{{Short description|Indian director (d. 2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Shankar Dayal | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1969 or 1970 | birth_place = | death_date = 19 December 2024 | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Director, writer | years_active = 2003{{Endash}}2024 | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Shankar Dayal''' (died 19 December 2024) was an Indian screenwriter and film director who worked in Tamil films. He made his directorial debut with ''Saguni'' (2012). He was known for his approach in showcasing societal themes and the plight of the political landscape.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=M |first=Narayani |date=19 December 2024 |title=Director Shankar Dayal passes away |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Dec/19/director-shankar-dayal-passes-away |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == Shankar began his career as a dialogue writer to films. He wrote dialogues for Arjun Sarja starrer ''Parasuram'' (2003) and for Jayam Ravi starrer ''Deepavali'' (2007).<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=20 December 2024 |title=‘Saguni’ director Shankar Dayal passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/saguni-director-shankar-dayal-passes-away/article69007817.ece |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
He had a breakthrough in his film career through his maiden directorial venture ''Saguni'', where he cast Karthi in the main lead role alongside comedian Santhanam in the supporting role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2011 |title=Karthi's Saguni has no villains |url=https://news.yahoo.com/karthis-saguni-no-villains-123140234.html |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref> His first tryst with feature film direction, ''Saguni,'' became a profitable venture at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=Our Online |date=8 June 2012 |title=When Karthi and Santhanam became Kamal and Rajni respectively |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2012/Jun/08/when-karthi-and-santhanam-became-kamal-and-rajni-respectively-375429.html |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> ''Saguni'' focused more on the importance of corruption, mafia and political blame game despite the film's genre being an out-and-out political satire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tamil Director Shankar Dayal Passes Away Before Kuzhandhigal Munnetra Kazhagam Press Meet |url=https://www.news18.com/amp/movies/tamil-cinema-mourns-loss-of-director-shankar-dayal-at-47-9162082.html |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>
His second directorial venture titled ''Kuzhanthaigal Munnetra Kazhagam'' created a buzz in the social circles and the film fraternity as prominent comedians Senthil and Yogi Babu were roped into the important roles for the film;<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 March 2024 |title=Yogi Babu turns politician in 'Kuzhanthaigal Munnetra Kazhagam'; the film's first look is here |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/yogi-babu-turns-politician-in-kuzhanthaigal-munnetra-kazhagam-the-films-first-look-is-here/articleshow/108763815.cms |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> hence the duo were regarded as the fulcrums of the film, considering the speculations about the scope of the film content to be oriented and tilted mostly on the humor trajectory.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullapilly |first=Sreejith |date=26 March 2024 |title='Politics is child’s play in this satire,' says director Shankar Dayal N |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/Mar/26/politics-is-childs-play-in-this-satire-says-director-shankar-dayal-n |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
== Death == Dayal died on 19 December 2024, at the age of 54, after suffering a heart attack.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 December 2024 |title=‘சகுனி’ பட இயக்குநர் சங்கர் தயாள் மாரடைப்பால் காலமானார் |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1343940-tamil-director-shankar-dayal-passes-away.html |access-date=21 December 2024 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Film !Director !Writer !Notes |- | 2003 | ''Parasuram'' | {{no}} |{{partial|Dialogues}} | |- | 2007 | ''Deepavali'' | {{no}} |{{partial|Dialogues}} | |- | 2012 | ''Saguni'' |{{yes}} |{{yes}} | |- | 2025 |''Kuzhanthaigal Munnetra Kazhagam'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |Also producer |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dayal, Shankar}} Category:20th-century births Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:2024 deaths Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu Category:Indian film directors Category:Tamil film directors