P. Samuthirakani


P. Samuthirakani 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, Rajapalayam, 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 for S. P. B. Charan.
He worked as an assistant director for K. Balachander in Parthale Paravasam and Poi and for Ameer in Paruthiveeran.
However, it was the success of Naadodigal that established Samuthirakani as a director. Since then he has directed films such as Poraali, Nimirndhu Nil and Appa. All these films have been remade in Telugu and Kannada. He gained appreciation for his acting in Velaiilla Pattadhari as Dhanush's father and in Visaranai as a police inspector.
He also played important role in Rajinikanth's film Kaala.
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. He also directed two fantasy comedy Vinodhaya Sitham and Bro.
He also played the role of Vibhishana in the Telugu superhero film Hanu-Man.

Filmography

Tamil films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Parthale ParavasamBack-pain patientUncredited role
2004Neranja ManasuVillagerUncredited role
2006PoiKamban's friendUncredited role
2007ParuthiveeranIce VendorUncredited role
2008SubramaniapuramKanagu—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil
2010EasanACP Sangayya—Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste
2012SaattaiDayalan
2012NeerparavaiUduman Gani
2014Ninaithathu YaaroHimselfGuest appearance
2014Nimirndhu NilCar driver
2014Velaiyilla PattathariRaghuvaran's father—
2014Poovarasam PeepeeGaniGuest appearance
2014KaaduNandha
2015SandamaruthamInspector Thirumalai
2015Massu Engira MasilamaniRadha Krishnan
2015Buddhanin SirippuVettri
2015KaavalInspector Chandrasekar
2015KamarajCorporation officer
2015AdhibarRaja
2015Paayum PuliSelvaraj
2015StrawberryAathi
2015Pasanga 2FatherGuest appearance
2016TharkappuIraianbu
2016Rajini Murugan"Ezhrai" Mookan
2016VisaranaiInspector Muthuvel—
2016VisaranaiInspector Muthuvel—SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2016Kadhalum Kadandhu PogumKumar
2016VetrivelVetrivel's friendCameo
2016Amma KanakkuPrincipal Ranganathan
2016AppaDhayalan
2016AchamindriInspector Sathya
2017ThondanMaha Vishnu
2017Kootathil OruthanSathyamurthy
2017Velaiilla Pattadhari 2Raghuvaran's father
2018NimirVellaiyappanAlso dialogue writer
2018Madura VeeranRathnavelu
2018YemaaliInspector Aravindh
2018KaalaVaaliyappan
2018Goli Soda 2Natesan
2018Maniyaar KudumbamS.NallavanCameo
201860 Vayadu MaaniramRanga
2018Aan DevathaiElango
2018Vada ChennaiGunaa
2019PeranbuDr. DhanapalCameo
2019PettikadaiPhysical trainer
2019KolanjiAppasamy
2019JackpotFilm DirectorSpecial appearance
2019KaappaanJoseph Selvaraj
2019Namma Veettu PillaiChandrabose
2019Adutha SaattaiDayalanAlso producer
2019Sillu KarupattiDhanapal
2020Naadodigal 2Bus driverSpecial appearance; also voice-over
2020Ettuthikkum ParaAmbedkar
2020WalterBala
2020Naanga Romba BusyHimselfCameo
2021Pulikkuthi PandiKarumbalai PandiTV film
2021SangathalaivanSivalingam
2021Aelay
2021Vellai YaanaiVellai Kunju
2021Devadas BrothersThe writer
2021ThalaiviR. N. Veerappan
2021Vinodhaya SithamTime
2021UdanpirappeSargunam Vaathiyaar
2021MGR MaganAgnishwaran
2021Chithirai SevvaanamMuthu Pandi
2021WriterThangaraju
2022Kombu Vatcha SingamdaEelam fighter
2022MaaranPalani
2022DonGanesan
2022YaanaiRamachandran
2023ThunivuCommissioner Dayalan
2023Naan Kadavul IllaiSenthooran
2023ThalaikoothalPazhani
2023VaathiThirupathi
2023Are You Ok Baby?Balachandhran
2024Mudakkaruthaan
2024SirenDSP S. Nagalingam IPS
2024SingappenneySpecial appearance
2024Yaavarum VallavareKrishnan
2024RathnamMLA Panneer Selvam
2024GarudanInspector E. Muthuvel
2024Hit ListVijay's father
2024Indian 2Varadharajan
2024AndhaganManohar
2024NandhanBDO Marudhudurai
2024RajakiliAnandan
2024Thiru.ManickamManickam
2025VanangaanDSP R. Kathiravan IPS
2025MaarganDGP Muthuvel Rajan IPS
2025Veeravanakkam
2025Idli KadaiMarichamy
2025KaanthaTPK "Ayya"
Varadharajan