M. Muthaiya

 M. Muthaiyan  is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Tamil cinema. He is known for directing Village based action films.

Career
Muthaiya moved to Chennai from Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar to make movies and debuted with the rural drama Kutti Puli (2013) starring Sasikumar. The film did not receive favorable reviews from the media but went on to perform well at the box office.

Muthaiya moved on to make Komban (2015), a story set in the Ramanathapuram district starring Karthi, Lakshmi Menon, and Rajkiran. The film is about an aggressive man (Karthi) and his relationship with his father-in-law (Rajkiran). Muthaiya, inspired by the egotistical tussles between his father and his grandmother, scripted the story straight from his own experiences. The release of Komban was mired by controversy when protesters claimed that the story revolved around the animosity between different Thevar caste groups and that it therefore had the potential to incite violence in southern districts of Tamil Nadu. After a brief legal battle, the film opened to positive reviews and did well commercially.

Following the success of Komban, Muthaiya made Marudhu (2016), featuring Vishal and Sridivya in the lead roles. The film received positive reviews from critics.

In 2017, Muthaiya reunited with Sasikumar to make another rural drama film titled Kodiveeran. Prior to the release of the film, the film's producer committed suicide due to financial problems.

In January 2018, Muthaiya began work on Devarattam, a second film with Studio Green, which features a brother-sisters relationship with Gautham Karthik in the lead role. The film released on 1 May 2019. Overall, the film is an average rural action entertainer with routine elements which may work for audiences in Madurai, Tirunelveli and surrounding areas.

Muthaiya has followed the same successful style in Pulikkuthi Pandi (2021), which stars Vikram Prabhu and Lakshmi Menon comparing their previous film. Pulikkuthi Pandi is Lakshmi Menon's third film under Muthaiya's direction, and the film also marks the actress's comeback to big screens after four years of film. The film received positive reviews.

In August 2022, Muthaiya's much expected Viruman, the first time under the banner of 2D Entertainment was released. The film features Karthi in the lead role, marking his second collaboration with Muthaiya, and was produced by Suriya and Jyothika. The film claimed to be an overall hit on a commercial basis even though it critically attained mixed reviews, like Muthaiya's previous movies. Aditi Shankar, the daughter of Indian director Shankar, made her acting debut as the female lead.

In 2023, Muthaiya directed Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam, which saw him collaborating with Arya for the first time. The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics.

Filmmaking style
Muthaiya is known for his regional village and caste-oriented based scripts and mostly directs Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Theni, Thirunelveli and Tenkasi-based movies.