Dharani

Biography:

Dharani, originally named V. C. Ramani, is a former Indian film director primarily known for his work in Tamil and Telugu action films. He achieved widespread recognition for directing highly successful Tamil action movies such as “Dhill,” “Dhool,” and “Ghilli.”

His directorial journey began with the film “Ethirum Pudhirum,” which was loosely based on the life of forest brigand Veerappan and his younger brother’s death. Starring Mammootty, the film faced political controversies and experienced a delayed release in 1999. Despite these challenges, “Ethirum Pudhirum” garnered critical acclaim and was awarded second place in the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. Dharani’s success with this movie led to him directing “Dhill,” produced by T. Ajay Kumar and featuring Vikram in the lead role. “Dhill” proved to be a box-office hit, setting the stage for Dharani’s subsequent film, “Dhool” (2003), produced by A. M. Rathnam and starring Vikram, Jyothika, and Reemma Sen. “Dhool” also achieved commercial success.

His career reached new heights with “Ghilli” (2004), produced by A. M. Rathnam, and featuring Vijay and Trisha. This film was a massive blockbuster and marked a significant comeback for Vijay. Following “Ghilli,” Dharani directed the Telugu film “Bangaram,” with Pawan Kalyan in the lead role. In 2008, he directed “Kuruvi,” a reunion with Vijay, but the film achieved only average success and faced criticism from reviewers. In 2011, Dharani ventured into remaking the 2010 Hindi film “Dabangg” in Tamil as “Osthe,” starring Silambarasan in the lead role. Although it received mixed reviews, it was declared an average hit.

Dharani also embarked on a Telugu film project titled “Merupu,” featuring Ram Charan Teja and Kajal Aggarwal. The film was officially launched in late April 2010 but faced delays and was eventually shelved by 2011.