M. Sasikumar is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, and singer, who mainly works in the Tamil film industry. He is best known for playing the role of Paraman in the Tamil-language period action film Subramaniapuram (2008).
Wiki/Biography
M. Sasikumar, also known as Mahalingam Sasikumar, was born on Saturday, 28 September 1974 (age 48 years; as of 2023) in Puthuthamaraipetti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. His zodiac sign is Libra. He did his schooling at St. Peter’s School, a boarding school in Kodaikanal.
M. Sasikumar in his school days (holding the guitar)
He attended Nadar Mahajana Sangam S. Vellaichamy Nadar College, Madurai, to pursue a graduation in business administration.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
M. Sasikumar’s parents live in Madurai, where they have many small trades. His grandparents were farmers.
Wife & Children
M. Sasikumar is married and has two children, a son and a daughter. In an interview, Sasikumar shared that he wanted to keep the life of his family members under wraps.
Career
Film Director
In 1999, M. Sasikumar worked as an assistant director to Bala in the Tamil film Sethu. He also played an uncredited role in the film. On the set of the film, he met Ameer, who was also one of the assistant directors of the film. He then learned the nuances of film direction by working as an assistant director in Ameer’s first two films Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002) and Raam (2005).
M. Sasikumar working on the sets of a film
Later, while he was assisting Ameer in the direction of the Tamil film Paruthi Veeran (2007), he began the groundwork for his directorial debut Subramaniapuram and left Paruthi Veeran midway to focus on his project. His debut film was shot at different locations like Madurai, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore in 85 days. Released in 2008, Subramaniapuram received critical acclaim and was a commercial hit. Subsequently, Sasikumar directed the Tamil film Easan (2010).
A working still from the sets of Subramaniapuram
Actor
M. Sasikumar made his acting debut in 2008 with the low-budget Tamil period action film Subramaniapuram as Paraman and received wide appreciation for both, his acting and direction. Co-starring Jai, Swathi, and Ganja Karuppu in pivotal roles, the film resurrected Madurai from the 1980s.
M. Sasikumar as Paraman in Subramaniapuram
Next, he played the role of Karunakaran Natraj in the Tamil-language action drama Naadodigal (2009). Directed by Samuthirakani, the story of the film revolves around four men and two women who live their life with utmost joy and a goal to achieve. Sasikumar’s performance was loved by the critics and the audience and earned him a nomination at the Vijay Awards for Favorite Hero. He made his Telugu film debut in 2010 with the action drama film Shambo Shiva Shambo in which he made a special appearance. In 2011, he starred in the Tamil action thriller Poraali as Ilankumaran. The film illustrates an astute fighter who can take on a large, greedy group. It was later dubbed in Telugu as Sangharshana and remade in Kannada as Yaare Koogadali.
M. Sasikumar at a dubbing studio
Sasikumar made his Malayalam film debut with the film Masters (2012) in which he played the role of Milan Paul. Directed by Johny Antony, the film received positive critical reviews and also fared well at the box office. He then appeared in the Tamil films Kutti Puli (2013), Appa (2016) and Balle Vellaiya Thevaa (2016); all these films performed well at the box office. In 2014, Sasikumar played the role of Siva in Socrates’ directorial debut Bramman. The film revolves around the story of two friends who got separated in childhood and are very passionate about cinema. The film performed averagely at the box office. In 2017, he played the titular role in the Tamil action drama Kodiveeran; the film received mixed critical acclaim. Some of his other popular Tamil films include Petta (2019), Enai Noki Paayum Thota (2019), and Naadodigal 2 (2019).
M. Sasikumar as Jeeva in the Tamil film Naadodigal 2
In 2023, he played the role of Abdul Malik, a Muslim man who helps a Hindu family from north India in their tough times, in the Tamil drama film Ayothi. Released on 3 March 2023, the film received positive reviews from critics and the audience. Later, the film was also released on the OTT platform ZEE5.
M. Sasikumar as Abdul Malik in Ayothi
Film Producer
Sasikumar made his debut as a producer in 2008 with the Tamil film Subramaniapuram. After the success of the film, he produced the Tamil film Pasanga (2009), which was a huge hit. The film won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. He has also produced several popular Tamil films like Poraali (2011), Sundarapandian (2012), Thalaimuraigal (2013), and Kodiveeran (2017). In 2016, he produced three Tamil films, Appa, Kidaari, and Balle Vellaiyathevaa.
Singer
Sasikumar made his singing debut in 2010 with the song Suvadu Suvadu from the Tamil film Vamsam. He sang the song along with Samuthirakani and Pandiraj. In 2011, he gave voice to the song Vidiya Potri from the Tamil film Poraali.
Awards
- Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Director for the film Subramaniapuram (2008)
- Vijay Award for Best Director for the film Subramaniapuram (2008)
- Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Actor for the film Poraali (2011)
Favourites
Facts/Trivia
- Sasikumar loves reading in his leisure time.
- His family and friends fondly call him Sasi.
- Before the release of his film Subramaniapuram, Sasikumar introduced a promotional video for the film. Although the video was a hit, Sasikumar refused to use it in the film. In an interview, while talking about it, he said,
Stars do not make a movie, they only bring the audience to the theatre. Once inside the hall, it is the script and the director’s skill that holds the audience’s attention.”
- In an interview, Sasikumar revealed that he entered the Tamil cinema through his uncle Kandasaamy who was the producer of the film Sethu. Kandasaamy introduced him to Bala, whom Sasikumar assisted in the direction of the film Sethu.
- In an interview, when asked why he mostly worked on rural subjects, he replied that he chose such projects as they helped him stay connected to his roots. He said,
I come from a family of farmers. Even though I chose to be a filmmaker and then an actor, deep down there’s a farmer in me still alive. The only way I stay connected with my roots is through my films.”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
