V. Z. Durai
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

V. Z. Durai is an Indian film director who works in the
Tamil film industry Tamil cinema is the segment of cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Tamil language, the main spoken language in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is nicknamed Kollywood, a portmanteau of the nam ...
.


Film career


2000–2010

Durai eventually approached
S. S. Chakravarthy S. Shajahan Chakravarthy (; died 29 April 2023) was an Indian film producer in Tamil cinema. He produced a number of Tamil films through his production company, NIC Arts. Most of his films starred actor Ajith Kumar. His son Johnny (also known as ...
to make the film ''
Mugavaree ''Mugavaree'' () is a 2000 Indian Tamil-language coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by V. Z. Durai in his directoral debut and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Jyothika in the lead roles, with ...
'' (2000) with
Ajith Kumar Ajith Kumar Subramaniam (born 1 May 1971) is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. To date, he has starred in over 63 films, and won four Vijay Awards, three Cinema Express Awards, three Filmfare Awards South and three Ta ...
. As Durai had no prior experience working with film, Chakravarthy contributed significantly to shooting and editing, while also helping sign the actor
Jyothika Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an Indian actress and producer who primarily works in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu films. She has received several accolades including a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards South, four Tamil N ...
in the film, which turned out to be a blockbuster. Prior to the release of the film, Ajith, who has happy with the final product, gifted a car to Durai. ''Mugavaree'' ran for 100 days in cinemas. The success of the film led to the Durai and Kumar to make another film together featuring co-stars R. Madhavan and Vikram. However, they later scrapped and dropped the film. The production company for ''Mugavaree'' later offered for Durai to direct the film ''
Kadhal Sadugudu ''Kadhal Sadugudu'' () is a 2003 Indian Tamil-language romance film written and directed by V. Z. Durai and produced by S. S. Chakravarthy. The film stars Vikram, Priyanka Trivedi, Prakash Raj, and Vivek. The music was composed by Deva with ...
'' featuring Vikram and Priyanka Trivedi, Which did not gross that well. In 2005, Durai directed the gangster film ''
Thotti Jaya ''Thotti Jaya'' is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Durai and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu. The film stars Silambarasan and Gopika, while Pradeep Rawat (in his Tamil debut) essays a supporting role. The sound ...
'' starring
Silambarasan Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar (born 3 February 1984), popularly known as Simbu or by his initials as STR, is an Indian actor, producer, and playback singer who primarily works in Tamil cinema. He is the eldest son of director T. Rajendar. ...
and
Gopika Girly Anto, credited by her stage name Gopika (born 1 February 1984), is an Indian former actress, who has predominantly starred in Malayalam films. Starting her career as a model, she ventured into acting with the Malayalam film, '' Pranayamani ...
. This film was a blockbuster at box office. ''
Thotti Jaya ''Thotti Jaya'' is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Durai and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu. The film stars Silambarasan and Gopika, while Pradeep Rawat (in his Tamil debut) essays a supporting role. The sound ...
'' Over the years became a cult classic and even after 15years it was celebrated by fans and media. It was
Silambarasan Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar (born 3 February 1984), popularly known as Simbu or by his initials as STR, is an Indian actor, producer, and playback singer who primarily works in Tamil cinema. He is the eldest son of director T. Rajendar. ...
's First gangster venture, A Sequel to this is much anticipated. Durai's fourth film was '' Nepali'', starring Bharath and
Meera Jasmine Jasmine Mary Joseph,
, rediff.com; 1 August 2004.
known professionally as Meera Jasmine, is an Indian ac ...
. According to critics, this film turned out to be very different from Durai's usual productions and despite mixed reviews it grossed well


2010–2019

After ''Nepali'', Durai took a five-year hiatus from directing movies and instead directed advertisements and focusing more on his international constructions and Ad Film Company. After the hiatus, he directed '' 6'', which cast actors
Shaam Syria, ( or ''Shaam'') also known as Greater Syria or Syria-Palestine, is a historical region located east of the Mediterranean Sea in West Asia, broadly synonymous with the Levant. The region boundaries have changed throughout history. Howe ...
and
Poonam Kaur Poonam Kaur is an Indian actress and model who primarily appears in Telugu and Tamil films. She is also a politician, based in Telangana and a member of the Congress Party. Career Born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Poonam Kaur did her sc ...
.The film received praise from stars like Bala, who honoured him with a chain, and Kannada star
Sudeep Sanjeev Sudeep Sanjeev (born 2 September 1971), also known as Kichcha Sudeepa, is an Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, singer and television presenter, who primarily works in Kannada cinema. He has also worked in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil ...
, who praised both
Shaam Syria, ( or ''Shaam'') also known as Greater Syria or Syria-Palestine, is a historical region located east of the Mediterranean Sea in West Asia, broadly synonymous with the Levant. The region boundaries have changed throughout history. Howe ...
and Durai for their excellent work.
Shaam Syria, ( or ''Shaam'') also known as Greater Syria or Syria-Palestine, is a historical region located east of the Mediterranean Sea in West Asia, broadly synonymous with the Levant. The region boundaries have changed throughout history. Howe ...
reportedly went without sleep for days during filming. Durai again took a five-year hiatus before directing '' Yemaali'' in 2018. Since 2018, Durai has directed the horror-thriller movie ''
Iruttu ''Iruttu'' () is a 2019 Indian supernatural horror thriller film written and directed by V. Z. Durai. It stars Sundar C, Sakshi Choudhary and Dhansika in the lead roles and Vimala Raman, VTV Ganesh, Yogi Babu, and Manasvi Kottachi in s ...
'' starring
Sundar C Vinayagar Sundar Vel (born 21 January 1968), known professionally as Sundar C, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. He has directed over 30 films and received the Kalaimamani#2009, Kalaim ...
(released 6 December 2019). The film was a hit horror thriller, with critics praising it for its unexplored elements and investigative angle. The film was a break for
Sundar C Vinayagar Sundar Vel (born 21 January 1968), known professionally as Sundar C, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. He has directed over 30 films and received the Kalaimamani#2009, Kalaim ...
, the film completed 50days of theatrical run and was declared as a 'hit'. Durai Next directed 'Narkali' Starring Actor turned director Ameer. Durai started his own production company 'Right Eye Theatres' sidelining his previous first copy ventures and his advertisements and constructions. His first Production is the hit combo of himself and
Sundar C Vinayagar Sundar Vel (born 21 January 1968), known professionally as Sundar C, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and playback singer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. He has directed over 30 films and received the Kalaimamani#2009, Kalaim ...
, which is expected to be a sequel to one of the biggest hits of 2005, Thalainagaram


Advertisements

Durai founded a company called Addlime, through which he directed several international advertisements in
Dubai Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...
,
Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
,
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
, and London. In London, he did various corporate films for Medican Medical Cannabis. His wife and him associated for several advertisements such as
The Chennai Silks The Chennai Silks is chain of retail textile shops in South India. History Its founder Thiru. A. Kulandaivel Mudaliar, who was living in a village near Avinashi, entered the business in 1962. However its first textile shop was started in Tiru ...
, City Union Bank Limited (CUB), BharatMatrimony etc.


Constructions

Durai prior to becoming a film director, worked in a firm called 'sunland group of companies' founded and headed by his brother in law. He worked as the managing director for several projects.


Filmography


Accolades


Honours

* NIC Arts Production House for Excellence Commercial Success;– Honoured for ''Mugavaree'' (2000)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Durai, V. Z. Tamil film directors Living people 20th-century Indian people Tamil Muslims 21st-century Indian people 1971 births