Samuthirakani

Samuthirakani (born 26 April 1973) is an Indian actor and film director who works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu films besides few 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, he is also an recipient of three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, a Filmfare Award and a SIIMA award

Early life
Samuthirakani was born on 26 April 1960 in Seithur, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu. He belongs to a Telugu family. 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 and Kannada. 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 important role in Rajinikanth's film Kaala (2018).

In 2020, he appeared in Telugu film, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo. Samuthirakani's returned to directing with Naadodigal 2, a film that takes up the topic of equality. He played the main role in the Telugu film, Aakashavaani (2021). He also directed two fantasy comedy Vinodhaya Sitham (2021) and Bro (2023).

As director

 * Films


 * Television

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