R. Velraj Explained

Rajamani Velraj, also professionally known as R. Velraj and Velraj, is an Indian cinematographer, director and writer who primarily works in Tamil and Hindi cinema. He is known for his long-standing collaborations with Vetrimaaran and M. Muthaiah.^[2]

Personal life

Rajamani Velraj was born in the village Kootthiyar Kundu near Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He went to PKN Boys Higher Secondary School (Tirumangalam), and studied at Madurai Sourastra College.

Career

Early in his career, he worked as an assistant to cinematographer Tirru in several Tamil films. After working with actor Dhanush in Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram, Dhanush recommended Velraj for his next film, Polladhavan, directed by then debutant, Vetrimaaran. He won the Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer in 2008.^[3] Velraj and Vetrimaaran continued working together, from Aadukalam to their most recent film, Viduthalai Part 1 (2023). He made his directional debut with Velaiilla Pattadhari, starring Dhanush and Amala Paul and with Anirudh as the music director. The film was extremely successful and became a cult film. In 2015, he directed his second film, Thanga Magan.Velraj is a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers.^[4]

Filmography

As cinematographer

Year	Title	Language	Notes
2002		Hindi	Ra Operator
2003	Supari	Hindi
2006	Phir Hera Pheri	Hindi
2007	Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram	Tamil
	Polladhavan	Tamil	Winner, Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer[5]
2008	Kabhi Bhi Kahin Bhi	Hindi
	Malabar Wedding	Malayalam
2010	Kandahar	Malayalam	Collaborated with Ravi Varman
2011	Aadukalam	Tamil	Winner, Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – Tamil Winner, Vikatan Award For Best Cinematographer (Cameo appearance)
	Siruthai	Tamil
	Engeyum Eppodhum	Tamil	Winner, Vikatan Award For Best Cinematographer[6]
2012	3	Tamil
	Savaari	Kannada
	Leelai	Tamil
2013	Naan Rajavaga Pogiren	Tamil
	Ethir Neechal	Tamil
	Udhayam NH4	Tamil	[7]
	Naiyaandi	Tamil	[8]
2014	Velaiyilla Pattathari	Tamil	Director (Cameo appearance)[9]
	Poriyaalan	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
2015	Komban	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
	Vai Raja Vai	Tamil	[10]
	Paayum Puli	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
	Thanga Magan	Tamil	Director (Cameo appearance)[11]
2016	Pugazh	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[12]
	Marudhu	Tamil
2017	Power Paandi	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[13]
2018	Kadaikutty Singam	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)
	Vada Chennai	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[14]
2019		Tamil
	Asuran	Tamil	(Cameo appearance)[15]
	Sangathamizhan	Tamil
2021	Pulikkuthi Pandi	Tamil	[16]
	Udanpirappe	Tamil	[17]
2022	Veerapandiyapuram	Tamil	[18]
	The Legend	Tamil	[19]
	Anel Meley Pani Thuli	Tamil	[20]
	Pettaikaali	Tamil	TV series on Aha Tamil[21]
	Kuttram Kuttrame	Tamil	[22]
2023	Viduthalai Part 1	Tamil	[23]
	Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam	Tamil
2024	Viduthalai Part 2	Tamil

As director

Year	Title	Language	Notes
2014	Velaiilla Pattadhari	Tamil	Winner, Edison Award for Best Debut Director Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil Cameo as Traffic Police
2015	Thanga Magan	Tamil	Cameo as Ramalingam

As actor

• Poriyaalan (2014)
• Kaalidas (2019)
• Asuran (2019)
• Udanpirappe (2021)
• Kuttram Kuttrame (2022)
• Viduthalai Part 1(2023)

Awards

• Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer for Pollathavan (2007)
• Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – South for Aadukalam (2011)^[24]
• SIIMA Award for Best Cinematographer for Aadukalam (2011)
• SIIMA Award for Best Debut Director for Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014)
• SIIMA Award for Best cinematographer for Asuran (2019)
• Vikatan Cinema Awards for Best cinematographer for Viduthalai Part 1 (2023)

Notes and References

1. News: The Times of India . Cinematographer-director Velraj's father passes away . 24 July 2022 . 5 July 2020 . en.
2. News: 2014-07-31 . Cinema cinema! . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-01-30 . 0971-751X.
3. News: 2014-07-19 . A reluctant director . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-01-30 . 0971-751X.
4. Web site: Acclaimed cinematographer Velraj gets the prestigious ISC recognition . 2023-01-30 . www.zoomtventertainment.com . en.
5. News: Kumar . Pradeep . 2019-02-16 . The Usual Suspects: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran and R Velraj . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-30 . 0971-751X.
6. Web site: 2011-09-24 . Engeyum Eppodhum . 2023-04-30 . Deccan Herald . en.
7. News: 2013-04-20 . NH4: Take this route . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-30 . 0971-751X.
8. Web site: Dhanush Helped With Script, Says Vellai Illa Pattathari Director . 2023-04-30 . NDTV.com.
9. News: 2014-07-19 . A reluctant director . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-30 . 0971-751X.
10. News: 'Vai Raja Vai' gearing up for April 24 . The Times of India . 2023-04-30 . 0971-8257.
11. News: 2015-12-19 . "It was all Dhanush" . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-30 . 0971-751X.
12. Web site: Surbhi: My role in Pugazh a reflection of my real self India.com . 2023-04-30 . www.india.com . en.
13. Web site: Dhanush Tweets First Look of Power Paandi, His Debut as Director . 2023-04-30 . NDTV.com.
14. Web site: 2017-04-19 . Blow for Dhanush's Vada Chennai: Amala Paul exits after Vijay Sethupathi . 2023-04-25 . Hindustan Times . en.
15. News: Kumar . Pradeep . 2019-02-16 . The Usual Suspects: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran and R Velraj . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-25 . 0971-751X.
16. Web site: 'புலிக்குத்தி பாண்டி' ஃபர்ஸ்ட் லுக் வெளியீடு . 2023-04-25 . Hindu Tamil Thisai . ta.
17. News: The Hindu Net Desk . 2021-10-05 . Jyotika: 'Udanpirappe is special, as it shows the strength of a woman's silence' . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-25 . 0971-751X.
18. Web site: Veerapandiyapuram Movie Review: An uninventive, dull revenge drama . 2023-04-25 . . en.
19. Web site: The Legend gets U/A certficate . 2023-04-25 . . en.
20. News: Sudevan . Praveen . 2022-11-18 . 'Anel Meley Pani Thuli' movie review: Andrea excels in a gritty crime drama about sexual assault . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-25 . 0971-751X.
21. Web site: IANS . Vetri Maaran's Jallikattu-Based Series 'Pettaikaali' To Stream From Diwali . 2023-04-25 . Outlook India.
22. Web site: Kuttram Kuttrame Movie Review: Jai, Harish Uthaman shine in Susienthiran's return to form . 2023-04-25 . . en.
23. Web site: Vijay Sethupathi begins dubbing for Viduthalai . 2023-01-30 . OTTPlay . en.
24. News: 8 July 2012 . The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130704164503/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-08/news-interviews/32588512_1_aadukalam-video-pranayam . 4 July 2013 . The Times of India.