Venkat Prabhu

Venkat Kumar Gangai Amaren (born 7 November 1975), better known by his stage name Venkat Prabhu, is an Indian film director, actor and playback singer in Tamil cinema. After completing his education, he began pursuing an acting career, with his first three ventures featuring him in a starring role, failing to release, following which he began appearing in character roles.

He entered the spotlight for the first time when he turned director with the summer hit Chennai 600028 (2007). He achieved further commercial successes with his subsequent directorials Saroja (2008), Goa (2010), Mankatha (2011), Biriyani (2013), Masss (2015), Maanaadu (2021), and The Greatest of All Time (2024). His father Gangai Amaren is a film director and music director.

Early life and career

Following his return to India, Prabhu began singing for demos by his cousins, Yuvan Shankar Raja and Karthik Raja, and started his career as a playback singer in the film industry. In 1996, he, his brother Premgi Amaren and his childhood friend S. P. B. Charan set up a music band called Next Generation, and did several stage performances. The following year, Prabhu played the lead role opposite Sangeetha in a film titled Poonjolai directed by his father Gangai Amaren, but the film was cancelled in mid-production and attempts to revive and release the film by the late-2000s were unsuccessful. Prabhu starred in two more ventures, alongside his friends S. P. B. Charan and Yugendran; Wanted, directed by Premgi Amaren, and Agathiyan's Kadhal Samrajyam, both failing to release as well. Venkat Prabhu was then approached to essay supporting roles, with April Maadhathil (2002) becoming his first release. He went on to play character roles in nearly ten films, the most notable ventures being N. Linguswamy's Ji, starring Ajith Kumar, and the Perarasu-directed Sivakasi, featuring Vijay in the lead role. He also played lead roles in Samuthirakani's directorial debut Unnai Charanadaindhen and Gnabagam Varuthey (2007), both co-starring Charan. He worked in Seeman's Vaazhthugal (2008) alongside Madhavan.

In 2007, Venkat Prabhu ventured into film directing with the sports comedy film Chennai 600028, produced by S. P. B. Charan, that revolved around a street cricket team from a suburban area in Chennai, with its players being portrayed by 11 newcomers, including his brother Premgi. The film emerged as a sleeper hit, garnering high critical acclaim and becoming labelled a "cult classic" in the following years, which led to the lead cast growing in popularity. He next directed the comedy thriller film Saroja (2008), the title being derived from a hit number from Chennai 600028, which also featured an ensemble cast including Charan and Premgi. The film followed the journey of four young men who, by taking a diversion off the main road, land into the hands of a kidnapper gang; it received positive response from critics and at the box office as well. He followed it up with Goa (2010), a full-length comedy film, which received mixed response and did fairly well at the box office. In 2011, he directed his biggest project to date, the action thriller Mankatha, featuring Ajith Kumar in the lead role and was later a blockbuster.

His next project, Biriyani (2013), starred Karthi and Hansika Motwani. After, Venkat Prabhu directed Massu Engira Masilamani (2015), with Suriya and Nayanthara in the lead role. He directed Chennai 600028 II, the sequel of the 2007 blockbuster Chennai 600028, and it was released on 9 December 2016 to positive reviews. Two years later he began working on Maanaadu (2021) starring Silambarasan and S. J. Suryah in lead roles. The film was released on 25 November 2021 to positive reviews from critics. The action thriller The Greatest of All Time, starring Vijay and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, was officially announced in May 2023. The film is bankrolled by AGS Entertainment, which marks their second collaboration with Vijay. The film was released on 5 September to positive reviews from critics.

Personal life Venkat Prabhu born into Tamil family and son of director-turned-music-director Gangai Amaran and older brother to actor, singer and music director Premgi Amaran. His uncle is the music director Ilayaraaja and his cousins are the music composers Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja and singer Bhavatharini. S. P. B. Charan, producer of Prabhu's first directorial venture Chennai 600028, is his very close friend and they both have worked together on several projects.

He did his schooling at St. Bede's school in Chennai. On 11 September 2001, Venkat Prabhu married Rajalakshmi, the daughter of dance teacher K. J. Sarasa, and now has a daughter named Shivani. Shivani has already sung a song for the album Thaaaii when she was 5 years old.

Frequent collaborators Venkat Prabhu frequently works with the same actors and crew members, most prominently Premgi Amaren, Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan, and editor Praveen K. L.

Only people that have worked in three or more of his films are listed. Collaborator Ajay Raj (Cameo) (Cameo) Anjena Kirti (Cameo)Aravind Akash (Cameo) (Cameo) (Cameo) Ashwin Kakumanu (Cameo) Badava Gopi (cameo) Jai (Cameo) (Cameo) (Cameo) Jayaprakash Jayaram Mahat Raghavendra (Cameo) (Cameo)Nithin Sathya (Cameo) Praveen K. L. Premgi Amaren (as a music composer) (Tamil version) (as a music composer)Ravikanth Sakthi Saravanan Sampath Raj Shanmugasundaram (Cameo) Shiva Subbu Panchu (Cameo) (Dubbing artist)Vaibhav (Cameo) (Cameo) (Cameo) (Cameo) Vijay Vasanth (Cameo) (Cameo) (Cameo) (Cameo) Vijayalakshmi (Cameo) Y. G. Mahendran (Cameo) Yuvan Shankar Raja (1 song & score)

Filmography As director + List of Venkat Prabhu film directing credits Year Title Notes 2007 Chennai 600028 2008 Saroja 2010 Goa Edison Award for Best Romantic Film 2011 Mankatha 2013 Biriyani 2015 Massu Engira Masilamani 2016 Chennai 600028 II 2018 Party Unreleased 2021 Kutty Story Anthology web series; Segment: Lokham Live Telecast Maanaadu2022 Manmadha Leelai Victim Anthology web series; Segment: Confession 2023 Custody Simultaneously shot in Telugu 2024 The Greatest of All Time

As producer + Year Title Notes 2016 Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings 2019 RK Nagar Streaming release 2021 Kasada Tabara Streaming release; co-produced with R. Ravindran 2022 Victim 2024 Nanban Oruvan Vantha PiraguAs presenter

As actor + Year Title Role Note 1982 Payanangal Mudivathillai Himself Uncredited appearance in the song "Thogai Ilamayil" 2002 April Maadhathil Venkat 2003 Vikadan Rammohan's friend Unnai Saranadainthaen Kannan 2004 Neranja Manasu Machakaalai 2005 Ji Uma Shankar Sivakasi Ramalingam Mazhai Kasi 2007 Vasantham Vanthachu Kumaresan Gnabagam Varuthey Ramu 2008 Vaazhthugal Kalai Saroja Special appearance 2010 Goa Himself Special appearance 2011 Mankatha Uncredited appearance

Music videos Year Title Role Actors Ref(s)2023High On Yuvan - ( Theme Song)Music Video DirectorYuvan Shankar Raja, Premgi Amaren

As singer

As lyricist