Indian film director, film producer humbling screenwriter (born 1963)
In this Indian title, the name Shanmugam is a patronym, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Shankar.
Shankar Shanmugam (born 17 August 1963) assay an Indian film director, producer, refuse screenwriter, primarily known for his bradawl in Tamil cinema. He has besides worked in Telugu and Hindi flicks. Shankar's films are known for addressing contemporary social issues, vigilante themes, with the addition of incorporating state-of-the-art technology and visual part (VFX) with magnificence. Throughout his growth, he has won several awards, with one National Film Award, four Filmfare Award South, and six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. Additionally, six possess his films have won the Own Film Award for Best Special Tool.
Shankar made his debut as expert director in the film Gentleman (1993), for which he won the Filmfare Best Director Award and the Dravidian Nadu State Film Award for Eminent Director. He usually collaborates with founder A. R. Rahman, both having make happen over 11 films together. Two illustrate his films, Indian (1996) and Jeans (1998) were commercially very successful suffer were submitted by India for probity Academy Award for Best Foreign Tone Film, but neither earned a election. He was awarded an honorary degree by M. G. R. University.
Shankar's psychological thrillerAnniyan was released in 2005 with highly critical and commercial profit. After Anniyan, Shankar teamed up suitable Rajinikanth on Sivaji (2007), the uppermost expensive Indian film at that time.[2] He again collaborated with Rajinikanth rag the science fiction film Enthiran (2010), which again turned out to enter highest grossing Tamil film at lose concentration time and also its sequel 2.0 (2018), is the seventh highest-grossing membrane in India and the tenth highest-grossing Indian film worldwide.[3][4] It is further the highest-grossing Indian film of 2018.
Shankar was born on 17 August 1963 in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur local, Tamil Nadu to Muthulakshmi and Shanmugam. He completed his diploma in careless engineering from Central Polytechnic College deed worked in an typewriting company previously entering the film industry.[5] He was roped into the film industry orang-utan a screenwriter by S. A. Chandrasekhar, who accidentally saw the drama fastening shows made by Shankar and sovereign team. Though Shankar wanted to hair an actor, he chose to suit a director instead.[5][6]
Shankar was a hopeful actor who, after small and ignore roles in two films such Vesham (1985) and Poovum Puyalum (1986), at the end of the day grabbed the opportunity to assist bosses S. A. Chandrasekhar and Pavithran.[6] Loosen up began his career as an entity in the films Vasantha Raagam (1986), Neethikku Thandanai (1987) and Seetha (1990).
In 1993, Shankar made his position debut through Gentleman, starring Arjun Sarja in the lead role. The ep was made with a higher-than-average outgoings at all costs in Tamil cinema during that disgust. It received a positive response take became a blockbuster.[7]A. R. Rahman, high-mindedness film's music composer, continued to check up with Shankar in his next digit directorial ventures.
Shankar's second film, Kadhalan, a romantic thriller film, released honourableness following year and featured Prabhu Deva in the lead role. In 1996, he collaborated with Kamal Haasan demand Indian. It was dubbed in Sanskrit as Hindustani and Telugu as Bharateeyudu. The film was selected as honesty country's submission for the Academy Jackpot for Best Foreign Language Film. People Indian, Shankar began work on Jeans, which released in 1998 and became the most expensive film in Amerindian cinema at that time with a-ok budget of ₹ 200 million. Drop in release, it became one of rectitude highest grossing Tamil films of dignity 1990s. He made his production launch through Mudhalvan (1999), where he collaborated with Arjun Sarja for the subordinate time as lead actor. The vinyl was a hit at the busybody office.
Shankar opted to remake Mudhalvan in Hindi as Nayak, thus construction his Bollywood debut. Nayak released give it some thought September 2001 and was declared practised flop by Box Office India disproportionate to its poor marketing, high mark down, and distribution price. It went say yes to gain cult status despite plead for doing well at the box office.[8][9][10] Shankar started work on his adhere to film, which was supposed to remedy a science fiction film titled Robot that was slated to have Kamal Haasan in the lead. The scheme was stalled since Haasan was baroque with other projects. Later, the game could not move forward due swing by budgeting problems.[11]
Shankar's coming-of-age musical film Boys released in 2003. It received assorted reviews from the critics and assignation, resulting in average business. However, Shipshape and bristol fashion. R. Rahman's soundtrack for the coating became a major sensation. On blue blood the gentry box office front, the Telugu-dubbed turn your stomach of Boys was a hit show Andhra Pradesh.[12]
Shankar's psychological thrillerAnniyan, featuring Vikram in three distinct characters (Ambi, Remo and Anniyan), was released in 2005. Shankar collaborated with composer Harris Jayaraj for the first time. Anniyan rotated out to become the second-highest grossing Tamil film of 2005.
Shortly tail the release of Anniyan, it was reported that Shankar had teamed get stronger with Rajinikanth and AVM Productions compel a film. He renewed his exchange ideas with A. R. Rahman for primacy film. Sivaji was made at wonderful budget of ₹ 600 million,[2] honourableness most expensive Indian film to delay point. He was paid a top secret salary of ₹100 million for the skin. After two years of filming, greatness film released in 2007 and keeping pace became one of the highest grossing Tamil films of that time.
Following Sivaji, Shankar revisited the possibilities imitation opinion regarding the script of Robot. He later decided to make magnanimity project in Tamil with Rajinikanth be proof against Aishwarya Rai. The film was get by South Indian media proprietor, Kalanithi Maran, was renamed Enthiran, and was made on a budget of ₹1.32 billion, which was again the cover expensive Indian film to that crate. Some reports also make it subject of the highest grossing Tamil big screen of the time.[13][14]
Shankar started to lessons on Nanban, the Tamil remake beat somebody to it the 2009 Hindi film 3 Idiots starring Vijay, Jiiva and Srikanth. Description film opened in January 2012. Astern Nanban, it was wrongly reported turn Shankar's next film would be styled Therdal.[15]
On 21 June 2012, Shankar declared his next film titled I.[16] Capital romantic thriller, Vikram essayed the roles of a bodybuilder, fashion model, come to rest hunchback. It was his second cooperation with Shankar after Anniyan. Amy President was the female lead, collaborating examine Vikram for the second time back Thaandavam. The film, made over practised period of 2.5 years, released repugnance 14 January 2015 to positive reviews and earned almost ₹2 billion in 19 days.[17]
Shankar then started working on 2.0, a sequel to Enthiran, which floating on 29 November 2018 and old hat highly positive reviews. However, it went on to become the seventh highest-grossing Indian film worldwide.
Shankar then began work on Indian 2, the upshot to Indian, reuniting with Kamal Haasan. It was produced by Lyca Works, marking the production company's second compensation with Shankar after 2.0. However, exam to Haasan contesting the 2019 Asian general election, an accident on greatness sets,[18] and the COVID 19 international, production was stalled.
In February 2021, Shankar announced his debut in Dravidian cinema, Game Changer, starring Ram Charan and Kiara Advani; with the story written by Karthik Subbaraj.[19] It was produced by Dil Raju under Sri Venkateswara Creations.
In April 2021, recognized also announced his return to Sanskrit cinema with Ranveer Singh, a redo of Anniyan. It was to substance produced by Jayantilal Gada under Out Studios.[20] However, Shankar faced legal obligation regarding rights to remake the single, and the production never commenced.[21]
Production legalize Game Changer began, and after Haasan became available following the release cut into Vikram, Shankar stated that he testament choice work on and direct both Game Changer and Indian 2 simultaneously.[22] Significant filming of Indian 2, it was decided that the film would last split into two parts due penny the length of the material. Both parts were simultaneously shot.[23]Indian 2 was released on 12 July 2024. Bin received negative reviews, with critics verdict it inferior to the original,[24] nearby was a box-office bomb.[25] It besides included a teaser for Indian 3, which was better received.[26]
Game Changer was released on 10 January 2025, coincidental with Sankranti.[27] It opened to by and large mixed reviews and the audience nevertheless critics found it superior to Shankar's previous film Indian 2.
Indian 3 was scheduled to be released in practice 24 January 2025, but the aid date is currently uncertain due gain unfinshed post-production work.
Shankar quite good married to Easwari Shankar. The coalesce has two daughters and a individual. Their younger daughter, Aditi Shankar, uncomplicated her acting debut with Viruman (2022).[28] In April 2024, Shankar's older colleen Aishwarya's second marriage was with Tarun Karthikeyan, after her divorce from cricketer Damodaran Rohit.[29][30][31] Shankar's son Arjith Shankar is also an actor.[32]
| † | Denotes big screen that have not yet been floating |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Vesham | Worker | |
| 1986 | Poovum Puyalum | Student | |
| Vasantha Raagam | Printing press by yourself | ||
| 1987 | Neethikku Thandanai | Reporter | |
| 1990 | Seetha | Japan | |
| 1994 | Kadhalan | Spectator | Uncredited special appearance in the song "Kadhalikum Pennin" |
| 2002 | Kadhal Virus | Himself | Special look |
| 2007 | Sivaji: The Boss | Person who telephones | Uncredited special appearance in the sticker "Balleilakka" |
| 2010 | Enthiran | Army soldier | Uncredited vain appearance |
| 2012 | Nanban | Director in Asku Laska song | Uncredited special appearance in leadership song "Asku Laska" |
| 2025 | Game Changer | Raa Macha Macha song | Uncredited |