Velu Prabakaran (1956 or 1957 – 18 July 2025) was an Indian filmmaker, cinematographer, and actor, who worked in Tamil-language films. He was known for his themes highlighting atheism and revolutionary subjects in his films.[1][failed verification]
Velu Prabakaran | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1956 or 1957 Madras, Madras State, India |
| Died | 18 July 2025 (aged 68) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations | Film director, actor, cinematographer |
| Years active | 1980–2025 |
| Spouse | Shirley Das |
Career
editPrabakaran began as a cinematographer before making his directorial debut with the 1989 horror film Nalaya Manithan, before also directing its sequel Adhisaya Manithan (1990). He then made two more consecutive action films under R. K. Selvamani's production in Asuran and Rajali, both box office failures.[2] He then worked on action films with lead characters often depicted as revolutionaries, making Kadavul (1997), Sivan (1999), and Puratchikkaaran (2000). In 2000, he began pre-production on a film titled Deepavali, and approached Kamal Haasan to play the lead role. However, the actor's rejection meant that the project was later shelved.[3][failed verification]
Prabakaran began work on the production of a film titled Kadhal Arangam in 2004, writing the story, screenplay, and dialogue for the project.[4] Starring newcomers Preethi Rangayani and Shirley Das, he revealed that the film would expose the falsehood of kama in society, though he later gave directorial credits of the film to his brother Velu Raja. The film also takes on the prevailing caste system and explores sexuality. Film censors were not willing to give it a certificate due to objectionable scenes and an ongoing battle with the censor board emerged in December 2004.[5] In December 2006, Prabakaran held an emotional appeal at a press conference stating that the film touched upon issues of social concern and stressed the importance of sex education amongst youngsters. In 2009, he finally agreed to tone down the scenes and mute certain dialogues and to compromise with the censors on the film, and changed the title from Kadhal Arangam to Kadhal Kathai.[6] In the title credits of the film, Prabakaran included an extended scene which narrates his opinions and difficulties of the film's release. He noted that parts were autobiographical.[7] The film opened to very negative reviews from critics, with one reviewer noting "the movie has apparently no script or whatever and is a string of events interspersed with sex scenes."[8] Another critic noted "it's too boring to even qualify as a sex flick", describing the film as "unwatchable".[9]
In 2009, he signed on to direct a film titled Deva Dasi telling the tale of a 16th-century romance. During delays, he began another project titled Mugamoodi Koothu and then another titled Kalainganin Kadhal,[citation needed] in which he would play the lead roles.[10] The projects failed to take off and Prabakaran kept away from the film industry for a number of years before releasing a teaser trailer to Oru Iyakkunarin Kadhal Diary in January 2017.[citation needed]
Personal life and death
editPrabhakaran was once married to actress and director P. Jayadevi.[citation needed] In June 2017, Prabakaran announced his marriage to Shirley Das, who had acted in his film Kadhal Kadhai (2009).[11][12]
Prabhakaran died after a long illness on 18 July 2025, at the age of 68.[13][14]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Cinematographer | |||
| 1980 | Ivargal Vithyasamanavargal |  | |||
| 1980 | Matravai Neril | | |||
| 1989 | Nalaya Manithan | | | | |
| Sariyana Jodi | | | |||
| 1989 | Pick Pocket | | |||
| 1990 | Adhisaya Manithan | | |||
| 1991 | Uruvam | | |||
| 1993 | Uthama Raasa | | |||
| 1995 | Puthiya Aatchi | | | | |
| Asuran | | | |||
| 1996 | Rajali | | | ||
| 1997 | Kadavul | | | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer | |
| 1999 | Sivan | | | | |
| 2000 | Puratchikkaaran | | | ||
| 2003 | Vikadan | | |||
| 2009 | Kadhal Kadhai | | | ||
| 2017 | Oru Iyakkunarin Kadhal Diary | | | ||
As an actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Sariyana Jodi | ||
| 1995 | Puthiya Aatchi | Tamizhmani | |
| 1997 | Kadavul | Rajapandi | |
| 2000 | Puratchikkaaran | Tamizhmani | |
| 2007 | Naalaiya Pozhuthum Unnodu | ||
| 2009 | Kadhal Kadhai | Himself | |
| 2011 | Pathinaaru | ||
| 2017 | Oru Iyakkunarin Kadhal Diary | ||
| 2019 | Gangs of Madras | ||
| 2021 | Jango | ||
| Anti Indian | Hajiyar | ||
| 2022 | Cadaver | ||
| 2023 | Pizza 3: The Mummy | ||
| Raid | |||
| 2024 | Weapon | Omkar | |
| Appu VI STD | |||
| 2025 | Gajaana |
References
edit- ↑ Kumar, S.R.Ashok (10 March 2007). "Film runs into trouble with Censor Board". The Hindu (india). Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "reference". Indolink.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Nn". cinematoday2.itgo.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Making a mark". The Hindu. 24 May 2004. Archived from the original on 30 October 2004. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Velu Prabhakaran's clash with censors". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Velu Prabakaran's bold film gets censor nod!". Sify. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Grill Mill". The Hindu. 26 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "KADHAL KADHAI MOVIE REVIEW". Behindwoods. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Kadhal Kadhai — Perverse, uninteresting and badly made". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "Velu Prabakaran's 'Mugamoodi Koothu'". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ↑ "60-year-old director Velu Prabhakaran marries actress Shirley Das". 4 June 2017.
- ↑ "Tamil director Velu Prabhakaran marries his Kadhal Kadhai heroine Shirley Das". India Today. 4 June 2017.
- ↑ Features, C. E. (18 July 2025). "Tamil filmmaker-cinematographer Velu Prabhakaran passes away". Cinema Express. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ "Veteran Tamil Filmmaker Velu Prabhakaran Passes Away at 68; A Legacy of Bold Cinema Ends". Filmy Charcha. Retrieved 18 July 2025.