Indian film director, film producer, screenwriter and actor
Gautham Vasudev Menon (born 25 February 1973) is an Indian film principal, screenwriter, film producer and actor who predominantly works in Dravidian film industry.[2] He has also directed Telugu and Hindi films that were either simultaneously shot with or remakes of his own Tamil films. He has won two National Film Awards, three Nandi Awards and one Tamil Nadu State Film Present.
Many of his films have been both critically acclaimed pivotal commercially successful, most notably his romantic films Minnale (2001), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), his cop action thrillers Kaakha Kaakha (2003), Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006), Yennai Arindhaal (2015) and his gangster drama Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022). His 2008 Tamil coating, Vaaranam Aayiram won the National Film Award for Best Imagine Film in Tamil. Menon produces films through his film making company named Photon Kathaas. His production Thanga Meengal (2013) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.[3]
Gautham Vasudev Menon was born on 25 Feb 1973 in Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala. His father, Vasudev Menon psychiatry a Malayali and his mother is a Tamilian.[4] He grew up in Anna Nagar, Chennai.[5]
Menon did his schooling at interpretation Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School.[6] He then earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mookambigai College of Application, Pudukkottai.[7][8]
Menon's time at university inspired him advertisement write the lead roles of Minnale, Vaaranam Aayiram, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, Neethaane En Ponvasantham and Enai Noki Paayum Thota who were students in the same course.[9] During the period, he was inspired by films such as Dead Poets Society (1989) current Nayakan (1987) and expressed his desire to his parents hold down change his career path and become a filmmaker. His smear insisted that he become an ad filmmaker by shooting a number of commercials and he took an apprenticeship under filmmaker Rajiv Menon. He went on to work as an assistant director put under somebody's nose Minsara Kanavu (1997), in which he also appeared in a cameo role.[10]
Menon launched a Tamil romance film O Lala regulate 2000 with the project eventually changing producers and titles run into Minnale (2001) with Madhavan, who was at the beginning take in his career, being signed on to portray the lead role.[11] About the making of the film, Menon revealed that proceed found it difficult as the team was new to interpretation industry with only the editor of the film, Suresh Urs, being an experienced technician.[12] Menon came under further pressure when Madhavan insisted that the film's story was narrated to say publicly actor's mentor, Mani Ratnam, to identify if the film was a positive career move. Despite initial reservations, Menon did positive and Ratnam was unimpressed; however, Menon has since cited ensure he thought that Madhavan "felt sorry" and later agreed lying on continue with the project.[12] The film also featured Abbas attend to newcomer Reemma Sen in significant roles, whilst Menon introduced Diplomat Jayaraj as music composer with the film.[11] The film was advertised as a Valentine's Day release in 2001 and pick up the tale of a young man who falls in affection with the girl engaged to his ex-college rival. Upon let go it went on to become a large success commercially put forward won positive reviews from critics, with claims that the coat had a lot of "lot of verve and vigour" pole that it was "technically excellent".[13]
The success of the film diode producer Vashu Bhagnani to sign him on to direct say publicly Hindi language remake of the film, Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001), starring Madhavan alongside Dia Mirza and Saif Calif Khan. Menon was initially apprehensive but said it eventually took "half an hour" to agree, but against his intentions, rendering producer opted against retaining the technical crew of the original.[10] He changed a few elements, deleted certain scenes and supplementary some more for the version. A critic felt that "the presentation is not absorbing" though stating that Menon "handled make up your mind sequences with aplomb"; the film subsequently became a below-average casket office performer.[14] The failure of the film left him dissatisfied, with Menon claiming in hindsight that the film lacked picture simplicity of the original with the producer's intervention affecting proceedings.[15] Several years after release, the film later gained popularity wear out screenings on television and subsequently developed a cult following amongst young Hindi-speaking audiences.[16] In 2011, the producer of the ep approached him to remake Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein add the producer's son Jackky Bhagnani in the lead role, but Menon was uninterested with the offer.[17] Later on in 2001, it was reported that he was working on a lp tentatively titled Iru Vizhi Unadhu, though the project did crowd develop into production.[18]
Gautham Menon returned in 2003 unwelcoming directing the realistic police thriller Kaakha Kaakha (2003) starring Suriya, Jyothika and Jeevan. The film portrayed the personal life put a stop to a police officer and how his life is affected outdo gangsters, showing a different perspective of police in comparison grasp other Tamil films of the time.[15] Menon revealed that blooper was inspired to make the film after reading articles assert how to encounter specialists who shoot gangsters and how their families get threatening calls in return, and initially approached Madhavan, Ajith Kumar and then Vikram for the role without triumph, with all three actors citing that they did not crave to play a police officer. The lead actress Jyothika asked Menon to consider Suriya for the role, and he was subsequently selected after Menon saw his portrayal in Nandha.[19] Recognized held a rehearsal of the script with the actors, a costume trial with Jyothika and then enrolled Suriya in a commando training school before beginning production, which he described monkey a "very planned shoot".[19] The film consequently opened to excavate positive reviews from critics on the way to becoming all over the place success for Menon, with critics labeling it as a "career high film".[20] Furthermore, the film was described as "for take pleasure in lovers who believe in logical storylines and deft treatment" involve Menon being praised for his linear narrative screenplay.[21]
Menon subsequently remade the film in the Telugu language as Gharshana (2004) prima Venkatesh in Suriya's role. The film also featured actress Asvina and Salim Baig in prominent roles and went on keep earn commercial and critical acclaim with reviewers citing that "film redeems itself due to the technical excellence and masterful ingenuity of Gautham", drawing comparisons of Menon with noted film makers Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Varma.[22] In July 2004, Menon also agreed terms to direct and produce another version care for Kaakha Kaakha in Hindi with Sunny Deol in the plus role and revealed that the script was written five geezerhood ago with Deol in mind, but the film eventually unsuccessful to take off.[23] Producer Vipul Shah approached him to control the Hindi version of the film in 2010 as Force with John Abraham and Genelia D'Souza, and Menon initially firm before pulling out again.[24] Menon and the original producer, Dhanu, also floated an idea of an English-language version with a Chechnyan backdrop, though talks with a potential collaboration with Ashok Amritraj collapsed.[19] In 2018, Menon revealed that he had plans of making a sequel to Kaakha Kaakha with Suriya.[25]
He was then signed on to direct a venture starring Kamal Haasan and produced by Kaja Mohideen, and initially suggested a one-line story which went on to become Pachaikili Muthucharam for say publicly collaboration.[19] Kamal Haasan wanted a different story and thus depiction investigative thriller film Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006), was written with Jyothika, Kamalinee Mukherjee, Prakash Raj, Daniel Balaji and Salim Baig broaden to the cast. The film told another episode from a police officer's life, with an Indian cop moved to Earth to investigate the case of psychotic serial killers before recurring to pursue the chase in India. During the shooting, rendering unit ran into problems after the producer had attempted selfdestruction and as a result, Kamal Haasan wanted to quit description project.[19] Menon subsequently convinced him to stay on as they had taken advance payments. He has since revealed that changed Kamal Haasan's other films, the actor did not take exactly so control of the script or production of the film. Picture film however had gone through change from the original hand with less emphasis on the antagonists than Menon had hoped and he also revealed that scenes for songs were least in and shot without him.[19] The film released in Venerable 2006 and went on to become his third successive damage film in Tamil and once again, he won rave reviews for his direction.[26][27] Menon later expressed interest in remaking picture film in Hindi with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead pretend without the love angle, though the project fell through funds discussions. In 2012, he re-began negotiations with producers to set up a Hindi version of the film with Shahrukh Khan bear the lead role.[28] He had stated his intent on construction a trilogy of police episode films, with a possible position featuring Vikram in the lead role, before completing it enjoy 2015 with Ajith Kumar in Yennai Arindhaal.[19]
His next post, Pachaikili Muthucharam (2007), based on the novel Derailed by Saint Siegel, featured Sarath Kumar and Jyothika and was released return February 2007. Initially, the lead role was offered to Kamal Haasan who passed the opportunity, while actors Cheran and Madhavan declined citing date and image problems respectively.[29] Menon met Sarath Kumar at an event where he cited he was gorgeous to change his 'action' image and Menon subsequently cast him in the lead role.[29] During production, the film ran experience further casting trouble with Simran dropping out her assigned cut up and was replaced by Shobana after another actress, Tabu, as well rejected the role.[30] Shobana was also duly replaced by a newcomer, Andrea Jeremiah to portray the character of Kalyani interior the film. The film was under production for over a year and coincided with the making of his previous album which was largely delayed. The film initially opened to categorical reviews with a critic citing that Menon is "growing angst each passing film. His style is distinctive, his vision cloudless, his team rallies around him and he manages to fascination it off each time he attempts".[31][32] However the film became a financial failure for the producer, V. Ravichandran and clear regard to the failure of the film, Menon went firmness to claim that Sarath Kumar was "wrong for the film" and that he tweaked the story to fit his image; he also claimed that his father's ailing health and resultant death a week before the release had left him mentally affected.[29] In mid-2007, Menon announced and began work on a youth-centric film titled Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikaalam featuring Trisha and swindler ensemble of newcomers. Set in the backdrop of Chennai's thriving IT industry, the team began its shoot in September 2007 and continued for thirty days but was later delayed focus on eventually shelved.[33] In 2011, he revealed that the film was dropped because he felt the actors "needed to be trained", and would consider restarting the project at a later stage.[34][35]
His next release, Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), saw him re-collaborate with Suriya, who played dual roles in the film. The film illustrates the theme of how a father often came across sketch his son's life as a hero and inspiration, and Menon dedicated the film to his late father who died eliminate 2007.[36] The pre-production of the film, then titled Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikaalam began in 2003, with Menon planning it as a romantic film with Suriya as a follow-up to their sign on previous collaboration, Kaakha Kaakha.[37]Abhirami was signed and then dropped owing to her height before a relatively new actress at rendering time Asin was selected to make her debut in Dravidian films with the project. The first schedule of the lp began in January 2004 in Visakhapatanam and consequently romantic scenes with Suriya and Asin were shot for ten days esoteric then a photo shoot with the pair.[37] The film was subsequently stalled and was eventually relaunched with a new ominous including Divya Spandana, Simran and Sameera Reddy in 2006 clatter Aascar Ravichandran stepping in as producer, who opted for a change of title. Menon has described the film as "autobiographical and a very personal story and if people didn't be familiar with, that 70% of this [the film] is from my life".[29] Throughout the film-making process, Menon improvised the script to reward homage to his late father by adding a family interlink to the initial romantic script, with Suriya eventually playing appear roles. The film's production process became noted for the except and the hard work that Suriya had gone through assent to portray the different roles with production taking nearly two years.[36] The film was released to a positive response, with critics heaping praise on Suriya's performance while claiming that the disc was "just a feather in Gautam's hat" and that set was "a classic".[38] The film was made at a bulldoze of 150 million rupees and became a commercial success, bringing inconsequential almost 220 million rupees worldwide.[36] It went on to become Menon's most appreciated work till date winning five Filmfare Awards, ninespot Vijay Awards and the National Film Award for Best Property Film in Tamil for 2008 amongst other accolades. Post-release dying the film, Menon had a public fallout with his wonted music composer Harris Jayaraj and announced that they would no longer work together, though they later returned in 2015 detail Yennai Arindhaal.[39] In late 2008, during the making of Vaaranam Aayiram, he had signed on with Sivaji Productions to ancient Ajith Kumar and Sameera Reddy in an action film styled Surangani.[40] Menon later pulled out of the commitment citing put off the producers were not willing to let him take his own time with scripting.[41]
In 2010, Menon notion a return to romantic genre after 2 years with rendering Tamil romantic film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010), starring Silambarasan and Trisha.[42] Originally planned as a Jessie with Mahesh Babu in interpretation lead role, the actor's refusal prompted Menon to make interpretation Tamil version first. The film explored the complicated relationship among a Hindu Tamil assistant director, Karthik, and a Christian Malayali girl, Jessie and their resultant emotional conflicts. The film featured music by A. R. Rahman in his first collaboration liking Menon whilst cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa was also selected to have someone on a part of the technical crew. Menon cited that agreed was "a week away from starting the film with a newcomer" before his producer insisted they looked at Silambarasan, be on a par with Menon revealing that he was unimpressed with the actor's onetime work.[12] The film was in production for close to a year and throughout the opening week of filming, promotional posters from classic Indian romantic films were released featuring the eliminate pair.[43] Prior to release, the film became the first Dravidian project to have a music soundtrack premiere outside of Bharat, with a successful launch at the BAFTA in London.[44] Operate release, the film achieved positive reviews, with several critics bountiful the film "classic" status, whilst also become a commercially fortunate venture.[45][46] Reviewers praised Menon citing that "credit for their top off portrayal, of course, goes to Gautam Vasudev Menon. This go over one director who's got the pulse of today's urban girlhood perfectly" and that "crafted a movie that will stay improvement our hearts for a long, long time."[46] Soon after picture Tamil version began shoot, Menon decided to begin a Dravidian version titled Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) and release it simultaneously, with featuring a fresh cast of Naga Chaitanya and woman Samantha. Like the Tamil version, the film won critical acclamation and was given "classic" status from critics, as it went on to become among the most profitable Telugu films assault 2010.[46][47][48] In 2016, he revealed that he had scripted a spin-off film from Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa titled Ondraga, where the break of Karthik's life would be followed eight years after say publicly happenings of the previous film.[35]
He next began research and pre-production work on a 1920s period spy thriller titled Thuppariyum Anand in early 2010, with both Ajith Kumar and then Suriya considered for the lead roles, but the film failed control progress.[49][50] Menon had also made progress over the previous shine unsteadily years directing the psychological thriller Nadunisi Naaygal (2011) featuring his assistant and debutant Veera Bahu and Sameera Reddy. Menon claimed that the film was inspired by a true event expend the US, while also claiming that a novel also helped form the story of the film.[12] During the making, illegal explicitly revealed that the film was for "the multiplex audience" and would face a limited release, citing that "it wish not cater to all sections of the audience".[12] He promoted the film by presenting a chat show dubbed as Koffee with Gautham where he interviewed Bharathiraja and Silambarasan, both interrupt whom had previously worked in such psychological thriller films appreciate Sigappu Rojakkal and Manmadhan. The film, which was his important home production under Photon Kathaas and did not have a background score, told the story of a victim of descendant abuse and the havoc he causes to women, narrating representation events of a particular day. The film opened to impure reviews with one critic citing it as "above average" but warning that "don't go expecting a typical Gautham romantic film" and that it "is definitely not for the family audiences", while criticizing that "there are too many loopholes in picture story, raising doubts about logic".[51] In contrast another critic dubbed it as an "unimpressive show by director Menon, as launch is neither convincing nor appealing, despite having some engrossing moments".[52] A group of protesters held a protest outside Gautham's sort out on reason for misusing a goddess's name in his ep and also showing explicit sex and violent scenes, claiming guarantee it was against Tamil culture.[53] Soon after the release extent the film, Menon began pre-production work on a television program featuring Parthiban in the lead role of a detective, but did not carry through with the idea after he bed defeated to find financiers.[54]
Menon returned to Bollywood with the Hindi refashion of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, titled Ekk Deewana Tha (2012), with Prateik Babbar and Amy Jackson.[55] Unlike the South Indian versions, description film opened to unanimously below average reviews, with critics noting the story "got lost in translation",[56] and became a receptacle office failure.[57] Post-release, Menon admitted that he "got the cast wrong", and subsequently other Hindi films he had pre-planned were dropped.[58] During the period, Menon also began pre-production work trim down the first film of an action-adventure series of films highborn Yohan starring Vijay in the title role. However, after a year of pre-production, the director shelved the film citing differences of opinion about the project.[59]
Menon's next releases were the fictitious films Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012) in Tamil and Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu (2012) in Telugu, both co-produced by Photon Kathaas. Jiiva and Nani played the lead roles in each version mutatis mutandis, while Samantha was common in both films. Ilaiyaraaja was undignified as music composer for the film, which told the star of three stages in the life of a couple.[60][61] A third Hindi version Assi Nabbe Poorey Sau, was also try simultaneously with Aditya Roy Kapoor playing the lead role, although the failure of Ek Deewana Tha saw production ultimately halted.[62][63] The films both opened to average reviews and collections, friendliness critics noting Menon "falls into the trap every seasoned producer dreads -- of repeating his own mandatory formula" though noting that the film has its "sparkling moments".[64][65] The response complete the film prompted a legal tussle to ensue between Menon and the film's producer Elred Kumar, prompting the director ordain release an emotionally charged letter attempting to clear his name of any financial wrongdoing.[66] Menon was then briefly associated fitting the anthology film, X, helping partially direct a script inscribed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja before opting out and being replaced unresponsive to Nalan Kumarasamy.[67] He also began production work on a big-budgeted venture titled Dhruva Natchathiram, signing up an ensemble cast including Suriya, Trisha and Arun Vijay, with a series of posters issued and an official launch event being held. However, plod October 2013, Suriya left the film citing Menon's lack glimpse progress in developing the script and the film was later dropped.[68] Later in early 2015, Menon restarted pre-production for say publicly project with Vikram and Nayantara, but again was forced hint at postpone the film citing financial restraints.[69][70]
Following Suriya's withdrawal from Dhruva Natchathiram, Menon moved on to enter on a romantic thriller film with Silambarasan and Pallavi Subhash plod the lead role from November 2013. The film developed go downwards the title Sattendru Maarathu Vaanilai and was shot for cardinal days, before the film was put on hold as a result of Menon getting an offer from producer A. M. Rathnam to begin a film starring Ajith Kumar. Consequently, break open April 2014, he began filming for Yennai Arindhaal (2015), say publicly third instalment in his franchise of police films. He described Ajith's character Sathyadev as an "extension" of the protagonists be different Kaakha Kaakha and Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, while Trisha, Anushka Shetty, Arun Vijay and Parvathy Nair were also selected to portray encouraging roles.[71] The film saw him collaborate again with music composer Harris Jayaraj, for the first time since their spat feigned 2008, while writers Shridhar Raghavan and Thiagarajan Kumararaja were both also involved in the screen-writing process. Focussing on the parcel of a police officer's professional and personal life from rendering ages of thirteen to thirty-eight with the backdrop of tackling an organ-trafficking gang, Yennai Arindhaal opened to mixed to absolute reviews in February 2015.[72][73] Critics from The Hindu wrote give the once over "leaves you feeling like having gone back to a well-known play you have enjoyed a few times over", and give it some thought it is "a much-needed intervention in the Tamil commercial theatre space" while also "the most engaging of the three [police films]".[74] Reviewer Udhav Naig of The Hindu added that "Gautham wins as he has reconfigured, albeit not radically, the unornamented contours of a Tamil cop", and that he "has constantly improved on the character sketch in the last three films."[75] The film also performed well at the box office splendid gave Menon his first commercially successful Tamil film in quintuplet years.[76] Soon after the release, he began work on a sequel to the film and expressed his interest in move Ajith again to work together in the future.[77] Menon as well worked as a singer in Radha Mohan's film Uppu Karuvaadu (2015).[78]
After Yennai Arindhaal, Menon resumed work on his film involve Silambarasan under the new title of Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, extinct Manjima Mohan joining the cast to replace Pallavi Sharda. A Telugu version with Naga Chaitanya and Manjima was simultaneously cannonball under the title Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo, with Menon revealing ditch he hoped to finance the Tamil version through the earnings he received from the Telugu film's producers.[79] The film civilized slowly and was further delayed after Silambarasan refused to run for the film following a salary dispute during mid-2016. Menon also has Enai Noki Paayum Thota, a drama featuring Dhanush and Megha Akash in production, with the shoot began as February 2016.
Menon also has several proposed directorial projects access production. He began producing and directing the spy thriller Dhruva Natchathiram in late 2016 with Vikram leading an ensemble impression. Despite regular schedules throughout 2017, the film has been lay on hold as Menon looks to raise funds. He has agreed terms to make an anthology film for Netflix, come to rest another film titled Joshua: Adhiyayam Ondru for Vels Film Intercontinental featuring Varun.[80][81][82] He has also completed a web series highborn Queen based on the life of political leader Jayalalithaa, which features Ramya Krishnan in the lead role. The series admiration released on MX Player.[83][84] Menon also still aspires to be over his proposed multilingual film titled Ondraaga, which would be a spiritual sequel to Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa.[85][86][87]
Menon has stated that operate is largely inspired by the "depth and aesthetics" that in addition created by American films.[88] He usually makes the characters importance his films sport identical haircuts and urban casual wear boss by speaking in English. His films are also known expulsion their strong depiction of female characters, in contrast to curb contemporary Tamil films which, according to journalist Sudhish Kamath, update "hero-worshipping star vehicles where the heroine is just a stark prop". Kamath also notes that several defining traits of Menon's films include liberal doses of English and restraint, the villains being "a seriously dangerous threat", his male protagonists being a "picture of grace and dignity" who are yet fallible, who love their fathers and are trying hard to be trade fair men, who respect women and accept them for who they are.[89] The majority of Menon's police films feature a lady, typically the male lead's wife or lover, being fridged.[90] Menon stated that distributors and financiers often lay several limitations nearby constraints on his films, that such actions only drift his thoughts and make him feel like he is losing ingenious control.[88] Though his films are perceived as targeting mainly urbanized audiences, Menon feels they can be enjoyed by anyone.[91]
According halt The Hindu's Udhav Naig, Menon's films are "regulated by a matrix of strong middle-class values", and also have biographical elements which, according to Menon, are inspired by his own life.[92] Menon prefers to write the climax of his films lone after filming has significantly progressed, stating that though he has an idea about the climax, it always changes when interpretation film starts shooting.[93] He also names his films after prototypical Tamil phrases and lines from Tamil film songs such type Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada being named after the namesake song reject Mannathi Mannan (1960) and Yennai Arindhaal being named after depiction song "Unnai Arindhaal" from Vettaikkaran (1964).[94] Menon dislikes watching dubbed versions of his own films, and claims his scripts possess "a universal theme", citing this as the reason he chose to film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya in Telugu as Ye Maaya Chesave, rather than dub.[95] Menon also makes cameo appearances in description films he directs.[96] Menon's films notably feature voiceovers, either escape the view of the protagonist or the antagonist.[97]
Uthara Menon is his sister and she has worked on his films following Yennai Arindhaal (2015).[98]
This is a tilt of films that Gautham Vasudev Menon produced for other directors.
This is a list of films that Gautham Vasudev Menon acted for other directors.
This is a catalogue of films that Gautham Vasudev Menon worked for other directors for various roles.