Hari (director)

2021-10-15T15:07:40Z

2401:4900:605A:7F4F:3717:9E09:CDAD:C96D: /* As lyricist */

{{short description|Indian film director}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hari
| image = Director Hari 62nd Filmfare Awards South.jpg
| caption = Hari at the [[62nd Filmfare South Awards]]
| birth_name = Hari Gopalakrishnan<ref name="auto">[https://web.archive.org/web/20121030082422/http://tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com/profile.php?sno=42 HARI KRISHNAN] tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|09|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Katchanavilai Village, [[Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu]], India
| death_place =
| occupation = Film director
| spouse = [[Preetha Hari]]
| parents =
| website =
| imagesize =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 2002–present
| children = 3
}}

'''Hari Gopalakrishnan''' is an Indian film director best known for his [[action film|action]] and [[masala film|masala]] films in [[Tamil cinema]]. He made his directorial debut with ''[[Thamizh]]'' (2002).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director Hari bereaved - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/director-hari-bereaved/articleshow/72316497.cms|access-date=2021-07-07|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> He later directed films such as ''[[Saamy]]'' (2003), ''[[Kovil (film)|Kovil]]'' (2004), ''[[Ayya (2005 Tamil film)|Ayya]]'' (2005), ''[[Thaamirabharani]]'' (2007), ''[[Vel (film)|Vel]]'' (2007) and the ''[[Singam (film series)|Singam film series]]''.

==Early life and background==
Hari was born in the [[Thoothukudi District]] of Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Gopalakrishnan, runs a Grocery store.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/2003/june/06-06-03.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030804133445/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/2003/june/06-06-03.htm |archive-date=4 August 2003 |title=06-06-03 |date=4 August 2003 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> Later, his family moved to Chennai, where Hari graduated with a degree in Commerce.

==Film career==
Hari first joined as an assistant, gaining experience by working with various directors; [[Senthilnathan]], Jeevabalan, [[Ameerjan]], [[K. Natraj]] in '' [[Valli (film)|Valli]]'', [[Alex Pandian]], [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]] in ''[[Avatharam (1995 film)|Avatharam]]''. Later, he assisted [[K. Balachander]] in his film ''Kalki'' and worked as an associate director with [[Saran (director)|Saran]] in the films ''[[Amarkalam]]'', ''[[Parthen Rasithen]]'' and ''[[Alli Arjuna]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/2003/june/14-06-03.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030804134416/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/2003/june/14-06-03.htm |archive-date=4 August 2003 |title=14-06-03 |date=4 August 2003 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koodal.com/tamil/movies/directors/hari |title=Hari Tamil Director | Movie Director Hari Story | News, Gossips, Specials, Rumers, Shooting spot, Sneak Previews, New Releases |publisher=Koodal.com |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224145819/http://www.koodal.com/tamil/movies/directors/hari |archive-date=24 December 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koodal.com/tamil/movies/interviews/19/hari/hari |title=Hari Tamil Celebrity HARI | Tamil Celebrity Actor, actress, Directors, Important Person Interviews |publisher=Koodal.com |date=10 March 2012 |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628094717/http://www.koodal.com/tamil/movies/interviews/19/hari/hari |archive-date=28 June 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Kollywood/Hari/3028|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302094254/http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Kollywood/Hari/3028 |date=2 March 2011|title=Hari profile|work=Jointscene|archive-date=2 March 2011}}</ref>

His first film, in 2002, was ''[[Thamizh]]'', with [[Prashanth]] and [[Simran (actress)|Simran]]. Film critic Balaji commented that it was "one of the few movies in recent times where a lot of importance seems to have been attached to the script. In spite of the flimsy story and routine screenplay where a youth grows to be a "dada", the dialogs elevate the quality of the movie and make it very enjoyable".<ref>{{cite web|author=Balaji Balasubramaniam |url=http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/ |title=Balaji's Tamil Movie Reviews |publisher=Bbthots.com |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> His second film ''[[Saamy]]'', under the Kavithaalaya banner, starred [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]]. It was named the year's biggest hit,<ref>{{cite web|author=D Govardan, TNN 26 August 2003, 01.52am IST |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2003-08-26/news/27560133_1_tamil-film-ratnam-kavithalaya |title=Tamil films enter hit zone in 2003 – Economic Times |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=26 August 2003 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> grossing {{INR}}160 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900170100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040506225110/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/12/29/stories/2003122900170100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2004 |title=Reel of fortune |date=29 December 2003 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> Its success led to remakes; in Telugu (''[[Lakshmi Narasimha (film)|Lakshmi Narasimha]]''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/telugu/preview.php?ctid=5&cid=2424&id=13350260|title=Movie review: Lakshmi Narasimha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420104939/http://www.sify.com/movies/telugu/preview.php?ctid=5&cid=2424&id=13350260 |date=20 April 2014|work=Sify|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 April 2014}}</ref> Kannada (''[[Ayya (2005 Kannada film)|Ayya]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news-interviews/Tamil-film-Raam-to-be-remade-in-Kannada/articleshow/19213972.cms |title=Tamil film Raam to be remade in Kannada – The Times of India |language=de |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> and Hindi languages (''[[Policegiri]]'').<ref>{{cite web|author=PTI |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-03-28/news/38099749_1_policegiri-saamy-53-year-old-dutt |title=Sanjay Dutt to complete shoot of 'Policegiri': Producer – Economic Times |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=28 March 2013 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> His next two films ''[[Kovil (film)|Kovil]]'', with [[Silambarasan Rajendar|Silambarasan]] and ''[[Arul]]'' also starred Vikram. In 2005, he made ''[[Ayya (2005 Tamil film)|Ayya]]'', starring [[Sarathkumar]], which introduced [[Nayantara]] to Tamil cinema. His next film was ''[[Aaru]]'', with [[Suriya (actor)|Suriya]] in 2005. In 2007, he directed two films, ''[[Thaamirabharani]]'' with [[Vishal (actor)|Vishal]] and ''[[Vel (film)|Vel]]'', with Suriya. In 2008, he directed ''[[Seval]]'', with [[Bharath (actor)|Bharath]]. Ayyappa Prasad from Nowrunning.com stated that Hari "panders to the taste of his rural audience all the way, but the movie is bound to disappoint city-dwellers, since neither the story nor its treatment appeal to anyone with high IQ."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/5360/tamil/seval/1889/review.htm |title=Seval Review – Tamil Movie Review by Ayyappa Prasad |publisher=Nowrunning.com |date=30 October 2008 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>

In 2010 Hari directed his tenth film ''[[Singam]]'', with Suriya, marking their third collaboration. The film was one of the top box office films of the year,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-slide-shows/movie-4/box-office-2010/singam.html |title=TOP 20 CHENNAI BOX OFFICE COLLECTION OF 2010 – Behindwoods.com – Tamil Movie Slide Shows – Endhiran | Nandalala | Myna | Singam | Paiyaa | Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa | Naan Mahaan Alla | Uthama Puthiran | Angadi Theru |publisher=Behindwoods.com |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> although reviewers identified it as a standard masala entertainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/singam-movie-review.html |title=Singam Review – Tamil Movie Singam Review |publisher=Behindwoods.com |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/singam-review-review-tamil-14943277.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708235804/http://www.sify.com/movies/singam-review-review-tamil-14943277.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2013 |title=Movie Review : Singam- Review |publisher=Sify.com |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> Following its success, the film was remade in Hindi (as ''[[Singham]]''), in Kannada (as ''[[Kempe Gowda (film)|Kempe Gowda]]'') and Bengali (''[[Shotru]]'').<ref>{{cite web|author=Roshmila Bhattacharya, 7 July 2013, DHNS |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/343127/singam-returns.html |title=Singam returns |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date=7 July 2013 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news-interviews/Clash-of-remakes-in-film-industry/articleshow/8459216.cms |title=Clash of remakes in film industry – The Times of India |language=de |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> After directing ''[[Venghai]]'', a film with [[Dhanush]] and [[Tamannaah Bhatia]] in the lead, he made [[Singam II|a sequel]] to ''Singam'', with Suriya reprising his role as Duraisingam. It was named one of the biggest box office hits of 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-the-biggest-box-office-hits-in-tamil-cinema-2013-south/20140101.htm#3 |title=The Biggest Box Office Hits in Tamil cinema, 2013 – Rediff.com Movies |publisher=Rediff.com |date=1 January 2014 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/Top-10-Tamil-grossers-of-2013/photostory/27779420.cms |title=Top 10 Tamil grossers of 2013 – The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> with Sify stating that it was "the biggest theatrical earner" of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/2013-the-top-10-tamil-grossers-news-tamil-obclopfijjh.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103092905/http://www.sify.com/movies/2013-the-top-10-tamil-grossers-news-tamil-obclopfijjh.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-01-03|title=2013 - The top 10 Tamil grossers|website=Sify}}</ref> He worked for the second time with [[Vishal (actor)|Vishal]], in a film titled ''Poojai'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news-interviews/Haris-film-with-Vishal-titled-Poojai/articleshow/32728789.cms |title=Hari's film with Vishal titled Poojai – The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> which had [[Shruti Haasan]] as the female lead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/i-am-doing-the-hari-film-shruti-haasan-news-tamil-odzkvQfadec.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326062110/http://www.sify.com/movies/i-am-doing-the-hari-film-shruti-haasan-news-tamil-odzkvQfadec.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-03-26|title=I am doing the Hari film: Shruti Haasan|website=Sify}}</ref> Hari joined with Suriya for the fifth time for (''[[Si3 (film)|Singam 3]]''). He is shooting ''[[Saamy 2]]'', the sequel of ''[[Saamy]]'' starring [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] in the lead role. This film marks the third collaboration between Hari and Vikram. The film has met with mixed response.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/saamy-square-aka-saamy-2-movie-review-ratings-live-audience-response-781055|title=Saamy Square (Saamy 2) movie review and ratings: Live audience response|first=Prakash|last=Upadhyaya|date=20 September 2018|website=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref> After ''Saamy Square'', Hari will most likely team up with Suriya yet again. Earlier, director Hari revealed that his next project with Suriya would not be ''Singam 4'', but a fresh script. In an interview with an entertainment portal, Hari has disclosed details about this untitled film. In February 2020, [[Studio Green]] officially announced that Hari's next movie with Surya would be titled "Aruvaa", and would be released in Diwali 2020, but now Suriya has proceeded with his other projects and it is uncertain whether Aruvaa will happen or not.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/suriya-film-with-director-hari-family-entertainer-1344657-2018-09-20|title=Director Hari reveals details about his next film with Suriya|agency=Ist|newspaper=India Today}}</ref> In June 2021, He started working with actor and also his brother-in-law, [[Arun Vijay]], in their first collaboration, which also stars [[Prakash Raj]], [[Priya Bhavani Shankar]], [[Raadhika Sarathkumar]] and [[Yogi Babu]], with music composed by [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]]. It is tentatively called as ''AV33''. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/av33.html#story}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Director Hari with his wife Preetha.jpg|thumb|Hari with his wife Preetha Vijayakumar.]]
Hari is married to former actress [[Preetha Vijayakumar]], the daughter of [[Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)|Vijayakumar]] and ''[[Manjula Vijayakumar|Manjula]]'', sister of actor [[Arun Vijay]], and has three sons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/2003/june/06-06-03.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213084224/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/2003/june/06-06-03.htm |date=13 December 2007|archive-date=13 December 2007|work=Dinakaran|title=Interview: Director Hari}}</ref>

==Filmmaking==

Hari's films are primarily in the [[Action film|action]] and [[Masala film|masala]] genres.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/not-sure-if-next-film-with-suriya-is-singam-3-director-hari/article6505845.ece|title=Not sure if next film with Suriya is Singam 3: Director Hari|last=Ians|date=16 October 2014|via=www.thehindu.com|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/vettaikaran-just-another-no-risk-masala-movie-tamil-film-review-news-national-jmtrOcciefhsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075919/http://www.sify.com/movies/vettaikaran-just-another-no-risk-masala-movie-tamil-film-review-news-national-jmtrOcciefhsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-02-11|title='Vettaikaran' just another 'no-risk' masala movie (Tamil Film Review)|website=Sify}}</ref> Due to his penchant for such films, he has been nicknamed "the ''[[Aruval|aruva]]'' director", the ''ARUVAA'' (sickle) being present in most of his films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://silverscreen.in/features/wishful-thinking-the-director-hari-interview/|title=Wishful Thinking: The Director Hari Interview|last1=V|first2=hana On|last2=October 22|last3=2014|date=22 October 2014}}</ref> Recurring elements in his films include "ferocious" heroes, comic subplots and [[item number]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/si3/movie-review/57059210.cms|title=Singam 3 Review {3/5}: Suriya is in full form in Si3 and the Singam Super franchise is here to stay|via=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> The heroes in his films are usually close to either their father or mother, and are surrounded by a large family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.india.com/showbiz/poojai-movie-review-the-film-should-have-been-more-than-just-the-hero-flexing-his-muscles-and-fighting-178858/|title=Poojai movie review: The film should have been more than just the hero flexing his muscles and fighting|first=Indo-Asian News|last=Service|date=24 October 2014|website=India.com}}</ref> Hari's films are also known for being "racy".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/interview.php?id=13462047&cid=2408|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618152213/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/interview.php?id=13462047&cid=2408|url-status=dead|archive-date=2004-06-18|title=Welcome to Sify.com|website=www.sify.com}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===As director===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Cast !! Notes
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Thamizh]]'' || [[Prashanth]], [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] ||
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Saamy]]'' || [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Trisha Krishnan|Trisha]] ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Kovil (film)|Kovil]]'' || [[Silambarasan]], [[Rajkiran]], [[Sonia Agarwal]] ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Arul]]'' || [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Jyothika]] ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Ayya (2005 Tamil film)|Ayya]]'' || [[Sarathkumar]], [[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]], [[Nayanthara]] ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Aaru (film)|Aaru]]'' ||[[Suriya]], [[Trisha]] ||
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Thaamirabharani]]'' || [[Vishal (actor)|Vishal]], [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]], [[Muktha (actress)|Bhanu]]||
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Vel (film)|Vel]]'' ||[[Suriya]], [[Asin]] ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Seval]]'' || [[Bharath (actor)|Bharath]], [[Simran]], [[Poonam Bajwa]] ||
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Singam]]'' || [[Suriya]], [[Prakash Raj]], [[Anushka Shetty]] ||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Venghai]]'' || [[Dhanush]], [[Rajkiran]], [[Tamannaah]] ||
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Singam II]]'' || [[Suriya]], [[Anushka Shetty]], [[Hansika Motwani]] ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Poojai]]'' || [[Vishal (actor)|Vishal]], [[Sathyaraj]], [[Shruthi Haasan]] ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Si3 (film)|S III]]'' ||[[Suriya]], [[Anushka Shetty]], [[Shruthi Haasan]] ||
|-
| 2018 || ''[[Saamy Square|{{math|Saamy<sup>2</sup>}}]]'' || [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Keerthy Suresh]], [[Aishwarya Rajesh]] ||
|-
| 2022 || Yaanai || [[Arun Vijay]], [[Priya Bhavani Shankar]] ||
|}
===As lyricist===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Film
! Song
! Notes
|-
|2007 ||''Thaamirabharani'' ||Thaaliye Thevaiyillai ||
|-
|2007 ||''Vel'' ||Thoppul Kodi and Otraikannale ||
|-
|2011 ||''Venghai'' ||Yenna Solla Pore and Pudikkudhu. ||
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1419055|name=Hari}}

{{Hari (director)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hari}}
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Thoothukudi district]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tamil-language lyricists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:1966 births]]

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Hari (director)