R. V. Udayakumar

R. V. Udayakumar Biography

R. V. Udayakumar is a veteran director, actor and lyricist associated with Tamil film industry who has played numerous character roles onscreen. One of the prominent directors of early 1990s, Yejaman and Chinna Gounder are among his noted films, in which he portrayed character roles too. Kizhakku Vasal, Rajakumaran and Singaravelan are other major hits. He wrote lyrics for his movies too. He worked as an associate director for films like Neram Vandhachu, Janani and Oomai Vizhigal in the 1980s. 2005 film Karka Kasadara was his last movie as a director and currently he plays supporting roles in films. Paambhu Sattai and Anjala are his latest releases in 2016. Many of the evergreen hits of Ilaiyaraaja in the first half of 1990s belong to Udayakumar movies.

He belongs to Mullaipalayam of Mettupalayam, Coimbatore district and he was born into an agricultural family. He completed his graduation from Coimbatore and later joined the Madras Film Institute to pursue a diploma in direction. As a part of his academic studies, he directed many short films during this period. He entered film scene in the 1980s where he worked as an assistant director for a few movies, before making his directorial debut with 1988 film - Urimai Geetham. The movie starred Prabhu, Karthik, Ranjani and Pallavi in the lead roles. Same year he made a movie, Puthiya Vaanam with Sivaji Ganesan playing the male protagonist.

Udayakumar came into prominence in the early 1990s. Urudhi Mozhi, Kizhakku Vasal, Chinna Gounder, Singaravelan, Ejamaan, Ponnumani, Rajakumaran and Nandhavana Theru released in the first half of 1990s made him an established film director and lyricist. Ilaiyaraaja provided music for all these movies, which also attributed for the success of these films. Since 1994, he worked with other music composers too. Subash, Nandhavana Theru and Karka Kasadara are other noted works later. Karthik and Prabhu frequently worked in his movies, and both proved successful.

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Updated: March 20, 2016