Agathiyan is a recognised Indian film director, screenwriter and producer known predominantly for his directorial works in the Tamil Cinema. He has been honoured with the National Film Award for Best Direction as well as the National Film Award for Best Screenplay in the year 1996, for his Tamil romance film "Kadhal Kottai".
Film Career of Agathiyan
Agathiyan, a director in his late forties born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, entered films and initially struggled as an assistant to various directors. Hailing from an agriculturist family, he spent a happy-go-lucky time in college. When he decided to pack his bags and move to Chennai to try his luck in films as a director, he lost his family`s support. Struggling with no money, he engaged in odd jobs in film companies and became an assistant to anyone who offered him food and shelter.
Anbalaya Prabhakaran who produces low budget films with new directors, gave Agathiyan his first break as a director with the Tamil film `Madhumathi`, a teenage love story that featured new faces. Agathiyan had previously written the 1992 Tamil drama film "Pondatti Rajyam", directed by K. S. Ravikumar. "Madhumati", also written by Agathiyan released in 1993 and bombed at the box office and he was back to where he started but again fate had bigger things in store for him. Sivashakthi Pandian, a film distributor turned producer, produced Agathiyan"s subsequent directorial venture "Vaanmathi" that featured Ajith Kumar and Swathi in the lead. Portraying hatred that slowly transforms into love between two young people from very different financial backgrounds, the film released in 1996 and became a modest hit. Agathiyan"s subsequent venture was the romance film `Kadhal Kottai`, which again featured Ajith Kumar alongside Devayani in the lead. Produced by Sivashakthi Pandian, the film upon release in July 1996 garnered positive critical acclaim and became a major commercial success at the box office, going on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the National Film Award for Best Direction as well as the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Agathiyan. It was remade into several Indian regional languages. Post "Kadhal Kottai", Agathiyan became the toast of the industry and offers started pouring in for films.
In late 1996, "Gokulathil Seethai" released, a drama film featuring Karthik, Suvalakshmi and Karan in the lead. It performed well at the box office and got remade in several languages, including in Kannada as "Krishna Leele" and in Hindi as "Hum Ho Gaye Aapke" that Agathiyan himself directed, featuring actor Fardeen Khan and released in 2001. In 1997, he wrote and directed the drama film "Vidukathai", which starred Prakash Raj and Neena in the lead, and was produced by K. Balachander. It received positive reviews but failed to perform well at the box office. The director wrote "Santhosham", a comedy film directed by debutant Karthik. "Kadhal Kavithai", a Tamil romance released in 1998, featuring Prashanth and Isha Koppikar in the lead. It became a critical and commercial success. Agathiyan"s first Hindi directorial was "Sirf Tum", featuring Sanjay Kapoor and Priya Gill. It was the Bollywood remake of the director"s National Award-winning film "Kadhal Kottai", released in 1999 after which Agathiyan directed "Hum Ho Gaye Aapke". Agathiyan had also made a cameo appearance in the 1999 musical-romantic comedy "Poovellam Kettuppar" and the 2001 film "Vinnukkum Mannukkum".
Agathiyan wrote and directed an unreleased Tamil comedy "Kadhal Samrajyam". His next film, "Ramakrishna", was a family drama produced by Sivashakthi Pandian, released in 2004. The same year, he ventured into Telugu Cinema, with the film "Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu", starring Ravi Teja. He turned producer with the 2005 film "Selvam", a Tamil romantic drama featuring Nandha Durairaj, Uma and Vani. It received above average reviews. He featured as the father of protagonist Thiru in T. Nagarajan-directed action film "Agaram". He last wrote and directed "Nenjathai Killadhe", a drama film which opened to mixed reviews and stood a box office failure. He appeared in 2011 Tamil films "Avargalum Ivargalum" and "Maithanam".
Filmography of Agathiyan
The films in which Agathiyan has worked as a director, screenwriter, producer and actor are enlisted hereunder.
| Year | Film |
| 1992 | Pondatti Rajyam |
| 1993 | Madhumathi |
| 1996 | Vaanmathi |
| 1996 | Kaadhal Kottai |
| 1996 | Gokulathil Seethai |
| 1997 | Vidukathai |
| 1998 | Santhosham |
| 1999 | Kaadhal Kavithai |
| 1999 | Sirf Tum (Hindi) |
| 2001 | Hum Ho Gaye Aapke (Hindi) |
| 1999 | Poovellam Kettuppar |
| 2001 | Vinnukkum Mannukkum |
| 2002 | Kadhal Samrajyam |
| 2004 | Ramakrishna |
| 2004 | Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu (Telugu) |
| 2005 | Selvam |
| 2007 | Agaram |
| 2008 | Nenjathai Killadhe |
| 2011 | Avargalum Ivargalum |
| 2011 | Maithanam |
