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{{Short description|none}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Thiagarajan Kumararaja
| image = Achromatic_Love_%F0%9F%A9%B6_(1).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Thiagarajan Kumararaja at the Short Film competition in 2025
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|11|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| alma_mater = Loyola College, Chennai
| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, producer, and ad director
| years_active = 2008–present
| known_for =
| parents =
}}

'''Thiagarajan Kumararaja''' is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He made his feature film debut with the critically acclaimed [[neo-noir]] [[Gangster film|gangster]] film ''[[Aaranya Kaandam]]'' (2011), which earned him the [[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director]] at the [[59th National Film Awards]].

==Career==
Kumararaja enrolled for a [[Visual Communications]] course at the [[Loyola College, Chennai]], but dropped out shortly after to make films. Kumararaja cited that it was composer [[Ilaiyaraaja]]'s music that animated him to come to films and to study Visual Communications in the first place.<ref name="rediff1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-aaranya-kaandam-is-a-story-of-gangsters/20110609.htm |title=Aaranya Kaandam: A day in a gangster's life |publisher=Rediff |date=9 June 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> However, he discontinued his studies in 1998 and started to work as a freelance copywriter and photographer for a while.<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web|author=Sudhish Kamath |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1158882.ece |title=A new chapter |newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 February 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dearcinema.com/interview/no-south-indian-actor-was-ready-to-play-an-impotent-don-kumararaja-aaranya-kaandam-director/0859#.T65DVcWo3tk |title=No South Indian actor was ready to play an impotent don: Kumararaja, Aaranya Kaandam director |publisher=DearCinema.com |date=4 August 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> He went on to shoot advertisement films and also directed a five-part documentary on South Indian Temples, ''Sthala Puranam'' for [[Vijay TV]].<ref name="thehindu1" /> In 2005, he participated at the one-minute film competition ''60 Seconds to Fame'' by Ability Foundation, aiming for the prize money.<ref name="thehindu1" /> His short film ''Becky'' was awarded the first prize at the Ability Fest 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abilityfoundation.org/ability_fest_2005.html# |title=Ability Fest 2005 |publisher=Ability Foundation |date= |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Kumararaja then collaborated with [[Pushkar-Gayathri]], writing the dialogue of their directorial debut ''[[Oram Po]]'' (2007).<ref name="thehindu1" /> He also wrote song lyrics for their second project ''[[Va (film)|Va]]'' (2010) as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-music-review-va-quarter-cutting/20100913.htm |title=Va Quarter Cutting music is worth a listen |publisher=Rediff |date=13 September 2010 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Through Pushkar-Gayathri, Kumararaja met [[S. P. B. Charan]], who agreed to produce his first feature film ''[[Aaranya Kaandam]]''.{{fact|date=February 2025}}

Kumararaja began writing his maiden film in December 2006.<ref name="thehindu1"/> Although he had wanted to make a "racy film" – he wrote the climax part first, before going on to add multiple storylines – he said that the film had eventually turned out to be a "leisurely paced film, taking its own time to unfold".<ref name="rediff1"/> Kumararaja met Charan in January 2007 and narrated him the script for two hours.<ref name="thehindu1"/> Filming was supposed to commence by late 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/32677.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824142743/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/32677.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2007 |title=SPB Charan's new gambit|website=IndiaGlitz |date=31 July 2007 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/25102007-5.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027025137/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/25102007-5.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2007 |title=Dailynews – SPB Charan's 'Aranya Kaandam' |publisher=Cinesouth |date=25 October 2007 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> but Charan opted to produce another film first. ''Aaranya Kaandam'' was launched in December 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/events/17033.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153936/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/events/17033.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Events – 'Aaranya Kaandam' Movie Launch |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=18 December 2008 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> starring [[Ravi Krishna (actor, born 1983)|Ravi Krishna]] and [[Sampath Raj]], with Bollywood actor [[Jackie Shroff]], who was being introduced to Tamil films. Kumararaja took more than one and a half years to complete the film, which was entirely shot in and around Chennai.<ref>{{cite web|author=V Lakshmi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Kumar-Raja-tells-all/articleshow/4011366.cms |title=Kumar Raja tells all|date=22 January 2009 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref> Upon completion, the film ran into trouble when the regional [[Central Board of Film Certification|censor board]] in Chennai refused to clear it, demanding 52 cuts due to profanity and excessive violence.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bijoy Bharathan|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-08/news-interviews/28541001_1_film-audiences-thiagarajan-kumararaja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910203427/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-08/news-interviews/28541001_1_film-audiences-thiagarajan-kumararaja |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=Thiagarajan: Caught in the crossfire|date=8 February 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> Kumararaja expressed that he made the film for a matured audience and not for children,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sreedhar Pillai|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Censor-Borad-butchered-Aaranya-Kaandam/articleshow/7360204.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323190137/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-26/news-interviews/28375516_1_film-thiagarajan-kumararaja-major-international-award |url-status=live |archive-date=23 March 2012 |title=Censor Board butchered Aaranya Kaandam|date=26 January 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref> while adding that he expected difficulties in the censorship. Since he wanted to present the film uncompromisingly to the audiences, he and Charan approached the Central Tribunal at Delhi,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-spb-charan/20110301.htm |title='I have no problem with the 'A' certificate' |publisher=Rediff |date=1 March 2011 |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> that cleared the film. Dubbed as the first [[neo-noir]] film in Tamil cinema,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/aaranya-kaandam-review-tamil-14971928.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725114739/http://www.sify.com/movies/aaranya-kaandam-review-tamil-14971928.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 July 2014 |title=Movie Review : Aaranya Kaandam |website=[[Sify]] |date= |accessdate=2 August 2013}}</ref> ''Aaranya Kaandam'' opened to strong critical acclaim, winning the Grand Jury Award for Best Film at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival,<ref name="Award"/> and two prizes at the [[59th National Film Awards]], including the [[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director]] for Kumararaja.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|author=V Lakshmi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Aaranya-Kaandam-wins-best-movie-award/articleshow/6865839.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105154011/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-04/news-interviews/28270720_1_aaranya-kaandam-production-unit-film |url-status=live |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Aaranya Kaandam wins best movie award|date=4 November 2010 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, he was involved as a script consultant for the Tamil film ''[[Yennai Arindhaal]]'', which was co-written and directed by [[Gautham Vasudev Menon]].<ref name="YennaiArindhalCredit">{{cite news|author=Udhav Naig |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/gautham-menon-hires-script-consultants/article6844070.ece |title=Gautham Menon hires script consultants |newspaper=The Hindu |date=1 February 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2015}}</ref>

==Filmography==
*''Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.''
===As director===
{| class="wikitable"
|+As director
!Year !!Title !!Director !!Writer !!Producer !!Notes
|-
|2011
|''[[Aaranya Kaandam]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2019
|''[[Super Deluxe (film)|Super Deluxe]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2023
|''[[Modern Love Chennai]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{partial|Creative}}
|Web series; Episode 6 - "Ninaivo Oru Paravai"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hymavati |first1=Ravali |title=Modern Love Chennai: This Thiagarajan Kumararaja's Web Series Will Premier On Amazon Prime From This Date |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/modern-love-chennai-this-thiagarajan-kumararajas-web-series-will-premier-on-amazon-prime-from-this-date-796461 |website=www.thehansindia.com |access-date=17 May 2023 |language=en |date=8 May 2023}}</ref>
|-
|2026
|''Pocket Novel''
|{{yes}}
|{{No}}
|Yes
|
|}

=== As writer and lyricist ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Writer !! Lyricist!! Notes
|-
|2007
|''[[Oram Po]]''
| {{Partial|Dialogue}} || {{yes}} || for the "Oram Po Theme"
|-
|2010
|''[[Va (film)|Va]]''
| {{no}} || {{yes}} || for all songs except "Saudi Basha"
|-
|2015
|''[[X: Past Is Present]]''
| {{yes}} || {{no}} || for the segment "Summer Holiday"{{refn|While the anthology features segments made in Hindi and English, his segment was made in Tamil.|group=Note}}
|-
|2018
|''[[Seethakaathi]]''
| {{no}} || {{yes}} || for the song "Ayya"
|-
|}

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Film
!Award
!Category
!Result
!Ref
|-
|''Becky''
|60 Seconds to Fame
|One-minute film
|{{won|first prize}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 November 2008|title=From the States|url=http://www.disabilityindia.org/djstatesjuly05D.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120091626/http://www.disabilityindia.org/djstatesjuly05D.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2008|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=5|''[[Aaranya Kandam]]''
|[[59th National Film Awards]]
|[[Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director|Best Debut Film of a Director]]
|{{won}}
|<ref name="59thaward">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=80734|title=59th National Film Awards for the Year 2011 Announced|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=7 March 2012}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|[[6th Vijay Awards]]
|[[Vijay Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref name="Winners">{{cite web | url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/82978.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620195003/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/82978.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 June 2012 | title=6th Annual Vijay Awards | work=India Glitz | date=9 June 2012 | access-date=10 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2012/ajith-vikram-vijay-awards-096600.html|title = Vijay Awards 2012 winners|date = 18 June 2012|access-date = 1 March 2021|archive-date = 27 October 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121027095349/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/news/2012/ajith-vikram-vijay-awards-096600.html|url-status = live}}</ref>
|-
|[[Vijay Award for Best Story, Screenplay Writer|Best Story, Screenplay Writer]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards]]
|Best Screenplay Writer
|{{won}}
|
|-
|[[South Indian International Movie Awards]]
| [[SIIMA Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director – Tamil]]
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|rowspan=11|''[[Super Deluxe (film)|Super Deluxe]]''
|rowspan=2|[[Indian Film Festival of Melbourne]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/andhadhun-gully-boy-lead-nominations-at-indian-film-festival-of-melbourne-awards-2019-7011791.html|title=Andhadhun, Gully Boy lead nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards 2019|website=Firstpost|date=17 July 2019|access-date=6 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|Equality in Cinema (Honorary Award)
|{{won}}
|-
| [[9th AACTA Awards]]
| Best Asian Film
| {{nom}}
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aacta.org/connect/nominees-for-the-2019-aacta-award-for-best-asian-film-announced/|title=Nominees for the 2019 AACTA Award for Best Asian Film Announced|website=Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts|date=15 October 2019|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=1 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201050421/https://www.aacta.org/connect/nominees-for-the-2019-aacta-award-for-best-asian-film-announced/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|[[Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards]]
|Best Screenplay
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/regional-cinema/taapsee-pannu-shares-heartfelt-post-after-winning-best-actor-for-game-over-at-vikatan-awards-2019-578851|title=The prestigious awards of the South-- Vikatan Awards 2019|website=India TV|date=12 January 2020|access-date=15 January 2020}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Edison Awards (India)|Edison Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edisonawards.in/teaawards/more_1.php?page1=1|title=Edison Awards 2020 nominations|website=Edison Awards|access-date=6 January 2020|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231131528/http://edisonawards.in/teaawards/more_1.php?page1=1|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flickstatus.com/tamil/celebraties-at-edison-awards-2020.html|title=Edison Awards 2020 Winners|website=Flickstatus|date=14 January 2020|access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>
|-
|Best Screenplay
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=4|Critics Choice Film Awards
|Best Movie of the Year
|{{won}}
|rowspan=4|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmcriticscircle.com/journal/super-deluxe/|title=Review — Super Deluxe|website=Film Critics Circle|date=28 March 2020|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>
|-
|Best Film - Tamil
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director - Tamil
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Writing - Tamil
|{{won}}
|-
|[[South Indian International Movie Awards]]
|Best Director
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=3586222}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumararaja, Thiagarajan}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Film directors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Director whose film won the Best Debut Feature Film National Film Award]]

Thiagarajan Kumararaja - Revision history

Manpreet23: created a bio