{{short description|Indian film director and producer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Susi Ganeshan | image = Susi_Ganeshan.jpeg | caption = | birth_name = Ganesan Subbiah | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|08|25|df=y}} | birth_place = Vannivelampatti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India | yearsactive = 2002–present | spouse = {{Marriage|Manjari Susiganesan|2004}} | children = 2 | website = {{url|https://www.susiganesan.com}} }}
'''Ganesan Subbiah''' (born 25 August 1969), popularly known as '''Susi Ganeshan''', is an Indian film director, producer, and writer who predominantly works in Tamil films apart from a few Hindi remakes of his own films.
==Early life== Ganesan was born on (25 August 1969) Vannivelampatti, Madurai District in Tamil Nadu. He changed his screen name to Susi Ganeshan, his first name being from the first two letters from his parents' first names. He attended Gandhi Nikethan higher secondary school in T. Kallupatti and also graduated from Madras Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in automobile engineering.<ref name="An Encounter with S Ganeshan">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/nov/07star.htm|title=From Mani Ratnam's assistant to independent filmmaker,Susi Ganesan has come a long way|work=Rediff|date=7 November 2002|accessdate=1 February 2010}}</ref>
During his college days, he was a journalist, writing many articles for the Tamil magazine ''Ananda Vikatan''.<ref name="An Encounter with S Ganeshan"/> He was also chairman of ATHENAEUM, the student body of the Madras Institute of Technology, during 1991–92. After working as an assistant to director Mani Ratnam during the filming of ''Bombay'' (1995), ''Iruvar'' (1997) and ''Dil Se..'' (1998), Ganeshan debuted as a director with the 2002 film ''Virumbukiren''.<ref name="thehindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/21/stories/2006062107590200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701090436/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/21/stories/2006062107590200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2006|title= From MIT engineer to film director|last=Ashok Kumar|first=S.R.|date=21 June 2006|work=The Hindu|accessdate=1 February 2010}}</ref>
==Career== His first film, ''Virumbukiren'', was initially titled ''Thithikkum Thee'' and was to feature Murali in the lead role of a firefighter, but later Prashanth was finalized for the lead role. The project, which also marked the debut of actress Sneha, went through production troubles and released nearly two years after the launch, becoming Ganeshan's second release. The film received four awards at the 2001 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, winning the Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress prizes, while also being adjudged as the Best Film of the year.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}
Ganeshan then made ''Five Star'' (2002), which happened to be his first release, due to the delay of his first project ''Virumbukiren''. ''Five Star'', produced by his mentor Mani Ratnam under the banner Madras Talkies, featured five newcomers in the title roles. The story focused on friendship, love with social awareness and a touch of human emotions. The film won him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Storywriter. He then launched a film titled ''Sakkarai'' with Prashanth and Reemma Sen in the lead roles in October 2004, but the film was subsequently postponed then shelved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/11054.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718034852/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/11054.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 July 2012|title=Malayalam Cinema News | Malayalam Movie Reviews | Malayalam Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Malayalam}}</ref>
In 2006, Ganeshan made his third film ''Thiruttu Payale''. The film, which featured Jeevan, Sonia Agarwal and Malavika in principal roles, emerged a sleeper hit and ranked among the highest-grossing Tamil films of the year. It was named the third Best Film of the year by the Tamil Nadu State Government and gave major breaks to the leading actors, with the performances of Jeevan and Malavika, in particular, being considerably appreciated. Then, Ganeshan directed ''Kanthaswamy''. The film dealt with the disparity of rich and poor in Indian society, and it was reportedly the first South Indian film in that the protagonist, portrayed by Vikram, conceived a superhero character. The film had the biggest opening in the year 2009.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}
Ganeshan's next directed and produced the Hindi film, ''Shortcut Romeo'' (2013), a remake of his 2006 film ''Thiruttu Payale'' starring Neil Nitin Mukesh and Puja Gupta.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}
After a long break from the Tamil film Industry, Susi Ganeshan returned with a sequel to his film ''Thiruttu Payale''. ''Thiruttu Payale 2'' featured Bobby Simha, Prasanna and Amala Paul in lead roles. The movie was released in Nov 2017 and made an average collection.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/thiruttuppayale-2/thiruttuppayale-2-box-office-dec-17.html | title=Thiruttuppayale 2 box office collection | date=15 December 2017 }}</ref>
In 2018, Ganeshan was accused by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai during the MeToo movement in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kollywood-s-metoo-filmmaker-leena-manimekalai-speaks-out-director-susi-ganesan-90066 |title=Kollywood's MeToo: Filmmaker Leena Manimekalai speaks out on director Susi Ganesan |date=16 October 2018 |author=Manasa Rao |work=The News Minute}}</ref> Her accusation was supported by Amala Paul, whom Ganesan had worked with, in ''Thiruttu Payale 2''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/amala-paul-says-susi-ganesan-misbehaved-her-too-supports-leena-manimekalai-90491 |title=Amala Paul says Susi Ganesan misbehaved with her too, supports Leena Manimekalai |date=24 October 2018 |work=The News Minute}}</ref> In response, Ganesan filed a defamation suit against Manimekalai at the Saidapet Magistrate Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/me-too-director-susi-ganeshan-files-defamation-complaint-against-leena-manimekalai-103786 |title=Me Too: Director Susi Ganeshan files defamation complaint against Leena Manimekalai |date=17 June 2019 |author=Sowmya Rajendran |work=The News Minute}}</ref>
==Awards== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Award |- |- |2001 | ''Virumbukiren'' ||{{won}}, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film Director & Best Film |- | 2002 ||''Five Star'' || {{won}}, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Storywriter |- | 2006 || ''Thiruttu Payale'' || {{won}}, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film |- | 2009 || ''Kanthaswamy'' || {{Nominated}}, Vijay Award for Favourite Director |}
==Filmography== === As 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 |- | rowspan="2"|2002 || ''Five Star'' || rowspan="4" |Tamil || '''Winner''', Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Storywriter |- | ''Virumbukiren'' || '''Winner''', Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film<br />'''Winner''', Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director |- | 2006 || ''Thiruttu Payale'' || '''Winner''', Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Third Best Film |- | 2009 || ''Kanthaswamy'' || Nominated, Vijay Award for Favourite Director |- | 2013 || ''Shortcut Romeo'' || Hindi || credited as Susi Ganesh<br / >Also producer<br />Remake of ''Thiruttu Payale'' |- | 2017 || ''Thiruttu Payale 2'' || Tamil || |- | 2024 || ''Ghuspaithiya'' || Hindi || Remake of ''Thiruttu Payale 2''<ref name="dil">{{Cite web |title=Director Susi Ganeshan's next film titled 'Vanjam Theerththayada' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/2022/jan/02/director-susi-ganeshans-next-film-titled-vanjam-theerththayada-2402286.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=The New Indian Express|date=2 January 2022 }}</ref> |- |}
===As actor=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="width:35px;"| Year ! style="width:250px;"| Film ! style="width:150px;"| Role ! style="width:50px;"| Language ! style="text-align:center; width:350px;" class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 2006 || ''Thiruttu Payale'' || style="text-align:center;" | CID || rowspan="2"|Tamil || |- | 2009 || ''Kanthaswamy'' || style="text-align:center;" |IB IPS Officer ||Uncredited role |- | 2013 || ''Shortcut Romeo'' || style="text-align:center;" |Detective Agent || Hindi || |- | 2017 || ''Thiruttu Payale 2'' || style="text-align:center;" |Detective Ganesh || Tamil || |- | 2024 || ''Ghuspaithiya'' || style="text-align:center;" |DIG Ajay Yadav || Hindi || |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website}} *{{IMDb name|1333986|Susi Ganeshan}}
{{Susi Ganeshan}} {{TamilNaduStateAwardForBestDirector}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganeshan, Susi}} Category:People from Madurai district Category:Tamil film directors Category:Madras Institute of Technology alumni Category:Living people Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners Category:Indian male screenwriters Category:Tamil screenwriters Category:Tamil film producers Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:21st-century Indian male writers Category:1971 births Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters