1" /> He also wrote song lyrics for their second project ''[[Va (film)|Va]]'' (2010) as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-music-review-va-quarter-cutting/20100913.htm |title=Va Quarter Cutting music is worth a listen |publisher=Rediff |date=13 September 2010 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Through Pushkar-Gayathri, Kumararaja met [[S. P. B. Charan]], who agreed to produce his first feature film ''[[Aaranya Kaandam]]''.


Kumararaja began writing his maiden film in December 2006.<ref name="thehindu1"/> Although he had wanted to make a "racy film" – he wrote the climax part first, before going on to add multiple storylines – he said that the film had eventually turned out to be a "leisurely paced film, taking its own time to unfold".<ref name="rediff1"/> Kumararaja met Charan in January 2007 and narrated him the script for two hours.<ref name="thehindu1"/> Filming was supposed to commence by late 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/32677.html |title=SPB Charan's new gambit|publisher=Indiaglitz |date=31 July 2007 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/25102007-5.shtml |title=Dailynews – SPB Charan's 'Aranya Kaandam' |publisher=Cinesouth |date=25 October 2007 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> but Charan opted to produce another film first. ''Aaranya Kaandam'' was launched in December 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/events/17033.html |title=Events – 'Aaranya Kaandam' Movie Launch |publisher=Indiaglitz.com |date=18 December 2008 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> with Bollywood actor [[Jackie Shroff]], who was being introducing to Tamil films, [[Ravi Krishna]] and [[Sampath Raj]] in the lead roles. Kumararaja took more than one and a half years to complete the film, which was entirely shot in and around Chennai.<ref>{{cite web|author=V Lakshmi|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-22/news-interviews/28018460_1_aaranya-kaandam-yasmin-ponnappa-ravi-krishna |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103081215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-22/news-interviews/28018460_1_aaranya-kaandam-yasmin-ponnappa-ravi-krishna |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Kumar Raja tells all|date=22 January 2009 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Upon completion, the film ran into trouble when the regional [[Central Board of Film Certification|censor board]] in Chennai refused to clear it, demanding 52 cuts due to profanity and excessive violence.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bijoy Bharathan|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-08/news-interviews/28541001_1_film-audiences-thiagarajan-kumararaja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910203427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-08/news-interviews/28541001_1_film-audiences-thiagarajan-kumararaja |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=Thiagarajan: Caught in the crossfire|date=8 February 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Kumararaja expressed that he made the film for a matured audience and not for children,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sreedhar Pillai|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/news-interviews/28375516_1_film-thiagarajan-kumararaja-major-international-award |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323190137/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/news-interviews/28375516_1_film-thiagarajan-kumararaja-major-international-award |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 March 2012 |title=Censor Board butchered Aaranya Kaandam|date=26 January 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> while adding that he expected difficulties in the censorship. Since he wanted to present the film uncompromisingly to the audiences, he and Charan approached the Central Tribunal at Delhi,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-spb-charan/20110301.htm |title='I have no problem with the 'A' certificate' |publisher=Rediff |date=1 March 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> that cleared the film. Dubbed as the first [[neo-noir]] film in Tamil cinema,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/aaranya-kaandam-review-tamil-14971928.html |title=Movie Review : Aaranya Kaandam |publisher=Sify.com |date= |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> ''Aaranya Kaandam'' opened to strong critical acclaim, winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Film at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival,<ref name="Award"/> and two prizes at the [[59th National Film Awards]], including the [[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director]] for Kumararaja.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|author=V Lakshmi |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-04/news-interviews/28270720_1_aaranya-kaandam-production-unit-film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105154011/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-04/news-interviews/28270720_1_aaranya-kaandam-production-unit-film |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Aaranya Kaandam wins best movie award|date=4 November 2010 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref>
Kumararaja began writing his maiden film in December 2006.<ref name="thehindu1"/> Although he had wanted to make a "racy film" – he wrote the climax part first, before going on to add multiple storylines – he said that the film had eventually turned out to be a "leisurely paced film, taking its own time to unfold".<ref name="rediff1"/> Kumararaja met Charan in January 2007 and narrated him the script for two hours.<ref name="thehindu1"/> Filming was supposed to commence by late 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/32677.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824142743/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/32677.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2007 |title=SPB Charan's new gambit|website=IndiaGlitz |date=31 July 2007 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/25102007-5.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027025137/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/25102007-5.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2007 |title=Dailynews – SPB Charan's 'Aranya Kaandam' |publisher=Cinesouth |date=25 October 2007 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> but Charan opted to produce another film first. ''Aaranya Kaandam'' was launched in December 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/events/17033.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153936/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/events/17033.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Events – 'Aaranya Kaandam' Movie Launch |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=18 December 2008 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> starring [[Ravi Krishna (actor, born 1983)|Ravi Krishna]] and [[Sampath Raj]], with Bollywood actor [[Jackie Shroff]], who was being introduced to Tamil films. Kumararaja took more than one and a half years to complete the film, which was entirely shot in and around Chennai.<ref>{{cite web|author=V Lakshmi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Kumar-Raja-tells-all/articleshow/4011366.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103081215/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-22/news-interviews/28018460_1_aaranya-kaandam-yasmin-ponnappa-ravi-krishna |url-status=live |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Kumar Raja tells all|date=22 January 2009 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref> Upon completion, the film ran into trouble when the regional [[Central Board of Film Certification|censor board]] in Chennai refused to clear it, demanding 52 cuts due to profanity and excessive violence.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bijoy Bharathan|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-08/news-interviews/28541001_1_film-audiences-thiagarajan-kumararaja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910203427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-08/news-interviews/28541001_1_film-audiences-thiagarajan-kumararaja |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=Thiagarajan: Caught in the crossfire|date=8 February 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Kumararaja expressed that he made the film for a matured audience and not for children,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sreedhar Pillai|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Censor-Borad-butchered-Aaranya-Kaandam/articleshow/7360204.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323190137/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/news-interviews/28375516_1_film-thiagarajan-kumararaja-major-international-award |url-status=live |archive-date=23 March 2012 |title=Censor Board butchered Aaranya Kaandam|date=26 January 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref> while adding that he expected difficulties in the censorship. Since he wanted to present the film uncompromisingly to the audiences, he and Charan approached the Central Tribunal at Delhi,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-spb-charan/20110301.htm |title='I have no problem with the 'A' certificate' |publisher=Rediff |date=1 March 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> that cleared the film. Dubbed as the first [[neo-noir]] film in Tamil cinema,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/aaranya-kaandam-review-tamil-14971928.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725114739/http://www.sify.com/movies/aaranya-kaandam-review-tamil-14971928.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 July 2014 |title=Movie Review : Aaranya Kaandam |website=[[Sify]] |date= |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> ''Aaranya Kaandam'' opened to strong critical acclaim, winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Film at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival,<ref name="Award"/> and two prizes at the [[59th National Film Awards]], including the [[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director]] for Kumararaja.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|author=V Lakshmi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Aaranya-Kaandam-wins-best-movie-award/articleshow/6865839.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105154011/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-04/news-interviews/28270720_1_aaranya-kaandam-production-unit-film |url-status=live |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Aaranya Kaandam wins best movie award|date=4 November 2010 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref>


In 2015, he was involved as a script consultant for the Tamil film ''[[Yennai Arindhaal]]'', which was co-written and directed by [[Gautham Menon]].<ref name="YennaiArindhalCredit">{{cite web|author=Udhav Naig |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/gautham-menon-hires-script-consultants/article6844070.ece |title=Gautham Menon hires script consultants |newspaper=The Hindu |date=1 February 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2015}}</ref>
In 2015, he was involved as a script consultant for the Tamil film ''[[Yennai Arindhaal]]'', which was co-written and directed by [[Gautham Vasudev Menon]].<ref name="YennaiArindhalCredit">{{cite news|author=Udhav Naig |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/gautham-menon-hires-script-consultants/article6844070.ece |title=Gautham Menon hires script consultants |newspaper=The Hindu |date=1 February 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2015}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''As Director'''
|+'''As Director'''
!Year !!Film !!Director !!Writer !!Producer !!Language !!Notes
!Year !!Title !!Director !!Writer !!Producer !!Language !!Notes
|-
|-
|2005
|2005
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|Tamil
|Tamil
|
|
⚫
|-
|2023
|''[[Modern Love Chennai]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Tamil
|Web series Episode 6 - "Ninaivo Oru Paravai"; also [[creative producer]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hymavati |first1=Ravali |title=Modern Love Chennai: This Thiagarajan Kumararaja's Web Series Will Premier On Amazon Prime From This Date |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/modern-love-chennai-this-thiagarajan-kumararajas-web-series-will-premier-on-amazon-prime-from-this-date-796461 |website=www.thehansindia.com |access-date=17 May 2023 |language=en |date=8 May 2023}}</ref>
|-
|-
|}
|}
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|''[[Oram Po]]''
|''[[Oram Po]]''
| Tamil
| Tamil
| Dialogue Writer
| Dialogue Writer, Lyricist ["Oram Po" Theme]
|-
|-
|-
|-
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| Tamil
| Tamil
| Lyricist [Ayya]
| Lyricist [Ayya]
|-Thala 61
⚫
|-
|}
|}


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|One-minute film
|One-minute film
|{{won|first prize}}
|{{won|first prize}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-11-20|title=From the States|url=http://www.disabilityindia.org/djstatesjuly05D.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120091626/http://www.disabilityindia.org/djstatesjuly05D.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-11-20|access-date=2020-07-06}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 November 2008|title=From the States|url=http://www.disabilityindia.org/djstatesjuly05D.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120091626/http://www.disabilityindia.org/djstatesjuly05D.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2008|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
|rowspan=5|''[[Aaranya Kaandam]]''
|rowspan=5|''[[Aaranya Kandam]]''
|[[59th National Film Awards]]
|[[59th National Film Awards]]
|[[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director|Best Debut Film of a Director]]
|[[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director|Best Debut Film of a Director]]
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|[[Vijay Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Vijay Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref name="Winners">{{cite web | url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/82978.html | title=6th Annual Vijay Awards | publisher=India Glitz | date=9 June 2012 | access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref> <ref>http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/news/2012/ajith-vikram-vijay-awards-096600.html</ref>
|rowspan=2|<ref name="Winners">{{cite web | url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/82978.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620195003/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/82978.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 June 2012 | title=6th Annual Vijay Awards | work=India Glitz | date=9 June 2012 | access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/news/2012/ajith-vikram-vijay-awards-096600.html|title = Vijay Awards 2012 winners|date = 18 June 2012|access-date = 1 March 2021|archive-date = 27 October 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121027095349/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/news/2012/ajith-vikram-vijay-awards-096600.html|url-status = dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[Vijay Award for Best Story, Screenplay Writer|Best Story, Screenplay Writer]]
|[[Vijay Award for Best Story, Screenplay Writer|Best Story, Screenplay Writer]]
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|
|
|-
|-
|rowspan=10|''[[Super Deluxe (film)|Super Deluxe]]''
|rowspan=11|''[[Super Deluxe (film)|Super Deluxe]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Indian Film Festival of Melbourne]]
|rowspan=2|[[Indian Film Festival of Melbourne]]
|Best Director
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/andhadhun-gully-boy-lead-nominations-at-indian-film-festival-of-melbourne-awards-2019-7011791.html|title=Andhadhun, Gully Boy lead nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards 2019|website=Firstpost|date=2019-07-17|access-date=2020-01-06}}</ref>
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/andhadhun-gully-boy-lead-nominations-at-indian-film-festival-of-melbourne-awards-2019-7011791.html|title=Andhadhun, Gully Boy lead nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards 2019|website=Firstpost|date=17 July 2019|access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Equality in Cinema (Honorary Award)
|Equality in Cinema (Honorary Award)
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| Best Asian Film
| Best Asian Film
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aacta.org/connect/nominees-for-the-2019-aacta-award-for-best-asian-film-announced/|title=Nominees for the 2019 AACTA Award for Best Asian Film Announced|website=Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts|date=2019-10-15|access-date=2020-01-06}}</ref>
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aacta.org/connect/nominees-for-the-2019-aacta-award-for-best-asian-film-announced/|title=Nominees for the 2019 AACTA Award for Best Asian Film Announced|website=Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts|date=15 October 2019|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201050421/https://www.aacta.org/connect/nominees-for-the-2019-aacta-award-for-best-asian-film-announced/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards]]
|[[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards]]
|Best Screenplay
|Best Screenplay
|{{nom}}
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/regional-cinema/taapsee-pannu-shares-heartfelt-post-after-winning-best-actor-for-game-over-at-vikatan-awards-2019-578851|title=The prestigious awards of the South-- Vikatan Awards 2019|website=India TV|date=12 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/regional-cinema/taapsee-pannu-shares-heartfelt-post-after-winning-best-actor-for-game-over-at-vikatan-awards-2019-578851|title=The prestigious awards of the South-- Vikatan Awards 2019|website=India TV|date=12 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
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|Best Director
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edisonawards.in/teaawards/more_1.php?page1=1|title=Edison Awards 2020 nominations|website=Edison Awards|access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flickstatus.com/tamil/celebraties-at-edison-awards-2020.html|title=Edison Awards 2020 Winners|website=Flickstatus|date=14 January 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edisonawards.in/teaawards/more_1.php?page1=1|title=Edison Awards 2020 nominations|website=Edison Awards|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231131528/http://edisonawards.in/teaawards/more_1.php?page1=1|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flickstatus.com/tamil/celebraties-at-edison-awards-2020.html|title=Edison Awards 2020 Winners|website=Flickstatus|date=14 January 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
|Best Screenplay
|Best Screenplay
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|Best Writing - Tamil
|Best Writing - Tamil
|{{won}}
|{{won}}
|-
|[[South Indian International Movie Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|-
|}
|}
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[[Category:Film directors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Film directors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Director whose film won the Best Debut Feature Film National Film Award]]
[[Category:Director whose film won the Best Debut Feature Film National Film Award]]

Latest revision as of 20:27, 15 October 2024

Thiagarajan Kumararaja
Thiagarajan Kumararaja at Launch of Stone Bench Films and Originals in 2017
Born (1978-11-25) 25 November 1978 (age 46)
Madras (now Chennai),
Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materLoyola College, Chennai
Occupation(s)Film director, screenplay writer, producer and ad director
Years active2008–present

Thiagarajan Kumararaja is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He made his feature film debut with the critically acclaimed neo-noir gangster film Aaranya Kaandam (2011), which earned him the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director at the 59th National Film Awards.

Career

[edit]

Thiagarajan Kumararaja was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. His parents thought he would pick up bad habits if he stepped out, so he stayed mostly at home. He likes books of Sujatha, Rajesh Kumar, Kovi Manisekaran & Sandilyan. But the real entertainment was the bus ride from his home in Porur to Santhome Higher Secondary School. He used to stand next to the driver, observing the driver. "I wanted to be a PTC bus driver," he says. At the Class XII failed in Mathematics subject. On his words "If I didn’t like the teacher, I wouldn’t study."

He enrolled for a Visual Communications course at the Loyola College, Chennai, but dropped out shortly after to make films. Kumararaja cited that it was composer Ilaiyaraaja's music that animated him to come to films and to study Visual Communications in the first place.[1] However, he discontinued his studies in 1998 and started to work as a freelance copywriter and photographer for a while.[2][3] He went on to shoot advertisement films and also directed a five-part documentary on South Indian Temples, Sthala Puranam for Vijay TV.[2] In 2005, he participated at the one-minute film competition 60 Seconds to Fame by Ability Foundation, aiming for the prize money.[2] His short film Becky was awarded the first prize at the Ability Fest 2005.[4] Kumararaja then collaborated with Pushkar-Gayathri, writing the dialogue of their directorial debut Oram Po (2007).[2] He also wrote song lyrics for their second project Va (2010) as well.[5] Through Pushkar-Gayathri, Kumararaja met S. P. B. Charan, who agreed to produce his first feature film Aaranya Kaandam.

Kumararaja began writing his maiden film in December 2006.[2] Although he had wanted to make a "racy film" – he wrote the climax part first, before going on to add multiple storylines – he said that the film had eventually turned out to be a "leisurely paced film, taking its own time to unfold".[1] Kumararaja met Charan in January 2007 and narrated him the script for two hours.[2] Filming was supposed to commence by late 2007,[6][7] but Charan opted to produce another film first. Aaranya Kaandam was launched in December 2008,[8] starring Ravi Krishna and Sampath Raj, with Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, who was being introduced to Tamil films. Kumararaja took more than one and a half years to complete the film, which was entirely shot in and around Chennai.[9] Upon completion, the film ran into trouble when the regional censor board in Chennai refused to clear it, demanding 52 cuts due to profanity and excessive violence.[10] Kumararaja expressed that he made the film for a matured audience and not for children,[11] while adding that he expected difficulties in the censorship. Since he wanted to present the film uncompromisingly to the audiences, he and Charan approached the Central Tribunal at Delhi,[12] that cleared the film. Dubbed as the first neo-noir film in Tamil cinema,[13] Aaranya Kaandam opened to strong critical acclaim, winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Film at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival,[14] and two prizes at the 59th National Film Awards, including the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Kumararaja.[14]

In 2015, he was involved as a script consultant for the Tamil film Yennai Arindhaal, which was co-written and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon.[15]

Filmography

[edit]
As Director
Year Title Director Writer Producer Language Notes
2005 Becky Yes Yes Yes English Short film
2011 Aaranya Kaandam Yes Yes No Tamil
2019 Super Deluxe Yes Yes Yes Tamil
2023 Modern Love Chennai Yes Yes Yes Tamil Web series Episode 6 - "Ninaivo Oru Paravai"; also creative producer[16]

As Other

Year Film Language Notes
2007 Oram Po Tamil Dialogue Writer, Lyricist ["Oram Po" Theme]
2010 Va Tamil Lyricist
2015 Yennai Arindhaal Tamil Script Consultant[15]
2015 X: Past Is Present English
Hindi
Bengali
Tamil 		Summer Holiday Segment Writer
2018 Seethakaathi Tamil Lyricist [Ayya]

Awards

[edit]
Film Award Category Result Ref
Becky 60 Seconds to Fame One-minute film first prize [17]
Aaranya Kandam 59th National Film Awards Best Debut Film of a Director Won [18]
6th Vijay Awards Best Director Nominated [19][20]
Best Story, Screenplay Writer Won
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Screenplay Writer Won
South Indian International Movie Awards Best Director – Tamil Nominated
Super Deluxe Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Best Director Nominated [21]
Equality in Cinema (Honorary Award) Won
9th AACTA Awards Best Asian Film Nominated [22]
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Screenplay Won [23]
Edison Awards Best Director Nominated [24][25]
Best Screenplay Nominated
Critics Choice Film Awards Best Movie of the Year Won [26]
Best Film - Tamil Won
Best Director - Tamil Won
Best Writing - Tamil Won
South Indian International Movie Awards Best Director Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Aaranya Kaandam: A day in a gangster's life". Rediff. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sudhish Kamath (5 February 2011). "A new chapter". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  3. ^ "No South Indian actor was ready to play an impotent don: Kumararaja, Aaranya Kaandam director". DearCinema.com. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Ability Fest 2005". Ability Foundation. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Va Quarter Cutting music is worth a listen". Rediff. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  6. ^ "SPB Charan's new gambit". IndiaGlitz. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Dailynews – SPB Charan's 'Aranya Kaandam'". Cinesouth. 25 October 2007. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Events – 'Aaranya Kaandam' Movie Launch". IndiaGlitz.com. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  9. ^ V Lakshmi (22 January 2009). "Kumar Raja tells all". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  10. ^ Bijoy Bharathan (8 February 2011). "Thiagarajan: Caught in the crossfire". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  11. ^ Sreedhar Pillai (26 January 2011). "Censor Board butchered Aaranya Kaandam". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  12. ^ "'I have no problem with the 'A' certificate'". Rediff. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  13. ^ "Movie Review : Aaranya Kaandam". Sify. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  14. ^ a b V Lakshmi (4 November 2010). "Aaranya Kaandam wins best movie award". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  15. ^ a b Udhav Naig (1 February 2015). "Gautham Menon hires script consultants". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  16. ^ Hymavati, Ravali (8 May 2023). "Modern Love Chennai: This Thiagarajan Kumararaja's Web Series Will Premier On Amazon Prime From This Date". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  17. ^ "From the States". 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  18. ^ "59th National Film Awards for the Year 2011 Announced". Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  19. ^ "6th Annual Vijay Awards". India Glitz. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  20. ^ "Vijay Awards 2012 winners". 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Andhadhun, Gully Boy lead nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards 2019". Firstpost. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Nominees for the 2019 AACTA Award for Best Asian Film Announced". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  23. ^ "The prestigious awards of the South-- Vikatan Awards 2019". India TV. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Edison Awards 2020 nominations". Edison Awards. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Edison Awards 2020 Winners". Flickstatus. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Review — Super Deluxe". Film Critics Circle. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
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