G. Marimuthu | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1966-07-12)12 July 1966 Pasumalaitheri, Theni district,Madras State, India |
| Died | 8 September 2023(2023-09-08) (aged 57) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–2023 |
| Spouse | Bagyalakshmi |
| Children | 2 |
G. Marimuthu (12 July 1966 – 8 September 2023) was an Indian actor and film director who worked in theTamil film and TV industries. He made his debut as a director withKannum Kannum (2008), followed byPulivaal (2014). As an actor, he was best known for the TV seriesEthirneechal.[1] Known for his humour and improvisation, Marimuthu's Tamil film career spanned nearly three decades.
In 1988[2] or 1990,[3] G. Marimuthu left his home at the village Pasumalaitheri in Theni and headed toChennai to become a film director. He hailed from a family whose livelihood was primarily linked to agriculture.[4] He was interested in entering the film industry after watchingBharathiraja's directorialMuthal Mariyathai which had its theatrical release in 1985. He was inspired to enter the film industry also due to the fact that the crew members ofMuthal Mariyathai including director Bharathiraja, music composerIlaiyaraaja and lyricist Vairamuthu also hailed fromTheni district, Marimuthu's birthplace. Prior to his ambition of joining the film industry, he pursued his higher studies at an engineering college inSivakasi.[5]
After initially working as a waiter at hotels, he became acquainted with the lyricistVairamuthu through their common interest in literature, before becoming an assistant director withRajkiran for his filmsAranmanai Kili (1993) andEllame En Rasathan (1995).[3]
In an interview withSun TV, he revealed that he wanted to work as an assistant director withBharathiraja, but insisted that since he was being an outsider he was often ignored and highlighted that those who enter into industry with nepotism and some sort of connection could get a chance to work as assistant director to Bharathiraja.[6]
Marimuthu then continued to work as an assistant director with filmmakers such asMani Ratnam,Vasanth,Seeman,Rajiv Menon andS. J. Surya, before co-directingSilambarasan's filmManmadhan (2004).[7] He notably worked as an assistant director forAasai (1995),Nerrukku Ner (1997),Vaalee (1999),Poovellam Kettuppar (1999),Kushi (2000),Rhythm (2000),Udhaya (2004),New (2004), andAnbe Aaruyire (2005).[8]
Marimuthu made his directorial debut withKannum Kannum (2008), a romantic film starringPrasanna andUdhayathara. The film did not perform well at the box office but won critical acclaim. The Behindwoods Movie Review Board wrote "G. Marimuthu, debuting with story, screenplay, dialogue and direction has provided us with one of the cleanest, most honest and endearing love stories of recent times".[9] Moviebuzz noted "Marimuthu is a welcome addition to the brave new directors in Tamil cinema, who are trying their best within the commercial format to give a different type of love story".[10] Marimuthu then directedPulivaal (2014), developing the film's story from the Malayalam filmChaappa Kurishu (2011).[11]
In the 2010s after the failure of his directorial films, he focused on acting and featured in supporting roles in Tamil films.Mysskin introduced him as an actor inYuddham Sei (2011), in which he played a corrupt police officer. The success of the film prompted him to star in films includingAarohanam (2012),Nimirndhu Nil (2014), andKomban (2015), often featuring as police officer. His performance inMarudhu (2016) promptedVishal to sign him on to feature inKaththi Sandai (2016).[12] He also rose to prominence for his acting inMari Selvaraj's directorialPariyerum Perumal (2018) which became a cult classic.[13] He also played a minor role inLokesh Kanagaraj's directorialVikram (2022). He played negative role inNelson Dilipkumar's directorialJailer (2023), which eventually marked his last feature film prior to his untimely death.[14] His last notable film wasKamal Hassan'sIndian 2 where he played Siddharth's uncle.
He debuted in television serials in 2022 as the main antagonist inEthirneechal. He was praised for his screen presence, dialogue delivery, punch dialogues and for his natural way of acting in theEthirneechal serial as Aadhimuthu Gunasekaran.[15]
Marimuthu died on 8 September 2023 due to cardiac arrest[16][17] andpulmonary edema. The actor was dubbing forEthirneechal when the heart attack occurred.[18][19]
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kannum Kannum | |
| 2014 | Pulivaal |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Vaalee | Photo studio owner | Uncredited |
| 2004 | Udhaya | Man praising Udhaya | Uncredited |
| 2008 | Kannum Kannum | Kungumam editor | Uncredited; also director |
| 2010 | Bale Pandiya | Ekambaram | Uncredited |
| 2011 | Yuddham Sei | Esakki Muthu | |
| Vandhaan Vendraan | Arjun and Ramana's teacher | ||
| 2012 | Aarohanam | Vallimuthu | Nom.—Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2014 | Nimirndhu Nil | Traffic Inspector | |
| Jeeva | Jeeva's father | ||
| 2015 | Komban | Pattasu | |
| Trisha Illana Nayanthara | Jeeva's father | ||
| Kirumi | Mathiarasu | ||
| Uppu Karuvaadu | Chinnavar | ||
| 2016 | Pugazh | Dass | |
| Mapla Singam | Elamaran | ||
| Marudhu | Bhagyam's father | ||
| Thirunaal | Police inspector | ||
| Kuttrame Thandanai | Police officer | ||
| Pagiri | Politician | ||
| Kodi | Politician | ||
| Veera Sivaji | Anjali's father | ||
| 2017 | Bairavaa | Dr. Pandurangan | |
| Enakku Vaaitha Adimaigal | Police Inspector | ||
| Yaman | Manimaran | ||
| Yaakkai | Kavitha's father | ||
| Nagarvalam | Janani's father | ||
| Rubaai | Police officer | ||
| Kootathil Oruthan | Arvind's father | ||
| Magalir Mattum | Rani's father | ||
| Ippadai Vellum | Crime scene investigator | ||
| 2018 | Madura Veeran | Pattaiyar | |
| Kadaikutty Singam | Malligai Manala Sendayar | ||
| Kattu Paya Sir Intha Kaali | Manager | ||
| Pariyerum Perumal | Sri Ram | ||
| Thuppakki Munai | Police Inspector | ||
| Sandakozhi 2 | Village head | ||
| Silukkuvarupatti Singam | Ramalingam | ||
| 2019 | Sarvam Thaala Mayam | Police Officer | |
| Dhilluku Dhuddu 2 | Thalaivar | ||
| Sathru | S. Sankara Lingam | ||
| Mehandi Circus | Raajangham | ||
| Mr. Local | Mayilvaganam | ||
| Puppy | Prabhu's father | ||
| Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu | Basha Bhai | ||
| 2020 | Shylock | Chithappa | Malayalam film |
| Naan Sirithal | Thangadurai | ||
| God Father | Police inspector | ||
| Alti | |||
| Thatrom Thookrom | Dhandapani | ||
| 2021 | Bhoomi | Gnanasambandam | |
| Pulikkuthi Pandi | Dhananchezhiyan | ||
| Kalathil Santhippom | Kasi | ||
| Sangathalaivan | Govindarajan | ||
| Sulthan | Villager | ||
| Sarbath | Arivu and Anbu's father | ||
| Laabam | Paraman | ||
| Rudra Thandavam | |||
| Doctor | Police officer | ||
| IPC 376 | Arumugam | ||
| Enemy | Eashwara Moorthy | ||
| MGR Magan | Police Officer | ||
| Sivaranjiniyum Innum Sila Pengalum | |||
| Atrangi Re | Mandy's father | Hindi film | |
| Plan Panni Pannanum | Sengalvarayar | ||
| 2022 | Theal | Raja's father | |
| Anbarivu | Kayal's father | ||
| Carbon | Subburayan | ||
| Marutha | |||
| Veeramae Vaagai Soodum | Porus and Dwarka's father | ||
| Visithiran | |||
| Ayngaran | Minister | ||
| Vikram | Nagaraj | ||
| Maayon | Selvadurai | ||
| Yenni Thuniga | Kathir's father | ||
| Radha Krishna | |||
| Aruvaa Sanda | |||
| 2023 | Kodai | Thangamani | |
| Kannai Nambathey | Azhagar | ||
| Theera Kaadhal | Aaranya's father | ||
| Jailer | Panneer | ||
| Red Sandalwood | |||
| Ulagammai | Marimuthu Nadar | Posthumous film | |
| Atharva | K. Gnanavel | Telugu film; posthumous film | |
| 2024 | Thookudurai | Mahendra Varman | Posthumous films |
| Uyir Thamizhukku | |||
| Garudan | Photo appearance only | ||
| Indian 2 | Chitra's uncle | ||
| Veerayi Makkal | Balu | ||
| Aaryamala | |||
| 2025 | Leg Piece | Gunasekharan | |
| Mr Zoo Keeper | |||
| Diesel | Lawyer Namachivayam | ||
| 2026 | Kaa – The Forest |
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Queen | M. Natarajan | MX Player | |
| 2021 | Kuruthi Kalam | Periasamy | MX Player | |
| 2022–2023 | Ethirneechal | Aadhi Gunasekaran | Sun TV | Won—Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal Manam Kavarndha Villain[20] |
| 2022 | Vanakkam Tamizha | Guest | ||
| Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda | Himself | |||
| Vanakkam Tamizha | Guest | |||
| Tamil Rockerz | Madhi's assistant | SonyLIV | ||
| 2023 | Pongal Vilayattu | Contestant | Sun TV | |
| Nattamai Theerpu Mathu | Aadhi Gunasekaran | |||
| Idhu Enga Pette | ||||
| Vanakkam Tamizha | Guest | |||
| Vaa Tamizha Vaa | Guest | Kalaignar TV | ||
| Tamizha Tamizha | Guest | Zee Tamil | ||
| Super Samayal | Participant | Sun TV | ||
| Start Music Season 4 | Contestant | Star Vijay |
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Parotta Varatta | Principal | [21] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Manam Kavarndha Villain | Ethirneechal | Won | [20] |
| 2024 | Ananda Vikatan Chinnathirai Awards | Television Talk Of The Year | Won | [22] | |
| 2025 | Sun Kudumbam Viruthugal | Ninaivil Neenga Kathapathiram | Won | [23] |