R. Parthiban


Parthiban is an Indian film actor, director, producer and writer who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He has directed 15 films, produced 14 films and acted in more than 60 films. He started his career as assistant director for K.Bhagyaraj in 1984 and the duo worked in over 20 films from 1984 to 1991.
Parthiban is known for having directed critically acclaimed films such as Pudhiya Paadhai and Housefull won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. In most of his films, Parthiban is a hero who makes jokes and always has a touch of humor with actors and comedians.
His performances as actor are in successful films such as Bharathi Kannamma, Nee Varuvai Ena, Vetri Kodi Kattu, Azhagi, Aayirathil Oruvan, Melvilasom and Otha Seruppu Size 7.
On 25 December 2018, he was appointed as the new Vice President of the Tamil Film Producers Council replacing Gautham Menon and Prakash Raj who were jointly holding the position until 24 December 2018.

Early life

He started as an Assistant Director in the film Vedikkai Manidhargal. He was even given an opportunity to assist in dialogue in the name of R. Moorthy. After this, he joined as an assistant of K. Bhagyaraj. At that time, he used to make around Rs 6000 a month by dubbing for various artists. He made his first film appearance in Ranuva Veeran. Then, he played the role of a postman in his mentor's Dhavani Kanavugal.
Apart from direction and acting, he produces films. He wrote a book, Kirukkkalgal – Thamizh Kavithai Thoguppu, which was released by M. Karunanidhi. He runs a charitable trust named "R. Parthiban Manithaneya Mandram".

Career

In 1989, he made his directorial debut through Pudhiya Paadhai, starring himself as an inhuman ruffian who gets reformed by his rape victim. The film was released to critical acclaim and emerged a box office success, while also winning several accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer. In early 1990, he directed and acted in Pondatti Thevai, which failed at the box office. In the end of 1990, he appeared in lead roles in R. Sundarrajan's Thalattu Padava and in the devotional film Engal Swamy Ayyappan. In 1991, he starred in S. P. Muthuraman's Thaiyalkaran. In 1992, he starred in Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren, co-starring with Suman Ranganathan and Mohini. He then directed and acted in Sugamana Sumaigal, a clean family drama, which failed at the box office. In 1993, to recoup the financial losses, he directed and acted in the commercial film Ulle Veliye. Ayyappa Prasad of The New Indian Express labelled the film as "flesh and bore". Despite negative reviews, the film has been declared a super hit at the box office. He then directed and acted in 1994 in Sarigamapadani, co-starring with Roja and Sangita and the next year in Pullakuttikaran, co-starring with Sangita and Urvashi. In 1996, he acted in the comedy film Tata Birla.
He won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Bharathi Kannamma. He played a man from a lower caste who a zamindari falls in love with. Parthipan, the actor, director and producer, loves breaking the conventional rules set by commercial cinema. He has taken roles that other heroes would carefully avoid, directed films that his critics found to be arty. The actor has remained uncompromising and stuck to his principles in spite of some not-so-memorable roles in the past. After the critically acclaimed and award-winning films such as Housefull and Azhagi, audience and the trade have acknowledged the maker's undisputed talents. His 1999 Tamil film Housefull won the same award.
In 2001, he launched an ambitious directorial project titled Yelelo, with A. R. Rahman composing four songs for the film. Despite having a high-profile launch and completion of a few filming schedules, the venture was shelved. Similarly, he launched 2 films simultaneously titled Rowdy and Adi after the failure of Kudaikul Mazhai. Both projects were abandoned.
The film Aayirathil Oruvan, in which he portrayed a Chola King, won him the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil.
His previously released movie Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam becomes Parthiban's first directorial film in which he does not feature in the lead role. The film, which has a tagline reading "a film without a story?", began production in late 2013 and released on 15 August 2014 and received positive reviews from all the sides and was a huge blockbuster hit in the box office. In 2015, he portrayed a cop in Massu Engira Masilamani and played a comedian villain in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. He acted in supporting role in the Maaveeran Kittu and Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga. He appeared in Kannada movie Dada Is Back, which he played in lead role as undisputed king of the underworld in Bengaluru. Followed by a comedy film, Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam. In 2018, he acted in Bilingual Malayam-Tamil drama movie Kinar.
In 2019, he play in Oththa Seruppu Size 7, with only one character on the screen. Off it too. Written, directed and acted in by R Parthiban, the film has managed to pique the interest of the audience right from its inception. The filmmaker revealed that it was his 18-year dream to make this film, yet the story is timely and relevant. Along with the outstanding performance and sharp visuals, the film is amplified by the amazing sound design which gives life to the uncanny, yet detailed confession of Masilamani.

Filmography

As director

As actor

YearFilmRoleNotes
1981Ranuva VeeranUncredited role
1982Parvaiyin MarupakkamLawyerUncredited role
1983Dhooram AdhighamillaiUncredited role
1984Anbulla RajinikanthBhagyraj's assistant directorUncredited role
1984Dhavani KanavugalPostman Ponnusami
1989Pudhiya Paathai
1990Thalattu PadavaRaja
1990Engal Swamy AyyappanVasuswamy
1991ThaiyalkaranPandian
1992Unnai Vaazhthi PaadugirenRavi
1996Tata BirlaRaja
1997Bharathi KannammaBharathiWinner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor
1997Vaimaye VellumRaja
1997AravindhanThamizhvannan
1997AbhimanyuACP Abhimanyu
1998SwarnamukhiPandian
1998Pudhumai PithanJeeva / Bharath
1999SuyamvaramAzhagappan
1999AnthapuramDubai Pandiyan
1999Nee Varuvai EnaGanesh
1999Unnaruge Naan IrundhalTaxi driver
2000Kakkai SiraginilaeVellaichamy
2000James PanduPandu
2000Unnai Kodu Ennai TharuvenShekharGuest appearance
2000Vetri Kodi KattuMuthuraman
2000SabhashCheenu
2001Ninaikkatha NaalillaiAnbu
2001Narendran Makan Jayakanthan VakaDevasahayamMalayalam film
200112BNarrator
2002AzhagiShanmugam
2002Kadhal VirusHimselfCameo appearance
2003SooriManikandanGuest appearance
2003Kadhal KirukkanSaravanan
2004ThendralNalangkilli
2005Kannadi PookalSakthivel
2005Kundakka MandakkaIlango
2007Ammuvagiya NaanGowrishankar
2008Vallamai TharayoAnand
2010Aayirathil OruvanChola KingWinner, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil
2010Azhagana PonnuthanKarthik
2011MelvilasomRamachandranMalayalam film
2012AmbuliSengodan
2012RachchaSuryanarayanaTelugu film
2013Escape from UgandaAntonyMalayalam film
2013Jannal OramKaruppu
2015MasssACP Vikram Lakshmanan
2015AlexanderMalayalam Film
2015Naanum RowdydhaanKillivalavanNominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil
2016Oru Melliya KoduNarrator
2016Maaveeran KittuChinrasuNominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2017MupparimanamHimselfCameo appearance
2017Dada is BackTippuKannada film
2017Podhuvaga En Manasu ThangamOothukaandaan
2018Kinar
Keni		ShaktivelMalayalam - Tamil bilingual
2019Kuppathu RajaMG Rajendran
2019AyogyaKaalirajan
2019Thittam Poattu Thirudura KootamSethu
2020Ponmagal VandhalRajarathinam