R Parthiepan

Early life

Partheipan grew up in a middle-class family in Ettayapuram. He belongs to the princely family of Ettappan Maharaja, who is closely associated with KattaBomman. His father was a clerk in the post and telegraph department, but his family could never make both ends meet. He started as a stage artiste who used to perform on stages in Chengalpattu and Villupuram. It was getting him nowhere and so he came back to Chennai. There he made the usual rounds of going to the producers offices and was given an opportunity by Film Director B.V.Balaguru(Kannipparuvathile fame). He started as an Assistant Director in the film Vedikkai manidhargal. He was even given an opportunity to assist in dialogue in the name of R. Moorthy. A fter 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 Raanuva Veeran. Then, he played the role of a postman in his mentor's Dhavani Kanavugal.

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 lead roles in R. Sundarrajan's Thalattu Padava and in the devotional film Engal Swamy Ayyappan. In 1991, he starred in S. P. Muthuraman's Thaiyalkaaran. 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 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 co-starring with Roja and Sangita and the next year in Pullaikuttikkaaran co-starring with Sangita and Urvashi. In 1996, he acted in the comedy film Tata Birla. His 1999 Tamil film Housefull won the same award. His notable films include Aravindan, Ullae Velliyae, Pullakuttikaran, Sugamana Sumaigal, Abhimanyu, Swarnamukhi, Azhagi, Kathal Kirukkan, etc. He performed a perfect comedy pair with actor Vadivelu in rib – tickling movies Barathi Kannama, Vetri Kodi Kattu, and more.

He won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Bharathi Kannamma. 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 like Housefull and Azhagi, audience and the trade have acknowledged the maker's undisputed talents.

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 2 films simultaneously titled Rowdy and Adi after the failure of Kudaikkul Mazhai. Both projects were abandoned.

The film Aayirathil Oruvan, 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 Parthiepan'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. He portrayed as a cop in Massu Engira Masilamani. He played a villain in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.

Apart from direction and acting, he produces films. He wrote a book named "Kirukkkalgal" – Thamizh Kavithai Thoguppu which was released by M. Karunanidhi. He runs a charitable trust named 'R.Parthiepan Manithaneya Mandram'.