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{{Short description|Indian filmmaker, cinematographer and actor (1957–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Velu Prabakaran
| image = File:Velu Prabhakaran.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = 1956 or 1957
| birth_place = [[Chennai|Madras]], Madras State, India
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|18|1957|5|6|df=y}}
| death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| occupation = Film director, actor, cinematographer
| years_active = 1980–2025
| spouse = Shirley Das
}}

'''Velu Prabakaran''' (1956 or 1957 – 18 July 2025) was an Indian filmmaker, cinematographer, and actor. He was known for his themes highlighting atheism and revolutionary subjects in his films.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kumar|first=S.R.Ashok|title=Film runs into trouble with Censor Board|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/film-runs-into-trouble-with-censor-board/article1808710.ece|newspaper=The Hindu (india)|date=10 March 2007|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2025}}

==Career==
Prabakaran began as a cinematographer before making his directorial debut with the 1989 horror film ''[[Nalaya Manithan]]'', before also directing its sequel ''[[Adhisaya Manithan]]'' (1990). He then made two more consecutive action films under [[R. K. Selvamani]]'s production in ''[[Asuran (1995 film)|Asuran]]'' and ''[[Rajali]]'', both box office failures.<ref>{{cite web|title=reference|url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/97/Oct/a-z/atoz-3.htm|publisher=Indolink.com|access-date=4 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927193802/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Specials/97/Oct/a-z/atoz-3.htm|archive-date=27 September 2013|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He then worked on action films with lead characters often depicted as revolutionaries, making ''[[Kadavul]]'' (1997), ''[[Sivan (film)|Sivan]]'' (1999), and ''[[Puratchikkaaran]]'' (2000). In 2000, he began pre-production on a film titled ''Deepavali,'' and approached [[Kamal Haasan]] to play the lead role. However, the actor's rejection meant that the project was later shelved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/33Hot%20News%20Just%20for%20U3.htm |title=Nn |website=cinematoday2.itgo.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030214172201/http://cinematoday2.itgo.com/33Hot%20News%20Just%20for%20U3.htm |archive-date=14 February 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2025}}

Prabakaran began work on the production of a film titled ''Kadhal Arangam'' in 2004, writing the story, screenplay, and dialogue for the project.<ref>{{cite web|title=Making a mark|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/05/24/stories/2004052400730200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030182245/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/05/24/stories/2004052400730200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 October 2004|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2004-05-24|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> Starring newcomers Preethi Rangayani and Shirley Das, he revealed that the film would expose the falsehood of [[kama]] in society, though he later gave directorial credits of the film to his brother Velu Raja. The film also takes on the prevailing caste system and explores sexuality. Film censors were not willing to give it a certificate due to objectionable scenes and an ongoing battle with the censor board emerged in December 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=Velu Prabhakaran's clash with censors|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/11850.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227234223/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/11850.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2013|website=IndiaGlitz|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> In December 2006, Prabakaran held an emotional appeal at a press conference stating that the film touched upon issues of social concern and stressed the importance of sex education amongst youngsters. In 2009, he finally agreed to tone down the scenes and mute certain dialogues and to compromise with the censors on the film, and changed the title from ''Kadhal Arangam'' to ''Kadhal Kathai''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Velu Prabakaran's bold film gets censor nod!|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/velu-prabakaran's-bold-film-gets-censor-nod-news-tamil-kkfrMVegbaj.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830160003/https://www.sify.com/movies/velu-prabakaran%27s-bold-film-gets-censor-nod-news-tamil-kkfrMVegbaj.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2019|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> In the title credits of the film, Prabakaran included an extended scene which narrates his opinions and difficulties of the film's release. He noted that parts were autobiographical.<ref>{{cite web|title=Grill Mill|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/06/26/stories/2009062650351600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228214456/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/06/26/stories/2009062650351600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 December 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2009-06-26|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> The film opened to very negative reviews from critics, with one reviewer noting "the movie has apparently no script or whatever and is a string of events interspersed with sex scenes."<ref>{{cite web|title=KADHAL KADHAI MOVIE REVIEW|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/kadhal-kadhai.html|website=Behindwoods|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> Another critic noted "it's too boring to even qualify as a sex flick", describing the film as "unwatchable".<ref>{{cite web|title=Kadhal Kadhai — Perverse, uninteresting and badly made|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/review/11273.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625064201/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/review/11273.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 June 2009|website=IndiaGlitz|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>

In 2009, he signed on to direct a film titled ''Deva Dasi'' telling the tale of a 16th-century romance. During delays, he began another project titled ''Mugamoodi Koothu'' and then another titled ''Kalainganin Kadhal'',{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}} in which he would play the lead roles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Velu Prabakaran's 'Mugamoodi Koothu'|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/49896.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914054558/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/49896.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2009|website=IndiaGlitz|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> The projects failed to take off and Prabakaran kept away from the film industry for a number of years before releasing a teaser trailer to ''Oru Iyakkunarin Kadhal Diary'' in January 2017.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

==Personal life and death==
Prabhakaran was once married to actress and director [[P. Jayadevi]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}} In June 2017, Prabakaran announced his marriage to Shirley Das, who had acted in his film ''[[Kadhal Kadhai]]'' (2009).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/60-year-old-director-velu-prabhakaran-marries-actress-shirley-das-photos-tamil-director-regional-cinema-news/18307158|title=60-year-old director Velu Prabhakaran marries actress Shirley Das|date=4 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/tamil-director-velu-prabhakaran-marries-shirley-das-980878-2017-06-04|title=Tamil director Velu Prabhakaran marries his Kadhal Kadhai heroine Shirley Das|website=India Today |date=4 June 2017 }}</ref>

Prabhakaran died after a long illness on 18 July 2025, at the age of 68.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Features |first=C. E. |date=2025-07-18 |title=Tamil filmmaker-cinematographer Velu Prabhakaran passes away |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Jul/18/tamil-filmmaker-cinematographer-velu-prabhakaran-passes-away |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Velu Prabhakaran Passes Away at 68; A Legacy of Bold Cinema Ends |url=https://filmycharcha.com/regional/south/veteran-tamil-filmmaker-velu-prabhakaran-passes-away-at-68-a-legacy-of-bold-cinema-ends |website=Filmy Charcha |access-date=18 July 2025}}</ref>

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Year
! rowspan=2 | Title
! colspan=5 | Credited as
! rowspan=2 class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! width=65 | Director
! width=65 | Writer
! width=65 | Cinematographer
! width=65 | Actor
! width=65 | Role
|-
| 1980 || ''Ivargal Vithyasamanavargal'' || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1980 || ''Matravai Neril'' || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Nalaya Manithan]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1989 || ''Sariyana Jodi'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || ||
|-
| 1989 ||''[[Pick Pocket (1989 film)|Pick Pocket]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Adhisaya Manithan]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || || || ||
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Uruvam]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1993 ||''[[Uthama Raasa]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Puthiya Aatchi]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamizhmani ||
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Asuran (1995 film)|Asuran]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1996 || ''[[Rajali]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Kadavul]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Rajapandi || [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer]]
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Sivan (film)|Sivan]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Puratchikkaaran]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Tamizhmani ||
|-
|2003 || ''[[Vikadan]]'' || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || ||
|-
| 2007 ||''[[Naalaiya Pozhuthum Unnodu]]''|| || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || ||
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Kadhal Kadhai]]'' || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Himself ||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Pathinaaru]]'' || || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Oru Iyakkunarin Kadhal Diary]]''|| style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || ||
|-
| 2019 ||''[[Gangs of Madras]]'' || || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || ||
|-
| 2021 ||''[[Jango (2021 film)|Jango]]'' || || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || ||
|-
| 2021 ||''[[Anti Indian]]'' || || || || style="text-align:center;"|{{y}} || Hajiyar ||
|-
| 2022 ||''[[Cadaver (2022 film)|Cadaver]]'' || || || ||style="text-align:center;"|{{y}}|| ||
|-
| 2023 ||''[[Pizza 3: The Mummy]]'' || || || ||style="text-align:center;"|{{y}}|| ||
|-
| 2023 ||''[[Raid (2023 film)|Raid]]'' || || || ||style="text-align:center;"|{{y}}|| ||
|-
| 2024 ||''[[Weapon (film)|Weapon]]'' || || || ||style="text-align:center;"|{{y}}|| Omkar ||
|-
| 2024 ||''Appu VI STD'' || || || ||style="text-align:center;"|{{y}}|| ||
|-
| 2025 ||''[[Gajaana]]'' || || || ||style="text-align:center;"|{{y}}|| ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0694883}}

{{Velu Prabhakaran}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prabhakaran, Velu}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Tamil male actors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil cinematographers]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Periyarists]]

Velu Prabhakaran - Revision history

Vishal Meena Phagi: Created Stub