FallonMansom317 at 18:29, 29 March 2026

2026-03-29T18:29:49Z

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{{short description|Indian film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{infobox person
|name =A. Venkatesh
| image = Director A Venkatesh at Sandamarutham Audio Launch.jpg
| caption = Venkatesh at Sandamarutham Audio Launch
|occupation=actor, director
|years_active=1996–present
}}

'''A. Venkatesh''' is an Indian [[film director]] and [[actor]] working in [[Tamil cinema]]. Beginning his career as an assistant, he directed his first film, ''[[Mahaprabhu (film)|Mahaprabhu]]'', in 1996.

==Career==

Initially, he worked as an assistant to director [[K. Rajeshwar]] on ''[[Nyaya Tharasu]]'' (1989) and ''[[Idhaya Thamarai]]'' (1990). He assisted [[Pavithran (Tamil film director)|Pavithran]] on ''[[Vasanthakala Paravai]]'' (1991) and ''[[Suriyan]]'' (1992), then he was an associate director to director [[S. Shankar|Shankar]] on ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]'' (1993) and ''[[Kaadhalan]]'' (1994). During the shooting of the film ''Kaadhalan'', producer G. K. Reddy approached him to direct a film. In 1996, he made his directional debut through ''[[Mahaprabhu (film)|Mahaprabhu]]'' starring [[R. Sarathkumar]], [[Sukanya (actress)|Sukanya]] and [[Vineetha]]. He has directed [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]]'s hit movies including action film ''[[Selva (film)|Selva]]'' (1996) and romance film ''[[Nilaave Vaa]]'' (1998). In 1999, he directed a drama film ''[[Pooparika Varugirom]]'' starring [[Sivaji Ganesan]], [[Vikram Krishna]] and [[Malavika (actress)|Malavika]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9391788/ | title=Pooparika varugirom (1999) - IMDb | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

Following the death of director [[Thirupathisamy]] in 2001, Venkatesh was briefly announced as the new director of the film ''Velan'' featuring [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] and [[Priyanka Chopra]], but the project was later shelved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinematoday3.itgo.com/hot%20news%20-%20140820011.htm |title=S U B A S |publisher=Cinematoday3.itgo.com |access-date=2018-08-05}}</ref>

He started directing action movies with [[Prashanth]]'s ''[[Chocklet]]'' (2001), [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay's]] hit film ''[[Bhagavathi (film)|Bhagavathi]]'' (2002), and [[Silambarasan]]'s ''[[Dum (2003 Tamil film)|Dum]]'' (2003) and ''[[Kuthu]]'' (2004). These were followed by [[Sarathkumar]]'s ''[[Aai (film)|Aai]]'' (2004), ''[[Chanakya (2005 film)|Chanakya]]'' (2005) and [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun's]] ''[[Vathiyar]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/aai/movieshow/62508198.cms | title=AAIA | newspaper=The Times of India }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/chanakya.html#cast | title=Chanakya (2005) | Chanakya Tamil Movie | Chanakya Cast & Crew, Story, Release Date, Review, Photos, Videos }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6765648/ | title=Vathiyar (2006) - IMDb | website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref>

During 2008, Venkatesh worked simultaneously on six productions, which were at different stages of completion. The [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun]]-starrer ''[[Durai (film)|Durai]]'' (2008) and [[Arun Vijay]]'s ''[[Malai Malai]]'' (2009) were released first, while [[Sundar C]]'s ''[[Vaadaa]]'' (2010) and [[Bharath (actor)|Bharath]]'s ''[[Killadi]]'' (2015) had delayed releases. Two further films, [[Prashanth]]'s ''Petrol'' and Sarathkumar's ''Imaya Malai'', were subsequently shelved mid-production.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archives.chennaionline.com/film/startrack/sept08/09ST01.aspx |title=Director Venkatesh on a roll |work=Chennai Online |access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128164511/http://archives.chennaionline.com/film/startrack/sept08/09ST01.aspx |archive-date=28 January 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

He has also acted in various Tamil movies, notably ''[[Angadi Theru]]'' (2010). Venkatesh returned after a two-and-a-half year break with ''[[Nethra]]'' (2019). The filmmaker says the delay was because he had to fulfil commitments as an actor before he could get back to the direction. The film is a psycho-thriller based on a true event which he was witness to at an airport in Canada.<ref name="Director Venkatesh returns with Nethraa">{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Director Venkatesh returns with Nethraa|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Feb/08/director-venkatesh-returns-with-nethraa-10021.html|accessdate=3 December 2025|publisher=Cinema Express|date=8 February 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20251203073659/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2019/Feb/08/director-venkatesh-returns-with-nethraa-10021.html|archivedate=3 December 2025|language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===As director===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Film !! Notes !! {{Reference heading}}
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1996 || ''[[Mahaprabhu (film)|Mahaprabhu]]'' || Debut Direction ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/maha-prabhu.html#cast|title =Mahaprabhu}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Selva (film)|Selva]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/selva.html#cast|title =Selva}}</ref>
|-
|| 1998 || ''[[Nilaave Vaa]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/490/nilaave-vaa-tamil-movie-review|title =Nilaave Vaa|website =MovieCrow}}</ref>
|-
|| 1999 || ''[[Pooparika Varugirom]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9391788/|title =Pooparika Varugirom|website =[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
|-
|| 2001 || ''[[Chocolate (2001 film)|Chocklet]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3907636/|title =Chocolate|website =[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
|-
|| 2002 || ''[[Bhagavathi (film)|Bhagavathi]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/20-years-of-bagavathi-five-highlights-from-vijays-mass-action-film/photostory/95278877.cms|title =20 years of 'Bagavathi': Five highlights from Vijay's mass action film|website =[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
|| 2003 || ''[[Dum (2003 Tamil film)|Dum]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/movies/dum.html#synopsis|title =Dum}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2004 || ''[[Kuthu]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8669144/|title =Kuththu|website =[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Aai (film)|Aai]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2359640/|title =Aai|website =[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
|-
|| 2005 || ''[[Chanakya (2005 film)|Chanakya]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4944374/|title =Chanakya|website =[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
|-
|| 2006 || ''[[Vathiyar]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/vathiyar-review-tamil-movie-8630|title =Vathiyar Review}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2008 || ''[[Singakutty]]'' ||||<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/4810/tamil/singakutty/1557/review.htm |title=Singakutty review |work=Nowrunning |access-date=6 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626204903/http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/4810/tamil/singakutty/1557/review.htm |archive-date=26 June 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Durai (film)|Durai]]'' || ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/durai-review.html|title=DURAI MOVIE REVIEW - Behindwoods.com - Arjun Keerath Director A Venkatesh Music D Imman Jassie Gift Timmy Ramya Udit Narayan Shreya Ghosal Karthik SaloniS P Balasubramaniam Images Gallery Stills|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref>
|-
|| 2009 || ''[[Malai Malai]]'' || ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malai-malai-review-tamil-14902498.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330225132/http://www.sify.com/movies/malai-malai-review-tamil-14902498.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-03-30|title=Sify Movies - Review listing (1970)|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"| 2010 || ''[[Maanja Velu]]'' || ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/review/11477.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008043956/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/review/11477.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 October 2009|title=Tamil Cinema News - Tamil Movie Reviews - Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Vaadaa]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/vaada-sundar-c.html|title =VAADA MOVIE REVIEW}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Vallakottai (film)|Vallakottai]]'' || ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/vallakottai-movie-review.html|title=VALLAKOTTAI MOVIE REVIEW - TAMIL MOVIE VALLAKOTTAI MOVIE REVIEW|website=behindwoods.com}}</ref>
|-
|| 2013 || ''[[Summa Nachunu Irukku]]'' || ||<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/audio-beat-summa-nachunu-irukku-comic-story-peppy-tunes/article4750106.ece|title=Audio Beat: Summa Nachunu Irukku - Comic story, peppy tunes|first=S. R. Ashok|last=Kumar|newspaper=The Hindu |date=25 May 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2015 || ''[[Killadi]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/killadi/movie-review/46079731.cms|title =Killadi Movie Review|website =[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Sandamarutham]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/sandamarudham-review-tamil-movie-review-18783|title =Sandamarudham Review}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Rombha Nallavan Da Nee]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-26 |title=Comedy inevitable part of my films: Director A. Venkatesh |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/comedy-inevitable-part-of-my-films-director-a-venkatesh/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="1"|2019 || ''[[Nethra]]'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/nethraa/movie-review/67900422.cms|title =Nethraa|website =[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|2024 || ''Operation Laila'' || ||<ref>{{cite web |title=Operation Laila (2024) - Movie, Reviews, Cast & Release Date |url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/chennai/movies/operation-laila/ET00387717 |access-date=16 February 2024 |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216151756/https://in.bookmyshow.com/chennai/movies/operation-laila/ET00387717 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Dhil Raja]]'' || ||
|-
|}

===As actor===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
|- kannirasi- uncredited role
|1991 || ''[[Vasanthakala Paravai]]'' || ||
|-
|1992 || ''[[Suriyan]]'' || Telegram Office clerk ||
|-
|1994 || ''[[Kaadhalan]]'' || Cameo appearance || in "Kadhalikum Pennin" song
|-
|1998 || ''[[Nilaave Vaa]]'' || Christian who prays at Hindu temple ||
|-
|2010 || ''[[Angaadi Theru]]'' || Karungali ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2011 || ''[[Sattapadi Kutram]]'' || Ekambaram ||
|-
| ''[[Mahaan Kanakku]]'' || Maths Teacher ||
|-
|2012 || ''[[Paagan]]'' || Mahalakshmi's father ||
|-
|rowspan=3|2013 || ''[[Azhagan Azhagi]]'' || Rathinavel ||
|-
| ''[[Naan Rajavaga Pogiren]]'' || Isakkimuthu Annachi ||
|-
| ''[[Summa Nachunu Irukku]]'' || Gautham ([[Datuk|Dato]]) ||
|-
|2014 || ''[[Goli Soda]]'' || Vanmathi's father ||
|-
|rowspan=5|2015 || ''[[Touring Talkies (2015 film)|Touring Talkies]]'' || Doctor || Anthology film; segment ''Love @ 75''
|-
| ''[[Rombha Nallavan Da Nee]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Iravum Pagalum Varum]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Pallikoodam Pogamale]]'' || Vijay's father ||
|-
| ''[[Sivappu]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=3|2016 || ''[[Pagiri]]'' || Madhu's father ||
|-
| ''[[Aandavan Kattalai (2016 film)|Aandavan Kattalai]]'' || Gandhi's brother-in-law ||
|-
| ''[[Thodari]]'' || Thangapandian ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2017 || ''[[Nisabdham]]'' || a public prosecutor ||
|-
| ''[[Kadugu]]'' || an Inspector ||
|-
|rowspan=3|2018 || ''[[Onaaigal Jakkiradhai]]'' || Chithappu ||
|-
| ''[[Torchlight (2018 film)|Torchlight]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Thodraa]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2019 || ''[[Nethra]]'' || an officer||
|-
| ''[[Asuran (2019 film)|Asuran]]'' || Viswanathan ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2020 || ''[[Nungambakkam (film)|Nungambakkam]]'' || Advocate Durai ||
|-
|''Alti'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=3|2022 || ''[[Oh My Dog]]'' || a moneylender ||
|-
| ''[[Nadhi]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Laththi]]'' || Inspector Gnanamuthu ||
|-
|rowspan=3|2023 || ''[[Rudhran]]'' || Ethiraj ||
|-
| ''[[Thuritham]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Priyamudan Priya]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2024 || ''[[Singappenney (film)|Singappenney]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Dhil Raja]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=2|2025 || ''[[Padai Thalaivan]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Aan Paavam Pollathathu]]'' || Sakthi's father ||
|-
|}

=== Web series ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Program Name
!Role
!Network
!Notes
|-
|2020
|''[[Triples (Indian web series)|Triples]]''
| Councillor Chelladurai
|[[Hotstar]]
| Debut Web Series
|-
|2023
|''[[Mr. Manaivi]]''
|Vedhanayagam
|[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]]
|Debut as an actor
|-
|2024
|''[[Goli Soda Rising]]''
|Vanmathi's father
|[[Disney+Hotstar]]
|
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|nm4062141}}

{{A. Venkatesh (director)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venkatesh, A.}}
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:1967 births]]

A. Venkatesh - Revision history

FallonMansom317 at 18:29, 29 March 2026