M. Manikandan

M. Manikandan is an Indian director, writer 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 with Kaaka Muttai, which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 2015.

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

Biography

Manikandan was born into a family of police officers in Usilampatti, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.[1] He did his schooling in different towns owing to his father's frequent transfers. 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] He also did odd jobs such as designing ID cards for school and college children. In a later interview he claimed that he did all these in order to save money to pursue a course in digital photography at the Mindscreen Film Institute, a film school managed by 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 Vetrimaran, who helped him produce Kaaka Muttai, 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 wasn't satisfied with the background score of the veteran composer,[7] prompting Ilaiyaraaja to lodge a complaint against the director at Music composer's association.[8]

Filmography
Year Film Director Writer Cinematographer Notes
2010WindYesYesYesShort film[9]
2015Kaaka MuttaiYesYesYesNational Film Award for Best Children's Film
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil[10]
2015KirumiNoYesNo
2016Kuttrame ThandanaiYesYesYes
Aandavan KattalaiYesYesNo
2022Kadaisi VivasaayiYesYesYesAlso Producer,
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil

References
  1. Kannadasan, Akila (26 May 2015). "It's sure to make viewers crow with joy". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. "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. 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.
  10. "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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