Ezhil
Ezhil | |
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Born | Ezhilmaaran 1 February 1964[1] Mayiladuthurai, Tamilnadu, India |
Other names | Ezhil |
Occupation | Film director |
Years active | 1993-present |
Spouse | none |
Children | none |
Ezhilmaaran known as Ezhil is an Indian film director who works in the Tamil film industry. He has won 2 Tamil Nadu state awards. He made his directorial debut with the 1999 romantic film Thulladha Manamum Thullum starring Vijay and Simran. His success streak continued with Pennin Manathai Thottu (2000), Poovellam Un Vasam (2001) and Deepavali (2007). He made a comeback in 2012 after a brief sabbatical with the Sivakarthikeyan starred film Manam Kothi Paravai which opened to moderate reviews from critics, but was a commercial hit.[2] Film Directors Suseenthiran and Karu Pazhaniappan were his assistants.
Career
Ezhil, krishna an erstwhile assistant to Robert-Rajashekhar, Panneer and Parthiban, made his debut as a film-maker with Thulladha Manamum Thullum under R. B. Choudary's production house. Prior to release, the role of Vijay's mother in the film was kept under wraps with the media speculating who would play the role. Eventually, no actress played the role although the character played a pivotal part in the film.[3] Vijay took a pay cut for the film, accepting only 3 million rupees instead of 5 million rupees, as he had signed the film before the release of his blockbuster Kadhalukku Mariyadhai.[4] Initially Ezhil wanted comedian Vadivelu to play the lead role. Vadivelu who was impressed with the story has said to Ezhil that the story line was too good and he doesn't know whether it will work with him in the lead. Vadivelu also asked Ezhil to wait for six months, if he didn't get anyone hero then he will act in it then he was replaced by Vijay.[5]
The film went on to become a blockbuster, running for hundred days across dozens of theatres in Tamil Nadu, while it also enjoyed similar success in the neighbouring state of Kerala.[6] Vijay and Ezhil immediately decided to follow up this film with another collaboration, Pennin Manathai Thottu, with either Isha Koppikar or Roja to be hired as the lead actress. However soon after pre-production, Vijay was replaced by Prabhu Deva and the film went on to release in 2000.[7][4]
Ajith Kumar signed the film Poovellam Un Vasam in early 2001 after he pulled out of Praveenkanth's commercial film Star.[8] The producers had initially approached Simran, Aishwarya Rai and then Preity Zinta to star, with their refusals leading to the casting of Jyothika.[9] Miss World 2001, Yukta Mookhey was hired to appear in an item number.[10] Ajith gained mass image before the filming so producer Ravichandran expressed his doubts to Ezhil about carrying on with such a family oriented film with an action hero like Ajith in hand. But Ezhil was confident about Ajith's capabilities in pulling off varying roles.[11] The film opened to positive reviews with The Hindu critic labelling it as "reasonably interesting", with Ajith's performance being praised as "Ajith is natural and neat" with claims that "he has to work harder on his soliloquies and sad expressions".[12] The success of the film prompted Ezhil, Ajith Kumar and Jyothika to team up for a venture the following year with Raja.[8]
Producer Ambeth Kumar and Ranjeev Menon are friends of director Ezhil. When they asked him how the shooting of Manam Kothi Paravai was proceeding, he made them listen to the songs tuned by D. Imman. Impressed, they decided to produce it.[13]
It was initially expected that Yuvan Shankar Raja, whom Ezhil had worked with in Deepavali, would compose the music, but as the budget of this film could not afford to have Yuvan as the music composer, Ezhil opted for D. Imman.[14] After the lead role in Marina and an important role in the recently released 3, Sivakarthikeyan is taking up a full-fledged lead role again for Manam Kothi Paravai.[15]
The film, which is set in a village, has been shot at Ezhil's native place Kayathur, near Mayavaram and Siva Karthikeyan's Thiruvizhimizhalai.[16]
After a fairly successful outing with Manam Kothi Paravai, director Ezhil started his next titled Desingu Raja, which was in a similar genre rural comedy. He hired Vimal to play the lead Idhayakani, who has been named so by his parents and is a diehard MGR fan. Bindu Madhavi was signed to play the female lead as a Rajini fanatic in the movie, thus pairing with Vimal for second time after Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga.[17] She said "I play a cheerful, naughty village girl".[18] Muktha Bhanu danced for one song along with Vimal and the group dancers which was shot in Thiruvarur.[19]
Filmography
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Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | Ref. | ||
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Director | Writer | Producer | ||||
1999 | Thulladha Manamum Thullum | ![]() |
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Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Second Prize) | [20] |
2000 | Pennin Manathai Thottu | ![]() |
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2000 | Nuvvu Vastavani | ![]() |
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Remake of Thulladha Mananum Thullum | |
2001 | Poovellam Un Vasam | ![]() |
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Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Family Film (Second Prize) | [12] |
2002 | Raja | ![]() |
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[21] | |
2005 | Amudhae | ![]() |
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[22] | |
2007 | Deepavali | ![]() |
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2012 | Manam Kothi Paravai | ![]() |
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First movie as producer | '[23] |
2013 | Desingu Raja | ![]() |
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[24] | |
2014 | Vellaikaara Durai | ![]() |
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[25] | |
2016 | Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran | ![]() |
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2017 | Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen | ![]() |
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2022 | Yutha Satham | ![]() |
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TBA | Aayiram Jenmangal | ![]() |
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completed | [26] |
TBA | Jagajala Killadi | ![]() |
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completed |
References
- ^ "Iflicks: Latest Tamil cinema news | Kollywood latest news | Tamil movie stills". Iflicks.in. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ Manam Kothi Paravai Review – Manam Kothi Paravai Movie Review Archived 18 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Behindwoods.com. Retrieved on 13 April 2014. This was the breakthrough performance in his film career
- ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com. 25 January 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Starbacks.ca". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ^ cinemalead.com (24 June 2013). "Vadivelu was the first choice for Thullatha Manamum Thulllum ! - Vadivelu Was The First Choice Of Thullatha Manamum Thullum- Ezhil- Vijay- Karu Palaniapan- Supergood Films". Cinemalead.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com. 2 July 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com. 26 July 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b "A success team reunites". The Hindu. 26 April 2002. Archived from the original on 4 July 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Whither K". Cinematoday2.itgo.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "SUBAS". Cinematoday3.itgo.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "When Ajith - the action hero, proved he could do varied roles, Ajith, Poovellam Un Vaasam". Behindwoods.com. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Film Review: Poovellam Un Vaasam". The Hindu. 24 August 2001. Archived from the original on 22 January 2002. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Manam Kothi Paravai". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 April 2012.
- ^ "Yuvan, Imman and Ezhil". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- ^ "Siva Karthikeyan's 3!". Behindwoods. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ "'Manam Kothi Paravai' shot in two villages". Nowrunning.com. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
- ^ "Love between a MGR fanatic and a Rajini fanatic, Vimal, Bindu Madhavi". Behindwoods. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Role play for Bindu". The Times of India. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Ayngaran International". Ayngaran.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Thullaatha Manamum Thullum - Tamil Movie Review". Thiraipadam.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Raja". The Hindu. 12 July 2002. Archived from the original on 22 April 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Amuthe". Sify. 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Review". Sify. 1 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Review". Sify. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Vellaikara Durai (Vellakara Durai) Tamil Movie, Wiki, Story, Review, Release Date, Trailers". Filmibeat. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Ezhil To Direct GV Prakash's Next; Shoot Begins In March". 16 February 2019.