Elango Kumaravel

Elango Kumaravel Biography

Elango Kumaravel is an actor and screen writer associated with Tamil cinema. He portrays character roles most. A strong associate of theater, he is a co-founder of "Magic Lantern", a Chennai based theatre troupe. He studied at Sankaradas Swamigal School of Performing Arts, and has also worked as an assistant casting director of Tamil cinema. He is the co-scriptwriter of 2010 Tamil action film, Kattradhu Kalavu, directed by ad film maker Balaji Devi Prasad. He has also dubbed for Brahmanandham for 2007 movie – Mozhi. His role of Ravi Shastri in Abhiyum Naanum was impactful and unforgettable.

He was born in Chennai on January 1, 1970. He was associated with theatre since younger days and was one among the founding members of "Magic Lantern", a Chennai based theatre troupe. Throughout 1990s he has been a stage actor of many notable plays like - Tamil Historical Play Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki (1999) and Philip Minyana's Ou Va Tu Jeremie? (1998), apart from Molier's Tartuffe (1997) and Camus' Caligula (1993), all translated to Hindi. Chakravyuh (2013), Sundara Gaandam (2012), Krishna- soul Seeker (2011), Raghuvamsam (2010), Kurukshetra (2009), Ravana (2008), Bheeshma (2007) and Vali Vadam (2006) are some of the plays written by him.

He is associated with film world since 2001, where he started off as a character artist. Some of his noted appearances in the early 2000s are Mayan (2001), Azhagi (2002), Azhagiya Theeye (2004), Ponniyin Selvan (2005) etc. Later he acted as a dubbing artist of the industry also. Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam, Un Samayal Arayil, Gouravam, Dharani, Ivanuku Thannila Gandam and Uppu Karuvaadu are among his latest noted roles.

He began his career as a marketing professional to very soon recognize that it’s not his cup of tea. He was only a seasonal theatre artist then. His uncle suggested him to join School of Drama of Pondicherry University where writer Indira Parthasarathy was also a member. A great fan of Parthasarathy, he said yes. A therukoothu performance at a theatre festival at Purisai was the turning point of his career. He was a city boy not exposed to rural art forms. Impressed by the artists’ high energy level, he too learnt the art form and was one among the performers who staged a therukoothu on the episode of ‘Draupati Vasthraparanam’ under the guidance of Kannappa Thambiran. Later he got active in theatre, which opened doors to cinema field as well.

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Updated: January 17, 2016