R. V. Udayakumar is an Indian film director, lyricist and actor who worked predominantly in the Tamil film industry throughout the 1990s, making films including Yejaman and Chinna Gounder.[1][2] He has also directed some Telugu films.

R. V. Udayakumar
Born
Occupation(s)Director, actor, lyricist
Years active1988–1996
2005
2012–present
SpouseSujatha

Early life edit

Udayakumar was born to an agricultural family in a village called Mollepalayam near Mettupalayam. His father is Venkatasamy and mother is Kannammal. He graduated with P. U. C from govt Arts and science College and studied BSc in Coimbatore. He joined the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in direction. During the course, Udayakumar directed various short films.[3]

Career edit

He worked as an associate director for films like Neram Vandhachu, Janani and Oomai Vizhigal. He made his directorial debut with Urimai Geetham starring Prabhu and Karthik. The film became successful and RM Veerappan provided him an opportunity to direct his second film Puthiya Vaanam, remake of Hindi film Hukumat. The film starred Sivaji Ganesan and Sathyaraj.[3] He then directed Uruthimozhi. His fourth film Kizhakku Vasal became successful at the box office, the shooting of this film was plagued with various problems. The set which was built for the film was burnt, M. S. Madhu, storywriter of this film suffered from fits after witnessing the fire. Actress Sulakshana was admitted to hospital due to nose bleeding. RV Udayakumar was hospitalised due to car accident and he went into coma for one month. After recovery, Udayakumar completed the climax of the film.[4] His next venture Chinna Gounder featured Vijayakanth as a soft-spoken village chieftain which was radically different from larger than life action roles which he was used to play, it was another successful film for both actor and director. He then directed Singaravelan with Kamal Haasan which also became successful.

After the success of Chinna Gounder, Udayakumar was approached by various producers but he was in confusion in selecting hero for his next film and then he decided to have Rajinikanth as hero for his next film. Rajini agreed to act under the direction of Udayakumar and Udayakumar expressed his interest to make this film for AVM Productions. Initially different script was narrated but Udaykumar later opted to film other script as AVM Saravanan felt that it might go over budget. Meena was selected as heroine, Rajini was initially reluctant to have her as heroine as she appeared as child artist for his film Anbulla Rajinikanth and he felt that his fans might not accept this combination but eventually Rajini agreed to do so.[5] The success of Ejamaan meant that Udayakumar began a film titled Jilla Collecter with Rajinikanth, but the film was later cancelled. He again directed Ponnumani with Karthik which also became successful venture.

He then directed Prabhu's 100th film Rajakumaran which became a flop but featured a successful soundtrack. His subsequent films Nandhavana Theru starring Karthik and Subash starring Arjun became failure and average at box office respectively. He made his debut in Telugu with Tarakaramudu starring Srikanth and Soundarya, became a flop and was dubbed in Tamil as Velli Malare. He then began an incomplete film titled Ulagai Vilai Pesava with Karthik and Malavika, before completing a project called Chinna Ramasamy Periya Ramasamy with himself and Jayaram in leading roles. In spite of the soundtrack being released, the film remains unreleased.[6][7][8] He was announced to direct Telugu remake of Nandha with Kalyanram which failed to proceed after launch.[9] He then made a comeback with Karka Kasadara introducing actor Vijay's cousin Vikranth in lead role. The film flopped at box office and Udayakumar opted against directing films and started portraying supporting roles as an actor.

Personal life edit

Udayakumar is married to Sujatha who provided the story for many of his films.[10]

Filmography edit

As director edit

Year Film Language Verdict
1988 Urimai Geetham Tamil
1988 Puthiya Vaanam Tamil
1990 Urudhi Mozhi Tamil
1990 Kizhakku Vasal Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Third prize)
1992 Chinna Gounder Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Third prize)
1992 Singaravelan Tamil
1993 Yajaman Tamil
1993 Ponnumani Tamil
1994 Rajakumaran Tamil
1995 Nandhavana Theru Tamil
1996 Subash Tamil
1997 Taraka Ramudu Telugu
2000 Chinna Ramasamy Periya Ramasamy Tamil Unreleased
2005 Karka Kasadara Tamil
2011 Mr. Rascal Telugu (Remake of Thirttu Payale)

As actor edit

As lyricist edit

Year Film name Song name Music Notes
1988 Urimai Geetham all songs Manoj-Gyan
1990 Urudhi Mozhi All songs Ilaiyaraaja
1990 Kizhakku Vasal Paadi Parandha, Pachaimalai Poo, Vandhadhe, Thalukki Ilaiyaraaja
1992 Singaravelan Innum Ennai Ilaiyaraaja
1992 Chinna Gounder all songs Ilaiyaraaja
1993 Ponnumani all songs Ilaiyaraaja
1993 Ejamaan Yejaman Kaaladi, Nilave Mugam, Aalapol, Idiye Aanalum, Oru Naalum, Thookuchattiya, Urakka Kattura Ilaiyaraaja
1993 Dharmaseelan Kinnaram Ilaiyaraaja
1994 Rajakumaran all songs Ilaiyaraaja
1995 Nandhavana Theru all songs Ilaiyaraaja
1995 Periya Kudumbam Muchathu Maadapura, Thathi Thathi Ilaiyaraaja
1996 Subash all songs Vidyasagar
1997 Dharma Chakkaram all songs Deva
1998 Velai Oivedu Nilave Yuvan Shankar Raja
1998 Guru Paarvai Vekkali Amman Deva
2000 Kakkai Siraginilae all songs Ilaiyaraaja
2002 Shree T. S. Muralidharan
2003 Chokka Thangam Enna Nenacha Deva
2005 Karka Kasadara all songs Prayog

References edit

  1. ^ "Archive News". The Hindu. 22 October 2007. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010.
  2. ^ "A director's take on movies". The Hindu. 27 November 2004. p. 03. Archived from the original on 25 January 2005 – via The Hindu (old).
  3. ^ a b "சத்யா மூவிஸ் படத்தில் சிவாஜிகணேசனை டைரக்ட் செய்த உதயகுமார்" [Udayakumar directed Sivaji Ganesan for Sathya Movies]. Maalai Malar. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016.
  4. ^ "கிழக்கு வாசல் படப்பிடிப்பின்போது விபத்தில் சிக்கிய உதயகுமார்" [Udayakumar met with accident during the shoot of 'Kizhakku Vaasal']. Maalai Malar. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016.
  5. ^ "உதயகுமார் டைரக்ஷனில் ரஜினிகாந்த்" [Udayakumar directed Rajinikanth]. Maalai Malar. 14 April 2016. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Dinakaran". www.dinakaran.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  7. ^ "A-Z (Ii)". Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-02-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Gokul's Tamil Cinema News". oocities.org.
  9. ^ "Muhurat Function - Production No.3 - Sri Mahaganapathy Films". Idlebrain. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  10. ^ "ஐடியா கொடுப்பதே முதல் வேலை!". Kalki (in Tamil). 17 March 1996. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.