Venkat Prabhu

Early life and career

Following his return to India, Prabhu began singing for demos by his cousins, Yuvan Shankar Raja and Karthik Raja, and started his career as a playback singer in the film industry. In 1996, he, his brother Premgi Amaren and his childhood friend S. P. B. Charan set up a music band called Next Generation, which also featured Yugendran and Thaman as members, and did several stage performances. The following year, Prabhu played the lead role opposite Sangeetha in a film titled Poonjolai directed by his father Gangai Amaren, but the film was cancelled in mid-production and attempts to revive and release the film by the late-2000s were unsuccessful. Prabhu starred in two more ventures, alongside his friends S. P. B. Charan and Yugendran; Wanted, directed by Premgi Amaren, and Agathiyan's Kadhal Samrajyam, both failing to release as well. Venkat Prabhu was then approached to essay supporting roles, with April Maadhathil (2002) becoming his first release. He went on to play character roles in nearly ten films, the most notable ventures being N. Linguswamy's Ji, starring Ajith Kumar, and the Perarasu-directed Sivakasi, featuring Vijay in the lead role. He also played lead roles in Samuthirakani's directorial debut Unnai Charanadaindhen and Gnabagam Varuthey (2007), both co-starring Charan. He worked in Seeman's Vaazhthugal (2008) alongside Madhavan.

In 2007, Venkat Prabhu ventured into film directing with the sports comedy film Chennai 600028, produced by S. P. B. Charan, that revolved around a street cricket team from a suburban area in Chennai, with its players being portrayed by 11 newcomers, including his brother Premgi. The film emerged as a sleeper hit, garnering high critical acclaim and becoming labelled a "cult classic" in the following years, which led to the lead cast growing in popularity. He next directed the comedy thriller film Saroja (2008), the title being derived from a hit number from Chennai 600028, which also featured an ensemble cast including Charan and Premgi. The film followed the journey of four young men who, by taking a diversion off the main road, land into the hands of a kidnapper gang; it received positive response from critics and at the box office as well. He followed it up with Goa (2010), a full-length comedy film, which received mixed response and did fairly well at the box office. In 2011, he directed his biggest project to date, the action thriller Mankatha, featuring Ajith Kumar in the lead role and was later a blockbuster.

His next project, Biriyani (2013), starred Karthi and Hansika Motwani. After, Venkat Prabhu directed Massu Engira Masilamani (2015), with Suriya and Nayanthara in the lead role. He directed Chennai 600028 II, the sequel of the 2007 blockbuster Chennai 600028, and it was released on 9 December 2016 to positive reviews. Two years later he began working on Maanaadu (2021) starring Silambarasan and S. J. Suryah in lead roles. The film was released on 25 November 2021 to positive reviews from critics. The action thriller The Greatest of All Time, starring Vijay and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja, was officially announced in May 2023. The film is bankrolled by AGS Entertainment, which marks their second collaboration with Vijay. The film was released on 5 September to positive reviews from critics.

Personal life

Venkat Prabhu is the son of director-turned-music-director Gangai Amaran and older brother to actor, singer and music director Premgi Amaran. His uncle is the music director Ilayaraaja and his cousins are the music composers Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja and singer Bhavatharini. S. P. B. Charan, producer of Prabhu's first directorial venture Chennai 600028, is his very close friend and they both have worked together on several projects.

He did his schooling at St. Bede's school in Chennai. On 11 September 2001, Venkat Prabhu married Rajalakshmi, the daughter of dance teacher K. J. Sarasa, and now has a daughter named Shivani. Shivani has already sung a song for the album Thaaaii when she was 5 years old.

Frequent collaborators

Venkat Prabhu frequently works with the same actors and crew members, most prominently Premgi Amaren, Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan, and editor Praveen K. L.

Only people that have worked in three or more of his films are listed.

Filmography

As director

As producer

As actor

Music videos

As singer

As lyricist

References

References

1. "'Tik Tik Tik': Venkat Prabhu all praise for the Jayam Ravi-starrer".
2. Malini Mannath [https://web.archive.org/web/20081021092350/http://archives.chennaionline.com/film/Interviews/2007/06int12.asp I was mixing money with friendship: Venkat Prabhu interview]. chennaionline.com. 6 June 2007
3. "Venkat Prabhu, Premgi share throwback pics with dad Gangai Amaren; wish him happy birthday". [[The Times of India]].
4. (22 October 2003). "Generation NEXT". [[The Hindu]].
5. Raghavan, Nikhil. (10 September 2009). "On a song". The Hindu.
6. (26 June 2009). "Fresh notes". [[The Hindu]].
7. (3 August 2006). "Actor Sangeetha content with her success". [[The Hindu]].
8. "A-Z (V)". Indolink.com.
9. "1997–98 Kodambakkam babies Page". Indolink.com.
10. (29 April 2002). "Vasundhara's no glam doll". Rediff.com.
11. (5 July 2002). "Youthful line-up". [[The Hindu]].
12. "Tamil cinema in 2007 – half-year report". Cinesouth.com.
13. "CHENNAI 28 BOX OFFICE TOP 10 OF 2007".
14. "Movies that beat the odds – Chennai 600028".
15. "Saroja is not Chennai 600028". rediff.com.
16. (September 2021). "Mankatha's cast & crew remember Thala Ajith's blockbuster on its 10th anniversary".
17. (29 May 2015). "'Masss' Movie Review: Suriya-Nayanthara Starrer a Typical Venkat Prabhu Entertainer".
18. (9 December 2016). "Chennai 600028 2nd Innings (Aka) Chennai 600028 2 review".
19. Native, Digital. (2018-07-10). "Simbu-Venkat Prabhu film titled 'Maanadu'".
20. S, Srivatsan. (2021-11-25). "'Maanaadu' movie review: Simbu and SJ Suryah have a go at each other in this smartly-written film". The Hindu.
21. (2023-05-21). "'Thalapathy 68' official announcement: Vijay joins Venkat Prabhu's next!". The Times of India.
22. "MSN".
23. Krishna, Sandhya. (1997). "Kodambakkam Babies". Indolink.
24. "Venkat Prabhu Exclusive Interview".
25. (29 November 2021). "I wish our stars would encourage fresh ideas: Director Venkat Prabhu". [[The New Indian Express]].
26. (21 March 2021). "Premgi Amaren-Venkat Prabhu to Bobby Simha-Karthik Subbaraj: Five actor-director duos who had worked together in more than three films". [[The Times of India]].
27. (6 August 2020). "Venkat Prabhu: 'Refreshing to see other directors write roles for me'". The Hindu.
28. (25 August 2020). "Venkat Prabhu's Party to release in theatres only, confirm makers". The Times of India.
29. கண்ணன், சுரேஷ். (21 December 2022). "பயணங்கள் முடிவதில்லை: இளைய நிலா பொழிந்த அமரக்காவியம்; மைக் மோகன் உருவாகக் காரணமாக இருந்த சினிமா!".
30. (12 November 2019). "The upcoming investigative drama starring Vaibhav, Venkat Prabhu and Vani Bhojan is bankrolled by Nitinsathyaa". Behindwoods.
31. (February 2024). "High On Yuvan (Theme Song)- Download or Listen Free - Spotify".