in the following years, which led to the lead cast growing in popularity. He next directed the comedy thriller film Saroja (2008), the title being derived from a hit number from Chennai 600028, which also featured an ensemble cast including Charan and Premgi. The film followed the journey of four young men who, by taking a diversion off the main road, land into the hands of a kidnapper gang; it received positive response from critics and at the box office as well. He followed it up with Goa (2010), a full-length comedy film, which received mixed response and did fairly well at the box office. In 2011, he directed his biggest project to date, the action thriller Mankatha, featuring Ajith Kumar in the lead role and was later a blockbuster. His next project, Biriyani (2013), starred Karthi and Hansika Motwani. After Venkat Prabhu directed Massu Engira Masilamani, with Suriya and Nayanthara in the lead role. He directed Chennai 600028 II, the sequel of the 2007 blockbuster Chennai 600028, and it was released on 9 December 2016 to positive reviews. Personal life Venkat Prabhu is the son of director-turned-music-director Gangai Amaran and elder brother to actor, singer and music director Premgi Amaran. His uncle is the music director Ilayaraaja and his cousins are the music composers Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja and singer Bhavatharini. S. P. B. Charan, producer of Prabhu's first directorial venture Chennai 600028, is his very close friend and they both have worked together on several projects. He did his schooling at St. Bede's school in Chennai. On 10 September 2001, Venkat Prabhu married Rajalakshmi, the daughter of dance teacher K. J. Sarasa, and now has a daughter named Shivani. Shivani has already sung a song for the album Thaaaii when she was 5 years old. Frequent collaborators Venkat Prabhu frequently works with the same actors and crew members, most prominently Premji, composer Yuvan and editor Praveen. Filmography As director and producer As an actor As singer As lyricist Productions Television Idho Boopalaam Kundakka Mandakka Thedathey Tholaindhu Povai Kollywood Kings References External links Male actors from Chennai Living people Male actors in Tamil cinema Tamil male actors Tamil film directors Alumni of Middlesex University 1975 births Tamil screenwriters Tamil playback singers Singers from Chennai Film directors from Chennai 21st-century Indian film directors Indian male playback singers 21st-century Indian singers 21st-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male singers