S. P. Muthuraman: Difference between revisions

S. P. Muthuraman
S. P. Muthuraman
Born	7 April 1935 (age 91); Karaikudi, Pudukkottai State, British India,; (now in Tamil Nadu, India)
Occupation	Film Director,; Producer
Years active	1972–1995 (Movies) ; 1997 (TV Series)
Spouse(s)	Kamala (m. 1957; died 1992)
Children	3
Parent(s)	Rama Subbaiah ; Visalatchi
Relatives	Suba Veerapandian; (younger brother)

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 21:50, 8 March 2026

Subbiah Palaniappan Muthuraman, also referred to as SPM,^[2] is an Indian film director who works in the Tamil film industry. He has directed 72 films in Tamil. He was one of the most successful commercial directors in Tamil cinema.^[3] Initially he worked mainly with R. Muthuraman, Jaishankar, Sivaji Ganesan and went on to direct successful films with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.^[4]

S. P. Muthuraman debuted as an assistant director in the film Kalathur Kannamma (1960).^[5]^[6] He has received two South Filmfare Awards and a Best Director award from the Tamil Nadu State Government.

Since 1977, his association with Rajinikanth proved to be extremely successful, as they went on work together in 25 films. Muthuraman was mainly responsible for moulding Rajini's career and turning him into a commercial star.^[7] He was also the associate producer of the Rajinikanth starrer Sivaji.

Early life and family[edit | edit source]

Muthuraman was born on 7 April 1935 as the second of seven children in a family in Karaikudi. As per the norms in their region, Muthuraman's parents gave him another name - Rajaram Mohan - which became obsolete over time.^[8] His father Karaikudi Rama. Subbaiah was one of the forerunners of the Dravidian Movement and a member of the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Legislative Council during 1972-78. Muthuraman's youngest brother is the Dravidian ideologue Suba Veerapandian.^[9]

Career[edit | edit source]

After working as office boy to assistant editor for Thendral magazine owned by Kannadasan,^[10] Muthuraman initially dreamt of becoming a screenwriter and expressed his interest to join story department in AVM Productions but Meiyappan insisted him to join editing department to learn the craft of filmmaking thus he started his film career through AVM Productions as an assistant editor,^[11] then an assistant director to the duo Krishnan–Panju, eventually working with A. Bhimsingh, D. Yoganand, Puttanna Kanagal, M. Krishnan Nair and A. C. Tirulokchandar.^[12]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

He married Kamala in 1957.^[13] The couple have 3 children. His wife Kamala died on 15 October 1992 before the release of his 70th film, Pandiyan.^[14]

Other works[edit | edit source]

Muthuraman wrote a weekly column for The Hindu Tamil named Cinema Eduththu Paar; all articles were later published as a single book in paperback format.^[15]

Awards[edit | edit source]

Template:BLP unreferenced section

Filmfare Awards South

1977 – Best Director – Tamil for Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu
1978 – Best Director – Tamil for Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

1979 – Best Director for Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai
2012 – Lifetime Achievement Award – South
2018 - Lifetime Achievement Award - South^[16]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Muthuraman with Suba Veerapandian (left) in 2016.

As director[edit | edit source]

Year	Film	Notes
1972	Kanimuthu Paappa
1973	Petha Manam Pithu
1973	Kasi Yathirai
1973	Deiva Kuzhandhaigal
1974	Engamma Sapatham
1974	Anbu Thangai
1975	Yarukku Mappillai Yaro
1975	Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu
1975	Aan Pillai Singam
1976	Thunive Thunai
1976	Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham
1976	Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu	Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
1976	Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal
1976	Mogam Muppadhu Varusham
1977	Sonthamadi Nee Enakku
1977	Pennai Solli Kutramillai
1977	Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri	Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
1977	Aadu Puli Attam
1977	Aalukkoru Aasai
1978	Kaatrinile Varum Geetham
1978	Vattathukkul Chaduram	25th Film
1978	Sakka Podu Podu Raja
1978	Priya	Made simultaneously in Kannada as Priya
1979	Kavari Maan
1979	Kadavul Amaitha Medai
1979	Oru Koyil Iru Dheebangal
1979	Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai	Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
1979	Vetrikku Oruvan
1980	Rishi Moolam
1980	Murattu Kaalai
1981	Kazhugu
1981	Netrikkan
1981	Ranuva Veeran
1981	Kudumbam Oru Kadambam
1982	Pokkiri Raja
1982	Pudukavithai
1982	Enkeyo Ketta Kural
1982	Sakalakala Vallavan
1983	Paayum Puli
1983	Oru Kai Pappom
1983	Adutha Varisu
1983	Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey
1984	Naan Mahaan Alla
1984	Oorukku Upadesam
1984	Nallavanukku Nallavan
1984	Enakkul Oruvan
1985	Nalla Thambi
1985	Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye
1985	Uyarndha Ullam	50th Film
1985	Sri Raghavendrar
1985	Japanil Kalyanaraman
1986	Mr. Bharath
1986	Dharma Devathai
1987	Samsaram Oka Chadarangam	Telugu film
1987	Velaikaran
1987	Per Sollum Pillai
1987	Manithan
1988	Guru Sishyan
1988	Nallavan
1988	Dharmathin Thalaivan
1989	Raja Chinna Roja
1990	Guru Sishyulu	Telugu film
1990	Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
1990	Athisaya Piravi
1990	Thiyagu
1991	Thaiyalkaran
1991	Jeevana Chadarangam	Telugu film
1992	Kaaval Geetham
1992	Pandian	70th Movie
1995	Thottil Kuzhandhai	Last film

TV series[edit | edit source]

1997

Nimmadhi Ungal Choice

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Muthuraman 2017, p. 20.
↑ "Rajinikanth deserves all the love he gets: SP Muthuraman". The Indian Express. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
↑ "S P Muthuraman - Successive hits - Who gave the most in Tamil cinema?". www.behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
↑ Rangarajan, Malathi (3 December 2009). "Musings, the Muthuraman way". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
↑ Muthuraman, S. P. (13 May 2015). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 8- திரைக்கதை ஜாம்பவான் டி. பிரகாஷ் ராவ்!" [Try making a film, part 8 – The screenplay legend T. Prakash Rao!]. The Hindu (in தமிழ்). Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
↑ Jeshi, K. (18 March 2014). "Director's chair". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
↑ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Salute to the superstar -- A Rediff Special". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
↑ Bs_yILhtmrAC. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
↑ Dinamalar (11 July 2017). "எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் பேத்தி திருமண வரவேற்பு: திரையுலகினர் திரண்டு வாழ்த்து - SP Muthraman grand daughter wedding : Celebrities wished". தினமலர் - சினிமா. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
↑ Muthuraman 2017, p. 30.
↑ Muthuraman 2017, p. 38.
↑ "Tamil Cinema News – Kollywood News – Tamil Film News – Maalaimalar". cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
↑ Muthuraman 2017, p. 55.
↑ "மனைவி மறைந்த துயரத்தை அடக்கிக்கொண்டு 'பாண்டியன்' படத்தை முடித்து வெளியிட்டார், முத்துராமன்". Maalai Malar. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
↑ Cinema eduththu paar சினிமா எடுத்து பார். Tamil Hindu. January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
↑ "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Muthuraman, S. P. (2017) [2005]. AVM Thandha SPM (in Tamil) (3rd ed.). Vikatan.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

External links[edit | edit source]

S. P. Muthuraman on IMDb

[FOOTNOTEMuthuraman201720-1] Muthuraman 2017, p. 20.

[2] "Rajinikanth deserves all the love he gets: SP Muthuraman". The Indian Express. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.

[3] "S P Muthuraman - Successive hits - Who gave the most in Tamil cinema?". www.behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

[4] Rangarajan, Malathi (3 December 2009). "Musings, the Muthuraman way". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.

[tamilhindu-5] Muthuraman, S. P. (13 May 2015). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 8- திரைக்கதை ஜாம்பவான் டி. பிரகாஷ் ராவ்!" [Try making a film, part 8 – The screenplay legend T. Prakash Rao!]. The Hindu (in தமிழ்). Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2015.

[6] Jeshi, K. (18 March 2014). "Director's chair". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2014.

[7] "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Salute to the superstar -- A Rediff Special". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

[8] Bs_yILhtmrAC. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

[9] Dinamalar (11 July 2017). "எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் பேத்தி திருமண வரவேற்பு: திரையுலகினர் திரண்டு வாழ்த்து - SP Muthraman grand daughter wedding : Celebrities wished". தினமலர் - சினிமா. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

[FOOTNOTEMuthuraman201730-10] Muthuraman 2017, p. 30.

[FOOTNOTEMuthuraman201738-11] Muthuraman 2017, p. 38.

[12] "Tamil Cinema News – Kollywood News – Tamil Film News – Maalaimalar". cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

[FOOTNOTEMuthuraman201755-13] Muthuraman 2017, p. 55.

[14] "மனைவி மறைந்த துயரத்தை அடக்கிக்கொண்டு 'பாண்டியன்' படத்தை முடித்து வெளியிட்டார், முத்துராமன்". Maalai Malar. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

[15] Cinema eduththu paar சினிமா எடுத்து பார். Tamil Hindu. January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.

[16] "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

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v t e Films directed by S. P. Muthuraman
1970s	Kanimuthu Paappa (1973) Petha Manam Pithu (1973) Kasi Yathirai (1973) Anbu Thangai (1974) Deiva Kuzhandhaigal (1974) Engamma Sapatham (1974) Aan Pillai Singam (1975) Yarukku Maappillai Yaro (1975) Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu (1975) Mogam Muppadhu Varusham (1976) Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu (1976) Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham (1976) Thunive Thunai (1976) Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal (1976) Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri (1977) Aalukkoru Aasai (1977) Aadu Puli Attam (1977) Sondhamadi Nee Enakku (1977) Pennai Solli Kutramillai (1977) Vatathukkul Chadhuram (1978) Sakka Podu Podu Raja (1978) Kaatrinile Varum Geetham (1978) Priya (1978) Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai (1979) Kavari Maan (1979) Vetrikku Oruvan (1979) Kadavul Amaitha Medai (1979)
1980s	Rishi Moolam (1980) Murattu Kaalai (1980) Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981) Kazhugu (1981) Ranuva Veeran (1981) Netrikkan (1981) Pokkiri Raja (1982) Sakalakala Vallavan (1982) Puthukavithai (1982) Enkeyo Ketta Kural (1982) Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey (1983) Paayum Puli (1983) Adutha Varisu (1983) Oru Kai Pappom (1983) Naan Mahaan Alla (1984) Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984) Enakkul Oruvan (1984) Oorukku Upadesam (1984) Sri Raghavendrar (1985) Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye (1985) Uyarndha Ullam (1985) Nalla Thambi (1985) Japanil Kalyanaraman (1985) En Selvame (1986) Dharma Devathai (1986) Mr. Bharath (1986) Velaikaran (1987) Manithan (1987) Samsaram Oka Chadarangam (1987) (Telugu) Per Sollum Pillai (1987) Guru Sishyan (1988) Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988) Nallavan (1988) Raja Chinna Roja (1989)
1990s	Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga (1990) Guru Sishyulu (1990) (Telugu) Athisaya Piravi (1990) Thiyagu (1990) Jeevana Chadarangam (1991) (Telugu) Thaiyalkaran (1991) Kaaval Geetham (1992) Pandian (1992) Thottil Kuzhandhai (1995)

v t e Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director
1972–1990	P. Madhavan (1972) A. C. Tirulokchandar (1973) K. Balachander (1974) K. Balachander (1975) S. P. Muthuraman (1976) S. P. Muthuraman (1977) Bharathiraja (1978) Mahendran (1979) K. Balachander (1980) K. Balachander (1981) Balu Mahendra (1982) A. Jagannathan (1983) K. Balachander (1984) Fazil (1985) Mani Ratnam (1986) Bharathiraja (1987) Balu Mahendra (1988) K. Balachander (1989) Mani Ratnam (1990)
1991–2010	Mani Ratnam (1991) K. Balachander (1992) Shankar (1993) Shankar (1994) Mani Ratnam (1995) Agathiyan (1996) Cheran (1997) Cheran (1998) Bala (1999) Rajiv Menon (2000) Cheran (2001) Mani Ratnam (2002) Bala (2003) Cheran (2004) Shankar (2005) Vasanthabalan (2006) Ameer Sultan (2007) M. Sasikumar (2008) Priyadarshan (2009) Vasanthabalan (2010)
2011–present	Vetrimaaran (2011) Balaji Sakthivel (2012) Bala (2013) AR Murugadoss (2014) Mohan Raja (2015) Sudha Kongara (2016) Pushkar–Gayathri (2017)

v t e Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
1967–1980	C. N. Shanmugam (1967) Krishnan–Panju (1968) P. Neelakantan (1969) P. Madhavan (1970) Not awarded (1971) Not awarded (1972) Not awarded (1973) Not awarded (1974) Not awarded (1975) Not awarded (1976) Bharathiraja (1977) Durai (1978) S. P. Muthuraman (1979) K. Balachander (1980)
1981–2000	Bharathiraja (1981) Muktha Srinivasan (1982) Not awarded (1983) Not awarded (1984) Not awarded (1985) Not awarded (1986) Not awarded (1987) P. R. Devaraj (1988) K. Balachander (1989) Vikraman (1990) P. Vasu (1991) Mani Ratnam (1992) Shankar (1993) K. S. Ravikumar (1994) Vasanth (1995) Agathiyan (1996) Vikraman & Cheran (1997) R. Parthiepan (1998) Bala (1999) Vikraman (2000)
2001–present	Susi Ganesan (2001) Mani Ratnam (2002) Karu Pazhaniappan (2003) Cheran (2004) Shankar (2005) Thirumurugan (2006) Thangar Bachan (2007) Radha Mohan (2008) Vasanthabalan (2009) Prabhu Solomon (2010) A. L. Vijay (2011) Balaji Sakthivel (2012) Ram (2013) N. Ragavan (2014)