Top 10 Female directors of Tamil cinema
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- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sudha Kongara was born on 29 March 1989 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. She is a writer and director, known for Soorarai Pottru (2020), Irudhi Suttru (2016) and Guru (2017).- Writer
- Actress
- Director
Lakshmy Ramakrishnan was born on 29 December 1970 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is a writer and actress, known for Yutham Sei (2011), Ammani (2016) and Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe (2014). She is married to Ramakrishnan.- Director
- Writer
- Costume Designer
Aishwarya Dhanush was born on 1 January 1982 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is a director and writer, known for 3 (2012), Ayirathil Oruvan (2010) and Lal Salaam (2024). She has been married to Dhanush since 18 November 2004. They have two children.- Producer
- Director
- Actress
Soundarya Rajinikanth Vishagan was born on 20 September 1984 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India. She is a producer and director, known for Velaiilla Pattadhari 2 (2017), Chandramukhi (2005) and Kochadaiiyaan (2014). She has been married to Vishagan Vanangamudi since 11 February 2019. They have one child. She was previously married to Ashwin Ramkumar.- Actress
- Director
Asha Kelunni, better known by her stage name Revathi, is a highly acclaimed Indian actress and director, recognized for her significant contributions to Tamil and Malayalam cinema, as well as her notable presence in Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films. Born in Cochin (present-day Kochi) to Malank Kelunni Nair, a major in the Indian Army, from Palakkad, and Lalitha Kelunni, Revathi began her journey in the entertainment industry with a chance encounter that would change her life.
During her school days, Revathi participated in a fashion show, and a photograph of her from the event became the cover of a popular Tamil magazine. This caught the attention of director Bharathiraja, who was in search of a new heroine for his film "Mann Vasanai." This marked the beginning of her acting career, and her debut in the Tamil film industry with "Mann Vasanai" in 1983 was a silver jubilee hit, earning her a Filmfare Special Award - South.
Revathi continued to make waves in the industry, making her Malayalam debut with "Kattathe Kilikkoodu" in 1983, which also achieved great success. She ventured into Telugu films with "Seethamma Pelli" in 1984 and gained recognition for her roles in films like "Kai Kodukkum Kai" (1984) and "Vaidehi Kathirunthal" (1984). Her breakthrough role came in Mani Ratnam's "Mouna Ragam" (1986), where she portrayed the spirited and headstrong Divya.
Known for her versatility, Revathi took on diverse roles and portrayed strong, relatable women characters. She achieved critical acclaim for her performances in films like "Punnagai Mannan" (1986), "Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal" (1988), and "Kizhakku Vaasal" (1990). Her remarkable acting skills were further recognized with a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in "Thevar Magan" (1992).
In the early 1990s, Revathi continued to deliver hits such as "Kilukkam" (1991) and "Marupadiyum" (1993). Her success extended to Hindi cinema with films like "Love" (1991), and she won a National Film Award for her role in "Thevar Magan." Revathi's golden era persisted until the late 1990s, marked by notable films like "Anjali" (1990), "Magalir Mattum" (1994), and "Thalaimurai" (1998).
Apart from her acting prowess, Revathi showcased her directorial skills with two feature films, "Mitr, My Friend" and "Phir Milenge." She also contributed to anthology films like "Kerala Cafe" and the unreleased "Mumbai Cutting."
Revathi's talent transcended regional boundaries, and she captivated Hindi audiences with her performances in "Margarita with a Straw" (2014) and "2 States" (2014). Her notable Tamil films include "Pa Paandi" (2017) and "Jackpot" (2019), while her impactful role in the Malayalam film "Virus" (2019) showcased her continued excellence.
In 2022, Revathi received the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her role in "Bhoothakaalam." She also portrayed Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's mother, Dhanalakshmi, in the bilingual Telugu and Hindi film "Major."
Revathi's journey in the film industry is not only marked by her acting prowess but also by her directorial achievements and her ability to contribute significantly to cinema across multiple languages. Her enduring legacy is a testament to her talent and versatility.- Director
- Writer
Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. She is known for Vanakkam Chennai (2013), Kaali (2018) and Kadhalikka Neramillai.- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
- Actress
- Director
- Music Department
Sripriya is known for Aval Appadithaan (1978), Drushyam (2014) and Malini 22 (2013). She is married to Raj Kumar. They have two children.- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Rohini is an Indian actress, lyricist, screenwriter, voice actor and director. She has mainly acted in south Indian, notably Malayalam and Tamil films. Having started her acting career at five, she has about 130 south Indian films to her credit. She received National Award of Special mention and Andhra Pradesh State Award for Best Female Actor in 1996 for the film Stri (1995).
She started her career in 1976 as a child artist. She was first seen as a wide-eyed five-year-old in Yashoda Krishna, a Telugu film. She is also a popular dubbing artist in the Telugu and Tamil industries. She has voiced six characters in five of Mani Ratnam's films. She lent her voice to actresses like Jyotika (Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006)), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Iruvar (1997) and Raavanan (2010)), Manisha Koirala (Bombay (1995)) and Amala Akkineni (Shiva (1989)). She has also dubbed for Girija Shettar in Mani Ratnam's only Telugu movie till date Geethanjali (1989).
She wrote lyrics for the Tamil film Pachaikili Muthucharam (2007), before ending another hiatus by writing all songs in the album, Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey. Her acting skills were recognized and she was given the Kalaimamani award recently.
She writes episodes for Tamil TV serials. She started writing scripts for TV series way back in 1996 and has adapted the Sahithya Academy Award winning novel Verukku Neer for a tele film in 2005. She hosted the live TV talk show Kelvigal Aayiram for Vijay TV, which she said: "dealt with issues close to my heart". She moderated the Tamil program Azhagiya Tamizh Magal on Kalaignar TV and has worked as the anchor of Raj TV's show, Rohini's Box Office in which she reviewed the latest releases.
Being an activist for AIDS awareness, Rohini has also directed short films for M.G.R. Medical University and Tamil Nadu Aids Control Society. In 2008, Rohini had directed a 50-minute documentary Silent Hues about film industry's child artists, she being one herself. In 2013, she has directed a feature film Appaavin Meesai (2014) which is yet to be released.