# Mathivanan Rajendran

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{{Short description|Indian actor and film producer}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| image        = Mathivanan Rajendran - IFFR 2020.jpg
| image_size   =
| caption      = Mathivanan at the [2020 International Film Festival Rotterdam](/source/2020_International_Film_Festival_Rotterdam)
| name         = Mathivanan Rajendran
| birth_name   = 
| birth_place  = [Pudukkottai](/source/Pudukkottai), India
| alma_mater   = [Virginia Tech](/source/Virginia_Tech)
| occupation   = {{Flatlist|
* Film producer
* Actor
* Stage Director
}}
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| other_names  = 
| years_active = 2011-present
| awards       =  
}}

'''Mathivanan Rajendran''' (born 12 January) is an Indian media entrepreneur, film producer and actor.

== Career ==
Rajendran’s work spans film, theater, and digital media.His 2020 Tamil-language production, ''Nasir'', premiered at the [International Film Festival of Rotterdam](/source/International_Film_Festival_Rotterdam), where it was nominated for the Tiger Award and won the [NETPAC](/source/Network_for_the_Promotion_of_Asian_Cinema) Award for Best Asian Film.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosser |first=Michael |date=2020-01-31 |title=Rotterdam Film Festival 2020 winners revealed |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/rotterdam-film-festival-2020-winners-revealed/5146791.article |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Screen }}</ref> The film also received the [FIPRESCI Best Indian Film](/source/International_Federation_of_Film_Critics) and was featured at the [New Directors/New Films Festival](/source/New_Directors%2FNew_Films_Festival) at the [Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)](/source/Museum_of_Modern_Art) in New York. Additionally, ''Nasir'' was included in the ''*British Film Institute’s list of 10 Great Modern Indian Independent Films''' <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-28 |title=10 great modern Indian independent films |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/10-great-modern-indian-independent-films |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=BFI |language=en}}</ref> underscoring its global recognition.

Rajendran’s portfolio includes ''[Humans in the Loop](/source/Humans_in_the_Loop_(film))'' and ''Taak'', two short films exploring themes of artificial intelligence and surveillance, respectively. Developed under the Museum of Imagined Futures (MOIF),<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Person: Taak by Udit Khurana |url=https://www.asapconnect.in/post/801/singleevents/in-person-udit |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=www.asapconnect.in}}</ref> an initiative connecting speculative storytelling with social relevance, these films were supported by the [Omidyar Network India](/source/Omidyar_Network). ''Humans in the Loop'' was showcased at the [Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI)](/source/Mumbai_Academy_of_the_Moving_Image) and the [International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)](/source/International_Film_Festival_of_Kerala),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=Becoming Our Beliefs: A Contemplation On Humans In The Loop |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/art-entertainment/becoming-our-beliefs-a-contemplation-on-humans-in-the-loop |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Outlook India |language=en}}</ref> while Taak (Tracker) premiered at [Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI)](/source/Mumbai_Academy_of_the_Moving_Image) and featured at the [Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF).](/source/Dharamshala_International_Film_Festival)

Rajendran’s production credits also include ''[Nirvana Inn](/source/Nirvana_Inn)'', a psychological drama supported by the ''Asian Cinema Fund (ACF)'', which premiered at the [Busan International Film Festival](/source/Busan_International_Film_Festival)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ge |first=Krupa |date=2019-10-23 |title=Mathivanan Rajendran On How Adil Hussain Starrer 'Nirvana Inn' Raised Funds Without Compromising On The Maker's Vision |url=https://silverscreen.in/features/mathivanan-rajendran-on-how-adil-hussain-starrer-nirvana-inn-raised-funds-without-compromising-on-the-makers-vision-filming-in-the-himalayas-and-more/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025120223/https://silverscreen.in/features/mathivanan-rajendran-on-how-adil-hussain-starrer-nirvana-inn-raised-funds-without-compromising-on-the-makers-vision-filming-in-the-himalayas-and-more/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2019 |access-date=2020-02-09 |website=Silverscreen.in |language=en-US}}</ref> and earned acclaim for its atmospheric exploration of guilt and redemption. ''B. Selvi and Daughters'', supported by [GIZ](/source/Deutsche_Gesellschaft_f%C3%BCr_Internationale_Zusammenarbeit), received three Critics' Choice nominations for its portrayal of women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu.

In 2024, Rajendran launched [Earthbound/100](/source/Earthbound%2F100), a platform aimed at developing 100 socially impactful media projects. Supported by the [Mantra Foundation](/source/Mantra_Foundation), the initiative focuses on blending storytelling with measurable social outcomes, positioning media as a tool for systemic change. He also established the [root.ax](/source/Storiculture) accelerator, a transmedia program fostering collaboration among creators in film, digital media, and immersive storytelling.

In addition to film, Rajendran co-founded [Rascalas](/source/Stray_Factory), a platform amplifying South Indian narratives.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 May 2016 |title=Meet, drink, make merry at the community table - The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/events/meet-drink-make-merry-at-the-community-table/article8667291.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> He produced [Black Sheep](/source/Black_Sheep_(2016)).(2016),<ref>{{cite news |date=23 June 2016 |title=Rascalas' new web series Black Sheep offers a slice-of-life urban story - The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/rascalas-new-web-series-black-sheep-offers-a-sliceoflife-urban-story/article8764557.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> one of South India’s pioneering web series, known for its relatable and humorous take on urban youth culture. His theatrical work has been internationally recognized, with productions staged at the [National Arts Festival](/source/National_Arts_Festival) in South Africa and the [Hollywood Fringe Festival](/source/Hollywood_Fringe_Festival) in the United States. These works blend regional narratives with universal themes, earning critical acclaim for their innovative storytelling.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-18 |title=Drama beyond the arclights |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/drama-beyond-the-arclights/article6225192.ece |access-date=2024-12-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

As an actor, Rajendran has appeared in films such as ''[Mayakkam Enna](/source/Mayakkam_Enna)'' (2011), ''[Sawaari](/source/Sawaari_(2016_film))'' (2016), ''[Andhra Mess](/source/Andhra_Mess)'' (2018), and ''[Freddie's Piano](/source/Freddie's_Piano)'' (2020),

== Recognition and Background ==
[[File:HITL 1.jpg|thumb|Mathivanan Rajendran at the premiere of Humans in the Loop at [MAMI](/source/Mumbai_Academy_of_the_Moving_Image) 2024]]
In 2022, he was named as a [BAFTA](/source/British_Academy_of_Film_and_Television_Arts) Breakthrough Talent from India.,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Mathivanan Rajendran {{!}} Producer |url=https://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/breakthrough/mathivanan-rajendran |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=www.bafta.org |language=en}}</ref> a distinction recognizing exceptional contributions to film, games, and television. He holds a Masters degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from [Virginia Tech](/source/Virginia_Tech), which informs his analytical approach to storytelling and production. Through [Stray Factory](/source/Stray_Factory), Storiculture, and initiatives like Earthbound/100 and the root.ax accelerator, he continues to champion innovative narratives that explore social, cultural, and technological themes, advancing the role of media in creating global impact.

==Filmography==
=== As producer ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Language 
!Director!! Notes
|-
| 2016 || ''[Black Sheep](/source/Black_Sheep_(2016))'' || English/Tamil 
|Naveen Kumar|| Web Series
|-
|2019
|''[Nirvana Inn](/source/Nirvana_Inn)''
|Hindi
|[Vijay Jayapal](/source/Vijay_Jayapal)
|[24th Busan International Film Festival 2019](/source/24th_Busan_International_Film_Festival)
|-
|2020
|''[Nasir](/source/Nasir_(film))''
|Tamil
|[Arun Karthick](/source/Arun_Karthick)
|Winner NETPAC Award [International Film Festival of Rotterdam](/source/International_Film_Festival_Rotterdam)
[FIPRESCI Best Indian Film](/source/International_Federation_of_Film_Critics)
[Andrei Tarkovsky International film festival - Zerkalo - Grand Prix Winner](/source/Andrey_Tarkovsky_Film_Festival)
|-
|2020
|''B.Selvi & Daughters''
|Tamil
|Drishya
|[Critics Choice Awards](/source/Critics_Choice_Awards) for Best Actress, Best Director & Best Film
|-
|2020
|''Freddies Piano''
|English
|Aakash
|
|-
|2020
|''The Tremor''
|Tamil
|Balaji Vembu Chelli
|[Festival du nouveau cinéma](/source/Festival_du_nouveau_cin%C3%A9ma)
|-
|2024
|''[Humans in the Loop](/source/Humans_in_the_Loop_(film))''
|Hindi
|Aranya Sahay
|[International Film Festival of Kerala](/source/International_Film_Festival_of_Kerala) 2024
[Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image](/source/Mumbai_Academy_of_the_Moving_Image) 2024
|-
|2024
|Taak
|Hindi
|Udit Khurana
|
|-
|2025
|''Aanaikatti Blues''
|Tamil
|[Arun Karthick](/source/Arun_Karthick)
|
|}

=== As actor ===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Year !! Film 
! Role !! Language 
|-
| 2011 || ''[Mayakkam Enna](/source/Mayakkam_Enna)'' 
| Shankar || [Tamil](/source/Tamil_language) 
|-
| 2016 || ''[Sawaari](/source/Sawaari_(2016_film))'' 
| Mathi || Tamil 
|-
| 2018 || ''[Andhra Mess](/source/Andhra_Mess)'' 
| Ritchie || Tamil 
|-
|2019
|''Freddies Piano''
|
|English
|-
|2020
|''The Discreet Charm of the Savarnas''
|
|English
|}

=== As voice actor ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Film
!Role
!Language
!Notes
|-
|2013
|''[Vishwaroopam](/source/Vishwaroopam)''
|Deepak Chatterjee<br />
|[Tamil](/source/Tamil_language)
|
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|4698377}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajendran, Mathivanan}}
Category:1985 births
Category:Living people
Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu
Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema
Category:21st-century Tamil male actors

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mathivanan Rajendran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathivanan_Rajendran) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathivanan_Rajendran?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.