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{{short description|Indian film director}}
{{Infobox actor
{{For|the Indian actor and singer|Vishnuvardhan (actor)}}
| bgcolour =
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
| name = Vishnuvardhan
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
| image =

| imagesize =
{{Infobox person
| caption =
| birthname =
| name = Vishnuvardhan
| image = Director Vishnuvardhan at the Grahanam Movie Launch.jpg
| birthdate =
| location = [[Kumbakonam]], [[India]]
| imagesize =
| caption = Vishnuvardhan at the ''[[Graghanam]]'' Movie Launch
| deathdate =
| birth_name = Vishnuvardhan Kulasekaran
| deathplace =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|12|06}}
| othername =
| birth_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]] India
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
| death_date =
| homepage =
| death_place =
| notable role =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 1990–present
| academyawards =
| emmyawards =
| spouse = [[Anu Vardhan]]
| tonyawards =
| children = 1
| relatives = [[Kreshna|Krishna Kulasekaran]] (Brother)
| occupation = [[Film Director]], <br> [[Writer]]
| footnotes =
| homepage =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|film producer|screenwriter}}
}}
}}


'''Vishnuvardhan''' is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who predominantly works in the [[Tamil cinema]].
'''Vishnuvardhan''' is a successful [[India]]n [[film director]], [[Tamil language]] [[films]]. A one time associate of [[Ram Gopal Varma]], [[Santosh Sivan]] and [[Mani Ratnam]], Vishnu was a [[Communication studies|visual communication]] student who studied at the [[Loyola College, Chennai|Loyola College]] at [[Chennai]]. As a child, Vishnu had also done small roles in Mani Ratnam's ''[[Anjali (film)|Anjali]]'' and later on during his [[teenage]] years, continued to do brief roles in films like ''[[The Terrorist]]'', ''[[Fiza]]'', ''[[Malli (film)|Malli]]'' and ''[[Asoka (film)|Asoka]]''.


A long-time associate of [[Santosh Sivan]], he made his directorial debut in 2003 with ''[[Kurumbu]]'', which did not fare well at the box office. However, his subsequent films, ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'' (2005), ''[[Pattiyal]]'' (2006), ''[[Billa (2007 film)|Billa]]'' (2007), ''[[Panjaa]]'' (2011) with Pawan kalyan as main lead and ''[[Arrambam]]'' (2013) went on to become highly successful ventures, turning him into a household name in Tamil Nadu. He made his debut in [[Hindi cinema]] with ''[[Shershaah]]'' (2021), produced by [[Karan Johar]], under [[Dharma Productions]], for which he received positive reviews and even won filmfare award for best director .<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jha|first=Lata|date=2021-08-31|title='Shershaah' is most-watched film on Amazon Prime Video in India|url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/shershaah-is-most-watched-film-on-amazon-prime-video-in-india-11630394022936.html|website=mint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Audience's love to 'Shershaah' fills me with pride, says Karan Johar |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/audiences-love-to-shershaah-fills-me-with-pride-says-karan-johar20210831172125/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref>
Influenced by the directing styles of Mani Ratnam and Santosh Sivan, he expressed his wishes of directing to Santosh Sivan on the sets of ''Asoka''. Realizing his dream, Santosh agreed to accept him as his apprentice. During this period of time, Vishnu observed everything that went on behind and around the camera, from the positioning of the lights and directing the artistes and arranging the frames and sets, to the finer points of correcting the artistes and even stayed back even to clean the sets. Santosh Sivan later also took him as an [[associate director]] for films like ''Malli'' and ''Asoka''. In an interview, Vishnu has stated that he strives to make his films look ''"raw and realistic"''.


==Early life==
He made his debut through his own production, ''[[Kurumbu]]'' starring [[Allari Naresh]] and [[Diya]] which was a remake of a [[Telugu language]] film. The film did not do well at the box office and Vishnu was almost written off by most critics. He later came back with a bang with the immensely successful ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'' starring [[Arya (actor)|Arya]], [[Navdeep]] and [[Samiksha]]. The film, made at a moderate budget, emerged to be one of the biggest hits in [[2005]]. The film was produced by Geetha, a popular [[Malaysia]]n [[radio jockey]] who after hearing the script from Vishnu, immediately expressed interest in making the film.
Vishnuvardhan was born and raised in [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu.<ref name = "Cinegoer">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinegoer.net/telugu-cinema/interviews/interview-with-vishnuvardhan-210911.html|title=Vishnuvardhan - Director Vishnuvardhan - Pawan Kalyan - Billa - Santosh Sivan - Interviews - CineGoer.com}}</ref> His father is Pattiyal K Shekar, an actor and producer, who worked in Tamil films. He has a younger brother [[Kreshna|Krishna Kulasekaran]] who is an actor in the Tamil film industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/just-arrived/article471135.ece|title=Just arrived|author=sudhish kamath|work=The Hindu|date=4 June 2010}}</ref> Vishnuvardhan went to [[St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School]], Chennai and studied [[Communication studies|visual communication]] at the [[Loyola College, Chennai]].<ref name = "Vishnu">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/16/stories/2005091600870400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110174808/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/16/stories/2005091600870400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-11-10|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Entertainment Chennai / Interview : Success alone succeeds}}</ref><ref name = "Rediff"/>


Vishnuvardhan and his brother used to participate in [[extra-curricular activities]] like dance and drama in school. When director [[Mani Ratnam]] was looking for children to cast in his film ''[[Anjali (1990 film)|Anjali]]'', his school suggested his name and he shot for a dance sequence in the film with his brother and other children.<ref name = "Rediff">{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/24slide2.htm|title=rediff.com: Pattiyal: Toast of the town}}</ref> He later appeared in ''[[Sathriyan]]'' (as the young Vijayakanth)<ref name = "Vishnu"/> and ''[[Iruvar]]'' by Mani Ratnam again.<ref name="behindwoods.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/features/Interviews/Interview4/vishnuvardhan/tamil-cinema-movie-interview-vishuvardharan.html|title=Tamil Movie Interview : Director Vishnuvardhan}}</ref> While in college, [[Santosh Sivan]], cinematographer of Mani Ratnam's films, called Vishnuvardhan to act in his directorial ''[[The Terrorist (1997 film)|The Terrorist]]''. Vishnuvardhan said "I was influenced and inspired by the works of Mani Ratnam and Santosh Sivan. Watching them create magic on screen fascinated me and I wanted to learn filmmaking". While working for ''The Terrorist'', he expressed his desire to Sivan, that he would like to assist him,<ref name = "Rediff"/> he accepted him as an apprentice and later as an associate director. He worked for seven years as an assistant director to him in [[Mumbai]]<ref name = "Cinegoer"/> besides playing roles in his ''[[Malli (film)|Malli]]'' (1998), ''[[Fiza]]'' (2000), and ''[[Asoka (2001 film)|Asoka]]'' (2001).
Geetha and Vishnu then collaborated once more in the critically acclaimed ''[[Pattiyal]]'' which also proved to be successful. The film which starred [[Arya]], [[Bharath]], [[Pooja Umashankar|Pooja]] and [[Padmapriya]] was well known by its outstanding music by [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]. Vishnu was praised for handling a serious subject whilst still retaining the entertainment factor in the film. In an interview, Vishnu stated that in order to make the film adaptation of his nephew's story more convincing, he had to interact with real lifegangsters and had to study their lifestyle. Vishnu's most recent film, ''[[Billa (2007 film)|Billa]]'' a remake of the yesteryear classic, starred [[Ajith Kumar]], [[Nayanthara]] and [[Namitha]].

He is now set to resume, ''[[Sarvam]]''.
==Career==

After Vishnuvardhan returned from Mumbai, Gemini Color Labs that had produced ''The Terrorist'' offered him to remake the Telugu comedy film ''[[Allari (film)|Allari]]'' in Tamil. Although he did not want his first film to be a remake, he accepted since he felt he shouldn't "ruin the chance".<ref name = "Slide">{{cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/24slide4.htm|title=rediff.com: Pattiyal: Toast of the town}}</ref> The film, titled ''[[Kurumbu]]'', featuring [[Allari Naresh]], who played the same role in the original,<ref name = "Vishnu"/> alongside [[Nikita Thukral]] and [[Diya (actress)|Diya]], did not do well at the box office. His next film was ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'', which was the first script he had written and was supposed to mark his [[directorial debut]].<ref name = "Vishnu"/><ref name="behindwoods.com"/> He said that no big hero wanted to star in it and nobody wanted to produce the film. After he had signed the principal cast, he decided to start his own production studio SJ Films with Malaysian [[radio jockey]], Punnagai Poo Geetha,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/05/06/stories/2005050600270400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050506023511/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/05/06/stories/2005050600270400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2005-05-06|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Entertainment Chennai / Cinema : Jithan's hero}}</ref> and produce the film on his own.<ref name = "Slide"/> Starring [[Prakash Raj]], alongside then newcomers [[Arya (actor)|Arya]], [[Navdeep]] and [[Sameksha|Samiksha]], the film was better received than his first film, critically as well as commercially. [[Sify]] called it "a taut and fairly engrossing entertainer"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/arindhum-ariyamalum-review-tamil-13746306.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502050533/http://www.sify.com/movies/arindhum-ariyamalum-review-tamil-13746306.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-05-02|title=Review : Arindhum Ariyamalum|work=Sify}}</ref> and the film was termed a "super hit" having collected twice its cost at the box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/12/30/stories/2005123001140100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920214456/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/12/30/stories/2005123001140100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-09-20|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Entertainment Chennai : Tamil cinema's new high}}</ref>

Geetha and Vishnu then collaborated once more in the critically acclaimed ''[[Pattiyal]]'' which also proved to be successful. The film, which starred [[Arya (actor)|Arya]], [[Bharath (actor)|Bharath]], [[Pooja Umashankar|Pooja]] and [[Padmapriya Janakiraman|Padmapriya]], was recognised for its outstanding music by [[Yuvan Shankar Raja]]. Vishnu was praised for handling a serious subject while retaining the entertainment factor in the film. Sify stated that Vishnuvardhan "rewrote the rules of Tamil commercial cinema",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/chasing-a-mirage-news-tamil-kkfvlzjhbbgsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830065210/http://www.sify.com/movies/chasing-a-mirage-news-tamil-kkfvlzjhbbgsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-08-30|title=Chasing a mirage!|work=Sify}}</ref> and went on to compare him with director [[Mani Ratnam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/is-vishnu-the-new-mani-ratnam-news-tamil-kkfvoAgibfisi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830070713/http://www.sify.com/movies/is-vishnu-the-new-mani-ratnam-news-tamil-kkfvoAgibfisi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-08-30|title=Is Vishnu the new Mani Ratnam?|work=Sify}}</ref> In an interview, Vishnu stated that he had interacted with real gangsters and studied their lifestyle.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/quotpattiyalquot-a-tale-of-two-friends/article3166818.ece|title=&quot;Pattiyal,&quot; a tale of two friends|work=The Hindu|date=20 March 2006}}</ref> Vishnuvardhan's next film ''[[Billa (2007 film)|Billa]]'', a remake of the yesteryear classic, starring [[Ajith Kumar]], [[Nayanthara]] and [[Namitha]], was a big blockbuster. His ''[[Sarvam]]'' starring Arya and [[Trisha Krishnan|Trisha]] which received mixed reviews did averagely at the box office whereas his next debut film in Telugu, ''[[Panjaa]]'', was one of the most stylish films of Pawan Kalyan. Vishnuvardhan's next directorial, ''[[Arrambam]]'' starring [[Ajith Kumar]], [[Nayanthara]] and Arya was a huge success.

==Personal life==
Vishnuvardhan is married to costume designer [[Anu Vardhan]], granddaughter of Tamil actor and singer [[N. S. Krishnan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/06/stories/2001120600070200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011224185851/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/06/stories/2001120600070200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2001-12-24|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Weaves of fortune}}</ref> Anu was a classmate of Vishnuvardhan in college and also worked as an assistant to Santosh Sivan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/customising-fashion/article2705105.ece|title=Customising fashion|author=y. sunita chowdhary|work=The Hindu|date=11 December 2011}}</ref> Vishnuvardhan stated that they got married "just after college" when he had joined the industry as an assistant director.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/others/news-interviews/Kollywood-men-pay-tribute-to-women/articleshow/7647324.cms|title=Kollywood men pay tribute to women|work=The Times of India}}</ref> Anu has worked as the costume designer in all of Vishnuvardhan's films.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
===Directed Movies===


===As director and writer===
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCF" align="center"
|+
| '''Year''' || '''Film''' || '''Language''' || '''Notes'''
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:35px;" | Year
| [[2003 in film|2003]] || ''[[Kurumbu]]'' || [[Tamil]] ||
! rowspan="2" style="width:150px;" | Film
! colspan="2" style="width:195px;" | Credited as
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:250px;" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
! style="width:65px;" | Director
| [[2005 in film|2005]] || ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'' || Tamil ||
! width="65" | Producer
|-
|-
| 2003 || ''[[Kurumbu]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" |{{nay}} || Remake of ''[[Allari (film)|Allari]]''
| [[2006 in film|2006]] || ''[[Pattiyal]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" |{{nay}} ||
| [[2007 in film|2007]] || ''[[Billa (2007 film)|Billa]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Pattiyal]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{nay}} ||
| [[2009]] || ''[[Sarvam]]'' || Tamil||| Filming
|-
| 2007 || ''[[Billa (2007 film)|Billa]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{nay}} || Remake of ''[[Don (1978 film)|Don]]''
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Sarvam]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" |{{nay}} ||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Panjaa]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" |{{nay}} ||[[Telugu language|Telugu]] film
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Arrambam]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{nay}} ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Yatchan]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} ||Also produced with [[UTV Motion Pictures]]
|-
| 2019 || [[Fingertip (web series)|''Fingertip'']] || style="text-align:center;" | {{nay}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || Web series available on [[ZEE5]] platform<ref>{{Cite news|title='Fingertip' Trailer Video: Akshara Haasan and Gayathrie starrer 'Fingertip' Official Trailer Video |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/web-series/mx-play/tamil/fingertip-trailer-video-akshara-haasan-and-gayathrie-starrer-fingertip-official-trailer-video/videoshow/76197750.cms|access-date=2020-12-23|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|2021 || ''[[Shershaah]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{nay}} ||Hindi film
|-
|2025 || ''[[Nesippaya]]'' || style="text-align:center;" | {{y}} || style="text-align:center;" | {{nay}} ||
|}
|}


=== As actor ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Film
!Role
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Anjali (1990 film)|Anjali]]'' || A kid in the colony
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Sathriyan]]'' || young Panneer Selvam
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Iruvar]]'' || Tamizhselvan's son
|-
| 1998 || ''[[The Terrorist (1997 film)|The Terrorist]]'' || Thyagu
|-
|}


==Awards and nominations==

{| class="wikitable"
==External links==
|-
* [http://nowrunning.com/news/news.asp?it=6541 An interview with Vishnuvardhan]
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
! {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
! [[3rd South Indian International Movie Awards|2014]]
| [[South Indian International Movie Awards|SIIMA Awards]]
| [[SIIMA Award for Best Director – Tamil|Best Director - Tamil]]
| style="text-align:center;"| ''[[Arrambam]]''
| {{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="OneIndia">{{cite news|last1=Shekhar|title=SIIMA Awards 2014 Nominations|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2014/siima-awards-2014-nominations-list-of-telugu-movies-154382.html|access-date=July 22, 2014|work=[[OneIndia]]|date=July 17, 2014|archive-date=25 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725152150/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2014/siima-awards-2014-nominations-list-of-telugu-movies-154382.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! [[22nd IIFA Awards|2022]]
| [[International Indian Film Academy Awards|IIFA Awards]]
| [[IIFA Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2| ''[[Shershaah]]''
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{citation|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/iifa-2022-nominations-shershaah-takes-lead-12-nominations-ludo-83-emerge-strong-contenders-check-complete-list/|title=IIFA 2022 Nominations: Shershaah takes the lead with 12 Nominations, Ludo and 83 emerge as strong contenders; check out the complete list|date=1 April 2022}}</ref>
|-
![[67th Filmfare Awards|2022]]
|[[Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{Won}}
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite news |title=67th Filmfare Awards 2022|url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards-2022/|access-date=30 July 2022 |work=Filmfare |date= |language=en}}</ref>
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|1}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
{{Footer Movies Vishnuvardhan}}
* {{IMDb name|nm3315387}}
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Vishnuvardhan}}
[[Category:Tamil people]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil-language film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Loyola College, Chennai alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:1978 births]]

Latest revision as of 13:32, 11 December 2024

For the Indian actor and singer, see Vishnuvardhan (actor).

Vishnuvardhan
Vishnuvardhan at the Graghanam Movie Launch
Born
Vishnuvardhan Kulasekaran

(1976-12-06) 6 December 1976 (age 48)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
Occupations
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1990–present
SpouseAnu Vardhan
Children1
RelativesKrishna Kulasekaran (Brother)

Vishnuvardhan is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who predominantly works in the Tamil cinema.

A long-time associate of Santosh Sivan, he made his directorial debut in 2003 with Kurumbu, which did not fare well at the box office. However, his subsequent films, Arinthum Ariyamalum (2005), Pattiyal (2006), Billa (2007), Panjaa (2011) with Pawan kalyan as main lead and Arrambam (2013) went on to become highly successful ventures, turning him into a household name in Tamil Nadu. He made his debut in Hindi cinema with Shershaah (2021), produced by Karan Johar, under Dharma Productions, for which he received positive reviews and even won filmfare award for best director .[1][2]

Early life

[edit]

Vishnuvardhan was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[3] His father is Pattiyal K Shekar, an actor and producer, who worked in Tamil films. He has a younger brother Krishna Kulasekaran who is an actor in the Tamil film industry.[4] Vishnuvardhan went to St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai and studied visual communication at the Loyola College, Chennai.[5][6]

Vishnuvardhan and his brother used to participate in extra-curricular activities like dance and drama in school. When director Mani Ratnam was looking for children to cast in his film Anjali, his school suggested his name and he shot for a dance sequence in the film with his brother and other children.[6] He later appeared in Sathriyan (as the young Vijayakanth)[5] and Iruvar by Mani Ratnam again.[7] While in college, Santosh Sivan, cinematographer of Mani Ratnam's films, called Vishnuvardhan to act in his directorial The Terrorist. Vishnuvardhan said "I was influenced and inspired by the works of Mani Ratnam and Santosh Sivan. Watching them create magic on screen fascinated me and I wanted to learn filmmaking". While working for The Terrorist, he expressed his desire to Sivan, that he would like to assist him,[6] he accepted him as an apprentice and later as an associate director. He worked for seven years as an assistant director to him in Mumbai[3] besides playing roles in his Malli (1998), Fiza (2000), and Asoka (2001).

Career

[edit]

After Vishnuvardhan returned from Mumbai, Gemini Color Labs that had produced The Terrorist offered him to remake the Telugu comedy film Allari in Tamil. Although he did not want his first film to be a remake, he accepted since he felt he shouldn't "ruin the chance".[8] The film, titled Kurumbu, featuring Allari Naresh, who played the same role in the original,[5] alongside Nikita Thukral and Diya, did not do well at the box office. His next film was Arinthum Ariyamalum, which was the first script he had written and was supposed to mark his directorial debut.[5][7] He said that no big hero wanted to star in it and nobody wanted to produce the film. After he had signed the principal cast, he decided to start his own production studio SJ Films with Malaysian radio jockey, Punnagai Poo Geetha,[9] and produce the film on his own.[8] Starring Prakash Raj, alongside then newcomers Arya, Navdeep and Samiksha, the film was better received than his first film, critically as well as commercially. Sify called it "a taut and fairly engrossing entertainer"[10] and the film was termed a "super hit" having collected twice its cost at the box office.[11]

Geetha and Vishnu then collaborated once more in the critically acclaimed Pattiyal which also proved to be successful. The film, which starred Arya, Bharath, Pooja and Padmapriya, was recognised for its outstanding music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Vishnu was praised for handling a serious subject while retaining the entertainment factor in the film. Sify stated that Vishnuvardhan "rewrote the rules of Tamil commercial cinema",[12] and went on to compare him with director Mani Ratnam.[13] In an interview, Vishnu stated that he had interacted with real gangsters and studied their lifestyle.[14] Vishnuvardhan's next film Billa, a remake of the yesteryear classic, starring Ajith Kumar, Nayanthara and Namitha, was a big blockbuster. His Sarvam starring Arya and Trisha which received mixed reviews did averagely at the box office whereas his next debut film in Telugu, Panjaa, was one of the most stylish films of Pawan Kalyan. Vishnuvardhan's next directorial, Arrambam starring Ajith Kumar, Nayanthara and Arya was a huge success.

Personal life

[edit]

Vishnuvardhan is married to costume designer Anu Vardhan, granddaughter of Tamil actor and singer N. S. Krishnan.[15] Anu was a classmate of Vishnuvardhan in college and also worked as an assistant to Santosh Sivan.[16] Vishnuvardhan stated that they got married "just after college" when he had joined the industry as an assistant director.[17] Anu has worked as the costume designer in all of Vishnuvardhan's films.

Filmography

[edit]

As director and writer

[edit]
Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Producer
2003 Kurumbu Green tickY Red XN Remake of Allari
2005 Arinthum Ariyamalum Green tickY Red XN
2006 Pattiyal Green tickY Red XN
2007 Billa Green tickY Red XN Remake of Don
2009 Sarvam Green tickY Red XN
2011 Panjaa Green tickY Red XN Telugu film
2013 Arrambam Green tickY Red XN
2015 Yatchan Green tickY Green tickY Also produced with UTV Motion Pictures
2019 Fingertip Red XN Green tickY Web series available on ZEE5 platform[18]
2021 Shershaah Green tickY Red XN Hindi film
2025 Nesippaya Green tickY Red XN

As actor

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Year Film Role
1990 Anjali A kid in the colony
1990 Sathriyan young Panneer Selvam
1997 Iruvar Tamizhselvan's son
1998 The Terrorist Thyagu

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2014 SIIMA Awards Best Director - Tamil Arrambam Nominated [19]
2022 IIFA Awards Best Director Shershaah Won [20]
2022 Filmfare Awards Best Director Won [21]

References

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  1. ^ Jha, Lata (31 August 2021). "'Shershaah' is most-watched film on Amazon Prime Video in India". mint.
  2. ^ "Audience's love to 'Shershaah' fills me with pride, says Karan Johar". ANI News. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Vishnuvardhan - Director Vishnuvardhan - Pawan Kalyan - Billa - Santosh Sivan - Interviews - CineGoer.com".
  4. ^ sudhish kamath (4 June 2010). "Just arrived". The Hindu.
  5. ^ a b c d "Entertainment Chennai / Interview : Success alone succeeds". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 November 2007.
  6. ^ a b c "rediff.com: Pattiyal: Toast of the town".
  7. ^ a b "Tamil Movie Interview : Director Vishnuvardhan".
  8. ^ a b "rediff.com: Pattiyal: Toast of the town".
  9. ^ "Entertainment Chennai / Cinema : Jithan's hero". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 May 2005.
  10. ^ "Review : Arindhum Ariyamalum". Sify. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Entertainment Chennai : Tamil cinema's new high". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 September 2006.
  12. ^ "Chasing a mirage!". Sify. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Is Vishnu the new Mani Ratnam?". Sify. Archived from the original on 30 August 2015.
  14. ^ ""Pattiyal," a tale of two friends". The Hindu. 20 March 2006.
  15. ^ "Weaves of fortune". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 December 2001.
  16. ^ y. sunita chowdhary (11 December 2011). "Customising fashion". The Hindu.
  17. ^ "Kollywood men pay tribute to women". The Times of India.
  18. ^ "'Fingertip' Trailer Video: Akshara Haasan and Gayathrie starrer 'Fingertip' Official Trailer Video". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  19. ^ Shekhar (17 July 2014). "SIIMA Awards 2014 Nominations". OneIndia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  20. ^ IIFA 2022 Nominations: Shershaah takes the lead with 12 Nominations, Ludo and 83 emerge as strong contenders; check out the complete list, 1 April 2022
  21. ^ "67th Filmfare Awards 2022". Filmfare. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
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