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

Early life Samuthirakani was born on 26 April 1973 in Seithur, Virudhunagar, 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 necessary talent 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.

He worked as an assistant director for K. Balachander in Parthale Paravasam (2001) and Poi (2006) and for Ameer in Paruthiveeran (2007).

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 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).

He also played the role of Vibhishana in the Telugu superhero film Hanu-Man (2024).

Filmography

Tamil films

+ List of Samuthirakani Tamil film acting credits Year Title Role Notes 2001 Parthale Paravasam Back pain patient Uncredited role 2004 Neranja Manasu Villager 2006 Poi Kamban's friend 2007 Paruthiveeran Ice Vendor 2008 Subramaniapuram Kanagu —Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil 2010 Easan ACP Sangayya —Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male)2012 Saattai Dayalan Neerparavai Uduman Gani 2014 Ninaithathu Yaaro Himself Guest appearance Nimirndhu Nil Car driver Velaiyilla Pattathari Raghuvaran's father — Poovarasam Peepee Gani Guest appearance Kaadu Nandha 2015 Sandamarutham Inspector Thirumalai Massu Engira Masilamani Radha Krishnan (RK) Buddhanin Sirippu Vettri Kaaval Inspector Chandrasekar Kamaraj Corporation officer Adhibar Raja Paayum Puli Selvaraj (Selvam) Strawberry Aathi Pasanga 2 Father Guest appearance2016 Tharkappu Iraianbu Rajini Murugan "Ezhrai" Mookan Visaranai Inspector Muthuvel — —SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum Kumar Vetrivel Vetrivel's friend Cameo Amma Kanakku Principal Ranganathan Appa Dhayalan Achamindri Inspector Sathya 2017 Thondan Maha Vishnu Kootathil Oruthan Sathyamurthy (Sathya) Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 Raghuvaran's father 2018 Nimir Vellaiyappan Also dialogue writer Madura Veeran Rathnavelu Yemaali Inspector Aravindh Kaala Vaaliyappan Goli Soda 2 Natesan Maniyaar Kudumbam S.Nallavan Cameo 60 Vayadu Maaniram Ranga Aan Devathai Elango Vada Chennai Gunaa 2019 Peranbu Dr. Dhanapal Cameo Pettikadai Physical trainer Kolanji Appasamy Jackpot Film Director Special appearance Kaappaan Joseph Selvaraj Namma Veettu Pillai Chandrabose Adutha Saattai Dayalan Also producer Sillu Karupatti Dhanapal 2020 Naadodigal 2 Bus driver Special appearance; also voice-over Ettuthikkum Para Ambedkar Walter Bala Naanga Romba Busy Himself Cameo 2021 Pulikkuthi Pandi Karumbalai Pandi TV film Sangathalaivan Sivalingam Aelay Vellai Yaanai Vellai Kunju Devadas Brothers The writer Thalaivi R. N. Veerappan Vinodhaya Sitham Time Udanpirappe Sargunam Vaathiyaar MGR Magan Agnishwaran Chithirai Sevvaanam Muthu Pandi Writer Thangaraju 2022 Kombu Vatcha Singamda Eelam fighter Maaran Palani Don Ganesan Yaanai Ramachandran 2023 Thunivu Commissioner Dayalan Naan Kadavul Illai Senthooran Thalaikoothal Pazhani Vaathi Thirupathi Are You Ok Baby? Balachandhran 2024 Mudakkaruthaan Siren DSP S. Nagalingam IPS Singappenney Special appearance Yaavarum Vallavare Krishnan Rathnam MLA Panneer Selvam Garudan Inspector E. Muthuvel Hit List Vijay's father Indian 2 Varadharajan Andhagan Manohar Nandhan BDO Marudhudurai Rajakili Anandan Thiru.Manickam Manickam 2025 Maargan DGP Muthuvel Rajan IPS Veeravanakkam P. Krishna Pillai Padaiyaanda Maaveeraa Jayaraman Idli Kadai Marichamy Kaantha TPK "Ayya" 2026 Carmeni Selvam Selvam Charukesi Journalist

Telugu films + List of Samuthirakani Telugu film acting credits Year Title Role Notes 2010 Shambo Shiva Shambo Car driver Cameo 2020 Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo Appala Naidu —SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu2021 Krack Katari Krishna Aakashavaani Chandram Master Released on SonyLIV2022 Bheemla Nayak Jeevan Kumar RRR Venkateswarulu Sarkaru Vaari Paata MP Rajendranath Nominated–SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role – TeluguMacherla Niyojakavargam MLA Rajappa Dongalunnaru Jaagratha Chakravarthi Godfather ACP Indrajeet IPS Panchathantram Ramanathan 2023 Sir Tripathi Dasara Shivanna Nenu Student Sir Arjun Vasudevan Vimanam Veerayya Partially reshot in Tamil Bro Shankaranna Cameo 2024 Hanu-Man Vibhishana 2025Game ChangerSabha Oka Padhakam Prakaram Raghuram Ramam Raghavam Dasaradh Ramam Partially reshot in Tamil Daksha: The Deadly Conspiracy Chalapathi Mass Jathara Ajith Narayana 2026 The RajaSaab Gangaraju Bad Boy Karthik Varadha Reddy 2027

Malayalam films + List of Samuthirakani Malayalam film acting credits Year Title Role Notes2010 Shikkar Abdullah 2012 Masters Protester Cameo in the song "Suhruth Suhruth" Thiruvambadi Thamban Ramu The Hitlist SP Anapazhakan Cameo 2013 D Company Chaukidar 2014 Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil P. Krishna Pillai 2015 The Reporter SP Parthasarathy IPS 2016 Karinkunnam 6'S Saravanan Cameo Oppam Vasudevan —Asianet film award for best actor in a negative role —IIFA Utsavam for performance in a negative role Malayalam2024 Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam SP Vetrivel IPS

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 2Himself Sun TV 2021 Live Telecast Deva Disney+ Hotstar Web-series2026ThadayamSI AdhiyamanZEE 5Web-series

Dubbing artist + List of Samuthirakani film credits as dubbing artist Year Film For actor2009Pasanga Sivakumar 2011 Aadukalam Kishore 2012 Dhoni Murli Sharma 2014 Goli Soda Madhusudhan Rao 2016 Kathakali Madhusudhan Rao

As a 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 Delayed releaseSimultaneously shot alongside 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 Thanga Vettai Sun TV Game Show Hosted by Indian Actress Ramya Krishnan 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 Eye of the Leopard (2006) - Tamil version - National Geographic Sundarapandian (2012) Roar of the Royals (2020) - Tamil version - National Geographic Serndhu Polama (2015) Anandham Vilayadum Veedu (2021) The Way Of The Cheetah (2021) Tamil version - National Geographic

References

External links

Opera king His still dreams to make it