Elred Kumar

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We need your support to keep the flame of knowledge burning bright! Our hosting server bill is due on June 1st, and without your help, Bharatpedia faces the risk of shutdown. We've come a long way together in exploring and celebrating our rich heritage. Now, let's unite to ensure Bharatpedia continues to be a beacon of knowledge for generations to come. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let's preserve and share the essence of Bharat.

Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family!
Please scan the QR code on the right to donate.

0%

   

transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter)



Elred Kumar
Born
India
OccupationFilm director, producer
Years active2010–present

Elred Kumar Santhanam is an Indian film producer he was born at Thangachi madam village (Rameswaram Island). He completed his post-graduation in engineering at Anna University(Guindy). He is a prominent businessman in Chennai, who has made Tamil films under his production house, RS Infotainment. He made his directorial debut with the 2012 romantic thriller Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal (2012).

Career[edit]

2009-2012: Breakthrough in the Tamil film industry[edit]

Elred Kumar was first announced as "a businessman passionate about the film industry" in an article by the Economic Times in 2009, and it was announced that he would collaborate with his business partner R. Jayaraman as a part of RS Infotainment to be the producers of Gautham Menon's Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) alongside VTV Ganesh and Escape Artists Motion Pictures' Madan.[1] The romantic coming-of-age story featured Silambarasan and Trisha Krishnan in the lead roles, while A. R. Rahman composed the film's score and soundtrack. Upon release, it achieved positive reviews, with several critics giving "modern classic" status, whilst also becoming a commercially successful venture.[2][3] His next venture, Ko (2011) directed by K. V. Anand and starring Jiiva, Karthika Nair and Piaa Bajpai, also opened to positive reviews.[4][5] The Hindu described the film as a "tale with a realistic twist" and praised the film's production values.[6][7] Elred Kumar was also involved in the co-production of the films Nadunisi Naaygal (2011) and Veppam (2011) alongside Jayaraman, Madan, Venkat and Gautham Menon.

Elred Kumar's scripted his next production Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal (2012), starring Adharvaa Murali and Amala Paul, with Ganesh Vinayak signed on as director. The film was to be shot across India and the US at a budget of 200 million.[8] However, in March 2011, the director was ousted and Elred took over responsibilities as director of the project.[9] The film opened to mixed reviews, with Kumar's performance as director being heavily scrutinised. A critic from IBN noted "Sadly, Kumar, while focusing on such things, seems to have lost the grip on the script, which lacks logic or coherence", concluding that "the director has got many things wrong".[10] In comparison, Sify.com noted that Elred "makes a confident debut with a film that maintains its suspense till the end."[11] The film fared averagely at the box office, and Elred contemplated releasing a second version of the film with a different screenplay. He took the film to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where it was screened twice in the various film screenings in the city during the festival.[12] His first Hindi film production, Ekk Deewana Tha (2012), a remake of his previous venture with Gautham Menon, also released on the same weekend as Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal. However the film opened to mixed reviews and took a lukewarm opening at the box office, resulting in financial failure.[13]

2012-present: Mixed success and litigation[edit]

He then went on to co-produce Menon's next Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012), another romantic drama film featuring Jiiva and Samantha. The film opened in December 2012 to good reviews but only fared averagely at the box office. In February 2013, Elred filed a legal case against Gautham Menon and Madan claiming that he had entered into an agreement to do a film starring Silambarasan with music by A. R. Rahman in November 2008, during the making of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. He noted that they had agreed again in February 2010 to make the film, but now with Allu Arjun in the lead role. However, Elred claimed that both Gautham and Madan had gone on to do other projects even though they had been paid an advance of 40 million. Madan swiftly denied any involvement citing he had split from the other co-producers after the success of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa.[14] Gautham Menon responded with an emotionally charged letter, revealing that Elred was harassing him and putting his career in trouble. He noted that Silambarasan was the main choice for Neethaane En Ponvasantham, and the film that Elred had alluded to was that particular venture. He went further in claiming that Elred had been undiplomatic in his conduct following the relative failure of the film, while the producer had also made derogatory remarks regarding the selection of Ilaiyaraaja in the project.[15] Elred replied by changing his argument – claiming that the four crores were used by Menon to buy a house after a proposed London schedule for the film was cancelled.[16] Gautham once again subsequently reacted to the media by clarifying the situation regarding the payment, his house and the choice of cast and crew of the film.[17]

Elred Kumar then produced Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014), a horror comedy directed by newcomer Deekay, with an ensemble cast featuring Kreshna, Karunakaran, Rupa Manjari, Oviya and Anaswara Kumar. The film opened to positive reviews and became a commercial success, prompting remakes in several other languages. The Hindu called the film "a surprisingly well-made 'horror-comedy' that succeeds in continuously exploiting our irrational fear of the unknown even while nudging us to laugh at it...this is a fun summer film and should work regardless of whether one believes in the supernatural or not".[18] Likewise Sify wrote, "Yaamirukka Bayamey is something different within the commercial format and provides potent dose of laughs to release the tension built up by the scares", and praised Elred's introduction of director Deekay.[19] However, Elred Kumar's next film, Yaan (2014) starring Jiiva and Thulasi Nair, which marked the debut of cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran as a director, became a large commercial failure at the box office.[20] The film, which was made on a lavish budget over a period of two years, was heavily criticised upon release. Baradwaj Rangan from The Hindu wrote, "Yaan, is a major disappointment", while The Times of India gave 2 out of 5 for the film and wrote, "despite all the colours on screen, this is such a dull, flavourless film, let down by the writing, which is preposterous and uninspiring".[21][22] After release, Elred Kumar heavily criticised Chandran and threatened to file legal action after it was reported that the film was plagiarised from Midnight Express (1978).[23]

He then planned to make multiple films in nominal budget and planned film with Bobby Simha in the lead, which was Ko 2, directed by Sarath Mandava. Veera and Deekay's second film, Kavalai Vendam, all three films got a decent opening with profit venture in the overall revenue. He’s now planned a Pan-Indian project with National Award-winning director Mr.Vetrimaaran, which is now in its pre-production stage.[24]

Filmography[edit]

As director[edit]

Year Film Notes
2012 Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal

As producer[edit]

Further information: RS Infotainment

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Article". articles.economictimes.indiatimes.
  2. ↑ Srinivasan, Pavithra (2010). "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa is a must watch". Rediff. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya review". Sify. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  4. ↑ "Ko Review – Ko Movie Review". Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Movie Review:Ko-Review". Sify.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Tale with a realistic twist". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 24 April 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Taking a new direction". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Str's Associate in Trouble - Str - Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal - Ganesh - Tamil Movie News - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  10. ↑ "News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News, Current News Headlines". News18. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "Review : (2012)". www.sify.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Manigandan, K. R. (22 March 2012). "Shot Cuts" – via www.thehindu.com.
  13. ↑ "Masand: 'Ekk Deewana Tha' is disappointing". CNN-IBN. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "Elred files case against Gautham Menon". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  15. ↑ "Gautham Menon pleads to free him from Elred Kumar's harassment - KOLLY TALK". 19 March 2013.
  16. ↑ "I have been cheated by Gautham: Elred Kumar". Archived from the original on 19 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "I`d rather be a street brawl than a dead punching bag: Gautham". Archived from the original on 19 March 2013.
  18. ↑ udhav naig. "Yaamirukka Bayamey: Busting ghosts". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Movie Review : Yaamirukka Bayamey". Sify.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Yaan gears up for US shoot". Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "Yaan". The Times of India. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.2/5 stars
  22. ↑ Baradwaj Rangan (3 October 2014) Yaan: All icing, no cake. The Hindu
  23. ↑ "Producers to file case on the director after plagiarism row - Times of India".
  24. ↑ https://www.msn.com/en-in/entertainment/other/dhanush-and-vetrimaaran-to-collaborate-again-confirms-producer-elred-kumar/ar-BB18JXzJ?li=BB12xMqr
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/index.php?title=Elred_Kumar&oldid=126997"