{{Short description|Indian film director}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Senthilnathan Jambulingam | image = | caption = | birth_name = Senthilnathan Jambulingam | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1957|11|26}} | birth_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India | occupation = director, screenwriter, actor, producer }}
'''Senthilnathan Jambulingam''' is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and television actor who predominantly works in Tamil cinema and serials, based in Chennai. He is best known for his action-masala films. As of 2013, he has directed more than twenty five films.
==Personal life== He is the son of director Jambulingam who directed M. G. Ramachandran starrer ''Nam Naadu''. Senthilnathan cast his son, Vinod, in the lead role of ''Unnai Naan'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/newlaunches/02unnainaan.asp |title=Archived copy |website=www.chennaionline.com:80 |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040823192804/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/newlaunches/02unnainaan.asp |archive-date=23 August 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Film career== Initially, he worked as an assistant to director M. Bhaskar in Soolam (1980) and ''Pakkathu Veetu Roja'' (1982). He then worked as an assistant director under S. A. Chandrasekhar for 7 years from ''Sattam Oru Iruttarai'' (1981) until ''Needhikku Thandanai'' (1987). At that time, he befriended with actor Vijayakanth who promised him to act in his films in the future. When producers proposed him to direct a film, he met Vijayakanth but the actor was in a busy schedule. Waiting for his availability, he worked as an assistant director under V. Azhagappan in three films. Senthilnathan finally made his directorial debut in 1988 with the Tamil film ''Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran''. The film turned out to be a blockbuster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article317195.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316152328/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article317195.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 March 2014|title=Exodus Begins as Over 1,000 DMDK Cadre Join AIAD |publisher=The New Indian Express|date=2012-02-08|accessdate=2014-03-16}}</ref>
In 2001, he agreed terms with producer Ibrahim Rowther to make a film titled ''Kadhal Mudal Kadhal Varai'', which would have debutant Bala Kumaran and Uma in the lead role. The film would have marked the director's 25th film, but the producer's financial troubles meant that the film was shelved.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/ibrahim.asp |title=Ibrahim Rowther launches five films |website=www.chennaionline.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030629231635/http://www.chennaionline.com/entertainment/filmplus/ibrahim.asp |archive-date=29 June 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Film !class=unsortable|Notes |- | rowspan="3" | 1988 || ''Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran''|| Debut film |- | ''Vettai''||<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m9-SUiyOht4|title =Arjunஅ முதன்முதல்ல நான் தான் Camera முன்னாடி நிக்கவச்சன்|website =YouTube}}</ref> |- | ''Pattikaatu Thambi''|| |- | rowspan="3" | 1989 || ''Padicha Pulla''|| |- | ''Mundhanai Sabadham''|| |- | ''Penn Buthi Mun Buthi''|| |- | rowspan="3" | 1990 || ''Paattali Magan''|| Also actor |- | ''Periya Idathu Pillai''|| |- | ''Palaivana Paravaigal''|| Also actor |- | rowspan="4" | 1991 || ''Iravu Sooriyan''|| |- | ''Naatai Thirudathe''|| |- | ''Kaaval Nilayam''|| rowspan="6" | Also actor |- | ''Thangamana Thangachi'' |- | rowspan="7" | 1992 || ''Ilavarasan'' |- | ''Idhuthanda Sattam'' |- | ''Natchathira Nayagan'' |- | ''Pokkiri Thambi'' |- | ''Chinna Poovai Killadhe''|| |- | ''Paalaivana Ragangal''|| |- | ''Deiva Kulandhai''|| |- | 1995 || ''En Pondatti Nallava'' || |- | 1996 || ''Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum Pennale'' || |- | 1997 || ''Thambi Durai'' || Also actor |- | 1998 || ''Aasai Thambi'' || |- | 2002 || ''Kambalahalli'' || Kannada film |- | 2008 || ''Unnai Naan'' || Also producer |}
==Television== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Serial !! Channel ! Notes |- |2009–2011||''Magal''||rowspan=3|Sun TV | |- |2011–2013||''Thangam'' | |- |2014–2016||''Ponnoonjal'' | |- |2016–2017||''Arundhati''||Raj TV | |- |2018–2020||''Nayagi''||rowspan=2|Sun TV | |- |2021–2023||''Magarasi'' | |- |2021–2022||''Rettai Roja''||rowspan=2|Zee Tamil | |- |2023 <br>2025||''Maari'' |Special Appearance |- |rowspan="2"|2023–2024||''Anbe Vaa''||Sun TV | |- |''Karthigai Deepam''||Zee Tamil |Extended Special Appearance |- |2024–present||''Lakshmi''||Sun TV | |- |2024||''Thayamma Kudumbathaar''||DD Tamil | |- |2025–present||''Dhanam''||rowspan="2" |Star Vijay | |- |2025||''Sakthivel: Theeyaai Oru Theeraa Kaadhal'' |Special Appearance |- |2025–Present||''Paarijaatham''||Zee Tamil | |}
;Other works {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Serial !! Role!! Channel |- |2004-2006|| ''Kalki''|| Director || Jaya TV |- |2009–2010||''Rudra''||Director||Zee Tamizh |- |2020||''Minnale''||Dialogue Writer||Sun TV |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
{{Senthilnathan}}
Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Film directors from Chennai Category:Film producers from Chennai Category:Tamil television directors Category:20th-century Indian people Category:21st-century Indian people