| Agathiyan | |
| Birth Date: | 1952 8, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Peravurani, Thanjavur district, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India |
| Spouse: | [1] |
| Children: | Kani Thiru Vijayalakshmi Agathiyan Niranjani Ahathian |
| Relatives: | Thiru (son-in-law) Desingh Periyasamy (son-in-law) |
| Yearsactive: | 1991 – present |
Agathiyan (born 18 August 1952;) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, lyricist, and actor.[2] He was the first director in Tamil cinema to win the National Film Award for Best Direction for Kadhal Kottai (1996).[3] For the film, he also won National Film Award for Best Screenplay and Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil.
Agathiyan, a director in his late forties entered films a decade back and struggled as an assistant to various directors. Hailing from a agriculturist family, he spent a happy-go-lucky time in college, and when he decided to pack his bags and come to Chennai to try his luck in films as a director, he lost his family's support. Struggling with no money, he did odd jobs in film companies and became an assistant to anyone who offered him food and shelter.[4]
He wrote story for Ramarajan starrer Manasukketha Maharasa under the name Karunanidhi Santharam and initially directed a film called Mangalyam Thanthunanena in 1991 and was credited as Ravi Thasan but it was unsuccessful.[5] Anbalaya Prabhakaran, who acted in that movie and also produces small budgeted films with new directors, gave Ahahtian his second break as a director with Madhumathi, a teenage love story with new faces. The film was a big hit. He was back to where he started, but again fate had bigger things in store for him. Sivasakthi Pandian, a film distributor turned producer, produced Vaanmathi with Ajith and Swathi. The film was a hit. Next came Kadhal Kottai from the same banner and Ahahtian became the toast of the industry. Offers poured in for films.[6]
In late 2014, he began work on an untitled project produced by Bharathiraja starring Santhosh Prathap, Oviya, Vijayalakshmi and Manoj Bharathiraja, but the film was later shelved.[7] He has served as jury member at 57th National Film Awards.[8]
He married Radha in 1978.[1] His elder daughter Kani (Karthika), host of Makkal TV, is married to film director Thiru.[9] Kani Thiru is a winner of Vijay TV's Cook With Comali (Season 2). His second daughter Vijayalakshmi Agathiyan is an actress and is married to film director Feroz. His younger daughter Niranjani Ahathian is a costume designer and actress who is married to director Desingh Periyasamy.
| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Mangalyam Thanthunane | Tamil | Credited as Ravi Thasan |
| 1993 | Madhumathi | ||
| 1996 | Vaanmathi | ||
| Kadhal Kottai | |||
| Gokulathil Seethai | |||
| 1997 | Vidukathai | ||
| 1998 | Kaadhal Kavithai | ||
| 1999 | Sirf Tum | credited as Ahathian | |
| 2001 | Hum Ho Gaye Aapke | ||
| 2002 | Kadhal Samrajyam | Tamil | Unreleased film |
| 2003 | Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu | Telugu | Credited as Agastyan |
| 2004 | Ramakrishna | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Selvam | Also producer | |
| 2008 | Nenjathai Killadhe |
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| width=65 | Writer | ||
| 1989 | Manasukketha Maharasa | Credited as Karunanidhi Santharam | |
| 1992 | Pondatti Rajyam | ||
| 1998 | Santhosham | ||
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Kadhal Kottai | Cameo | |
| Gokulathil Seethai | |||
| 1999 | Poovellam Kettuppar | Himself | |
| 2001 | Vinnukkum Mannukkum | Cameo | |
| 2007 | Agaram | Thiru's father | |
| 2011 | Avargalum Ivargalum | Dr. Thamizhvanan | |
| Maithanam | Velu | ||
| 2018 | Mr. Chandramouli | Ramamurthy | |
| Year | Film | Song(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Kadhal Kottai | All songs | |
| 1996 | Gokulathil Seethai | All songs | |
| 1997 | Vidukathai | Idhayam Idhayam, Meenakshi Kaiyil, Kidaichuruchu | |
| 1998 | Santhosham | All songs | |
| 2002 | Kadhal Samrajyam | All songs | |
| 2004 | Ramakrishna | All songs | |
| 2005 | Selvam | All songs | |
| 2008 | Nenjathai Killathe | All songs | |
| 2020 | Meendum Oru Mariyathai | Kozhandhan Peru | |
