R. Velraj
Born
Rajamani Velraj

(1969-10-21) 21 October 1969
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Film director, cinematographer
Years active2003-present
ParentS Rajamani[1]

Rajamani Velraj is an Indian cinematographer, director and writer who primarily works in Tamil and Hindi cinema. He is well known for his camera work in films like Asuran, Aadukalam, Vada Chennai, Kadaikutty Singam and Komban, and for directing Velaiilla Pattadhari[2] and Thanga Magan.[3]

Personal life

Rajamani Velraj was born in a village called Kootthiyar Kundu near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He went to PKN Boys Higher Secondary School (Tirumangalam), and studied at Madurai Sourastra College.[2]

Career

Early in his career, he worked as an assistant to ace cinematographer Tirru in several Tamil films. After working with actor Dhanush in Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram, Dhanush recommended Velraj for his next film, Polladhavan, directed by debutant, Vetrimaaran. He won the Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer in 2008.[4] Velraj and Vetrimaaran continued working together, from Aadukalam to their most recent film, Viduthalai Part 1. He made his directional debut with Velaiilla Pattadhari, starring Dhanush and Amala Paul and with Anirudh as the music director. The film was extremely successful and became a cult film. In 2015, he directed his second film, Thanga Magan. Velraj is a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers.[5]

Filmography

As cinematographer

YearTitleLanguageNotes
200223rd March 1931: ShaheedHindiRa Operator
2003SupariHindi
2006Phir Hera PheriHindi
2007Parattai Engira Azhagu SundaramTamil
PolladhavanTamilWinner, Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer[6]
2008Kabhi Bhi Kahin BhiHindi
Malabar WeddingMalayalam
2010KandaharMalayalamCollaborated with Ravi Varman
2011AadukalamTamilWinner, Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – South
Winner, Vikatan Award For Best Cinematographer

(Cameo appearance)[6]

SiruthaiTamil[2]
Engeyum EppodhumTamilWinner, Vikatan Award For Best Cinematographer[7]
20123Tamil[2]
SavaariKannada
LeelaiTamil
2013Naan Rajavaga PogirenTamil
Ethir NeechalTamil
Udhayam NH4Tamil[8]
NaiyaandiTamil[9]
2014Velaiyilla PattathariTamilDirector (Cameo appearance)[10]
PoriyaalanTamil(Cameo appearance)
2015KombanTamil(Cameo appearance)
Vai Raja VaiTamil[11]
Paayum PuliTamil(Cameo appearance)
Thanga MaganTamilDirector (Cameo appearance)[12]
2016PugazhTamil(Cameo appearance)[13]
MarudhuTamil
2017Power PaandiTamil(Cameo appearance)[14]
2018Kadaikutty SingamTamil(Cameo appearance)
Vada ChennaiTamil(Cameo appearance)[15]
2019DevTamil
AsuranTamil(Cameo appearance)[16]
SangathamizhanTamil
2021 Pulikkuthi PandiTamil[17]
UdanpirappeTamil[18]
2022VeerapandiyapuramTamil[19]
The Legend Tamil [20]
Anel Meley Pani Thuli Tamil [21]
Pettaikaali Tamil TV series on Aha Tamil[22]
Kuttram Kuttrame Tamil [23]
2023 Viduthalai Part 1 Tamil [24]
Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam Tamil

As director

YearTitleLanguageNotes
2014Velaiilla Pattadhari TamilWinner, Edison Award for Best Debut Director
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
Cameo as Traffic Police
2015Thanga MaganTamilCameo as Ramalingam

As actor

Awards

References

  1. The Times of India (5 July 2020). "Cinematographer-director Velraj's father passes away". Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Cinema cinema!". The Hindu. 31 July 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  3. Kumar, Karthik (17 December 2015). "Five Reasons Why You Don't Wanna Miss Dhanush's Thanga Magan". TheQuint. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. "A reluctant director". The Hindu. 19 July 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  5. "Acclaimed cinematographer Velraj gets the prestigious ISC recognition". www.zoomtventertainment.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  6. 1 2 Kumar, Pradeep (16 February 2019). "The Usual Suspects: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran and R Velraj". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  7. "Engeyum Eppodhum". Deccan Herald. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  8. "NH4: Take this route". The Hindu. 20 April 2013. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  9. "Dhanush Helped With Script, Says Vellai Illa Pattathari Director". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  10. "A reluctant director". The Hindu. 19 July 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  11. "'Vai Raja Vai' gearing up for April 24". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  12. ""It was all Dhanush"". The Hindu. 19 December 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  13. "Surbhi: My role in Pugazh a reflection of my real self | India.com". www.india.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  14. "Dhanush Tweets First Look of Power Paandi, His Debut as Director". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  15. "Blow for Dhanush's Vada Chennai: Amala Paul exits after Vijay Sethupathi". Hindustan Times. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  16. Kumar, Pradeep (16 February 2019). "The Usual Suspects: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran and R Velraj". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  17. "'புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி' ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் வெளியீடு". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  18. The Hindu Net Desk (5 October 2021). "Jyotika: 'Udanpirappe is special, as it shows the strength of a woman's silence'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  19. "Veerapandiyapuram Movie Review: An uninventive, dull revenge drama". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  20. "The Legend gets U/A certficate". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  21. Sudevan, Praveen (18 November 2022). "'Anel Meley Pani Thuli' movie review: Andrea excels in a gritty crime drama about sexual assault". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  22. IANS. "Vetri Maaran's Jallikattu-Based Series 'Pettaikaali' To Stream From Diwali". Outlook India. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  23. "Kuttram Kuttrame Movie Review: Jai, Harish Uthaman shine in Susienthiran's return to form". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  24. "Vijay Sethupathi begins dubbing for Viduthalai". OTTPlay. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  25. "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". The Times of India. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.
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