M. Manikandan
M. Manikandan | |
|---|---|
 Manikandan in 2018 | |
| Born | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2010–present |
M. Manikandanis an Indian filmdirector,writer,producer,andcinematographerwho works inTamil cinema.He began his career as an assistant cinematographer in Tamil films. He made his directorial debut with the short filmWind(2010) and got his breakthrough in feature films likeKaaka Muttai(2015), which won theNational Film Award for Best Children's Film.In 2022, he produced the filmKadaisi Vivasayi,for which he received theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Biography[edit]
Manikandan was born into a family of police officers inUsilampatti,Madurai District,Tamil Nadu.[1]Due to his father's frequent transfers, Manikandan's family frequently moved. After completing his schooling, he did his diploma inautomobile engineering.[2]He developed an interest in photography and started his career as awedding photographer.[3]During this time, he also designedidentification cardsfor schools and colleges to save money for a digital photography course at the Mindscreen Film Institute, a film school managed by director and cinematographerRajiv Menon.[1]
In the mid-2000s, he started his film career as an assistant cinematographer in Tamil films. During this time, he co-wrote several scripts for short films. He got his major break with the short filmWind(2010), his directorial debut. The film brought him critical acclaim and was screened in several film festivals.[2]The film caught the attention of Tamil film directorVetrimaaran,who helped him produceKaaka Muttai(2015), his feature film debut. The film revolves around two slum-dwelling kids whose solitary desire in life is to taste apizza.[1]The film premiered at the2014 Toronto International Film Festivaland was released theatrically in June 2015. At the62nd National Film Awards,it won two honours –Best Children's FilmandBest Child Artist.[4]The film won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the13th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.[5]
In 2021, Manikandan signedIlaiyaraajafor the songs and background score for his filmKadaisi Vivasayi,[6]but later he replaced Ilaiyaraaja withSanthosh Narayananas he was not satisfied with the background score of the veteran composer,[7]prompting Ilaiyaraaja to lodge a complaint against the director with the Music Composers Association of India.[8]The film won theNational Film Award for the Best Feature Film in Tamilat the69th National Film Awards.[9]
In February 2024, thieves broke into Manikandan's second home in Usilampatti, stealing money, gold, and silver. The incident received international attention when the burglars returned days later to anonymously return Manikandan's 2022 National Film Award forKadaisi Vivasaayi.[10]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Cinematographer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Wind | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film[11] |
| 2015 | Kaaka Muttai | Yes | Yes | Yes | National Film Award for Best Children's Film Nominated,Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil[12] |
| 2015 | Kirumi | No | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | Kuttrame Thandanai | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Aandavan Kattalai | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| 2022 | Kadaisi Vivasaayi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Served as producer
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil |
References[edit]
- ^abcKannadasan, Akila (26 May 2015)."It's sure to make viewers crow with joy".The Hindu.Retrieved4 September2016.
- ^ab"The Crow's Egg".Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.Archivedfrom the original on 14 October 2016.Retrieved4 September2016.
- ^Singh, Suhani (2 June 2015)."M Manikandan talks about his national award winning film Kaakka Muttai".India Today.Archivedfrom the original on 16 September 2016.Retrieved4 September2016.
- ^"National Film Awards – 2014".Directorate of Film Festivals.p. 59.Archivedfrom the original on 23 June 2016.Retrieved4 September2016.
- ^Dore, Shalini (13 April 2015)."'Chauranga' Wins Top Prize at Indian Film Festival Los Angeles ".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 21 March 2016.Retrieved4 September2016.
- ^"Manikandan's Kadaisi Vivasayi to Have Ilaiyaraaja's Music; Film in Theatres Soon".News 18.15 November 2021.Retrieved4 December2021.
- ^Lakshmi, V (4 May 2020)."Santhosh to compose for Kadaisi Vivasayi instead of Ilaiyaraaja?".The Times of India.Retrieved4 December2021.
- ^"Ilaiyaraaja lodges complaint against 'Kadaisi Vivasayi' director".The Times of India.2 December 2021.Retrieved14 December2021.
- ^"69th National Film Awards 2023 Complete Winners List: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun Win Big".The Indian Express.24 August 2023.Retrieved19 February2024.
- ^Raj, Suhasini; Mashal, Mujib (17 February 2024)."Burglars Hit Movie Director's Home, Then Deliver a Cinematic Plot Twist".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved19 February2024.
- ^Singh, Suhani (2 June 2015)."M Manikandan talks about his national award winning film Kaakka Muttai".India Today.Archivedfrom the original on 4 November 2016.Retrieved7 November2016.
- ^"Nominations for the 63rd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)".Filmfare.7 June 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 4 July 2017.Retrieved4 September2016.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- Living people
- Film directors from Tamil Nadu
- Indian male screenwriters
- Tamil film directors
- Tamil screenwriters
- Tamil film cinematographers
- Cinematographers from Tamil Nadu
- People from Madurai district
- Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu
- 21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century Indian photographers
- 21st-century Indian male writers
- Directors who won the Best Children's Film National Film Award
- 21st-century Indian screenwriters