Vignesh Shivan

Vignesh Shivan (born 18 September 1985) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, lyricist and actor who works in Tamil cinema.

Personal life Vignesh's mother was a police inspector, while his father was Superintendent of Police. Vignesh and actress Nayanthara had been in a relationship ever since they worked together on Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in 2015. They announced their engagement in 2021, and got married on 9 June 2022 at Sheraton Grand in Mahabalipuram. The couple had twin boys on 26 September 2022 through surrogacy. Netflix has documented his wife's journey in cinema, as well as her relationship with him, in a documentary titled Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale (2024).

Career Vignesh began his career as an assistant director under Prabhu Solomon. After getting Dharan to compose music for it, showed the film to producers, Gemini Film Circuit, and then to Silambarasan and both parties agreed to collaborate to make it a feature film titled Podaa Podi (2012). The joint producers of the film, Shanaya Telefilms, released a series of posters in June 2008 publicising the film, while Silambarasan and Vignesh toured in Canada scouting for locations and agreeing a deal with Mayor Ron Stevens to film in Orillia and Toronto. The film languished in production for close to four years, before finally releasing in October 2012 to mixed reviews. He then continued to be active in films by working as a lyricist, filming independent music videos and appeared in a cameo role in Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014), starring Dhanush. His second film, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, released three years after his directorial debut, became his first major breakthrough as a director. Vignesh Shivan along with Nayanthara, founded a new venture called Rowdy Pictures which produced the films Pebbles (2021) and Rocky (2021). In 2022, the romantic comedy film Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal starring Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara and Samantha was released to mixed reviews. In 2026, the science fiction romantic comedy film, Love Insurance Kompany was a disappointment.

Filmography +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released

As director Year Film Notes Ref. 2012 Podaa Podi 2015 Naanum Rowdy Dhaan Won - SIIMA Award for Best Director 2018 Thaanaa Serndha Koottam 2020 Paava Kadhaigal Anthology film; segment Love Panna Uttarnum 2022 Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal Also producer 2026 Love Insurance Kompany Also writer

As an actor

As producer +List of produced films Year Title Notes 2021 Netrikann Koozhangal Alternatively titled Pebbles Rocky Also distributor 2022 Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal Also director Connect 2023 Shubh Yatra Gujarati film; remake of Aandavan Kattalai (2016) 2026HI :)

As lyricist Year Song Film Composer Notes 2012 "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" Podaa Podi Dharan Kumar "Maattikittenae""Un Paarvaiyilae" 2013 "Engadi Poranthae" Vanakkam Chennai Anirudh Ravichander "En Life In Angel" Virattu Dharan Kumar 2014 "Chancey Illa" Anirudh Ravichander Single For Madras Day 2015 "Adharru Adharru" Yennai Arindhaal Harris Jayaraj "Enakenna Yaarum Illaye" Aakko Anirudh Ravichander Single for Valentines Day "Thappa Dhaan Theriyum" Maari "Thangamey" Naanum Rowdydhaan "Yennai Maatrum Kadhale" "Kannaana Kanne" "Varava Varava"2016"Avalukena"Avalukena (Independent Album)Anirudh RavichanderSingle for Valentines Day"Senjitaley" Remo "Remo Nee Kadhalan""Sirikkadhey""Tamilselvi""Showkali" Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada A R Rahman"Solli Tholaiyen Ma" Yaakkai Yuvan Shankar Raja 2017 "Onnume Aagale" Onnume Aagale (Independent Album) Anirudh Ravichander Single for Valentines Day "Karuppu Vellai" Vikram Vedha Sam CS "Unakkaga" Sakka Podu Podu Raja Silambarasan 2018 "Naana Thaanaa" Thaanaa Serndha Koottam Anirudh Ravichander "Sodakku" Written along with Mani Amudhavan "Peela Peela" "Thaanaa Serndha Koottam" "Julie"Julie (Independent Album)Single for Valentines Day "Orey Oru" Kolamavu Kokila "Gun-in-Kadhal" "Thittam Poda Teriyalayae" "Angry Bird" Irumbu Thirai Yuvan Shankar Raja 2019 "Thimiru Kaatadha Di"LKG Leon James "Marakkavillayae" Jersey (D)Anirudh RavichanderTamil version"Bad Boy" Saaho (D) Badshah"Thimiranumda"NGKYuvan Shankar Raja"Yenga Annan"Namma Veetu PillaiD. Imman 2020"Ennai Vittu"Kannum Kannum KollaiyadithaalMasala Coffee"Unnale Penne"Dharala PrabhuInno Genga"Dharala Prabhu"Anirudh RavichanderComposed along with Sean Roldan, Vivek-Mervin, Inno Genga, Madley Blues, Bharath Shankar, Kaber Vasuki and Oorka.2021"Top Tucker" Top Tucker (Independent Album)Yuvan Shankar RajaWritten along with Badshah "Andha Kanna Paathaakka" MasterAnirudh Ravichander"Quit Pannuda"2022"Naanga Vera Maari"ValimaiYuvan Shankar Raja"Mother Song (Version 1)""Mother Song (Version 2)""Rendu Kaadhal"Kaathuvaakula Rendu KaadhalAnirudh Ravichander"Two Two Two""Naan Pizhai""Dippam Dappam""Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal""Vaada Thambi"Etharkkum ThunindhavanD. Imman"Bae"DonAnirudh Ravichander2023"Rathamaarey"JailerAnirudh RavichanderSIIMA Award for Best Lyricist2024"Hey Love"Joshua: Imai Pol KaakhaKarthik"Naan Un Joshua""Kulukku Kulukku"Inga Naan Thaan KinguD. Imman "Paththavaikkum" Devara: Part 1 (D)Anirudh RavichanderTamil version"Daavudi"2025"Nesippaya Nee Ennai"NesippayaYuvan Shankar Raja"Rise of Dragon"DragonLeon James"Vazhithunaiye"Co-wrote with Ko Sesha"Idhayam Ulle Vaa Kingdom (D)Anirudh RavichanderTamil version "Vazhiyiraen"Madharaasi2026"Dheema"Love Insurance KompanyAnirudh Ravichander"Pattuma""Enakena Yaarum Illaye""Adaavadi" co-written with Rokesh, Heisenberg"Pookatum""Vibe Vaasey""Tabaahi"Toxic (D)Vishal MishraTamil version"Vitupogaadha""Vitupogaadha (Soul Version)""Oh Raya""Thadumaarudhe"Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan NizamiTBA"Don't Know Why"Magic (D)Anirudh Ravichander

Other work Music videos Year Song Artist(s) Notes 2012 "The Love Anthem" Silambarasan Director