R. Parthiban

R. Parthiban
Parthiban 62nd Filmfare Awards South
Born
Radhakrishnan Parthiban

(1957-11-15) 15 November 1957 (age 67)[1]
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Film director
Years active1989–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 2001)​
Children3

Radhakrishnan Parthiban[a] (born 15 November 1957) is an Indian actor and film director who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He has directed 16 films, produced 14 films and acted in more than 70 films. He started his career as assistant director for K. Bhagyaraj in 1984 and the duo worked in over 20 films from 1984 to 1991.[3] Parthiban is known for having directed critically acclaimed films such as Pudhiya Paadhai (1989) and House Full (1999) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.[4] He also won National Film Award – Special Jury Award in Otha Seruppu Size 7 (2019).[5]

His performances as actor are in successful films such as Bharathi Kannamma (1997), Nee Varuvai Ena (1999), Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Azhagi (2002), Aayirathil Oruvan (2010), Melvilasom (2011), Otha Seruppu Size 7 (2019) and Iravin Nizhal (2022).

On 25 December 2018, he was appointed as the new Vice President of the Tamil Film Producers Council replacing Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj who were jointly holding the position until 24 December 2018.[6]

Early and personal life

Parthiban was born in a Telugu speaking family[7][8] on 15 November 1957 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. His father is Radhakrishnan. He started as an assistant director in the film Vedikkai Manidhargal. He was even given an opportunity to assist in dialogue in the name of R. Moorthy. After this, he joined as an assistant of K. Bhagyaraj. At that time, he used to make around Rs 6000 a month by dubbing for various artists. He made his first film appearance in Ranuva Veeran (1981). Then, he played the role of a postman in his mentor's Dhavani Kanavugal (1984).[9]

Apart from direction and acting, he produces films. He wrote a book, Kirukkkalgal – Thamizh Kavithai Thoguppu, which was released by M. Karunanidhi. He runs a charitable trust named "R.Parthepan Manidha Neya Mandram".[10]

Parthiban married actress Seetha in 1990, with whom he worked in Pudhea Paadhai the previous year.[11] The couple has two daughters including P. S. Keerthana, who won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), and an adopted son.[12] The couple decided to part ways in 2001. Parthiban shifted his focus into movies after the divorce, and is single.[13]

Career

In 1989, he made his directorial debut through Pudhiya Paadhai, starring himself as an inhuman ruffian who gets reformed by his rape victim.[14][15] The film was released to critical acclaim and emerged a box office success, while also winning several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer. In early 1990, he directed and acted in Pondatti Thevai, which failed at the box office. In the end of 1990, he appeared in R. Sundarrajan's Thalattu Padava and in the devotional film Engal Swamy Ayyappan. In 1991, he starred in S. P. Muthuraman's Thaiyalkaran. In 1992, he starred in Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren, co-starring with Suman Ranganathan and Mohini. He then directed and acted in Sugamana Sumaigal, a clean family drama, which failed at the box office. In 1993, to recoup the financial losses, he directed and acted in the commercial film Ulle Veliye. Ayyappa Prasad of The New Indian Express labelled the film as "flesh and bore". Despite negative reviews, the film has been declared a super hit at the box office. He then directed and acted in 1994 in Sarigamapadani and the next year in Pullakuttikaran. In 1996, he acted in the comedy film Tata Birla.[16]

He won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Bharathi Kannamma (1997). He played a man from a lower caste who a zamindari falls in love with.[17] Parthipan, the actor, director and producer, loves breaking the conventional rules set by commercial cinema. He has taken roles that other heroes would carefully avoid, directed films that his critics found to be arty. The actor has remained uncompromising and stuck to his principles in spite of some not-so-memorable roles in the past. After the critically acclaimed and award-winning films such as House Full (1999) and Azhagi (2002), audience and the trade have acknowledged the maker's undisputed talents.[18][19] His 1999 Tamil film House Full won the same award.[20]

In 2001, he launched an ambitious directorial project titled Yelelo, with A. R. Rahman composing four songs for the film. Despite having a high-profile launch and completion of a few filming schedules, the venture was shelved.[21] Similarly, he launched three films simultaneously titled Kartha, Rowdy and Adi after the failure of Kudaikul Mazhai (2004), though all projects were abandoned.[22][23]

The film Aayirathil Oruvan (2010), in which he portrayed a Chola King, won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil.[24] His previously released movie Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam becomes Parthiban's first directorial film in which he does not feature in the lead role. The film, which has a tagline reading "a film without a story?", began production in late 2013 and released on 15 August 2014 and received positive reviews from all the sides and was a huge blockbuster hit in the box office. In 2015, he portrayed a cop in Massu Engira Masilamani and played a comedian villain in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. He acted in supporting role in the Maaveeran Kittu (2016) and Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga (2017). He appeared in Kannada movie Dada Is Back (2017), which he played in lead role as undisputed king of the underworld in Bengaluru.[25] Followed by a comedy film, Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam (2017). In 2018, he acted in the drama film Keni.[26]

In 2019, Parthiban wrote, directed and appeared in Oththa Seruppu Size 7, as the only character. He revealed that it was his 18-year dream to make this film.[27] Along with the outstanding performance and sharp visuals, the film is amplified by the amazing sound design which gives life to the uncanny, yet detailed confession of Masilamani.[28] At 67th National Film Awards, Parthiban won the Special Jury Award.[29] He also wins three awards at Toronto Tamil Film Festival, which includes the Jury Award for Best Feature Film, Jury Award for Best Feature Film Director and Best Solo Act Award.[30] Parthiban has been a part of multi-starrers as well, including Ponmagal Vandhal (2020), Tughlaq Durbar (2021), Yutha Satham (2022), Ponniyin Selvan (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023).

Filmography

As director

List of R. Parthiban film directing credits
Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Producer
1989 Pudhiya Paadhai Green tickY Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film
Won—National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil[31]
Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer[32]
1990 Pondatti Thevai Green tickY
1992 Sugamana Sumaigal Green tickY Green tickY
1993 Ulle Veliye Green tickY Green tickY
1994 Sarigamapadani Green tickY Green tickY
1995 Pullakuttikaran Green tickY Green tickY
1999 House Full Green tickY Green tickY Won—National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil[33]
Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Film[34]
2002 Ivan Green tickY Green tickY
2004 Kudaikul Mazhai Green tickY Green tickY
2006 Pachchak Kuthira Green tickY Green tickY
2011 Vithagan Green tickY Green tickY
2014 Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam Green tickY Green tickY Cameo
2017 Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga Green tickY Green tickY
2019 Otha Seruppu Size 7 Green tickY Green tickY Won—National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film)[29]
Won—Toronto Tamil Film Festival Jury Award Best Feature Film[35]
Won—Toronto Tamil Film Festival Jury Award Best Feature Film Director[36]
2022 Iravin Nizhal Green tickY Green tickY
2024 Teenz Green tickY Green tickY

As actor

Films
List of R. Parthiban film acting credits
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Ranuva Veeran Bridegroom Uncredited role[37]
1982 Parvaiyin Marupakkam Lawyer Uncredited role[38]
1982 Vedikkai Manithargal Director Uncredited role
1983 Dhooram Adhighamillai Villagier Uncredited role
1984 Anbulla Rajinikanth Bhagyaraj's assistant director Uncredited role
1984 Dhavani Kanavugal Postman Ponnusami
1989 Pudhiya Paathai Sitaraman
1990 Pondatti Thevai Kannan
Engal Swamy Ayyappan Vasuswamy
Thalattu Padava Raja
1991 Thaiyalkaran Pandian
1992 Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren Ravi
Sugamana Sumaigal Moorthy
1993 Ulle Veliye Gajendran
1994 Sarigamapadani Kulasekaran
1995 Pullakuttikaran Veeraiyan
1996 Tata Birla Raja
1997 Bharathi Kannamma Bharathi Won—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor[39]
Vaimaye Vellum Rajasing
Aravindhan Thamizhvannan
Abhimanyu ACP Abhimanyu
1998 Swarnamukhi Pandian
Pudhumai Pithan Jeeva (aka Bharath)
1999 House Full Ayya
Suyamvaram Azhagappan
Anthapuram Dubai Pandiyan
Nee Varuvai Ena Ganesh
Unnaruge Naan Irundhal Taxi driver
2000 Kakkai Siraginilae Vellaichamy
James Pandu Pandu
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Shekhar Guest appearance
Vetri Kodi Kattu Muthuraman
Sabhash Cheenu
2001 Ninaikkatha Naalillai Anbu
Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka Devasahayam Malayalam film
2002 Azhagi Shanmugam
Ivan Jeevan
Kadhal Virus Himself Cameo
2003 Soori Manikandan Guest appearance
Kadhal Kirukkan Saravanan
2004 Thendral Nalangkilli
Kudaikul Mazhai Venkatakrishnan
2005 Kannadi Pookal Sakthivel
Kundakka Mandakka Ilango
2006 Pachchak Kuthira Pachchamuthu
2007 Ammuvagiya Naan Gowrishankar
2008 Vallamai Tharayo Anand
2010 Aayirathil Oruvan Chola King Won—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil[40]
Azhagana Ponnuthan Karthik
2011 Melvilasom Ramachandran Malayalam film
Vithagan ACP Rowdhran
2012 Ambuli Sengodan
Rachcha Suryanarayana Telugu film
2013 Escape from Uganda Antony Malayalam film
Jannal Oram Karuppu
2015 Masss ACP Vikram Lakshmanan
Tihar Alexander
Naanum Rowdydhaan Killivalavan Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil[41]
2016 Maaveeran Kittu Chinrasu Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role[42]
2017 Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga Rangarajan
Mupparimanam Himself Cameo
Dada is Back Tippu Kannada film
Podhuvaga En Manasu Thangam Oothukaandaan
2018 Keni Shaktivel
2019 Kuppathu Raja MG Rajendran
Ayogya Kaalirajan
Oththa Seruppu Size 7 Maasilamani Won—Toronto Tamil Film Festival Best Solo Act Award[30]
Thittam Poattu Thirudura Kootam Sethu
2020 Ponmagal Vandhal Rajarathinam
2021 Tughlaq Durbar Rayappan
2022 Yutha Satham SI Kathirvelan
Iravin Nizhal Nandu
Ponniyin Selvan: I Chinna Pazhuvettayar
2023 Ponniyin Selvan: II Chinna Pazhuvettayar
Dhruva Natchathiram Unknown Unreleased
2024 Teenz Jana
Web series
List of R. Parthiban web series acting credits
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Suzhal: The Vortex Shanmugam

As singer

List of R. Parthiban film singing credits
Year Title Song Composer Notes
1995 Sarigamapadani "Hey Kala Kala" Deva
2005 Kannadi Pookal "Dey Vasu" S. A. Rajkumar

As lyricist

List of R. Parthiban film credits as a lyricist
Year Title Song Composer Notes
2004 Kudaikul Mazhai "Adiye Kiliye" Karthik Raja
2011 Vithagan All songs Joshua Sridhar
2017 Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga "Kilukilu Payai", "Wife Love" C. Sathya
2022 Iravin Nizhal "Kaayam", "Bejara", "Kannethire" A. R. Rahman

As narrator

Notes

  1. ^ Also spelt Parthiepan.[2]

References

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