| Name | Shankar Shanmugam |
| Age/DOB | 61 (August 17, 1963) |
| Known For | Director, Producer |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Family | Wife: Easwari Shankar Daughter: Arjith Shankar, Aishwarya Shankar, Aditi Shankar Father: Shanmugam Mother: Muthulakshmi |
| Education | Graduated diploma in mechanical engineering from Central Polytechnic College |
| Native | Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India |
Social Media
| Click Here | |
| Click Here | |
| Click Here |
Shankar Shanmugam best known by his on-screen name Shankar is an Indian film director and producer who primarily works in the Kollywood industry. Director S A Chandrasekhar gave him a shot and has since earned a reputation for directing high-budget films that feature advanced CGI and VFX. Often hailed as a pioneer of vigilante cinema in Tamil, Shankar frequently explores social messages within a commercially engaging narrative.
Shankar made his directorial debut with the 1993 film Gentleman, earning both the Filmfare Best Director Award and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director. He made his debut in Tollywood with Ram Charan’s Game Changer movie. He raised concerns about the unauthorized use of scenes from his copyrighted Tamil novel Veera Yuga Nayagan Velpari and forewarned filmmakers about potential legal consequences which has sparked significant discussion in the Kollywood community.
Did You Know?
- Shankar is one of the highest-paid directors in Indian cinema.
- He has collaborated with numerous Tamil stars including Rajinikanth, Vikram, Vijay, and Kamal Hassan.
- He is married to Easwari Shankar and has three children: two daughters and a son.
- His younger daughter Aditi Shankar is an actress known for her performance in the 2022 Tamil film Viruman.
- After graduating, Shankar worked as a Quality Control Supervisor but sought a more creatively fulfilling career.
- His 2024 Tamil movie, Indian 2 faced significant backlash from fans due to its worst screenplay and plot.
- Shankar has directed several highest-grossing Tamil films, such as Enthiran, Nanban, Anniyan, and Sivaji The Boss.
- His films Indian and Jeans were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
- Shankar frequently collaborates with the composer A R Rahman and they have worked together on around 12 films.
Movies
As Director
| Year | Title | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Gentleman | Tamil |
| 1994 | Kadhalan | Tamil |
| 1996 | Indian | Tamil |
| 1998 | Jeans | Tamil |
| 1999 | Mudhalvan | Tamil |
| 2001 | Nayak | Hindi |
| 2003 | Boys | Tamil |
| 2005 | Anniyan | Tamil |
| 2007 | Sivaji: The Boss | Tamil |
| 2010 | Enthiran | Tamil |
| 2012 | Nanban | Tamil |
| 2015 | I | Tamil |
| 2018 | 2.0 | Tamil |
| 2024 | Indian 2 | Tamil |
| 2025 | Game Changer | Telugu |
| 2025 | Indian 3 | Tamil |
As Producer
| Year | Title | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Mudhalvan | Tamil |
| 2004 | Kaadhal | Tamil |
| 2006 | Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi | Tamil |
| 2006 | Veyil | Tamil |
| 2007 | Kalloori | Tamil |
| 2008 | Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul | Tamil |
| 2009 | Eeram | Tamil |
| 2010 | Rettaisuzhi | Tamil |
| 2010 | Anandhapurathu Veedu | Tamil |
| 2014 | Kappal | Tamil |
| 2023 | Aneethi | Tamil |
As an Actor
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Vesham | – |
| 1986 | Poovum Puyalum | Student |
| 1986 | Vasantha Raagam | Printing press worker |
| 1987 | Neethikku Thandanai | Reporter |
| 1990 | Seetha | Japan |
| 2002 | Kadhal Virus | Himself |
As a Distributor
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Kappal |
| 2015 | Aneethi |
Awards and Nominations
National Film Awards
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Veyil | National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil | Won |
Filmfare Awards South
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Gentleman | Best Director | Won |
| 1994 | Kadhalan | Best Director | Won |
| 2005 | Anniyan | Best Director | Won |
| 2006 | Veyil | Best Film – Tamil | Won |
| 2007 | Sivaji: The.Boss | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2010 | Enthiran | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2015 | I | Best Director | Nominated |
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Gentleman | Best Director | Won |
| 1996 | Indian | Best Film (First prize) | Won |
| 2005 | Anniyan | Best Film (Second prize) | Won |
| 2005 | Anniyan | Best Director | Won |
| 2006 | Veyil | Best Film (First prize) | Won |
| 2007 | Sivaji: The.Boss | Best Film (First prize) | Won |
Vijay Awards
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Enthiran: The Robot | Favourite Director | Won |
| 2014 | – | Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema | Won |
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards
| Year | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2.0 | Best Animation and Visual Effect | Won |
Gallery
