Thangar Bachan (born 1961) is an Indian film director and

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera ...

and novelist. He has served as jury member in

National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...

Early life

Thankar Bachan was born 5 May 1961 in Pathirakottai, a village near Panruti, Cuddalore district,

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

Career

Bachan started his career as a cinematographer in his debut film ''Malai Charal''. He was known for his work in '' Mogamul'' and '' Bharathi''. He made his directorial debut in '' Azhagi''. Apart from films he occasionally contribute on literary works. His novels include ''Onbathu Roobai Nottu'' and ''Ammavin Kai Pesi.'' He eventually made these novel into films under his own direction. Thankar Bachan was known for his contribution in portraying North Tamil Nadu villages which was not depicted in Tamil cinema properly. His story plots were set mostly at Panruti and surrounding villages. After Bharathiraja, villages were best portrayed in Thangar Bachan movies. Bharathiraja himself declared that after him Bachan directs the best village films. He was the Pattali Makkal Katchi candidate for Cuddalore Lok Sabha constituency in 2024 Indian general election.

Filmography

As director

As actor

* '' Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy'' (2005) as Elangovan * '' Pallikoodam'' (2007) as Kumarasamy * '' Ammavin Kaipesi'' (2012) as Prasad * '' Merlin'' (2018) * '' Karumegangal Kalaigindrana'' (2023) as a public prosecutor (cameo appearance)

As cinematographer only

* ''Malai Charal'' (1990) * '' Dharma Seelan'' (1993) * ''Madhumathi'' (1992) * '' Rajadhi Raja Raja Kulothunga Raja Marthanda Raja Gambeera Kathavaraya Krishna Kamarajan'' (1993) * '' Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji'' (1994) (

Malayalam film Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both the mainstream film industry ...

) * '' Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru'' (1995) * '' Vaanmathi'' (1996) * '' Vaazhga Jananayagam'' (1996) * '' Karuvelam Pookkal'' (1996) * '' Kadhal Kottai'' (1996) * '' Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga'' (1997) * '' Kaadhale Nimmadhi'' (1998) * '' Sirf Tum'' (1998) ( Hindi film) * '' Marumalarchi'' (1998) * '' Kannedhirey Thondrinal'' (1999) * '' Kanave Kalaiyadhe'' (1999) * '' Kallazhagar'' (1999) * '' Unnudan'' (1999) * '' Bharathi'' (2000) * '' Kannukku Kannaga'' (2000) * '' James Pandu'' (2000) * '' Kutti'' (2001) * '' Ajnabee'' (2001) * '' Periyar'' (2007)

Bibliography

Novels

* ''Onbathu Roobai Nottu novel'', 1996. * ''Ammavin Kai Pesi'', 2009

Short story collections

* Vellai Maadu, 1993 * Kodi Munthiri, 2002 * Isaikaatha Isaithattu, 2006 * Thangar Bachan Kathaigal *Solla Thonuthu- A collection of 50 articles published in Tamil Hindu daily news paper- 2015

Awards

* 1993 – Lilli Deivasigamani Memorial Award for Best Short Story Collection (''Vellai Maadu'') * 1996 – Tamil Nadu Government's Award for Best Novel (''Onbathu Rubai Nottu'') * 1996 – Agni Akshara Award for Best Novel (''Onbathu Rubai Nottu'') * 1996 – Thiruppur Tamil Sangam Award for Best Novel (''Onbathu Rubai Nottu'') * 1997 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Cinematographer (Film – ''Kaalamellam Kadhal Vazhga'') * 1998 – "

Kalaimamani The Kalaimamani is the highest civilian award in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. These awards are given by the ''Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram'' (literature, music and theatre), a unit of the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government ...

" Award – awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu for Contributions in

Tamil cinema Tamil cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Tamil language, the main spoken language in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is nicknamed Kollywood, a portmanteau of the names Kodambakkam, a Ch ...

* 2002 – GV SICA Award for Best Director (Film – '' Azhagi'') * 2005 – Jaya TV Award for Best Actor (Film – '' Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy'') * 2007 – Tamil Nadu State Raja Sando Award for Contribution in Film direction * 2007 – Santhome Communication Award for Best Director (Film – '' Onbadhu Roobai Nottu'') * 2007 – Sathyan Memorial Film Award for Best Director (Tamil) (Film – '' Pallikoodam'') * 2007 – GV SICA Award for Best Story Dialogues (Film – '' Pallikoodamm'') *2007 - Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director for '' Pallikoodamm'') *2015 - Best literary Athiththanar Award for "Thankar Bachan Kathaigal" - A Short Story Collection.

References

External links

*
Official website

Interview to TamilAustralian
1962 births Living people Tamil screenwriters Film directors from Tamil Nadu Tamil film directors Tamil-language film directors Indian male film actors Tamil male actors Tamil cinematographers Tamil-language writers Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute alumni Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award People from Cuddalore district Male actors from Tamil Nadu 20th-century Indian male actors Cinematographers from Tamil Nadu 21st-century Indian male actors Tamil film producers Film producers from Tamil Nadu Indian actor-politicians {{India-film-director-stub