Samuthirakani
Introduction '''P. Samuthirakani''' (pronounced Samudrakhani, born 26 April 1973) is an Indian actor and director who works predominantly in Tamil films besides appearing in a number of Telugu and Malayalam films. He worked as an assistant to director K. Balachander, in ''Paarthale Paravasam''. He won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2016 for ''Visaranai''.
Early life Samuthirakani was born on 26 April 1973 in Seithur, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu. He did his B.Sc. in Mathematics from the Rajapalayam Rajus College and he also earned a Bachelor of Law from Ambedkar Law College. However, he aimed to become an actor. He has said that people used to tell him that he did not have the physical appearance or talent necessary to be an actor.
Career In 1997, he joined as an assistant director under Sundar K. Vijayan. He was then noticed by K. Balachander and was recruited as assistant director for Balachander's 100th film ''Paarthale Paravasam''. He also assisted Balachander in the mega-serial ''Anni'' telecasted by Jaya TV. Samuthirakani recalled that the work experience he gained under Balachander helped him in many ways while shooting ''Arasi'' and ''Selvi'', the mega-serial telecasted in Sun TV, which were massive hits among housewives.In the early 2000s, Samuthirakani began his career as a director. He notably launched a shelved film titled ''Uyir Nanbanukku'' starring Cheran, before making ''Unnai Charanadaindhen'' (2003) for S. P. B. Charan.However, it was the success of ''Naadodigal'' (2009) that established Samuthirakani as a director. Since then he has directed films such as ''Poraali'' (2011), ''Nimirndhu Nil'' (2014) and ''Appa'' (2016). All these films have been remade in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. He gained appreciation for his acting in ''Velaiilla Pattadhari'' (2014) as Dhanush's father and in ''Visaranai'' (2016) as a police inspector. He worked as an assistant director for K. Balachander in ''Parthale Paravasam'' (2001) and ''Poi'' (2006) and for Ameer in ''Paruthiveeran'' (2007).He also played an important role in Rajinikanth's film ''Kaala'' (2018).In 2020, he acted in Telugu film, ''Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo''. Samuthirakani's returned to directing with ''Naadodigal 2'', a film that takes up the topic of equality. In 2021, he played the main role in the Telugu film, ''Aakashavaani''. He also directed and acted in the fantasy comedy drama ''Vinodhaya Sitham''.
Filmography ===Acting roles===;Films+ List of Samuthirakani film acting credits Year Title Role Language Notes 2001  ''Parthale Paravasam''  A back-pain patient  Tamil  Uncredited role  2004  ''Neranja Manasu''  Villager  Tamil  Uncredited role  2006  ''Poi''  Kamban's friend (accompanies him in jail)  Tamil  Uncredited role  2008  ''Subramaniapuram''  Kanagu  Tamil  —Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil 2010  ''Shambo Shiva Shambo''  Car driver  Telugu  Cameo ''Shikkar''  Abdullah  Malayalam  ''Easan''  ACP Sangayya  Tamil  —Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male)2012  ''Masters''  Protestor  Malayalam  Cameo in the song "Suhruthu" ''Thiruvambadi Thamban'' Ramu  Malayalam  ''Saattai''  Dayalan  Tamil   ''Neerparavai''  Uduman Gani  Tamil  ''The Hitlist''  SP Anapazhakan Malayalam  Cameo 2013  ''D Company''  Chaukidar  Malayalam 2014  ''Ninaithathu Yaaro''  Himself  Tamil  Guest appearance ''Nimirndhu Nil''  A car driver  Tamil   ''Velaiyilla Pattathari''  Raghuvaran's father  Tamil  — ''Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil''  P. Krishna Pillai  Malayalam   ''Poovarasam Peepee''  Gani  Tamil  Guest appearance  ''Kaadu''  Nandha  Tamil 2015  ''Sandamarutham''  Inspector Thirumalai  Tamil  ''The Reporter''  Parthasarathy  Malayalam  ''Massu Engira Masilamani''  Radha Krishnan (RK)  Tamil  ''Buddhanin Sirippu''  Vettri  Tamil  ''Kaaval''  Inspector Chandrasekar  Tamil  ''Kamaraj''  Corporation officer  Tamil  ''Adhibar''  Raja  Tamil   ''Paayum Puli''  Selvaraj (Selvam)  Tamil   ''Strawberry''  Aathi  Tamil  ''Pasanga 2''  Father  Tamil  Guest appearance2016  ''Tharkappu''  Iraianbu  Tamil   ''Rajini Murugan'' "Ezhrai" Mookan  Tamil   ''Visaranai''  Inspector Muthuvel  Tamil  — —SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role ''Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum''  Kumar  Tamil   ''Vetrivel''  Vetrivel's friend  Tamil  Cameo ''Amma Kanakku''  Principal Ranganathan  Tamil   ''Appa'' Dhayalan  Tamil   ''Karinkunnam 6'S''  Saravanan  Malayalam  Cameo ''Oppam''  Vasudevan  Malayalam  —Asianet film award for best actor in a negative role —IIFA Utsavam for performance in a negative role Malayalam ''Achamindri''  Inspector Sathya  Tamil 25th film 2017  ''Thondan''  Maha Vishnu  Tamil   ''Kootathil Oruthan''  Sathyamurthy (Sathya)  Tamil  ''Velaiilla Pattadhari 2''  Raghuvaran's father  Tamil   2018  ''Nimir''  Vellaiyappan  Tamil  also dialogue writer ''Madura Veeran''  Rathnavelu  Tamil  ''Yemaali''  Inspector Aravindh  Tamil  ''Kaala'' Vaaliyappan  Tamil   ''Goli Soda 2'' Natesan Tamil   ''Maniyaar Kudumbam''  S.Nallavan  Tamil  Cameo ''60 Vayadu Maaniram''  Ranga  Tamil  ''Aan Devathai''  Elango  Tamil   ''Vada Chennai''  Gunaa Tamil  2019  ''Peranbu'' Dr. Dhanapal  Tamil  Cameo ''Pettikadai''  Physical trainer  Tamil  ''Kolanji'' Appasamy  Tamil  ''Jackpot''  Film Director  Tamil  Special appearance ''Kaappaan''  Joseph Selvaraj  Tamil  ''Namma Veettu Pillai''  Chandrabose  Tamil  ''Adutha Saattai''  Dayalan  Tamil  also producer ''Sillu Karupatti'' Dhanapal Tamil 2020  ''Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo'' Appala Naidu Telugu  —SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu ''Naadodigal 2''  Bus driver  Tamil  Special appearance; also voice-over ''Ettuthikkum Para''  Ambedkar Tamil   ''Walter''  Bala Tamil ''Naanga Romba Busy''  Himself  Tamil  Cameo; Released on Sun TV 2021  ''Krack''  Katari Krishna  Telugu  ''Pulikkuthi Pandi''  Karumbalai Pandi  Tamil Released on Sun TV  ''Sangathalaivan''  Sivalingam  Tamil 50th film ''Aelay''   Tamil Released on Star Vijay & Netflix ''Vellai Yaanai''  Vellai Kunju  Tamil  Released on Sun TV  ''Devadas Brothers''  The writer  Tamil  ''Thalaivi''  R. N. Veerappan  Tamil  ''Aakashavaani''  Chandram Master  Telugu  Released on SonyLIV ''Vinodhaya Sitham''  Time  Tamil Released on ZEE5 ''Udanpirappe''  Sargunam Vaathiyaar  Tamil Released on Amazon Prime Video ''MGR Magan'' Agnishwaran  Tamil  Released on Disney+ Hotstar ''Chithirai Sevvaanam''  Muthu Pandi Tamil Released on ZEE5 ''Writer'' Thangaraju Tamil75th film2022  ''Kombu Vatcha Singamda''  Eelam fighter  Tamil  Cameo ''Bheemla Nayak''  Jeevan Kumar  Telugu   ''Maaran''  Palani  Tamil  Released on Disney+ Hotstar ''RRR'' Venkateswarulu Telugu  ''Sarkaru Vaari Paata''  MP Rajendranath  Telugu   ''Don''  Ganesan  Tamil   ''Yaanai''  Ramachandran  Tamil   ''Macherla Niyojakavargam''  MLA Rajappa  Telugu   ''Dongalunnaru Jaagratha''  Chakravarthi  Telugu  ''Godfather'' ACP Indrajeet IPS Telugu   ''Panchathantram''  Ramanathan  Telugu 2023  ''Thunivu''  Commissioner Dayalan  Tamil   ''Naan Kadavul Illai''  Senthooran  Tamil  ''Thalaikoothal''  Pazhani  Tamil  ''Vaathi/Sir''  Thirupathi/Tripathi    ''Dasara''  Shivanna  Telugu  ''Nenu Student Sir''  Arjun Vasudevan  Telugu   ''Vimanam''  Veerayya  Telugu  partially reshot in Tamil ''Bro''  Shankaranna  Telugu  Cameo ''Are You Ok Baby?'' Balachandhran  Tamil 2024  ''Hanu-Man''  Vibhishana  Telugu  ''Siren''  DSP S. Nagalingam IPS  Tamil      Tamil  Filming     Telugu  Filming;Television+ List of Samuthirakani television credits as actor Year Serial Role Network Notes1998 ''Sila Nijangal Sila Nyayangal'' Reporter   2000  ''Kadavulukku Kobam Vanthathu''  Smoking guy in theatre DD PodhigaiTV series (Episode 1) 2001  ''Marmadesam Edhuvum Nadakkum''  A tribal man Raj TV  ''Ramany vs Ramany Part II''  Sales person, Census taker, bride groom  TV series (Episode 11, 31, 51) ''Guhan''  Rishi's assistant   ''Oru Kathavu Thirakirathu''  Veerappan (Manikkam/Santhapandian/Pazhaniappan)   2007  ''Arasi''  Undercover police officer (Chinna Thambi)   Sun TV  TV Series  2012  ''7C''  Star Vijay TV Series (Special Appearance) 2020   ''Chithi 2''Himself Sun TV  2021  ''Live Telecast''  Deva  Disney+ Hotstar  Web-series===Dubbing artist===+ List of Samuthirakani film credits as dubbing artist Year Film For actor2009''Pasanga'' Sivakumar 2011  ''Aadukalam''  Kishore 2012  ''Dhoni''  Murli Sharma 2014  ''Goli Soda''  Madhusudhan Rao 2016  ''Kathakali''  Madhusudhan Rao===As director===;Films+ List of Samuthirakani film credits as director Year Film Language Notes 2003  ''Unnai Charanadaindhen''  Tamil  —Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer2004  ''Neranja Manasu''  Tamil  ''Naalo''  Telugu  Remake of ''Unnai Charanadainthen'' 2009  ''Naadodigal''  Tamil  —Vijay Award for Favourite Director — 2010  ''Sambho Siva Sambho''  Telugu Remake of ''Naadodigal'' 2011  ''Poraali''  Tamil  —Vijay Award for Best Dialogue Writer 2012  ''Yaare Koogadali''  Kannada  Remake of ''Poraali'' 2014  ''Nimirndhu Nil''  Tamil  2015  ''Janda Pai Kapiraju''  Telugu  Remake of ''Nimirndhu Nil'' 2016  ''Appa''  Tamil  2017  ''Thondan''  Tamil  ''Aakashamittayee''  Malayalam  Remake of ''Appa'',Co-directed with M. Padmakumar 2020  ''Naadodigal 2''  Tamil  2021  ''Vinodhaya Sitham''  Tamil  2023  ''Bro''  Telugu  Remake of ''Vinodhaya Sitham'';Television+ List of Samuthirakani television credits as director Year Title Channel Notes 2001  ''Paasa Paasangugal'' Raj TV Part of K. Balachanderin Chinnathirai: Micro Thodargal Macro Sinthanaigal2001  ''Gunangalum Ranangalum''  ''Idho Boopalam''  ''Theadathey Tholainthu Povai''  ''Addi Ennadi Asattu Pennea''  ''Kodi Rubai Kealvi''  ''Ramani vs Ramani (Part 2) ''   Raj TV  As Sales person in few episodes  ''Anni''  Jaya TV  Directed along with K. Balachander 2004  ''Engirundho Vandhal''  Jaya TV  Directed along with K. Balachander and Ilakkiyan  2005  ''Idhu Oru Kadhal Kadhai''  STAR Vijay  ''Thangavettai'' Sun TV Game Show ''Selvi''  2007  ''Arasi''  ''Thenmozhiyal''  Kalaignar TV  Directed along with K. Balachander 2010  ''Alaipayuthey''  Jaya TV  Directed along with Raja===Singer===+ List of Samuthirakani film credits as singer Year Film Song Composer Notes 2010  ''Vamsam''  "Suvadu Suvadu"  Taj Noor  Sang along with M Sasikumar and Pandiraj 2011  ''Poraali''  "Vidiya Potri"  Sundar C Babu ===Narrator===*''Sundarapandian'' (2012)*''Serndhu Polama'' (2015)*''Anandham Vilayadum Veedu'' (2021)*''Eye of the Leopard'' (Tamil version) - National Geographic*''The Way Of The Cheetah'' (2021) Tamil version - National Geographic*''Roar of the Royals'' - Tamil version - National Geographic
References
External links * *  Opera king*  His still dreams to make it*  Instagram