Sudha Kongara | |
|---|---|
 Kongara atIrudhi Suttru thanksgiving meet in 2016 | |
| Born | Vijayawada,Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Other names | Sudha Kongara Prasad[1] |
| Alma mater | Women's Christian College, Chennai |
| Occupation | Film directorScreenwriter |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Sudha Kongara Prasad, known professionally asSudha Kongara, is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Tamil.[2] She made her directorial debut with the Tamil filmDrohi. In 2016, she directed the bilingualIrudhi Suttru (Saala Khadoos inHindi) for which she won theFilmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil. She subsequently directed the film's Telugu remake,Guru (2017). In her career, working over 3 languages, she has won twoNational Film Awards, twoFilmfare Awards South, twoTamil Nadu State Film Awards and twoSIIMA Awards.
In 2020, she scripted, and directedSoorarai Pottru. It was featured in the Panorama Section of theShanghai International Film Festival. At the68th National Film Awards, it won five awards includingBest Feature Film, andBest Screenplay for Sudha Kongara.[3]
Sudha Kongara was born inVijayawada,Andhra Pradesh, into a Telugu-speaking family.[4] Sudha grew up inChennai,Tamil Nadu. She obtained a degree in History and Mass Communication from theWomen's Christian College, Chennai.[5]
Kongara worked as a screenwriter for the English filmMitr, My Friend (2002).[6] She worked as associate director for seven years withMani Ratnam.[7][8][9][1][10]
During the production of her first Tamil directorial ventureDrohi (2010), Kongara began writing a sports drama film on boxing which was titledIrudhi Suttru. In mid-2013, she approachedMadhavan, who was on a sabbatical from Tamil films, to portray the lead role in the film and his presence in the project, helped take the financial viability of the venture to a higher level.[11] The pair had previously collaborated in Madhavan's films under the direction ofMani Ratnam, where Sudha had been an associate director.[12] Madhavan portrayed a boxing coach who mentors an amateur boxer, played by kick boxer turned actressRitika Singh. The film was simultaneously shot in Hindi asSaala Khadoos. She also directed the Telugu remakeGuru (2017), with Singh reprising her role andVenkatesh playing Madhavan's.
Her next film wasSoorarai Pottru (2020), which is based on life ofAir Deccan founderCaptain GR Gopinath feature and it is produced by Suriya's 2D Entertainment and co-produced by Guneet Monga of Sikhya Entertainment.[13][14] Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the film released straight to streaming onPrime Video. It received critical acclaim andwon 5National Film Awards. She also directed the Hindi remakeSarfira (2024), starringAkshay Kumar.
Kongara's upcoming film,Parasakthi, is based on the1965 anti Hindi protests in Tamil Nadu. Suriya was originally set to collaborate with Kongara again, but now the film starsSivakarthikeyan, alongsideAtharvaa,Sreeleela, andRavi Mohan.[15][16]
| Year | Title | Director | Screenwriter | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Mitr, My Friend | No | Yes | English | |
| 2008 | Andhra Andagadu | Yes | Yes | Telugu | [17] |
| 2010 | Drohi | Yes | Yes | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Yes | Yes | Tamil Hindi | Hindi (asSaala Khadoos) |
| 2017 | Guru | Yes | Yes | Telugu | |
| 2020 | Putham Pudhu Kaalai | Yes | Yes | Tamil | Segment: "Ilamai Idho Idho" |
| Soorarai Pottru | Yes | Yes | |||
| Paava Kadhaigal | Yes | Yes | Segment: "Thangam" | ||
| 2024 | Sarfira | Yes | Yes | Hindi | |
| 2026 | Parasakthi† | Yes | Yes | Tamil |