Gautham Menon is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. He mainly works in Tamil cinema. He has also directed Hindi and Telugu films which are remakes of his own Tamil films. His movies "Vaaranam Aayiram" in 2008 and "Thanga Meengal" in 2013 grabbed the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. He is the owner of ad agency called Photon Factory.
Early Life of Gautham Menon
Gautham Menon, originally named as Gautham Vasudev Menon was born in 25th February 1973 in the town of Ottapalam, in Palakkad district of Kerala. His father is Malayali and mother is Tamil. Although, born in Kerala he grew up in the Trichy city of Tamil Nadu. He did his Mechanical Engineering from Mookambigai College of Engineering, Pudukkottai.
Career of Gautham Menon
Gautham Menon started his career as an ad film maker under the tutelage of renowned filmmaker Rajiv Menon. He went on to work as an assistant director for the movie "Minsara Kanavu" in 1997. He also played a cameo role in the film. Later, Menon started his own ad agency titled "Photon Factory" before moving to cinema which is now recognized as a film production company.
His first film was R. Madhavan starrer "Minnale" in Tamil. The film was a huge success commercially and won positive reviews from critics. The success of the film gave him the opportunity to remake "Minnale" in Bollywood. The Hindi version titled "Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein" with R. Madhavan and Diya Mirza in the lead roles.
In 2003, he made "Kaaka Kaaka" in Tamil where he himself appeared in a cameo role as a senior police officer. The film received very positive reviews from critics and was a box-office record breaker. Menon subsequently remade the film in Telugu. It earned commercial and critical acclaim.
After that, Menon signed on to direct "Vettaiyadu Villaiyadu", an action/ adventure thriller film starring Kamal Hassan. The film came to be the biggest grosser of 2006. His next venture was "Pachaikili Muthucharam" in 2007 which was based on the novel "Derailed" by James Siegel.
In 2008, his next project was "Vaaranam Aayiram" which essayed the theme of how a father often comes across in his son"s life as a hero and inspiration. He dedicated this film to his late father who had died in 2007. Claimed to be the biggest hit of 2008, the film went on to win the National Film Award.
Gautham Menon returned to romantic genre in 2010 after nine years with the Tamil romantic film "Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa". The film received positive reviews and went on to become a commercially successful venture. The film was remade in Telugu titled "Ye Maaya Chesave" and in Bollywood named as "Ekk Deewana Tha".
Awards and Achievements of Gautham Menon
Gautham Menon have won numerous awards for his work in Tamil movies. They are mentioned below:
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for "Vaaranam Aayiram" (2008)
Vijay Award for Favourite Director for "Vaaranam Aayiram" (2008)
Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer for "Ye Maaya Chesave" (2010)
Nandi Special Jury Award for "Ye Maaya Chesave" (2010)
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil for "Thanga Meengal" (2013)
Filmfare Award for Best Film in Tamil for "Thanga Meengal" (2013)
Vijay Award for Best Film for "Thanga Meengal" (2013)
Filmography of Gautham Menon
Gautham Menon has written and produced a number of successful films. The Filmography of Gautham Menon in different roles is as follows:
Gautham Menon as a Director and Screenwriter
Minnale (2001)
Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (Hindi) (2001)
Kaakha Kaakha (2003)
Gharshana (Telugu) (2004)
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2006)
Pachaikili Muthucharam (2007)
Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010)
Ye Maaya Chesave (Telugu) (2010)
Nadunisi Naaygal (2011)
Ekk Deewana Tha (Hindi) (2012)
Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012)
Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu (Telugu) (2012)
Yennai Arindhaal (2015)
Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada (2016)
Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo (Telugu) (2016)
Gautham Menon as a Producer
Veppam (2011)
Nadunisi Naaygal (2011)
Ekk Deewana Tha (Hindi) (2012)
Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012)
Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu (Telugu) (2012)
Thanga Meenkal (2013)
Courier Boy Kalyan (Telugu) (2015)
Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada (2016)
Sahasam Swasaga Sagipo (Telugu) (2016)
Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum (2016)