Pandiraaj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1976-06-07)7 June 1976 (age 49) |
| Occupation(s) | Film director screenwriter film producer distributor |
| Years active | 2009-present |
Pandiraaj (formally credited and addressed asPandiraj) is an Indian film director, producer and writer who works inTamil cinema. His debut film,Pasanga (2009), and directed many commercially successful films.[1] He has won several awards, including twoNational Film Awards and fiveTamil Nadu State Film Awards.[2]
Pandiraaj was born 7 June 1976 and brought up inVirachilai Township,Pudukkottai,Tamil Nadu,India. After Schooling, he moved to Chennai in 1996. He worked as an "office-boy" with directorK. Bhagyaraj. During his early years, he wrote several short stories for the famous Tamil magazineBhagya. Gradually, his interest in film making increased and after hurdles, he got the chance to be an assistant director to filmmakerCheran. He later worked as an assistant director toThangar Bachan andChimbu Deven in six films.[3]
Pandiraaj is also famous for making village action family movies. The movies include a lot of family sentiments and focuses on farming.
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In 2009, Pandiraj became an independent director with directorM. Sasikumar agreeing to produce the film. TitledPasanga, it was achildren's film featuring several new child actors andVimal in his first lead role.Pasanga was said to be a dedication to Pandiraj's childhood memories and was shot during the school vacations and on weekends.[4] The film was a critical success, winning several national and international awards, including threeNational Film Awards,[5] and being screened at various film festivals.[6] Following the success ofPasanga, Pandiraj directed his second film,Vamsam with newcomerArulnithi andSunaina starring. The film, which was produced by Arulnidhi's father and M. Karunanidhi's youngest son, M. K. Thamizharasu, gained positive reviews and went well in the box office.[7]
In 2012, Pandiraaj set up his a film production studio named Pasanga Productions. His first production was his own directorialMarina which marked the feature film debut for television anchor and comedianSivakarthikeyan. The film received mixed reviews from critics.[8] The director's nextKedi Billa Killadi Ranga was also produced by him. Pandiraj cast the lead actors of his previous films, Sivakarthikeyan and Vimal, in the film, who were pairedBindu Madhavi andRegina Cassandra. The romantic comedy film received positive responses from critics and became a commercial hit.[9] Pandiraj distributed his former assistant Naveen's debut filmMoodar Koodam under his Pasanga Productions studio. He also wrote the dialogues for cinematographerVijay Milton's second directorialGoli Soda.[10] In 2015, Pandiraj has directed another children's film titledPasanga 2, produced by actorSuriya.[11] He later directed romantic comedyIdhu Namma Aalu (2016) and action thriller,Kathakali (2016).
In 2018,Kadaikutty Singam was promoted as a film that would inspire the younger generation to take up farming. But the movie propagates good familial values more and focuses less on farming.[12] Pandiraj wonBest Director Tamil inSouth Indian International Movie Awards.[13] Later, Pandiraj producedSemma and launched his former assistant Vallikanthan as a director, starringG. V. Prakash Kumar.[14] WithNamma Veettu Pillai (2019), which had actorSivakarthikeyan in the lead, Pandiraj, once again focused a film onfamily values.[15]
He later directedEtharkkum Thunindhavan (2022) starringSuriya. The film deals with an important topic with women's safety in the digital age.[16] In 2025, the filmThalaivan Thalaivii bringsVijay Sethupathi andNithya Menen.[17]
This is a list of films that Pandiraj did not direct but did produce and/or write.
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Producer | Writer | |||
| 2013 | Moodar Koodam | Distributor | No | |
| 2014 | Goli Soda | No | Dialogues | |
| 2018 | Semma | Yes | Dialogues | |
| 2019 | Marina Puratchi | Yes | No | |