Samuthirakani

Samuthirakani is a film director, singer, screenwriter, dubbing artist, and an Indian actor who works in the Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam film industries.

Samuthirakani studied at Rajapalayam Rajus College and completed his B.Sc. in Mathematics. He also studied at Ambedkar Law College and got his Bachelor of Law.

He was an assistant to director Sundar K. Vijayan in 1997. He also worked as an assistant for K. Balachander for Paarthale Paravasam (2001), which was also his acting debut in Tamil movies and Anni (2001 – 2003).

Samuthirakani ventured into the direction in the early 2000s and made Unnai Charanadaindhen (2003) for S.P.B. Charan. His directed movie Naadodigal (2009) got him appreciation as a filmmaker. This movie earned him the Vijay Award for Favourite Director.

Samuthirakani also appeared as ACP Sangayya in the Tamil movie Easan (2010). He received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male).

He also directed Telegu movies like Sambo Siva Sambho (2010), which was a Remake of Naadodigal (2009), and Janda Pai Kapiraju (2015)

Samuthirakani’s Tamil movie Poraali (2011) got him another Vijay Award for Best Dialogue Writer. His other Tamil films, Nimirndhu Nil (2014) and Appa (2016), were later remade in Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. Appa (2016) and its Malayalam remake Aakasha Mittayee (2017), was directed by Samuthirakani.

In 2014, Samuthirakani appeared as Raghuvaran’s father in the superhit movie Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014). He then appeared in the superhit Tamil film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), for which he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil. He also appeared in the blockbuster Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011).

Samuthirakani also got a role in the movie Kaala (2018), which starred Rajinikanth. His film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) got him the SIIMA Best Actor in a Negative Role award.

Surathirakani also directed Naadodigal 2 (2020) and appeared as the lead actor in the Telugu film, Aakashavaani (2021). He then directed Vinodhaya Sitham (2021).

In 2022, the actor worked in several Tamil and Telugu movies like Bheemla Nayak Bheemla Nayak (2022) in Telugu, Maaran Maaran (2022), Yaanai Yaanai (2022) in Tamil, Macherla Niyojakavargam Macherla Niyojakavargam (2022) in Telugu, etc.

One of Samuthirakani’s most iconic performances remains Venkateswarulu, Sitarama Raju’s uncle, in the superhit Telugu movie RRR RRR (2022). S.S. Rajamouli’s S.S. Rajamouli RRR RRR (2022) has grabbed attention not only on domestic fronts but also on international grounds by getting an Oscar, the first Indian feature film to do so.

In 2023, Samuthirakani was seen in Thunivu Thunivu (2023), Naan Kadavul Illai Naan Kadavul Illai (2023), Thalaikoothal Thalaikoothal (2023), Vaathi Vaathi (2023) and Dasara Dasara (2023).