Selva | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Pachaiyappa's College |
| Occupation | |
Selva (fl. 1990s) is an Indian director active inTamil film.[1] He often specializes in film remakes and directed a series of hits the 1990s. His first filmThalaivasal launched the career of many. His noted film areAmaravathi,Karnaa,Pooveli,James Pandu,Unnaruge Naan Irundhal,Student Number 1 andNaan Avanillai.[2] He introducedAjith Kumar through his second filmAmaravathi.
Selva was graduated fromPachaiyappa's College. Selva first joined as an assistant director in an advertising firm which was involved in making ad film, documentary and short films.
He worked in his first television serial titledThyagam. At that time, he directed a documentary film on the Tamil poetSubramanya Bharathi which was screened in Delhi Doordarshan. This innovative concept was appreciated by everyone and the documentary served as an entry ticket for his next project wherein he was asked to direct eminent writerAkilan’s award winning novelChithira Paavai which was to be telecast in Doordarshan. It was a thirteen episode serial which had Vaishnavi, Fathima Babu,Nassar and many leading TV personalities. ThoughChithira Paavai earned him a good repute, He was yet to become popular. Selva then directed the serialSoorya forSun TV withM. K. Stalin who played the title role. Subsequently, he received another offer to direct a TV serial calledNeela Mala from Chozha creations. The success of the serial facilitated Chozha creation’s re-entry into film world and they gave him the first opportunity to directThalaivasal in 1992. The film dealt with drug problems in college and it completed a 100-day run at the box-office. His next venture wasAmaravathi with newcomersAjith Kumar andSanghavi starring. He then directedKarnaa with Arjun, marking their first collaboration, the film did well at the box office and it was best known for the chartbuster "Malare Mounama".
In 1997, he briefly worked on the pre-production of a film titledThenaali Raja withArjun andNivedita Jain, but the film was later shelved.[3] Despite the commercial failure ofSishya, Karthik chose to collaborate with Selva again inPooveli and the film became a large commercial success. The success of the film subsequently brought him several offers including the opportunity to make a third film with Karthik inRojavanam, a romantic love story set in the backdrop of an old people's home. He also shortly after planned other projects includingOruvar Manathilae Oruvaradi andKai Korthu Vaa with Karthik, andNanba withArjun, which ultimately failed to materialise despite nearing completion.[4][5][6][7]
He introduced actorSathyaraj's sonSibiraj inStudent Number 1 while he was also instrumental in collaborating them in his directorialJore while they collaborated with another projectMa. Mu which failed to proceed after the launch.[8] Selva again collaborated with Arjun inAanai andManikanda.Manikanda was initially begun in 2003. It languished in development hell due to financial problems faced by the producer, and was finally released in 2007 after a long delay. Selva decided to remakeK. Balachander'sNaan Avan Illai with Jeevan playing the lead role with the film becoming successful, director and actor collaborated with another projectThotta which was restarted after it was shelved during 2005.[9]
The success ofNaan Avanillai, prompted Selva to make a sequel featuring Jeevan in the same character with five new female characters. Shot predominantly throughout Europe, the film failed to replicate the success of the prequel and Selva subsequently opted against making a third film in the series. Another remake, that ofNootrukku Nooru (1971), which he had planned featuringVinay andSneha, was called after pre-production stages following the financial problems of producersKavithalayaa Productions.[10]
Selva directedNaanga which introduced children of noted film personalities.[11] The film was released to mixed reviews and went unnoticed due to its low key release. He then directedNaadi Thudikkuthadi with newcomers and it marked Selva's first collaboration with music directorIlaiyaraaja, but the film is yet to be released while his another directorialMuriyadi withSathyaraj is also unreleased. Selva announced that he is directingVendru Va featuring Jeevan acting after his sabbatical from films while also announced that he would collaborate with Aravind Swamy in a project titledVanangamudi.[12][13]
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | |||
| 1992 | Thalaivasal | Yes | Yes | |
| 1993 | Amaravathi | Yes | Yes | |
| 1995 | Karnaa | Yes | Yes | |
| 1997 | Pudhayal | Yes | Yes | |
| 1997 | Sishya | Yes | Yes | |
| 1998 | Pooveli | Yes | Yes | |
| 1999 | Suyamvaram | Yes | Yes | |
| 1999 | Rojavanam | Yes | Yes | |
| 1999 | Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | Yes | Screenplay | |
| 1999 | Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham | Yes | Screenplay | |
| 2000 | James Pandu | Yes | Yes | |
| 2003 | Student Number 1 | Yes | Screenplay | |
| 2004 | Jore | Yes | Yes | |
| 2005 | Aanai | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | Nenjil | Yes | Yes | |
| 2007 | Naan Avanillai | Yes | Screenplay | |
| 2007 | Manikanda | Yes | Yes | |
| 2008 | Thotta | Yes | Yes | |
| 2009 | Guru En Aalu | Yes | Screenplay | |
| 2009 | Naan Avanillai 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | Naanga | Yes | Yes | |
