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{{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 = Pandiraaj
| image = Director.Pandiraj.jpg
| image_size =
| years_active = 2009-present
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|6|07}}
| birth_place = [[Virachilai]], [[Pudukkottai District|Pudukkottai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| occupation = Film director screenwriter film producer distributor
}}
'''Pandiraaj''' (formally credited and addressed as ''Pandiraj'') is an Indian film director, producer and writer who works in [[Tamil cinema]]. His debut film, ''[[Pasanga]]'' (2009) won two National Film Awards, and he succeedingly directed many commercially successful films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article164869.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024070545/http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article164869.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2013|title=Arulnidhi was like any other city guy: Director}}</ref> He has won several awards, including two [[National Film Awards]] and five [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/a-proud-dedication-to-tamil-cinemas-national-award-winners-part-2/national-film-award-for-best-screenplay-6-times.html | title=National Film Award for Best Screenplay - (6 Times) | A Proud Dedication to Tamil Cinema's National Award Winners - Part 2 }}</ref>

==Early life==

Pandiraaj was born 7 June 1976 and brought up in [[Virachilai|Virachilai Township]], [[Pudukkottai District|Pudukkottai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. After his 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 magazine ''Bhagya''. Gradually, his interest in film making increased and after multiple 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/pandiraj.html#filmography | title=All you want to know about @pandiraj3 }}</ref>

==Style==
Pandiraaj is famous for his village-based action family dramas. His lineup of films often represents the family dynamics in rural extended families, and focuses on farming. Known for making commercial comedy dramas, his films and his production house often focuses on promoting societal issues in films like [[Moodar Koodam|''Moodar'' ''Koodam'']] and [[Marina (2012 film)|''Marina'']]. Rather than just making surface-level commercial dramadies, Pandiraaj always manages to question societal inequalities, crime, poverty and other important socioeconomic issues that affect people in real life.

==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 Cinematographer 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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2011/mar/07/pasanga-goes-to-chicago-233477.html|title = 'Pasanga' goes to Chicago| date=16 May 2012 }}</ref> Following the success of ''Pasanga'', Pandiraj directed his second film, ''[[Vamsam]]'' with newcomer [[Arulnithi]] and [[Sunaina]] starring. 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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-tamil-review-vamsam/20100813.htm|title=Vamsam suffers from overkill}}</ref>

In 2012, Pandiraaj 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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/feb-12-01/marina-review.html|title = Marina Review - Marina Movie Review}}</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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/kedi-billa-killadi-ranga-the-jokes-on-us/article4564375.ece|title = Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga: The joke's on us|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 30 March 2013|last1 = Rangan|first1 = Baradwaj}}</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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518175223/http://www.indiaglitz.com/more-to-come-from-pandiraj-the-dialogue-writer-tamil-news-102832|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 May 2015|title=- Tamil Movie News - IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> In 2015, Pandiraj has directed another children's film titled ''[[Pasanga 2]]'', produced by actor [[Suriya]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/pasanga2-review-more-educative-than-entertaining/article8025829.ece|title=Pasanga-2: More educative than entertaining|newspaper=The Hindu|date=24 December 2015|last1=Srinivasan|first1=Sudhir}}</ref> He later directed romantic comedy ''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (2016 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]'' (2016) and action thriller, ''[[Kathakali (film)|Kathakali]]'' (2016).

In 2018, ''[[Kadaikutty Singam]]'' was promoted as a film that would inspire the younger generation to take up farming. But the movie propagates good familial values more and focuses less on farming.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/kadaikutty-singam-movie-review-karthi-sayyeshaa-pandiraj-sathyaraj-1284961-2018-07-13 | title=Kadaikutty Singam Movie Review: Karthi-Pandiraj film is all melodrama }}</ref> Pandiraj won [[8th South Indian International Movie Awards|Best Director Tamil]] in [[8th South Indian International Movie Awards|South Indian International Movie Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/siima-awards-2019-winners-rangasthalam-kgf-yash-keerthy-suresh-tamil-telugu-malayalam-kannada-5909506/ | title=SIIMA 2019 winners full list: Dhanush, Trisha, Prithviraj win big | date=17 August 2019 }}</ref> Later, Pandiraj produced ''[[Semma]]'' and launched his former assistant Vallikanthan as a director, starring [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2017/mar/09/pandiraj-to-produce-semma-1579194.html | title=Pandiraj to produce Semma | date=9 March 2017 }}</ref> With ''[[Namma Veettu Pillai]]'' (2019), which had actor [[Sivakarthikeyan]] in the lead, Pandiraj, once again focused a film on [[family values]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/namma-veettu-pillai/namma-veettu-pillai-review.html | title=Namma Veettu Pillai (Aka) Nama Veetu Pillai review | date=27 September 2019 }}</ref>

He later directed ''[[Etharkkum Thunindhavan]]'' (2022) starring [[Suriya]]. The film deals with an important topic with women's safety in the digital age.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Etharkkum Thunindhavan Movie Review: Suriya plays saviour in film about women's safety |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/etharkkum-thunindhavan-movie-review-suriya-plays-saviour-in-film-about-women-s-safety-1923587-2022-03-10 |access-date=2022-03-10 |work=India Today}}</ref> In 2025, his film ''[[Thalaivan Thalaivii]]'' starring [[Vijay Sethupathi]] and [[Nithya Menen]] plays the main roles.<ref>{{Cite news |title=VJS 52 is now titled Thalaivan Thalaivii|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2025/May/07/vjs-52-is-now-titled-thalaivan-thalaivii |access-date=2025-05-07 |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Filmography==
=== As a film director===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!style="width:35px;"| Year
!style="width:250px;"| Film
!class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Pasanga]]'' ||[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] [[National Film Award for Best Screenplay]] [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film]] [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]] [[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards|Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Director]] [[Vijay Award for Best Find of the Year]] [[Vijay Award for Best Crew]]
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Vamsam]]'' ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Marina (2012 film)|Marina]]'' ||Also producer [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize]] [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]]
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga]]'' ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Pasanga 2]]'' || Also co-producer [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film|Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Second Film]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2016||''[[Idhu Namma Aalu (2016 film)|Idhu Namma Aalu]]''||
|-
|| ''[[Kathakali (film)|Kathakali]]''|| Also producer
|-
|2018||''[[Kadaikutty Singam]]'' ||[[8th South Indian International Movie Awards|SIIMA Award for Best Director]]
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Namma Veettu Pillai]]'' ||
|-
| 2022 ||''[[Etharkkum Thunindhavan]]'' ||
|-
| 2025 ||''[[Thalaivan Thalaivii]]'' ||<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullappilly |first=Sreejith |date=2025-05-03 |title=VJS 52 is now titled Thalaivan Thalaivii |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/May/03/vjs-52-is-now-titled-thalaivan-thalaivii |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| {{TBA}} ||''Parimala & Co'' ||
|}

===As producer and writer===
This is a list of films that Pandiraj did not direct but did produce and/or write.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:250px;"| Film
! colspan="2" style="width:195px;"| Credited as
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
! width=65 | Producer
! width=65 | Writer
|-
|2013|| ''[[Moodar Koodam]]'' || {{partial|Distributor}} || {{no}} ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Goli Soda]]'' || {{no}} || {{partial|Dialogues}} ||
|-
|2018|| ''[[Semma]]'' || {{yes}} || {{partial|Dialogues}} ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Marina Puratchi]]'' || {{yes}} || {{no}} ||
|-
|}

==Awards==
* [[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards|Ananda Vikatan Award for Best Director]] - ''[[Pasanga]]''<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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211230708/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article160162.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2015|title=I'm excited: Director Pandiraj}}</ref>
* [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil]] - ''[[Pasanga]]''
* [[National Film Award for Best Screenplay]] (Dialogues) - ''[[Pasanga]]''
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film]] - ''[[Pasanga]]''
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]] - ''[[Pasanga]]''
* [[Vijay Award for Best Find of the Year]]- ''[[Pasanga]]''<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite news|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|newspaper=The Hindu|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>
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize]] - ''[[Marina (2012 film)|Marina]]''
* [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]] - ''[[Marina (2012 film)|Marina]]''
* [[8th South Indian International Movie Awards|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:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Best Dialogue National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters]]

Pandiraaj - Revision history

Sanjay: New new details w/ refs