Mysskin

2021-08-17T21:32:10Z

2A01:CB00:19:5C00:A091:697:F28B:A159:

{{Short description|Indian film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Mysskin
|image = Mysskin, Tamil filmmaker.jpg
|caption =
|birthname = Shanmugha Raja
|alias = Mysskin
|birth_date =
|occupation = Director, writer, actor, producer, singer , lyricist
|yearsactive = 2002–present
|spouse =
}}
'''Shanmugha Raja''' known professionally as '''Mysskin''' is an Indian [[film director]], [[screenwriter]], [[actor]], [[Singer-songwriter|singer]] and [[Film producer|producer]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-20|title=Mysskin — Missing the forest for the trees {{!}} FCCI|url=https://filmcriticscircle.com/journal/mysskin-missing-the-forest-for-the-trees/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Journal of Indian Cinema|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/celebrities/mysskin-psycho-director-tamil-bends-genres|title=Ahead of Psycho's Release, Delving Into Mysskin's Unique Craft|date=2020-01-21|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He made his directorial debut in 2006 with ''[[Chithiram Pesuthadi]]''. His subsequent films ''[[Anjathe]]'' (2008), ''[[Nandalala]]'' (2010) and ''[[Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum]]'' (2013) and [[Pisaasu]] (2014) have received critical acclaim. He made his acting debut with ''[[Nandalala]]'' (2010), where he played a mentally-challenged man.

== Career ==
He chose Mysskin as his assumed name, inspired by [[Prince Myshkin]], the [[protagonist]] in [[Dostoevsky]]'s novel ''[[The Idiot]]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/shanmugha-raja-is-the-real-name-of-director-mysskin/articleshow/65993783.cms|title=Shanmugha Raja is the real name of director Mysskin - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> His schooling was in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and he is an avid book reader<ref name=behindwoods>{{cite news|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/features/Interviews/interview-5/director/mysskin.html|title=Director Mysskin|newspaper=Behindwoods|access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref> He was working in a book store when director [[Kathir]] first asked him to join him. He was with him for nearly 8 months but did not work in any movie. It was under director [[Vincent Selva]] that he did his first movie ''[[Youth (2002 film)|Youth]]'', followed by ''[[Jithan]]'', again under Vincent Selva.<ref name=behindwoods/> Mysskin made his directorial debut with the low - budget film ''[[Chithiram Pesuthadi|Chithiram Pesudhadi]]'' which went on to become one of the biggest hits of the year. A simple love story, it became a hit owing to the unique style the film was written in. The leads, [[Debutante (disambiguation)|debutants]] [[Narain (actor)|Narain]] and [[Bhavana (actress)|Bhavana]] went on to become popular faces following the success. He then moved on to ''[[Anjathe]]'' which became one of the biggest blockbusters in Tamil Cinema. The film received critical acclaim for all departments of film making. The film was also noted for its narrative style and [[Mise-en-scène]] which marked an example of Tamil new wave cinema.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Kalorth, Nithin|url=https://www.academia.edu/4810771|title=Identification and Analysis of Images in Anjathey|publisher=Media Watch|volume=4|number=3|issn=0976-0911|date=September 2013}}</ref> It starred Narain, [[Prasanna (actor)|Prasanna]], [[Vijayalakshmi Ahathian]] and yesteryear actor [[Pandiarajan]] in a never before seen role. Both the Mysskin films had his iconic yellow saree [[item number]]s which became big hits and captured the hearts of the young and old alike.

Nevertheless, Mysskin came back with ''[[Nandalala]]'' a film loosely based on Takeshi Kitano's ''[[Kikujiro]]'' and it was completely different from his first two ventures. A film which dealt with a young boy and a mentally challenged person going in search of their respective mothers. He chose to play the mentally challenged character after the script was turned down by many established actors. The film went on to become his most critically acclaimed film with some critics calling it one of the best Tamil films ever made.<ref>http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-nadhalala/20101126.htm</ref> ''Nandalala'' won the people's choice award at the [[Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards|Norway Film Festival]]. His next film, ''[[Yuddham Sei]]'', a dark crime thriller was a hit at the box office as well. His visual style and directing prowess were appreciated and talked about by everybody.<ref>http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-review-yuddham-sei/20110204.htm</ref> His next film, an commercial attempt at the [[Superhero film|superhero]] genre, ''[[Mugamoodi]]'' received negative responses from the public and media. His next film ''[[Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum]]'' ''(The Wolf and the Lamb)'' was a fast-paced thriller released on 27 September 2013. It received superlative reviews from all corners. Audience and critics praised the film as a trendsetter and the changing face of Tamil cinema. Once again Mysskin proved that he was a director of high standards. In ''Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum'', Mysskin also acted as one among the two lead characters, an [[antihero]].

''[[Pisaasu]]'' released on December 19, 2014 and turned out to be a super hit. It also got high critical acclaim for its sensible portrayal of the [[supernatural]], mixing horror and love. It was one of the biggest commercial hits of 2014 in [[Tamil cinema|Tamil Cinema]] and proved to be the most profitable Tamil film of 2014. His next film, ''[[Thupparivaalan]]'' a detective thriller starting [[Vishal (actor)|Vishal]] in the lead, heavily inspired by [[Sherlock Holmes]], released on 14 September 2017.
In the film ''[[Savarakathi]]'', which was released in 2018, he played as an antagonist opposite director [[Ram (director)|Ram]]. The film was an average commercial success though praised by critics. He also had an important [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] in [[Thiagarajan Kumararaja]]'s [[Super Deluxe (film)|''Super Deluxe'']] which released on 29 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 March 2019|title=Super Deluxe: Director Mysskin spills the beans on Vijay Sethupathi film|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/super-deluxe-director-mysskin-spills-the-beans-on-vijay-sethupathi-film-1469343-2019-03-03|access-date=22 July 2021|website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> His latest film was ''[[Psycho (2020 film)|Psycho]]'', released on 24 January 2020 starring [[Udhayanidhi Stalin]] and [[Aditi Rao Hydari]]. The film was a critical and commercial success and redefined the [[cliché]]d [[Whodunit (disambiguation)|whodunit]] genre.

==Filmmaking==
Mysskin is known for his peculiar [[Combat in film|combat sequences]] using elaborate [[storyboard]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLZa27PiJ1s Mysskin choreographs fights with storyboard]</ref><ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8q0fXQ-O6Jw Mysskin says storyboarding helps cut costs]</ref> and real [[Martial arts#By technical focus|unarmed martial]] [[Strike (attack)|strikes]] and [[Stance (martial arts)|stances]];<ref>[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zg8CqVKwW28 Mysskin storyboarding combat sequence for Thupparivaalan]</ref> unconventional [[Shot (filmmaking)|shots]] (like close-ups of feet); [[Cinematic techniques#Diegetic sound|diegetic sound]], light, [[silhouette]] and shadow; [[Stage (theatre)|stage]] techniques (like [[monologue]], face-floor, motion-freeze); [[staccato]] background score; meticulous [[Scene (filmmaking)|scene]] and [[set construction]]; irony-laden dialogues; [[Ellipsis (narrative device)|ellipses]]; [[minimalism]]; deep characterisation (with archetypal hairdo, dress, accent, posture, gesture, locale, furniture); limited use of song choreography; and [[neo-noir]] renditions where the lead role is not infallible.

Mysskin is known to start film shoot only after a bound script is ready. He rigorously annotates his scripts with [[Cue (theatrical)|cues]] and [[camera lens]] focal lengths for each scene.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170918021036/http://www.sify.com/movies/films-can-be-made-without-songs-mysskin-news-national-ngxnazjfbbhsi.html Films can be made without songs or heroines, says Mysskin]</ref><ref>[http://www.sify.com/movies/mysskin-s-plea-to-women-audience-news-tamil-pjqkzAfjedbih.html Cuss words are needed for realism, says Mysskin]</ref> He says that his films are influenced by the works of [[Akira Kurosawa]].<ref>[http://www.sify.com/movies/mysskin-pays-respect-to-akira-kurosawa-news-tamil-qb1kgrideadec.html Mysskin admits Kurosawa influence]</ref> His plots predominantly deal with the urban [[working class|poor]] and [[middle class]]. His films also have a recurring theme of compassion and redemption. His favorite directors are [[Robert Bresson]], [[Jean-Pierre Melville|Melville]], and [[Takeshi Kitano]].

==Filmography==

* ''All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.''

{| class="wikitable"
| style="background:#ffc;"|{{Dagger}}
| Denotes films that have not yet been released
|}

===As director, writer & actor===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Year
! rowspan=2 | Title
! colspan=4 | Credited as
! rowspan=2 | Role
! rowspan=2 class="sortable" | Notes
|-
! width=65 | Director
! width=65 | Writer
! width=65 | Actor
! width=65 | Producer
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Youth (2002 film)|Youth]]'' || || ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || Uncredited role
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Kadhal Virus]]'' || || ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || Man at film shoot || Uncredited role
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Jithan]]'' || || ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || Man at phone booth || Uncredited role
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Chithiram Pesuthadi]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Anjathe]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || ||||Nominated, [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil]]<br />Nominated, [[Vijay Award for Best Director]]
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Nandalala]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || ||Bhaskar Mani ||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Yuddham Sei]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Mugamoodi]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || ||
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}||Wolf / Edward ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Pisaasu]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || ||||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Thupparivaalan]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || ||
|-
| 2018 ||''[[Savarakkaththi]]'' || || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| Mangeswaran ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Super Deluxe (film)|Super Deluxe]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || Arputham ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Suttu Pidikka Utharavu]]'' || || ||style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || Ibrahim ||
|-
| 2020 ||''[[Psycho (2019 film)|Psycho]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || ||
|-
| 2021 ||''[[Pisaasu II]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}|| || || ||Filming
|}

===As singer===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#B0C4DE; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Song(s) !! Film !! Composer !! Notes
|-
| 2008 || "Kannadhasan Karaikudi" & "Acham Thavir" || ''[[Anjathe]]'' || [[Sundar C Babu]] ||
|-
| 2008 || "Sutta Pazhama" || ''[[Dindigul Sarathy]]'' || [[Dhina (music director)|Dhina]] ||
|-
| 2011 || "Aararo" & "Vedham Pudhumai" || ''[[Yuddham Sei]]'' ||rowspan="2"|[[K (music director)|K]] ||
|-
| 2012 || "Bar Anthem" || ''[[Mugamoodi]]'' ||
|-
| 2013 || "Ammadi Aathadi" || ''[[Thulli Vilayadu]]'' || [[Srikanth Deva]] ||
|-
| 2015 || "Vellakaara Rani" || ''[[Kallappadam]]'' || [[K (composer)|K]] ||
|-
| 2016 || "Kathi Edukkuthaan" || ''[[Savarakkaththi]]'' || [[Arrol Corelli]] ||
|-
| 2017 || "Ivan Thupparivaalan" || ''[[Thupparivaalan]]'' || [[Arrol Corelli]] ||
|-
|}

===As lyricist===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#B0C4DE; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Song(s) !! Film !! Composer !! Notes
|-
| 2006 || "Aaahayam Aaahayam" & "Idhu Enna Pudhu Kanavo (M)" || ''[[Chithiram Pesuthadi]]'' ||[[Sundar C Babu]] ||
|-
|2012||"Bar Anthem" ||''Mugamoodi'' ||K ||
|-
|2017||"Ivan Thupparivaalan" || ''Thupparivaalan''||Arrol Corelli ||
|-
|2020||"Thaai Madiyil"||''[[Psycho (2020 film)|Psycho]]''||[[Ilaiyaraaja]] ||
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|4199426|Mysskin}}

{{Mysskin}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mysskin}}
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tamil playback singers]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Mysskin