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{{Short description|Indian actor (1999–2017)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| name = Rajakumaran
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Santhipalayam, [[Anthiyur]], [[Erode District|Erode]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| birth_name =
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
* Film director
* actor
}}
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]]|2001}}
| children = 2
| yearsactive = 1999–2017
| website =
}}

'''Rajakumaran''' is an Indian film director, who has made Tamil films. He is married to actress [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]], who he has collaborated with in all his films.

==Career==
Rajakumaran, an assistant to director [[Vikraman]], made his debut with ''[[Nee Varuvai Ena]]'' (1999), a romance story produced by [[R. B. Choudary]]. The film starring [[R. Parthiban|Parthiban]] and [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] won positive reviews and commercial success, being described as "a film definitely worth watching" by a critic from Indolink.com, who cites that "it is bound to touch your heart and make you wonder about the power of love."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Reviews/articles/Nee_Varuvaai_Ena_101748.html |title=Nee Varuvaai Ena: Movie Review |publisher=Indolink.com |accessdate=10 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617112415/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Reviews/articles/Nee_Varuvaai_Ena_101748.html |archive-date=17 June 2017 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> A reviewer from the Indian Express wrote "The plot is almost always predictable, and at times, even degenerates into blatant stupidity. But the director presents all this with such a straight face, that you find yourself lapping it all up".<ref name=nie>{{Cite news |last=S |first=Arul |date=17 October 1999 |title=Just lap it up |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/3293C422C38A004565256941003DC901?OpenDocument |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028223654/http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/3293C422C38A004565256941003DC901?OpenDocument |archive-date=28 October 2022}}</ref> The film went on to win the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Storywriter]] for Rajakumaran. He then briefly began working on another project titled ''Devathai Vanthuvittaal'', and then started and shelved a film titled ''Aanavam'', which was to feature [[Sathyaraj]], [[Khushbu Sundar|Khushbu]] and [[Roja Selvamani|Roja]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oocities.org/hollywood/lot/2330/gcnnov99.html|title = Gokul's Tamil Cinema News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/25-11-99/ishak.htm |title=Dinakaran |website=www.dinakaran.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023120257/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/25-11-99/ishak.htm |archive-date=23 October 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the success of ''Nee Varuvai Ena'', Rajakumaran was given a chance by R. B. Choudary to make another film under his banner. The project was titled as ''[[Vinnukum Mannukum]]'' (2001), with an ensemble cast featuring [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]], [[Sarathkumar]] and [[Khushbu Sundar|Khushbu]]. In an interview in 2008, Vikram mentioned his displeasure at being a part of it, claiming that he had arguments with the director for every single shot and that "everything in that film, right from the first shot was wrong".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/02/15/stories/2008021550170400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217210603/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/02/15/stories/2008021550170400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2008 |title=Cinema Plus / Columns : Why I hate... Vinnukkum Mannukkum |date=15 February 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> Furthermore, Rajakumaran failed to utilize the call sheets of Sarathkumar and this caused some delay in finishing off the shootings, taking over a year to complete.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/Hot%20News%204.htm |title=Hot News4 |publisher=Cinematoday2.itgo.com |date= |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lavan.fateback.com/Cinema%20Section/Vinnukkum%20Mannukkum.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202225823/http://lavan.fateback.com/Cinema%20Section/Vinnukkum%20Mannukkum.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-02-02|title=Vinnukkum Mannukkum Movie Review|date=2014-02-02|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref> with a critic from [[The Hindu]] noting: "director Rajakumaran has taken special care in the choice of songs and locations to make the film entertaining. He should have paid more attention to the first half and more important, must have extracted more work from Vikram, who has the potential, and Devayani, for whom it is a cakewalk".<ref name=hi>{{cite web|url=http://hindu.com/2001/04/13/stories/09130222.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927070118/http://hindu.com/2001/04/13/stories/09130222.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2013 |title=Film review: ''Vinnukkum Mannukkum'' |date=13 April 2001 |work=[[The Hindu]] |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref>

He next chose to direct and produce a film titled ''[[Kadhaludan]]'' (2003) with [[Murali (Tamil actor)|Murali]] in the lead role. The film won mixed reviews with a critic from Sify noting: "the plot is idiotic, as director Rajakumaran has tried to rehash his earlier film ''[[Nee Varuvai Ena]]''" and described the film as tedious. Another review from [[The Hindu]] described the film as a neat family drama, adding that: "The screenplay is hampered mainly by lengthy, meandering dialogue that proves tiresome".<ref name="Sify">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kathaludan-review-tamil-12647202.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924181820/http://www.sify.com/movies/kathaludan-review-tamil-12647202.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Movie Review Kathaludan|accessdate=14 April 2012|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref><ref name="Hindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/02/21/stories/2003022101120201.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630041243/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/02/21/stories/2003022101120201.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2003|title= Kadhaludan|accessdate=14 April 2012|date=21 February 2003|work=[[The Hindu]]|author=Malathi Rangarajan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.bizhat.com/review_kadhaludan.php|title=BizHat.com – Kadhaludan Review|accessdate=14 April 2012|publisher=movies.bizhat.com|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202101210/http://movies.bizhat.com/review_kadhaludan.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> The failure of the films prompted Rajakumaran to take a sabbatical from film-making and briefly worked as a film distributor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/64944.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318084513/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/64944.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 March 2011 |title=Rajakumaran turns distributor – Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=17 March 2011 |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> Along with his wife, they then launched another production ''[[Thirumathi Thamizh]]'' in February 2008, with Rajakumaran playing the lead role and Devayani starring opposite him. The film, after much delay, released to mixed reviews in April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/38616.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520090317/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/38616.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 May 2008 |title=Devayani – the supportive wife – Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=16 May 2008 |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He married actress [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] in April 2001 in a secret marriage at [[Thiruthani Murugan Temple]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/news126.html |title=Telugu Cinema Etc |publisher=Idlebrain.com |date=9 April 2001 |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref> The pair had fallen in love during the production of his first two films.

They have two children, Iniya and Priyanka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/36276.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202102801/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/36276.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2008 |title=Devayani gives birth to second child – Tamil Movie News |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=1 February 2008 |accessdate=10 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=Actress Devayani's teenage daughter's photos in saree surprises fans - Tamil News |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/actress-devayani-daughter-saree-photos-iniya-priyanka-rajakumaran-tamil-news-332446 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Director===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%;"
! Year !! Film !! Notes !! Ref(s)
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Nee Varuvai Ena]]'' || [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Storywriter]] ||<ref name=nie />
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Vinnukkum Mannukkum]]'' || ||<ref name=hi />
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Kadhaludan]]'' || [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Family Film]] ||<ref name="Hindu" />
|-
| 2004 || ''Shivaram'' || Telugu film ||
|-
|2013 ||''[[Thirumathi Thamizh]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/thirumathi-tamil/movie-review/19672818.cms|title=Thirumathi Tamil Movie Review {1/5}: Critic Review of Thirumathi Tamil by Times of India|via=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Actor===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%;"
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam]]'' || || Uncredited
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Poove Unakkaga (film)|Poove Unakkaga]]'' || Cyclist || Uncredited
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Suryavamsam (1997 film)|Suryavamsam]]'' || Bus passenger || Uncredited
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Thirumathi Thamizh]]'' || Thamizhselvan ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham]]'' || Raj ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Kadugu]]'' || Pandi ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rajakumaran}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajakumaran}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Rajakumaran (director) - Revision history

Bruce06828: added first bio w/ refs...