{{short description|Indian film director (born 1952)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}} {{infobox person | name = Agathiyan | image = Agathiyan at the ‘Kennedy Club’ Audio Launch.jpg | caption = Agathiyan at the "Kennedy Club" film Audio Launch | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|08|18}} | birth_place = Peravurani, Thanjavur district, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India | occupation = {{ubl|Director|screenwriter|producer|lyricist|actor}} | spouse = {{Marriage|Radha|1978|2016|end=died}}<ref name = ra>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/director-agathiyans-wife-radha-passes-away.html|title=Director Agathiyan's wife Radha passes away|date=21 October 2016}}</ref> | children = Kani Thiru<br>Vijayalakshmi Agathiyan<br>Niranjani Ahathian | relatives = Thiru (son-in-law)<br> Desingh Periyasamy (son-in-law) | years_active = 1991 – present }}
'''Agathiyan''' (born 18 August 1952; {{audio|Ta-அகத்தியன்.ogg|pronunciation}}) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, lyricist, and actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/34799.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123113252/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/34799.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 November 2007|title=IndiaGlitz — Agathiyan on the move — Tamil Movie News|work=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref> He was the first director in Tamil cinema to win the National Film Award for Best Direction for ''Kadhal Kottai'' (1996).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dhananjayan|first=G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e07vBwAAQBAJ&q=kadhal+kottai+boxoffice&pg=PA358|title=PRIDE OF TAMIL CINEMA: 1931 TO 2013: Tamil Films that have earned National and International Recognition|date=2014-11-03|publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers|pages=358|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> For the film, he also won National Film Award for Best Screenplay and Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil.
==Career== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilstar.com/profile/director/ahathiyan/ |title=Tamil Star — Profile |date=22 December 2001 |work=Archive.org |access-date=8 March 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011222190129/http://www.tamilstar.com/profile/director/ahathiyan/ |archive-date=22 December 2001 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2021 |title=70/80/ 90's Kids... இந்த சினிமா பாட்டு நினைவில் இருக்கா..? |url=http://kungumam.co.in/Articalinnerdetail.aspx?id=17930&id1=3&issue=20210404 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423181457/http://kungumam.co.in/Articalinnerdetail.aspx?id=17930&id1=3&issue=20210404 |archive-date=23 April 2021 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Kungumam |language=ta}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/profile.php?id=16006345&cid=2409|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012180542/http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/profile.php?id=16006345&cid=2409|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2014|title=Welcome To Sify.com|work=Sify.com|access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://properties.chennaionline.com/movies/cine-buzz/20140803020847/Agathiyan-to-direct-Bharathiraajas-film.col|title=Agathiyan to direct Bharathiraaja's film|date=25 September 2015|work=ChennaiOnline.com|access-date=8 March 2017}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He has served as jury member at 57th National Film Awards.<ref name="57thaward">{{cite web |title=57th National Film Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/45_57thNfacatalogue%20-%20.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114060347/https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/45_57thNfacatalogue%20-%20.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=2 September 2020 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}</ref>
==Personal life== He married Radha in 1978.<ref name = ra/> His elder daughter Kani (Karthika), host of Makkal TV, is married to film director Thiru.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/feb-09-03/vishal-18-02-09.html|title=Thoranai, Vishal and Thiru — Behindwoods.com — Tamil Movies News — Thoranai Vishal Agathiyan|work=Behindwoods.com|access-date=8 March 2017}}</ref> 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
==Filmography== *''Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.''
===As film director === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="width:35px;"| Year ! style="width:250px;"| Film ! style="width:50px;"| Language ! style="text-align:center; width:350px;" class="unsortable"| Notes |- |1991 |''Mangalyam Thanthunane'' | rowspan="7" | Tamil |Credited as Ravi Thasan |- | 1993 || ''Madhumathi'' || |- | rowspan="3"|1996 || ''Vaanmathi'' || |- | ''Kadhal Kottai'' || |- | ''Gokulathil Seethai'' || |- | 1997 || ''Vidukathai'' || |- | 1998 || ''Kaadhal Kavithai'' || |- | 1999 || ''Sirf Tum'' || rowspan="2" | Hindi || rowspan="2"|credited as Ahathian |- | 2001 || ''Hum Ho Gaye Aapke'' |- | 2002 || ''Kadhal Samrajyam'' || rowspan="1"|Tamil || Unreleased film |- | 2003 || ''Ee Abbai Chala Manchodu'' || rowspan="1"|Telugu|| Credited as Agastyan |- | 2004 || ''Ramakrishna'' || rowspan="3"|Tamil || |- | 2005 || ''Selvam'' || Also producer |- | 2008 || ''Nenjathai Killadhe'' |}
===As writer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:250px;"| Film !Credited as ! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:350px;" class="unsortable"| Notes |- ! width=65 | Writer |- |1989 |''Manasukketha Maharasa'' | {{partial|Story}} |Credited as Karunanidhi Santharam |- | 1992 || ''Pondatti Rajyam'' || {{partial|Story}} | |- | 1998 || ''Santhosham'' |{{yes}} | |- |}
===As an actor === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="width:35px;"| Year ! style="width:250px;"| Film ! style="width:80px;"| Role ! style="text-align:center; width:350px;" class="unsortable"| Notes |- | rowspan="2" |1996 | ''Kadhal Kottai''|| || rowspan="2" | Cameo |- | ''Gokulathil Seethai''|| |- |1999 | ''Poovellam Kettuppar'' || Himself|| |- | 2001 || ''Vinnukkum Mannukkum''|| || Cameo |- | 2007 || ''Agaram''|| Thiru's father || |- | rowspan="2" |2011 || ''Avargalum Ivargalum''|| Dr. Thamizhvanan || |- | ''Maithanam''|| Velu || |- | 2018 || ''Mr. Chandramouli''|| Ramamurthy || |- |}
===Television=== ====Director==== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Serial ! Channel ! Notes |- |2005||''Pugazh'' || DD Podhigai||<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrKD6_OxJ2A | title=புகழ் | Pugazh | Epi - 1 #IndianClassics #TamilSerial | website=YouTube }}</ref> |- |}
====Actor==== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Serial ! Channel ! Notes |- |2024-2025||''Moondru Mudichu''||Sun TV|| |- |}
===As lyricist=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! 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|| |- |}
==Awards== ;National Film Awards * 1997 – Best Direction – ''Kadhal Kottai'' * 1997 – Best Screenplay – ''Kadhal Kottai'' * 1997 – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil – ''Kadhal Kottai''
;Filmfare Awards South * 1997 – Best Director – ''Kadhal Kottai''
;Tamil Nadu State Film Awards * 1996 – Best Director – ''Kadhal Kottai''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0012892}}
{{Agathiyan}} {{NationalFilmAwardBestDirection}} {{NationalFilmAwardBestScreenplay}} {{FilmfareAwardBestTamilDirector}} {{TamilNaduStateAwardForBestDirector}}
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Category:Living people Category:Tamil film directors Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:Best Director National Film Award winners Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:Tamil screenwriters Category:Tamil film producers Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:Best Original Screenplay National Film Award winners Category:1952 births Category:Tamil television directors