Famous & Highest Paid Director of South Indian cinema
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S.S.Rajamouli is an Indian filmmaker who primarily works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the most celebrated filmmakers ever of the Indian film industry and pioneered the Pan-Indian films movement. Rajamouli was born in a Telugu family to V. Vijayendra Prasad and Raja Nandini. Both his parents hail from Andhra Pradesh.
Rajamouli has directed 12 feature films so far, including mega blockbusters like Baahubali: The Beginning, Baahubali: The Conclusion, and RRR. Through his Baahubali series, Rajamouli pioneered the Pan-Indian films movement. His next film, tentatively called SSMB29, is a globetrotting action adventure & first collaboration with "Superstar" Mahesh Babu which is is expected to begin its production in 2024.
Eega (2012) won nine awards at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, including the Most Original Film. Baahubali films have received six Saturn Award nominations with Baahubali 2 (2017) winning the Best International Film. His latest directorial "RRR" (2022) received various international accolades including the 1st Academy Award for India, a Golden Globe Award for the song "Naatu Naatu" & nomination for Best Foreign language film, and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
A self confessed "film freak", Rajamouli's penchant for filmmaking is best captured by the word "emotion". He has often stated that his films are based on stories driven by human emotions. While scaling up his work with "larger-than-life" themes over the years, Rajamouli maintained his signature style of filmmaking that allows audience to simmer in the thrills and emotions of the story with less dialogue.
He is a recipient of various national and international honors including a prestigious New York Film Critics Circle award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Saturn Awards, and four National Film Awards. In 2016, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri (fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India), for his contributions in the field of art. In 2023, he was included on the Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the worldSalary : 35cr + 1/3 of film's share
Popular for Commercial Ascept Movies
1 Student No.1 Super Hit
2 Simhadri Super Hit
3 Sye Above Average
4 Chhatrapati Super Hit
5 Vikramarkudu Super Hit
6 Yamadonga Super Hit
7 Magadheera Super Hit
8 Maryada Ramanna Hit
9 Eega Super Hit
10 Bahubali 1 Industry Hit
11 Bahubali 2 Industry Hit- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Shankar is an Indian film director and producer who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He started his career as an assistant director to SA Chandrasekar and now he is the highest paid director in the country. He made his debut in Gentleman (1993) and since 2015 he has directed 12 movies. He won the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year 2010, in the Entertainment category.Salary : 30cr + % of film's share
Popular for Big budget commercial with message oriented
1 Gentleman Super Hit
2 Kadhalan Super Hit
3 Gentleman Super Hit
4 Indian Blockbuster
5 Jeans Blockbuster
6 Mudhalvan Blockbuster
7 Nayak Average
8 Boys Super Hit
9 Anniyan Super Hit
10 Sivaji Blockbuster
11 Enthiran All time Blockbuster
12 Nanban Hit
13 I Average- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Murugadoss Arunasalam, commonly known by his stage name AR Murugadoss, is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who predominantly works in the Tamil Film Industry. He is best known for his action Tamil films and Telugu films and for remaking them in Hindi cinema. Murugadoss won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for his 2014 Tamil action-drama film Kaththi.Murugadoss was born in Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu. The initials "AR" refer to his father's name Arunasalam and were added after Murugadoss signed his first film, Dheena, in 2001. Murugadoss currently resides in Virugambakkam, Chennai. Murugadoss had his schooling at the Government Higher Secondary School and studied BA in Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirapalli. His brother, Dileepan made his acting debut with Vathikuchi, which is Murugadoss' production venture.Salary : 28cr
Popular for Versatile way of class movies
1 Dheena Blockbuster
2 Ramanna Blockbuster
3 Ghajini Blockbuster
4 Stalin Blockbuster
5 Ghajini Blockbuster
6 7am arivu Flop
7 Thuppakki All time Blockbuster
8 Holiday Super Hit
9 Kaththi Super Hit
10 Akira Flop
11 Spyder Flop- Writer
- Director
- Music Department
Trivikram Srinivas is an Indian screenwriter and director famous for his works in Telugu Cinema. Hailed by his admirers as "Guruji" and "Maatala Maanthrikudu" or the "Wizard of Words", he is famous for his witty and thought provoking dialogues. Born as Akella Naga Srinivasa Sarma, he started his career as a dialogue and scriptwriter for many hit movies like Swayamvaram (1999), Nuvve Kavali (2000), Nuvvu Naaku Nachchav (2001) and Malliswari (2004) to name a few. He debuted as director with the critically acclaimed movie Nuvve.. Nuvve... (2002). He later went on to direct many successful movies with big stars in the lead.Salary : 26cr
Popular for magical dialogues and commercial elements
1 Nuvve nuvve Average
2 Athadu Hit
3 Jalsa Hit
4 Khaleja Flop
5 Thenmeer Super Hit
6 Julai Blockbuster
7 Attarintiki daredhi All time Blockbuster
8 S/O sathyamoorthy Blockbuster
9 AAA Super Hit
10 Agnyaathavaasi Average
11 Chal mohan ranga Flop- Actor
- Director
- Writer
K.S. Ravikumar was born on 30 May 1958 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He is an actor and director, known for Dasavatharam (2008), Padaiyappa (1999) and Varalaaru (2006). He is married to Karpagam Ravikumar.Salary : 25cr
Popular for Mass Commercial and Entertaining films
1 Puriyaadha puthir Hit
2 Cheran pandian Hit
3 Pudham pudhu payanam Average
4 Band master Hit
5 Aagaram Average
6 Police commando Hit
7 Naattamai Industry Hit
8 Muthu Industry Hit
9 Mr. Romeo Hit
10 Avvai shanmugi Industry Hit
11 Pista Flop
12 Narasimhadu Hit
13 Sreya kosam Super Hit
14 Padayappa Industry Hit
15 Minsara kanna Flop
16 Thenali Flop
17 Villan Industry Hit
18 Panjathandiram Average
19 Varalaaru All time Blockbuster
20 Samuthiram Hit
21 Dasavathaaram Industry Hit
22 Aadhavan Flop
23 Ghatikudu Flop
24 Jaggubhai Flop
25 Manmadhan ambu Flop
26 Police giri Super Hit
27 Lingaa Flop
28 Mudinja ivana pidi Flop
29 Jai simha Hit- Writer
- Director
- Cinematographer
Siva was born on 12 August 1977 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He is a writer and director, known for Viswasam (2019), Vivegam (2017) and Annaatthe (2021).Salary : 20cr
Popular for Mass Masala and Commercial elements like k.s.ravikumar with delightful cinematography
1 Souryam Blockbuster
2 Sankham Average
3 Siruthai All time Blockbuster
4 Daruvu Super Hit
5 Veeram Blockbuster
6 Vedalam All time Blockbuster
7 Vivegam Hit- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Arun Kumar ( born 21 September 1986 ) mononymously known as Atlee, is a film director, screenwriter and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. As a film maker, he is known for his directorial debut "Raja Rani", starring Nayathara, Nazriya, Arya and Jai, produced by Fox Star Studios, for which he was awarded best debut director by Vijay Awards and Tamil Nadu Sate award for best dialogue writer. Following the massive success of his debut film, he directed his next blockbuster hit " Theri " (2016) starring actor Vijay as the lead. He directed his next films " Mersal " ( 2017 ) and " Bigil " ( 2019 ), also featuring actor Vijay. Atlee's upcoming film is Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Vijay Sethupathy and Nayanthara in the lead roles. The film is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and is scheduled for release in June 2023 in five languages.Salary : 20cr
Popular for making old version popular stories as New life style with Commercial and Entertaining ventures like mani ratnam, sundar.c 90s 20s
1 Raja rani Industry Hit
2 Theri Blockbuster
3 Mersal All time Blockbuster- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Bandreddi Sukumar, popularly known as Sukumar, is a screenwriter, film director, and producer of Telugu films.
Sukumar was born to Tirupathi Rao Naidu, a rice trader, and Veera Veni, a homemaker. He studied at a Zilla Parishad High School in Razole in Andhra Pradesh. He went on to complete his master's degree in Mathematics.
Before joining the film industry, Sukumar worked as a mathematics lecturer at a junior college in Bhimavaram. He decided to switch careers when he felt his life as a lecturer had become too mundane.
After moving to Hyderabad to pursue a career in the film industry, he began writing for TV serials and films. He later worked as an assistant director in a few movies, including Manasichi Choodu (1999).
Sukumar made his directorial debut with Arya (2004), a romantic entertainer starring Allu Arjun, Siva Balaji, and Anuradha Mehta. He also wrote the screenplay for the film. The story revolves around three college students with love as the key theme. The film was a massive blockbuster and ran over 420 days across eight centres. Sukumar won the Filmfare South Award (2004) for Best Director - Telugu for this movie. He also won the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer in 2004. The film brought him into the limelight overnight.
His second directorial venture was Jagadam (2007), an action movie that had Ram Pothineni and Isha Sahani playing the lead roles. He was the screenplay writer for this movie as well. The film depicts the story of a child who wants to become a thug growing up and the challenges he has to face later in his life due to his fascination.
He then wrote and directed Arya 2 (2009) next. It was the namesake sequel of Arya (2004) and featured Allu Arjun, Navdeep, and Kajal Aggarwal in lead roles. The film deals with the love-hate relationship between two childhood friends who fall in love with the same girl. Arya 2 received mixed reviews from critics.
In his next film, 100% Love (2011), Sukumar explored the romantic comedy genre in which Naga Chaitanya Akkineni and Tamannaah Bhatia portrayed the main characters. The storyline was about the ego hassles between two college students who are very competitive in their studies and have fallen in love with each other. The movie proved to be a big hit.
In 2014, Sukumar directed the psychological action thrille 1: Nenokkadine (2014), with Mahesh Babu and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. The film was about a rockstar with a psychological condition who seeks to avenge his parent's death, and it received mixed reviews from critics.
The same year, he directed I Am That Change (2014), a short film starring Allu Arjun. It received a positive response.
He next directed To Father with Love (2016), an action thriller in which N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Rajendra Prasad, and Rakul Preet Singh played the lead characters. The film revolves around the emotional relationship between a son and his father, spanning the last month of the latter's life. It got positive responses from critics.
His next venture as a writer-cum-director was Rangasthalam 1985 (2018), a period drama starring Ram Charan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Aadhi in pivotal roles. The film narrates the story of two brothers and their fight against corrupt village governance. It was a massive hit at the box office and became one of the highest-grossing Telegu movies of 2018.
Sukumar then directed Pushpa: The Rise - Part 1 (2021), in which the lead roles were played by Allu Arjun, Fahadh Faasil, and Rashmika Mandanna. The film traces the story of a labourer name Pushpa who rises through the ranks of a smuggling syndicate dealing in red sandalwood and his tussle with the law regarding illegal trade. The film was a huge commercial success and became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2021.
Sukumar married Thabitha Sukumar in 2009.The couple met at a screening of his directorial film, Arya. They gradually fell in love, but Thabitha's parents were opposed to the match. The couple married in the presence of Sukumar's parents and her sister. Thabitha's parents later accepted their relationship. The couple has two kids, a son and a daughter.Salary : 12cr
Popular for Stylish and Entertaining films in commercial angles
1 Arya Blockbuster
2 Jagadam Hit
3 Arya 2 All time Blockbuster
4 100% love Hit
5 1 Nenikkodine Average
6 I am that change Average
7 Kumar 21F Hit
8 Nanakku prematho Hit
9 Rangasathalam Industry Hit- Writer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Koratala Siva was born on 15 June 1975 in Andhra Pradesh, India. He is a writer and director, known for Janatha Garage (2016), Srimanthudu (2015) and Mirchi (2013).Salary : 11cr
Popular for Class Commercial and Entertaining films like commercial king Trivikram srinivasan
1 Mirchi All time Blockbuster
2 Srimanthudu Blockbuster
3 Janatha garage Blockbuster
4 Bharat ane nenu Blockbuster- Writer
- Producer
- Director
The man who revolutionized Tamil-language cinema, Mani Ratnam is the biggest director in south India and one of the most respected directors in all of India. Each of his films contain its own unique style, with beautifully photographed songs and unique back-lighting. However, his films contain substance as well as style--Ratnam has dealt with a wide variety of topics, from the classic Indian love story to political thrillers.
He was born in Madras in 1956. Filmmaking was in his blood; he was the son of film producer 'Venus Gopalratnam' and his brother was G. Venkateswaran, a film distributor turned producer. Ironically, however, he studied at Madras University and received a management degree at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, and had initially started out as a management consultant. His first film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983), starring Anil Kapoor, didn't make many waves, although it won the State Award from Karnataka that year, but even though he made two films in Tamil and one in Malayalam, nothing worked for him until he broke through with Mouna Ragam (1986). Starring Revathi, the film told the tale of a woman who, although forced into an arranged marriage, chooses to maintain a platonic relationship with her husband. The film was noted for its sophisticated approach and execution of an extremely sensitive topic.
His next film, Nayakan (1987), was also arguably his greatest. A take-off on Francis Ford Coppola' legendary The Godfather (1972), it established Ratnam as the leading director of Tamil-language Cinema and won its leading actor Kamal Haasan the National Award for Best Actor. The film draws on 30 years of Tamil Nadu's celebrity images and directly played to the anti-Hindi feelings of Tamil Nadu when the protagonist, beaten up, tells the Hindi policeman in Bombay, "If I ever hit you, you will die!"
Then came the best of his early work - Agni Natchathiram (1988), Geethanjali (1989), and Anjali (1990). The first was a tale of conflict between two step-brothers. Shot with glossy camera work, the film resembled a cross between an advertisement and a music video, and set a trend for a whole new visual style in Tamil-language Cinema. The next, Geethanjali (1989), shot in Ooty to create a soft and poetic mood, was a touching love story between two terminally ill people with less than six months left. The third, Anjali (1990), about a disabled child brought back to her family with two normal children had been chosen by India to be sent to the Oscars for Best Foreign-language Film, but it did not receive a nomination. The next year saw his first, and only collaboration so far, with the Tamil superstar Rajni Kant in the film Thalapathi (1991). It also starred Mamooty, along side a host of other actor. This star studded film was a gritty tale of an orphan who grows up to become a notorious gang member in Chennai. The story was inspired by the great epic of Mahabharata.
It was Roja (1992) that made Ratnam a household name all over India. A patriotic love story set against the backdrop of Kashmiri terrorism, the film was dubbed in Hindi and became a huge national success. It enforced Ratnam as a director of style and substance, as well as proving a highly auspicious debut for the now-acclaimed music director A.R. Rahman, whom Ratnam had discovered. It helped that India's at-the-time election commissioner T. N. Seshan took the rare step of officially endorsing the film. Thiruda Thiruda (1993), a remake of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) was a misfire, but Ratnam bounced back with Bombay (1995), a politically charged romance between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman during the 1993 riots in Mumbai. The film underwent some controversy due to its slightly anti-Muslim viewpoint, but it contributed widely to the success of the film.
Continuing his political obsession, Ratnam made Iruvar (1997), based on the MGR-Karunanidhi affair, and Dil Se.. (1998), which starred superstars Manisha Koirala and Shah Rukh Khan. The latter was Ratnam's first Hindi-language film. Based on the northeast Indian problem, it told the story of a radio executive and a revolutionary. It had an excellent cast, beautifully crafted scenes, and most of all one of A.R. Rahman's greatest tunes--but did not go down too well with the audience, who hailed it as a strange and confusing film that headed nowhere. However, today it is held as ahead of its time, being that it was shot pre-9/11, and is now hailed as a contemporary classic.
He returned to familiar ground with Alai Payuthey (2000), which tackled the story of a couple in love that goes through the trials and tribulations of marriage. His subsequent film, Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), which told the tale of an adopted girl meeting her terrorist mother, saw Ratnam back in form as one of the greatest storytellers in Indian Cinema. His next film, Yuva (2004), saw Ratnam return to Hindi-language cinema after six years, but in spite of some fine flourishes, the film largely failed to work. However, don't take him too lightly: he is sure to return with something new next time....Salary : 10cr
Popular for slow screenplay with interesting story & sensitive light hearted dialogues.
1 Pallavi anu pallavi Hit
2 Unaru Hit
3 Pagal nilavu Average
4 Idaya neram Hit
5 Mouna ragam Industry Hit
6 Nayagan Industry Hit
7 Agni natchathiram Hit
8 Anjali Super Hit
9 Roja Super Hit
10 Thalapathi Industry Hit
11 Charityan Industry Hit
12 Thiruda Thiruda Super Hit
13 Bombay Super Hit
14 Iruvar Average
15 Dil se Flop
16 Alaipaayuthey Industry Hit
17 Kannathil muthamittal Flop
18 Yuva Flop
19 Ayutha eluthu Hit
20 Guru Flop
21 Ravanan Flop
22 Raavan Average
23 Kadal Flop
24 Ok kanmani Flop
25 Kaatru veylidai Flop