Lokesh Kanagaraj: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Indian filmmaker}}
{{Short description|Indian filmmaker and screenwriter}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Lokesh Kanagaraj
| name              = Lokesh Kanagaraj
| image              = Lokesh Kanagaraj at The ‘Zee Cine Awards’.jpg
| image              = Lokesh Kanagaraj at The ‘Zee Cine Awards’.jpg
| alt                = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| alt                =  
| caption            = Lokesh at [[Zee Cine Awards]] [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] in 2020
| caption            = Lokesh in 2020
| birth_name         = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1986|03|14}}<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Kanagaraj In Conversation With Ramya Subramanian |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFX5JdLgO68&t=2178s |time=36:18 |language=ta |access-date=25 May 2022 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
| birth_date        = <!--Birthdate must be attributed to a reliable published source with an established reputation for fact-checking. No blogs. No IMDb. No public records. See WP:BLPPRIVACY-->
| birth_place        = [[Kinathukadavu]], [[Coimbatore District|Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| birth_place        = [[Kinathukadavu]], [[Coimbatore District|Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://silverscreen.in/features/interview-lokesh-kanagaraj-kathi-karthi-narain-vijay-bigil-deepavali-release/|title=Lokesh Kanagaraj Interview: Kaithi Is About A Father's Love And That Rare Bond Between Strangers|date=22 October 2019}}</ref>
| alma_mater        = [[PSG College of Arts and Science]]
| death_date        = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) -->
| death_place        =
| alma_mater        = Vivek Vidylaya Matric Higher Secondary School <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/a-celebration-of-cinema-and-filmmaking/articleshow/57716953.cms|title=A celebration of cinema and filmmaking - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
| nationality        = Indian
| occupation        = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter}}
| years_active      = 2015{{endash}}present
| years_active      = 2015{{endash}}present
| known_for          = ''[[Maanagaram]]''<br>'' [[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]''<br>''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]''
| known_for          = ''[[Lokesh Cinematic Universe]] (2019 - present)
| notable_works      =
}}
}}
'''Lokesh Kanagaraj ''' is an [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[film director]] who works primarily in the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] [[film industry]] who started his film career with the 2016 [[anthology film]] called ''[[Aviyal (film)|Aviyal]]''.
'''Lokesh Kanagaraj''' ({{IPAc-en|l|oʊ|k|eɪ|ʃ|_|k|ʌ|n|ʌ|ɡ|ʌr|ɑː|dʒ}}) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in [[Tamil films]]. He started his career with a short film in the 2016 anthology ''[[Aviyal (2016 film)|Aviyal]].'' He later directed his first feature film ''[[Maanagaram]]'' (2017). He also created the [[Lokesh Cinematic Universe]] franchise with his films [[Kaithi (2019 film)|''Kaithi'']] (2019) and [[Vikram (2022 film)|''Vikram'']] (2022). His upcoming film, [[Leo (2023 Indian film)|''Leo'']] (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-31 |title=Vijay and Lokesh Kanagaraj's film Thalapathy 67 officially announced |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vijay-and-lokesh-kanagaraj-s-film-thalapathy-67-officially-announced-172676 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> marks his second collaboration with [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] after [[Master (2021 film)|''Master'']] (2021).<ref>{{Cite web |title=MASTER |url=https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/master-11 |website=[[Australian Classification Board]] |quote=Master is an action film from India about a professor, JD, who is sent to teach at a juvenile reform school for three months.}}</ref>


==Early life==
== Early life ==
He was born in [[Kinathukadavu]], [[Coimbatore]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. He majored in fashion technology before pursuing his MBA.<ref>{{Cite web|title='தளபதி-64' பத்தி இப்போ கேட்காதீங்க - Lokesh Kanagaraj {{!}} Kaithi {{!}} Thalapathy 64 {{!}} Open Pannaa - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDVH8KFEU4&ab_channel=OpenPannaa|access-date=2021-01-27|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> He was an ex bank employee. He pursued his passion which is towards film making by participating in a corporate short film competition. The judge of the competition was director [[Karthik Subbaraj|Karthick Subbaraj]]. He then encouraged Lokesh to continue making films.<ref>{{Cite web|title=முதல் படத்திலேயே முத்திரை பதித்த இளம் இயக்குநர்களுடன் ஒரு உரையாடல் {{!}} சினிமா18 {{!}} News 18 Tamilnadu - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PldzJwTfcyY|access-date=2021-01-25|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
Lokesh Kanagaraj was born in [[Kinathukadavu]], [[Coimbatore district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], India.<ref>{{Cite interview |last1=Kanagaraj |first1=Lokesh |interviewer=Subha J Rao |url=https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/features/interview-lokesh-kanagaraj-kaithi-karthi-narain-vijay-bigil-deepavali-release/ |title=Lokesh Kanagaraj Interview: Kaithi Is About A Father's Love And That Rare Bond Between Strangers |work=Silverscreen India |date=22 October 2019 |access-date=6 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In [[PSG College of Arts and Science]], he majored in Fashion Technology before pursuing an [[MBA]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/a-celebration-of-cinema-and-filmmaking/articleshow/57716953.cms |title=A celebration of cinema and filmmaking |last1=Sangeetha |first1=P |date=19 March 2019 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> He did his schooling in Palanayiammal Matric Hr. Sec. School Kalliyapuram, Pollachi.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title='தளபதி-64' பத்தி இப்போ கேட்காதீங்க - Lokesh Kanagaraj {{!}} Kaithi {{!}} Thalapathy 64 |language=ta |trans-title=Don't ask about 'Thalapathy-64' now: Lokesh Kanagaraj {{!}} Kaithi {{!}} Thalapathy 64 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDVH8KFEU4 |access-date=27 January 2021 |work=Open Pannaa |via=[[YouTube]] |time={{time needed|date=June 2022}}}}</ref> He is an ex-bank employee. He pursued his passion towards film making by participating in a corporate short film competition. The judge of the competition was [[Karthik Subbaraj]]. Impressed with his short film, he encouraged Lokesh to pursue a directorial career making films.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=முதல் படத்திலேயே முத்திரை பதித்த இளம் இயக்குநர்களுடன் ஒரு உரையாடல் {{!}} சினிமா18 |language=ta |trans-title=A conversation with young directors who made their mark with their first film {{!}} Cinema18 |work=News 18 Tamil Nadu |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PldzJwTfcyY |time={{time needed|date=November 2022}}|access-date=25 January 2021|via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>


==Career==
== Career ==
In 2016, his [[short film]] ''Kaalam'' was included in the [[anthology film]] ''[[Aviyal (film)|Aviyal]]'' produced by [[Karthik Subbaraj|Karthick Subbaraj]].<ref name=FootnoteD>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maanagaram-director-lokesh-kanagaraj/article17433550.ece |title=The lives of others |last=Anantharam |first=Chitra Deepa |date=9 March 2017 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref> In 2017, he made his directorial feature debut with the action-thriller ''[[Maanagaram]]'' starring [[Sundeep Kishan]], [[Sri (actor)|Sri]], [[Regina Cassandra]], [[Madhusudhan Rao (actor)|Madhusudhan Rao]], and [[Charle]] in the lead roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/maanagaram-opens-big-on-march-10-imagegallery-kollywood-qixjC9fhdebbh.html|title=Maanagaram- Opens big on March 10|website=[[Sify.com]]}}</ref> In late 2018, he began working on a film for [[Dream Warrior Pictures]], the same production company behind ''[[Maanagaram]]''.<ref name=FootnoteA>{{cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/no-heroine-karthis-next-lokesh-kanagaraj-93429 |title=No heroine in Karthi's next with Lokesh Kanagaraj |date=15 December 2018 |publisher=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref> With [[Karthi]] in the lead role, the action-thriller was titled ''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]''.<ref name=FootnoteH>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kaithi-will-showcase-karthis-potential-as-a-versatile-actor-lokesh-kanagaraj/articleshow/68356094.cms |title=Kaithi will showcase Karthi's potential as a versatile actor: Lokesh Kanagaraj |date=11 March 2019 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref>
In 2016, his [[short film]], ''Kalam'', was included in the [[anthology film]], ''[[Aviyal (2016 film)|Aviyal]]'', produced by [[Karthik Subbaraj]].<ref name=FootnoteD>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/maanagaram-director-lokesh-kanagaraj/article17433550.ece |title=The lives of others |last=Anantharam |first=Chitra Deepa |date=9 March 2017 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref> In 2017, he made his directorial feature debut with the hyperlink film, ''[[Maanagaram]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/maanagaram-opens-big-on-march-10-imagegallery-kollywood-qixjC9fhdebbh.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307023115/http://www.sify.com/movies/maanagaram-opens-big-on-march-10-imagegallery-kollywood-qixjC9fhdebbh.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2017 |title=Maanagaram- Opens big on March 10 |website=[[Sify]] |language=en}}</ref> In late 2018, he began working on a film for [[Dream Warrior Pictures]], the same production company behind ''[[Maanagaram]]''.<ref name=FootnoteA>{{cite news |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/no-heroine-karthis-next-lokesh-kanagaraj-93429 |title=No heroine in Karthi's next with Lokesh Kanagaraj |date=15 December 2018 |publisher=[[The News Minute]] |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref> With [[Karthi]] in the lead role, the action-thriller was titled ''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]''.<ref name=FootnoteH>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/kaithi-will-showcase-karthis-potential-as-a-versatile-actor-lokesh-kanagaraj/articleshow/68356094.cms |title=Kaithi will showcase Karthi's potential as a versatile actor: Lokesh Kanagaraj |date=11 March 2019 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref>


He completed an [[action-thriller film]] ''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]'' which has [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] and [[Vijay Sethupathi]] in the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/team-thalapathy-64-off-to-delhi-second-schedule-shoot-begins-6098388/ |title=Team Thalapathy 64 arrives in Delhi; second schedule begins |date=November 2019 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>
His next after ''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]'' was the action-drama film, ''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]'', starring [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] and [[Vijay Sethupathi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/team-thalapathy-64-off-to-delhi-second-schedule-shoot-begins-6098388/ |title=Team Thalapathy 64 arrives in Delhi; second schedule begins |date=1 November 2019 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref>
Which was released on 13 January 2021, a day before the [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal festival]]. It received positive reviews. It ran successfully in theatres.
It was released on 13 January 2021, a day before the [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal festival]]. It opened to mostly positive reviews and emerged as a commercial success. ''Master'' was the [[List of Indian films of 2021|highest grossing Indian film of 2021]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/2021-top-grossers-tamil-nadu-thalapathy-vijays-master-tops-986378 |title=2021 Top grossers in Tamil Nadu – Thalapathy Vijay's Master tops |website=[[Pinkvilla]] |date=6 January 2022 |language=en |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/year-ender-2021-master-to-annaatthe-highest-grossing-tamil-movies-of-2021-4604261.html |title=Year Ender 2021: Master to Annaatthe, Highest-grossing Tamil Movies of 2021 |date=29 December 2021 |language=en |website=[[News18 India|News18]] |access-date=6 November 2022}}</ref>


In 2020, he announced his next directorial venture produced by and starring [[Kamal Haasan]], Vijay Sethupathi, and [[Fahadh Faasil]]. The title of the film was revealed in a teaser as ''[[Vikram (2021 film)|Vikram]]'' on 7 November 2020.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Kanagaraj |first=Lokesh |author-link=Lokesh Kanagaraj |user=Dir_Lokesh |number=1325037900405248000 |date=7 November 2020 |title=Dear Guru..This is our humble gift to you sir.. Wishing you a very happy birthday. Please do keep inspiring us always sir @ikamalhaasan 🙏 https://t.co/z8mEbtgldU #ஆரம்பிக்கலாங்களா #என்வீரமேவாகையேசூடும் #vikram #HBDKamalHaasan |language=en |access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref>
He then directed ''[[Vikram (2022 film)|Vikram]]'' (2022), starring [[Kamal Haasan]], [[Vijay Sethupathi]], and [[Fahadh Faasil]]. Following the huge success of the film, he is actively creating the [[Lokesh Cinematic Universe]], on the basis of carrying the story forward from ''Kaithi'' and ''Vikram''. His next directorial after ''Vikram'' will be [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay's]] 67th film, ''[[Leo (2023 Indian film)|Leo]]'' and it will be the continuation of the Universe.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}} ''Leo'' will also have an English dubbed theatrical release first time for both Lokesh and Vijay as confirmed by the production team.  


==Filmography==
In 2023, Lokesh announced his plans to quit directing after completing at least 10 films.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-20 |title=Leo director Lokesh Kanagaraj says he has no plans to stay in film industry for long: ‘I will do 10 movies and quit’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/leo-director-lokesh-kanagaraj-plans-film-industry-movies-quit-8674334/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
===Director===


{|class="wikitable sortable"
== Filmography ==
{{Pending films key}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
|-
!Year !! Film !! Director !! Writer !! Notes !! Reference
! Year
! Title
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
! class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
|-
|2016
|2016
|[[Aviyal (film)|''Aviyal'']]|| {{ya}} ||{{ya}} ||Segment - ''Kalam'' ||
|''[[Aviyal (2016 film)|Aviyal]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|Anthology film; Segment: ''Kalam''
|
|-
|-
|2017
| 2017
|''[[Maanagaram]]'' || {{ya}} ||{{ya}} || ||
| ''[[Maanagaram]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|  
|
|-
|-
|2019
|2018
|''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]'' ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}} || ||
|''[[Vella Raja]]''
<ref>{{cite news|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/has-this-hollywood-movie-inspired-kaithi/articleshow/71805236.cms | title=Has this Hollywood movie inspired Kaithi? | date=29 October 2019 | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=17 August 2020 }}</ref>
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|Amazon Prime Web Series
|
|-
|-
|2021
| 2019
|''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]'' ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}} || ||
| ''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|  
|
|-
|-
|2022
| 2021
|''[[Vikram (upcoming film)|Vikram]]'' ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}} ||Filming ||<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kollyinsider.com/2020/09/lokesh-kanagarajs-next-kamal-haasan.html | title=Lokesh Kanagaraj's next with Kamal Haasan officially announced  | date=16 September 2020 | website=kollyinsider.com }}</ref>
| ''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]''
|-
| {{yes}}
| 2023
| {{yes}}
|''[[Vijay (actor)|Thalapathy 67]]'' || {{ ya}} ||{{ya}} ||Pre Production ||<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/vijay-and-lokesh-to-join-hands-for-thalapathy-67-news-tamil-vkldUmjbgdaed.html | title=Vijay and Lokesh to join hands for Thalapathy 67 | date=11 October 2021 | website=sify.com}}</ref>
| [[Cameo appearance]] as a prisoner.  
|
|-
|-
|{{TBA}}
| 2022
|''[[Suriya|Irumbu Kai Mayavi]]'' || {{ya}} || {{ya}} ||Pre Production || <ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/suriya-and-lokesh-kanagaraj-will-come-together-for-rain-on-films-first-production/articleshow/85678889.cms| title=Suriya and Lokesh Kanagaraj will come together for Rain On Films' first production| date=27 August 2021| website=Times of India}}</ref>
| ''[[Vikram (2022 film)|Vikram]]''
|}
| {{yes}}
 
| {{yes}}
=== Actor ===
|  
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Year
| rowspan="2" |2023
! scope="col" | Title
|''[[Michael (2023 film)|Michael]]''
! scope="col" | Role
| {{no}}
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
| {{no}}
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
| Presenter for the Tamil version
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi's film Michael gets a release date in February; Check out new poster |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/sundeep-kishan-vijay-sethupathis-film-michael-gets-a-release-date-in-february-check-out-new-poster-1205405 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=[[Pinkvilla]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=2023-01-23 |title=Interview: Sundeep Kishan says the gangster drama movie 'Michael' has changed him as an actor and a person |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-sundeep-kishan-on-his-new-movie-michael-which-will-release-in-multiple-languages/article66416524.ece |access-date=2023-01-23}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 2021
|{{pending film|[[Leo (2023 Indian film)|Leo]]}}
| ''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]''
| {{yes}}
| Prisoner
| {{yes}}
| Cameo
|Post-Production
|
|
|}
|}


== Television ==
== Accolades ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|'''Ceremony'''
|'''Award Name'''
|'''Movie'''
|'''Status'''
|-
|-
! scope="col" |Year
|[[10th Vijay Awards]] || Best Debut Director ||''[[Maanagaram]]''|| {{won}}
! scope="col" |Title
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Tooltip|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
|-
| 2018
|[[Zee Cine Awards Tamil]]||Favourite Director ||''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]''||{{won}}
|''[[Vella Raja]]''
| Co-Writer
|
|-
|-
|}
|Behindwoods Gold Medals||Best Story & Screenplay||''[[Kaithi (2019 film)|Kaithi]]''||{{won}}
 
== Accolades ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
!Film !!Award !!Category !!Result
|[[South Indian International Movie Awards]]||Best Director||''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]''||{{won}}
!class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|''[[Maanagaram]]'' || rowspan="2"|[[10th Vijay Awards]] || Best Debut Director || {{won}} ||rowspan=2|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/vijay-awards-2018-nayanthara-vijay-sethupathi-win-best-actor-award-dhanush-and-anirudh-perform-together-see-pics/story-QsajbLa5X2dkIoywp6vxlL.html|title=Vijay awards 2018: Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi win best actor award, Dhanush and Anirudh perform together. See pics|date=4 June 2018|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
|Behindwoods Gold Medals 2022||Talent of the Decade - Tamil||''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]''||{{won}}
|-
|-
| [[Vijay Award for Best Story, Screenplay Writer|Best Screenplay]] || {{nom}}  
|The Galatta Crown 2022||Favourite Director (2020 - 2021)||''[[Master (2021 film)|Master]]''||{{won}}
|-
|-
| [[Kaithi (2019 film)|''Kaithi'']] ||[[Zee Cine Awards|Zee Tamil Cine Awards]] || Favourite Director || {{won}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/zee-cine-awards-tamil-2020-winners-list-ajith-kamal-haasan-dhanush-won-these-honours-811280|title=Zee Cine Awards Tamil 2020 winners list: Ajith, Kamal Haasan, Dhanush won these honours|website=International Business Times|date=2020-01-05|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref>
|Behindwoods Gold Icons||The Blockbuster Directer of the Year||''[[Vikram (2022 film)|Vikram]]''||{{won}}
|-
|-
|Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards 2022||Best Entertainer || ''[[Vikram (2022 film)|Vikram]]''||{{won}}
|}
|}


== References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}
 
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|nm7992231}}
 
{{Lokesh Kanagaraj}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanagaraj, Lokesh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanagaraj, Lokesh}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
{{india-film-director-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:23, 17 August 2023


Lokesh Kanagaraj
Lokesh in 2020
Born (1986-03-14) 14 March 1986 (age 40)[1]
Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma materPSG College of Arts and Science
Occupation
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
Years active2015–present
Known forLokesh Cinematic Universe (2019 - present)

Lokesh Kanagaraj (/loʊkeɪʃ kʌnʌɡʌrɑːdʒ/) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Tamil films. He started his career with a short film in the 2016 anthology Aviyal. He later directed his first feature film Maanagaram (2017). He also created the Lokesh Cinematic Universe franchise with his films Kaithi (2019) and Vikram (2022). His upcoming film, Leo (2023)[2] marks his second collaboration with Vijay after Master (2021).[3]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Lokesh Kanagaraj was born in Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India.[4] In PSG College of Arts and Science, he majored in Fashion Technology before pursuing an MBA.[5] He did his schooling in Palanayiammal Matric Hr. Sec. School Kalliyapuram, Pollachi.[6] He is an ex-bank employee. He pursued his passion towards film making by participating in a corporate short film competition. The judge of the competition was Karthik Subbaraj. Impressed with his short film, he encouraged Lokesh to pursue a directorial career making films.[7]

Career[edit | edit source]

In 2016, his short film, Kalam, was included in the anthology film, Aviyal, produced by Karthik Subbaraj.[8] In 2017, he made his directorial feature debut with the hyperlink film, Maanagaram.[9] In late 2018, he began working on a film for Dream Warrior Pictures, the same production company behind Maanagaram.[10] With Karthi in the lead role, the action-thriller was titled Kaithi.[11]

His next after Kaithi was the action-drama film, Master, starring Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi.[12] It was released on 13 January 2021, a day before the Pongal festival. It opened to mostly positive reviews and emerged as a commercial success. Master was the highest grossing Indian film of 2021.[13][14]

He then directed Vikram (2022), starring Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahadh Faasil. Following the huge success of the film, he is actively creating the Lokesh Cinematic Universe, on the basis of carrying the story forward from Kaithi and Vikram. His next directorial after Vikram will be Vijay's 67th film, Leo and it will be the continuation of the Universe.[citation needed] Leo will also have an English dubbed theatrical release first time for both Lokesh and Vijay as confirmed by the production team.

In 2023, Lokesh announced his plans to quit directing after completing at least 10 films.[15]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Director Writer Notes Ref.
2016 Aviyal Yes Yes Anthology film; Segment: Kalam
2017 Maanagaram Yes Yes
2018 Vella Raja No Yes Amazon Prime Web Series
2019 Kaithi Yes Yes
2021 Master Yes Yes Cameo appearance as a prisoner.
2022 Vikram Yes Yes
2023 Michael No No Presenter for the Tamil version [16][17]
Leo Not yet released Yes Yes Post-Production

Accolades[edit | edit source]

Ceremony Award Name Movie Status
10th Vijay Awards Best Debut Director Maanagaram Won
Zee Cine Awards Tamil Favourite Director Kaithi Won
Behindwoods Gold Medals Best Story & Screenplay Kaithi Won
South Indian International Movie Awards Best Director Master Won
Behindwoods Gold Medals 2022 Talent of the Decade - Tamil Master Won
The Galatta Crown 2022 Favourite Director (2020 - 2021) Master Won
Behindwoods Gold Icons The Blockbuster Directer of the Year Vikram Won
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards 2022 Best Entertainer Vikram Won

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Kanagaraj In Conversation With Ramya Subramanian (in தமிழ்). Event occurs at 36:18. Retrieved 25 May 2022 – via YouTube.
  2. ↑ "Vijay and Lokesh Kanagaraj's film Thalapathy 67 officially announced". The News Minute. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "MASTER". Australian Classification Board. Master is an action film from India about a professor, JD, who is sent to teach at a juvenile reform school for three months.
  4. ↑ Kanagaraj, Lokesh (22 October 2019). "Lokesh Kanagaraj Interview: Kaithi Is About A Father's Love And That Rare Bond Between Strangers". Silverscreen India (Interview). Interviewed by Subha J Rao. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Sangeetha, P (19 March 2019). "A celebration of cinema and filmmaking". The Times of India.
  6. ↑ 'தளபதி-64' பத்தி இப்போ கேட்காதீங்க - Lokesh Kanagaraj | Kaithi | Thalapathy 64 [Don't ask about 'Thalapathy-64' now: Lokesh Kanagaraj | Kaithi | Thalapathy 64]. Open Pannaa (in தமிழ்). Event occurs at [time needed]. Retrieved 27 January 2021 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ முதல் படத்திலேயே முத்திரை பதித்த இளம் இயக்குநர்களுடன் ஒரு உரையாடல் | சினிமா18 [A conversation with young directors who made their mark with their first film | Cinema18]. News 18 Tamil Nadu (in தமிழ்). Event occurs at [time needed]. Retrieved 25 January 2021 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ Anantharam, Chitra Deepa (9 March 2017). "The lives of others". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Maanagaram- Opens big on March 10". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "No heroine in Karthi's next with Lokesh Kanagaraj". The News Minute. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  11. ↑ "Kaithi will showcase Karthi's potential as a versatile actor: Lokesh Kanagaraj". The Times of India. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "Team Thalapathy 64 arrives in Delhi; second schedule begins". The Indian Express. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "2021 Top grossers in Tamil Nadu – Thalapathy Vijay's Master tops". Pinkvilla. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  14. ↑ "Year Ender 2021: Master to Annaatthe, Highest-grossing Tamil Movies of 2021". News18. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Leo director Lokesh Kanagaraj says he has no plans to stay in film industry for long: 'I will do 10 movies and quit'". The Indian Express. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Sundeep Kishan, Vijay Sethupathi's film Michael gets a release date in February; Check out new poster". Pinkvilla. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  17. ↑ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (23 January 2023). "Interview: Sundeep Kishan says the gangster drama movie 'Michael' has changed him as an actor and a person". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 January 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]

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