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M. Manikandan

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M. Manikandan
Manikandan in 2018
Born
Usilampatti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupations
Years active2010–present

M. Manikandan is an Indian film director, writer, producer, and cinematographer who works in Tamil cinema. He began his career as an assistant cinematographer in Tamil films. He made his directorial debut with the short film Wind (2010) and got his breakthrough in feature films like Kaaka Muttai (2015), which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film. In 2022, he produced the film Kadaisi Vivasayi, for which he received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.

Biography

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Manikandan was born into a family of police officers in Usilampatti, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu.[1] Due to his father's frequent transfers, Manikandan's family frequently moved. After completing his schooling, he did his diploma in automobile engineering.[2] He developed an interest in photography and started his career as a wedding photographer.[3] During this time, he also designed identification cards for schools and colleges to save money for a digital photography course at the Mindscreen Film Institute, a film school managed by director and cinematographer Rajiv Menon.[1]

In the mid-2000s, he started his film career as an assistant cinematographer in Tamil films. During this time, he co-wrote several scripts for short films. He got his major break with the short film Wind (2010), his directorial debut. The film brought him critical acclaim and was screened in several film festivals.[2] The film caught the attention of Tamil film director Vetrimaaran, who helped him produce Kaaka Muttai (2015), his feature film debut. The film revolves around two slum-dwelling kids whose solitary desire in life is to taste a pizza.[1] The film premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically in June 2015. At the 62nd National Film Awards, it won two honours – Best Children's Film and Best Child Artist.[4] The film won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 13th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.[5]

In 2021, Manikandan signed Ilaiyaraaja for the songs and background score for his film Kadaisi Vivasayi,[6] but later he replaced Ilaiyaraaja with Santhosh Narayanan as he was not satisfied with the background score of the veteran composer,[7] prompting Ilaiyaraaja to lodge a complaint against the director with the Music Composers Association of India.[8] The film won the National Film Award for the Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 69th National Film Awards.[9]

In February 2024, thieves broke into Manikandan's second home in Usilampatti, stealing money, gold, and silver. The incident received international attention when the burglars returned days later to anonymously return Manikandan's 2022 National Film Award for Kadaisi Vivasaayi.[10]

Filmography

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Year Film Director Writer Cinematographer Notes
2010 Wind Yes Yes Yes Short film[11]
2015 Kaaka Muttai Yes Yes Yes National Film Award for Best Children's Film
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil[12]
2015 Kirumi No Yes No
2016 Kuttrame Thandanai Yes Yes Yes
Aandavan Kattalai Yes Yes No
2022 Kadaisi Vivasaayi Yes Yes Yes Served as producer

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
Filmfare Award South for Best Film (Critics')

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kannadasan, Akila (26 May 2015). "It's sure to make viewers crow with joy". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b "The Crow's Egg". Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. ^ Singh, Suhani (2 June 2015). "M Manikandan talks about his national award winning film Kaakka Muttai". India Today. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  4. ^ "National Film Awards – 2014". Directorate of Film Festivals. p. 59. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  5. ^ Dore, Shalini (13 April 2015). "'Chauranga' Wins Top Prize at Indian Film Festival Los Angeles". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Manikandan's Kadaisi Vivasayi to Have Ilaiyaraaja's Music; Film in Theatres Soon". News 18. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  7. ^ Lakshmi, V (4 May 2020). "Santhosh to compose for Kadaisi Vivasayi instead of Ilaiyaraaja?". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Ilaiyaraaja lodges complaint against 'Kadaisi Vivasayi' director". The Times of India. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  9. ^ "69th National Film Awards 2023 Complete Winners List: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun Win Big". The Indian Express. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. ^ Raj, Suhasini; Mashal, Mujib (17 February 2024). "Burglars Hit Movie Director's Home, Then Deliver a Cinematic Plot Twist". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  11. ^ Singh, Suhani (2 June 2015). "M Manikandan talks about his national award winning film Kaakka Muttai". India Today. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Nominations for the 63rd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)". Filmfare. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
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