Thambi Ramaiah

Thambi Ramaiah
Born Thambi Ramaiah Jagannathapillai
Rarapuram, Pudhukottai district, Tamil Nadu[1]
Occupation Actor, director, lyricist
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s) Ponnazhagu
Children
  • Umapathy
  • Viveka
Parent(s)
  • Jagannathapillai
  • Pappammal

Thambi Ramaiah is an Indian film actor and director who works in the Tamil film industry. He directed the film Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan starring Vadivelu;[2] his performance in Mynaa won a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor.[3] Ramaiah has also worked occasionally as a lyricist.[4]

Career

Thambi Ramaiah was born in Rarapuram village in Pudukkottai, and initially entered the film industry hoping to become a screenwriter. His father was a poet and a fiction writer and his mother was a housewife, while Ramaiah was their eldest child. He earned pocket money during his school days by writing love letters for his classmates.[5] He also had an interest in lyric writing, often writing lyrics for parody versions of popular songs, while becoming trained in various instruments including the harmonium and guitar. At the age of 20, he moved to Chennai and tried to make a breakthrough into the film industry, but was hindered by his lack of contacts and instead worked for a private company for nine years.[6] He got a break in 1994 and took up a job as a dialogue writer for a serial on Sun TV, doubling up as an assistant director, script writer and lyricist. He then earned opportunities to work as an assistant director in films directed by T. Rajender and P. Vasu, and he considers the latter his teacher of screenplay-writing.[5] He made a cameo acting appearance in Vasu's film Malabar Police (1999) in a scene featuring Goundamani. The following year, he made his directorial début with Manu Needhi (2000), which starred Murali and Napolean in the lead roles. He carried on playing supporting roles in films as well as writing comedy tracks, also directing the Vadivelu-starrer Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008).

He made a breakthrough as an actor portraying a friendly cop in Prabhu Solomon's romantic film Mynaa (2010) and won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. He subsequently won positive reviews for his performances in films including Saattai, Kumki (2012) and Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam (2014). At the peak of his career in 2013-2014, he worked for up to four films a day, while being on locations for close to 25 days a month. He also served as his own manager and often was in charge of his own make-up and costumes in films.[5]

In 2014, he announced plans to introduce his son, Umapathi, as an actor. His son later made his debut in Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay (2016).

Filmography

As actor

Year Film Role Notes
1981 Savaal One of Kamal's friend
1999 Malabar Police Perumal
2001 Manu Needhi Broker Dharmalingam Also director
2004 Jore
2005 Kodambakkam
Vetrivel Sakthivel Selvi's father-in-law
Aaru
2006 Kovai Brothers Astrologer
Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi
Sillunu Oru Kadhal Vellaichaamy's assistant
Thalaimagan
Vathiyar
Thagapansamy
2007 Maa Madurai Osamma's husband
Thottal Poo Malarum
Oram Po
2008 Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan Chithraguptan Also director
Theekuchi Kurangu Ramasamy
Kee Mu
2009 Guru En Aalu Lawyer
Malai Malai
Odipolama
2010 Magane En Marumagane
Mynaa Ramaiah Winner, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actor
Winner, National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Tamil
Mandhira Punnagai Manmadhan Naidu
2011 Nanjupuram
Aayiram Vilakku
Vaagai Sooda Vaa Twonaalettu (2×4=8)
Osthi Maasaana Moorthy
Rajapattai Shanmugham
2012 Vettai Constable
Ambuli Vethagiri
Kazhugu Shanmugam (Chittappa)
Pechiyakka Marumagan
Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam Muthiah
Mannaru Also writer
Saattai Singam Perumal Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Villain
Thaandavam Thappachae Mama
Neerparavai Joseph Bharathi
Kumki Kothali Winner, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian
Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Tamil
2013 Lokpal SI Ramdas Malayalam film
Mathil Mel Poonai
Moondru Per Moondru Kadhal Thiruvengadam
Keeripulla
Neram Saravanar
Summa Nachunu Irukku Chinniah
Apple Penne Aarumugam
2014 Jilla
Veeram Savarimuthu
Pulivaal Valliappan
Vu Ganesh
Nimirndhu Nil Head constable
Nedunchaalai Master
Ennamo Nadakkudhu
Un Samayal Arayil Krishna
Athithi Ondipuli
Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam Seenu Winner, Vijay Award for Best Comedian
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Tamil
Amara Kaaviyam Gnanam
Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani Silambu Chinnadurai
Vanavarayan Vallavarayan
Rettai Vaalu
Yaan Chinna
Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe Rajagopalan
Gnana Kirukkan
Oru Oorla Rendu Raja Good Samaritan
Kaaviya Thalaivan Koduvaai
Kaadu Chettiar
2015 Isai Church priest
Sandamarutham Nirukalathan
Vajram
En Vazhi Thani Vazhi
Serndhu Polama Kumaran
Komban Rajakili
Kangaroo Thakapan Swami Nadar
Inimey Ippadithan
Thani Oruvan Sengalvarayan Winner, Edison Award for Best Character Actor
Adhibar
Strawberry
Yatchan Sotta Mani
Maanga
PuliKodangi
Sivappu
Thiraipada Nagaram
Vedalam Thamizh's father
2016 Azhagu Kutti Chellam
Peigal Jaakkirathai Pazhaivel Annachi
Saagasam Police officer
Vetrivel Othasai
Appa Filming
Asurakulam Filming
Vizhithiru Filming
Thiruttukalyanam Filming
Arjunan Kadhali delayed
Vaaraayo Vennilaave delayed

As director

Year Film Language Cast Notes
2000 Manu Needhi Tamil Murali, Prathyusha
2008 Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan Tamil Vadivelu, Yamini Sharma

As singer

Year Film Song Composer Lyrics Notes
2013 Vu "Oru Padi Mela" Abhijith Ramasamy Murugan Manthiram
2010 Oru Koodai Mutham "Nongala Enakku" Shanthan Thambi Ramaiah
2010 Oru Koodai Mutham "Pappa Poranthathu" Shanthan Thambi Ramaiah

References

External links

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