Selva (director)

Not to be confused with Selvaraghavan.

Selva (fl. 1990s) is an Indian director active in Tamil film. He often specializes in film remakes and directed a series of hits the 1990s. His first film Thalaivasal launched the career of many. His noted film are Amaravathi, Karnaa, Pooveli, James Pandu, Unnaruge Naan Irundhal, Student Number 1 and Naan Avanillai. He introduced Ajith Kumar through his second film Amaravathi.

Early life

Selva was graduated from Pachaiyappa's College. Selva first joined as an assistant director in an advertising firm which was involved in making ad film, documentary and short films.

Career

He worked in his first television serial titled Thyagam. At that time, he directed a documentary film on the Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathi which was screened in Delhi Doordarshan. This innovative concept was appreciated by everyone and the documentary served as an entry ticket for my next project wherein he was asked to direct eminent writer Akilan’s award winning novel Chithira Paavai which was to be telecast in Doordarshan. It was a thirteen episode serial which had Vaishnavi, Fathima Babu, Nassar and many leading TV personalities. Though Chithira Paavai earned him a good repute, He was yet to become popular. Selva then directed the serial Soorya for Sun TV with M. K. Stalin who played the title role. Subsequently, he received another offer to direct a TV serial called Neela Mala from Chozha creations. The success of the serial facilitated Chozha creation’s re-entry into film world and they gave him the first opportunity to direct Thalaivasal in 1992. The film dealt with drug problems in college and it completed a 100-day run at the box-office. His next venture was Amaravathi with newcomers Ajith Kumar and Sanghavi in lead roles. He then directed Karna with Arjun, marking their first collaboration, the film did well at the box office and it was best known for the chartbuster "Malare Mounama".

In 1997, he briefly worked on the pre-production of a film titled Thenaali Raja with Arjun and Nivedita Jain, but the film was later shelved. Despite the commercial failure of Sishya, Karthik chose to collaborate with Selva again in Pooveli and the film became a large commercial success. The success of the film subsequently brought him several offers including the opportunity to make a third film with Karthik in Rojavanam, a romantic love story set in the backdrop of an old people's home. He also shortly after planned other projects including Kai Korthu Vaa with Karthik and Nanba with Arjun, which ultimately failed to materialise.

He introduced actor Sathyaraj's son Sibiraj in Student Number 1 while he was also instrumental in collaborating them in his directorial Jore while they collaborated with another project Ma. Mu which failed to proceed after the launch. Selva again collaborated with Arjun in Aanai and Manikanda. Manikanda was initially begin in 2003 and film was languishing in development hell due to financial problems faced by the producer, it was finally released in 2007 after a long delay. Selva decided to remake K. Balachander's Naan Avan Illai with Jeevan playing the lead role with the film becoming successful, director and actor collaborated with another project Thotta which was restarted after it was shelved during 2005.

The success of Naan Avanillai, prompted Selva to make a sequel featuring Jeevan in the same character with five new female characters. Shot predominantly throughout Europe, the film failed to replicate the success of the prequel and Selva subsequently opted against making a third film in the series. Another remake, that of Nootrukku Nooru (1971), which he had planned featuring Vinay and Sneha, was called after pre-production stages following the financial problems of producers Kavithalayaa Productions.

Selva directed Naanga which introduced children of noted film personalities. The film was released to mixed reviews and went unnoticed due to its low key release. He then directed Naadi Thudikkuthadi with newcomers and it marked Selva's first collaboration with music director Ilaiyaraaja, but the film is yet to be released while his another directorial Muriyadi with Sathyaraj is also unreleased. Selva announced that he is directing Vendru Va featuring Jeevan acting after his sabbatical from films while also announced that he would collaborate with Aravind Swamy in a project titled Vanangamudi.

Filmography

Year	Film	Credited as		Language	Notes
		Director	Writer
1992	Thalaivasal	Y	Y	Tamil
1993	Amaravathi	Y	Y	Tamil
1995	Karnaa	Y	Y	Tamil	Screenplay only
1997	Pudhayal	Y	Y	Tamil
1997	Sishya	Y	Y	Tamil
1998	Pooveli	Y	Y	Tamil
1999	Rojavanam	Y	Y	Tamil
1999	Unnaruge Naan Irundhal	Y	Y	Tamil	Screenplay only
1999	Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham	Y	Y	Tamil	Screenplay only Remake of Telugu film Snehithulu
2000	James Pandu	Y	Y	Tamil
2003	Student Number 1	Y	Y	Tamil	Screenplay only Remake of Telugu film Student No.1
2004	Jore	Y	Y	Tamil
2005	Aanai	Y	Y	Tamil
2006	Nenjil Jil Jil	Y	Y	Tamil
2007	Naan Avanillai	Y	Y	Tamil	Screenplay only Remake of Naan Avanillai_(1974 film)
2007	Manikanda	Y	Y	Tamil
2008	Thotta	Y	Y	Tamil
2009	Guru En Aalu	Y	Y	Tamil	Screenplay only Remake of Hindi film Yes Boss
2009	Naan Avanillai 2	Y	Y	Tamil
2012	Naanga	Y	Y	Tamil
2016	Naadi Thudikkuthadi	Y	Y	Tamil	Post-production
2016	Vanangamudi	Y	Y	Tamil	Pre-production
2016	Thutham	Y	Y	Tamil	Filming
2016	Muriyadi	Y	Y	Tamil	Delayed

External links

• Biography and Filmography