Pandiraj

2021-07-28T23:25:28Z

2A01:CB00:19:5C00:9066:BE5E:7053:566E:

{{short description|Indian film director and producer (born 1976)}}
{{About||Tamil actor|Pandiarajan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pandiraj
| image =File:Pandiraj on his new venture.jpg
| image_size =
| years_active =2009-present
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|6|07}}
| birth_place = Virachilai Township, Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu
| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, film producer, distributor
}}
'''Pandiraj''' (பாண்டிராஜ் in Tamil) is an Indian film director and producer, who works in [[Tamil cinema]]. His debut film, ''[[Pasanga]]'' (2009), was commercially successful<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article164869.ece|title=Arulnidhi was like any other city guy: Director}}</ref> and won several awards, including the [[National Film Award for Best Screenplay]].

==Early life==
Pandiraj was born 7 June 1976 and brought up in Virachilai Township, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India. After Schooling, he moved to Chennai in 1996. He worked as an "office-boy" with director [[K. Bhagyaraj]]. During his early years, he wrote several short stories for the famous Tamil Bagya. Gradually, his interest in film making increased and after hurdles, he got the chance to be an assistant director to filmmaker [[Cheran (director)|Cheran]]. He later worked as an assistant director to [[Thangar Bachan]] and [[Chimbu Deven]] in six films.

==Style==
Pandiraj is also famous for making village action family movies. The movies include a lot of family sentiments and focuses on farming.

==Career==
[[File:Shri Pandi Raj, Director of the film ‘Pasanga’, at the presentation of the film, during the 40th International Film Festival (IFFI-2009), at Panaji, Goa on November 27, 2009.jpg|thumb|Pandiraj along with Cinematogrpaher C.Prem Kumar (who later directed the movie [['96 (film)|96]]) at the presentation of the film ''[[Pasanga]]'', during the 40th International Film Festival (IFFI-2009), at Panaji, Goa on 27 November 2009. ]]
In 2009, Pandiraj became an independent director with director [[M. Sasikumar]] agreeing to produce the film. Titled ''[[Pasanga]]'', it was a [[children's film]] featuring several new child actors and [[Vimal (actor)|Vimal]] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-pandiraj/20100920.htm#4|title=I never expected to win a National Award for Pasanga}}</ref> The film was a critical success, winning several national and international awards, including three [[National Film Awards]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-pandiraj/20100920.htm|title=I never expected to win a National Award for Pasanga}}</ref> and being screened at various film festivals.<ref>https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/mar/07/pasanga-goes-to-chicago-233477.html</ref>

Following the success of ''Pasanga'', Pandiraj directed his second film, ''[[Vamsam]]'' with newcomer [[Arulnithi]] and [[Sunaina]] in the lead roles. 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.<ref>https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-tamil-review-vamsam/20100813.htm</ref>

In 2012, Pandiraj set up his a film production studio named Pasanga Productions. His first production was his own directorial ''[[Marina (2012 film)|Marina]]'' which marked the feature film debut for television anchor and comedian [[Sivakarthikeyan]]. The film received mixed reviews from critics.<ref>http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/feb-12-01/marina-review.html</ref>

The director's next ''[[Kedi 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 paired [[Bindu Madhavi]] and [[Regina Cassandra]]. The romantic comedy film received positive responses from critics and became a commercial hit.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/kedi-billa-killadi-ranga-the-jokes-on-us/article4564375.ece</ref>

Pandiraj distributed his former assistant Naveen's debut film ''[[Moodar Koodam]]'' under his Pasanga Productions studio. He also wrote the dialogues for cinematographer [[Vijay Milton]]'s second directorial ''[[Goli Soda]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/more-to-come-from-pandiraj-the-dialogue-writer-tamil-news-102832|title=- Tamil Movie News - IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref>

In 2015, Pandiraj has directed another children's film titled ''[[Pasanga 2]]'', produced by actor [[Suriya]].<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/pasanga2-review-more-educative-than-entertaining/article8025829.ece</ref>

==Filmography==
;Director
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:250px;"| Film
! colspan="3" style="width:195px;"| Credited as
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
! style="width:65px;" | Director
! width=65 | Producer
! width=65 | Writer
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Pasanga]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] [[National Film Award for Best Screenplay]] (Dialogues) [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film]] [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]] [[Vijay Award for Best Find of the Year]] [[Vijay Award for Best Crew]] 
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Vamsam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Marina (2012 film)|Marina]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Goli Soda]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Pasanga 2]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2016||''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (2016 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]''
| style="text-align:center;" |{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
|| ''[[Kathakali (film)|Kathakali]]''
| style="text-align:center;" |{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2018||''[[Kadaikutty Singam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||[[8th South Indian International Movie Awards|SIIMA Award for Best Director]]
|-
|| ''[[Semma]]''
| style="text-align:center;" |{{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Namma Veettu Pillai]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Etharkkum Thunindhavan]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|}

;Distributor
*''[[Moodar Koodam]]'' (2013)

==Awards==
* Anandha Vikatan Award for Best Director - ''Pasangaa''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ayngaran.com/go.php?iframepath=newsdetails.php?newsid=2882|title=Ayngaran International|website=www.ayngaran.com}}</ref>
* International Children's Film Festival Golden Elephant Award for Best Director - ''Pasanga''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article160162.ece|title=I'm excited: Director Pandiraj}}</ref>
* [[National Film Award for Best Screenplay]] (Dialogues) - ''Pasanga''
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]] - ''Pasanga''
*[[Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize]] - ''Marina''
* [[Vijay Award for Best Find of the Year]]- ''Pasanga''<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/lsquoPasanga-steals-show-at-Vijay-awards/article12079593.ece|title='Pasanga' steals show at Vijay awards|first=K.|last=Lakshmi|date=30 May 2010|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
* [[Vijay Award for Best Crew]] - ''Pasanga''<ref name="thehindu1"/>
* World Malayalee Council Award - ''Pasanga''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-10-03/kamal-mohan-lal-20-04-10.html|title=Malayalee Council - Tamil Movie News - Awards for Kamal, Mohan Lal, Pookutty - Kamal - Mohan Lal - Ilayaraja - Behindwoods.com|website=www.behindwoods.com}}</ref>
* [[South Indian International Movie Awards]] for Best Director - ''[[Kadaikutty Singam]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110926183447/http://www.directorpandiraj.com/ Official website]

{{Pandiraj}}
{{NationalFilmAwardBestScreenplay}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:People from Pudukkottai]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:Tamil film producers]]
[[Category:Indian film distributors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Film producers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Best Dialogue National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century screenwriters]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Pandiraj