R. Parthiepan

Radhakrishnan Parthiban (born 14 January 1958) is an Indian actor and film director who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He has directed 16 films, produced 14 films and acted in more than 70 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 House Full (1999) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. He also won National Film Award – Special Jury Award in Otha Seruppu Size 7 (2019).

His performances as actor are in successful films such as Bharathi Kannamma (1997), Nee Varuvai Ena (1999), Vetri Kodi Kattu (2000), Azhagi (2002), Aayirathil Oruvan (2010), Melvilasom (2011), Otha Seruppu Size 7 (2019) and Iravin Nizhal (2022).

On 25 December 2018, he was appointed as the new Vice President of the Tamil Film Producers Council replacing Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj who were jointly holding the position until 24 December 2018.

Early and personal life Parthiban was born in a Telugu-speaking Gavara Naidu family. on 14 January 1958 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. His father’s name is Radhakrishnan, and his mother’s name is Padmavati. His hometown is Trichy, Tamil Nadu. He began his career as an assistant director on the film Vedikkai Manidhargal, directed by his relative B.V. Balaguru. He also assisted with the film's dialogues under the name 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 (1981). Then, he played the role of a postman in his mentor's Dhavani Kanavugal (1984).

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.Parthepan Manidha Neya Mandram".

Parthiban married actress Seetha in 1990, with whom he worked in Pudhea Paadhai the previous year. The couple has two daughters including P. S. Keerthana, who won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), and an adopted son. The couple filed for divorce in September 2003, which was granted in March 2004. Their daughter Abhinaya married Naresh Karthik, a great-grandson of legendary actor M. R. Radha, while their other daughter, Keerthana, married Akshay Akkineni, the son of acclaimed film editor Sreekar Prasad.

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 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 and the next year in Pullakuttikaran. In 1996, he acted in the comedy film Tata Birla.

He won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Bharathi Kannamma (1997). 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 House Full (1999) and Azhagi (2002), audience and the trade have acknowledged the maker's undisputed talents. His 1999 Tamil film House Full 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 three films simultaneously titled Kartha, Rowdy and Adi after the failure of Kudaikul Mazhai (2004), though all projects were abandoned.

The film Aayirathil Oruvan (2010), 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 (2016) and Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga (2017). He appeared in Kannada movie Dada Is Back (2017), which he played in lead role as undisputed king of the underworld in Bengaluru. Followed by a comedy film, Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam (2017). In 2018, he acted in the drama film Keni.

In 2019, Parthiban wrote, directed and appeared in Oththa Seruppu Size 7, as the only character. He revealed that it was his 18-year dream to make this film. 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. At 67th National Film Awards, Parthiban won the Special Jury Award. He also wins three awards at Toronto Tamil Film Festival, which includes the Jury Award for Best Feature Film, Jury Award for Best Feature Film Director and Best Solo Act Award. Parthiban has been a part of multi-starrers as well, including Ponmagal Vandhal (2020), Tughlaq Durbar (2021), Yutha Satham (2022), Ponniyin Selvan (2022) and Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023).

Filmography As director + List of R. Parthiban film directing credits Year Film Credited as NotesDirectorWriterProducer 1989 Pudhiya Paadhai 1990 Pondatti Thevai 1992 Sugamana Sumaigal 1993 Ulle Veliye 1994 Sarigamapadani 1995 Pullakuttikaran 1999 House Full 2002 Ivan 2004 Kudaikul Mazhai 2006 Pachchak Kuthira 2011 Vithagan 2014 Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam Cameo 2017 Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga 2019 Otha Seruppu Size 7 2022 Iravin Nizhal 2024Teenz As actor Films + List of R. Parthiban film acting credits Year Title Role Notes 1981 Ranuva Veeran Bridegroom Uncredited role 1982 Parvaiyin Marupakkam Lawyer Uncredited role 1982 Vedikkai Manithargal Director Uncredited role 1983 Dhooram Adhighamillai Villager Uncredited role 1984 Anbulla Rajinikanth Bhagyaraj's assistant director Uncredited role 1984 Dhavani Kanavugal Ponnusami 1989 Pudhiya Paathai Sitaraman 1990 Pondatti Thevai Kannan Thalattu Padava Raja Engal Swamy Ayyappan Vasuswamy 1991 Thaiyalkaran Pandian 1992 Unnai Vaazhthi Paadugiren Ravi Sugamana Sumaigal Moorthy 1993 Ulle Veliye Gajendran 1994 Sarigamapadani Kulasekaran 1995 Pullakuttikaran Veeraiyan 1996 Tata Birla Raja 1997 Bharathi Kannamma Bharathi Won, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Vaimaye Vellum Yama Dharman "Raja" Aravindhan Thamizhvannan Abhimanyu ACP Abhimanyu 1998 Swarnamukhi Pandian Pudhumai Pithan Jeeva (aka Bharath) 1999 House Full Ayya Suyamvaram Azhagappan Anthapuram Dubai Pandiyan Poovellam Kettuppar Himself Cameo appearance Nee Varuvai Ena Ganesh Unnaruge Naan Irundhal Taxi driver 2000 Kakkai Siraginilae Vellaichamy James Pandu Pandu Also story writer Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Shekhar Guest appearance Vetri Kodi Kattu Muthuraman Sabhash Cheenu 2001 Ninaikkatha Naalillai Anbu Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka Devasahayam Malayalam film2002 Azhagi Shanmugam Ivan Jeevan Kadhal Virus Himself Cameo 2003 Soori Manikandan Guest appearance Kadhal Kirukkan Saravanan 2004 Thendral A. P. Nalankilli Kudaikul Mazhai Venkatakrishnan 2005 Kannadi Pookal Sakthivel Kundakka Mandakka Ilango 2006 Pachchak Kuthira Pachchamuthu 2007 Ammuvagiya Naan Gowrishankar 2008 Vallamai Tharayo Anand 2010 Aayirathil Oruvan Meignanandha Sivapaadha Sekara Chozhar Won, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil Azhagana Ponnuthan Karthik 2011 Melvilasom Ramachandran Malayalam film Vithagan ACP Rowdhran 2012 Ambuli Sengodan Rachcha Suryanarayana Telugu filmCameo 2013 Escape from Uganda Antony Malayalam film Jannal Oram Karuppu 2014 Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam Himself Cameo 2015 Masss ACP Vikram Lakshmanan Tihar Alexander Partially dubbed film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan Killivalavan Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Tamil 2016 Maaveeran Kittu Chinrasu Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role 2017 Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga Rangarajan Mupparimanam Himself Cameo Dada is Back Tippu Kannada film Podhuvaga En Manasu Thangam Oothukaandaan 2018 Keni Shaktivel 2019 Kuppathu Raja MG Rajendran Ayogya Kaalirajan Oththa Seruppu Size 7 Maasilamani Won, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor Won, Toronto Tamil Film Festival Best Solo Act Award

Web series + List of R. Parthiban web series acting credits Year Title Role Notes 2022 Suzhal: The Vortex Shanmugam

As singer + List of R. Parthiban film singing credits Year Title Song Composer Notes1995 Sarigamapadani "Hey Kala Kala" Deva 2005 Kannadi Pookal "Dey Vasu" S. A. Rajkumar 2024 Teenz "Bibli Bibli Bili Bili" D. Imman Co-singers include D. Imman, Arivu, Key

As lyricist + List of R. Parthiban film credits as a lyricist Year Title Song Composer Notes 2004 Kudaikul Mazhai "Adiye Kiliye" Karthik Raja 2006 Pachakuthirai All songs Sabesh–Murali 2011 Vithagan All songs Joshua Sridhar 2017 Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga "Kilukilu Payai", "Wife Love" C. Sathya 2022 Iravin Nizhal "Kaayam", "Bejara", "Kannethire" A. R. Rahman 2024 Teenz "Kaanaathathai Naan Kandeney", "Vaanamey Kaanomey", "Ikky Pikky", "Yesuvey Nee Pesuvey", "We Are The Teenz" D. Imman Also co-lyricist for "Bibli Bibli Bili Bili" with Arivu

As narrator 12B (2001) Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu (2006) Aval Peyar Thamizharasi (2010) Moscowin Kavery (2010) Athiradi Vettai (2014) Oru Melliya Kodu (2016) Devi 2 (2019) Adavi (2020) Time Enna Boss (2020; web series) Koogle Kuttappa (2022) House Mates (2025)