R. K. Selvamani

Biography:

R. K. Selvamani, who initially worked as an assistant to Manivannan, approached the actor Vijayakanth with a story idea. Vijayakanth, in turn, suggested that Selvamani share the story with his friend, the film producer Ibrahim Rowther. However, due to Vijayakanth’s busy schedule, Selvamani faced difficulties in getting his story heard. Undeterred, he, with the assistance of his friend Jothi, came up with a creative solution. They decided to convey the storyline through illustrated drawings, drawing inspiration from Hollywood films as references. This unconventional approach eventually earned Selvamani the opportunity to bring his story to life as a film.

The resulting action thriller, titled “Pulan Visaranai” and released in 1990, drew its inspiration from a real-life confession made by the criminal Auto Shankar. Auto Shankar had admitted to kidnapping several girls on the orders of influential political figures. In this film, Vijayakanth played a pivotal role, marking his first major performance. He was joined by a talented cast including Rupini, Anandaraj, Radha Ravi, and Sarathkumar.

The film “Pulan Visaranai” not only gained commercial success but also garnered critical acclaim. It was based on a gripping real-life story and showcased the directorial prowess of R. K. Selvamani.

R. K. Selvamani, who hails from Chengalpattu, initially served as an assistant to the renowned filmmaker Manivannan. He approached the actor Vijayakanth with a storyline but was directed to share it with Vijayakanth’s friend, the film producer Ibrahim Rowther. Unfortunately, due to the actor’s busy schedule, Selvamani, with the assistance of his friend Jothi, resorted to presenting the story through illustrated drawings inspired by Hollywood films. This unconventional approach eventually secured him the opportunity to bring the story to life on the big screen.

The action-packed thriller “Pulan Visaranai,” released in 1990, drew inspiration from a real-life confession by the criminal Auto Shankar, who admitted to kidnapping several girls at the behest of influential political figures. The film starred Vijayakanth in a significant role, alongside Rupini, Anandaraj, Radha Ravi, and Sarathkumar.

During the making of the film, R.K. Selvamani initially imposed numerous rules and conditions, which led to a six-month hiatus in shooting due to the actor’s dissatisfaction. However, with the intervention of Manivannan, shooting eventually resumed. “Pulan Visaranai” hit theaters in January 1990 and not only achieved commercial success but also garnered critical acclaim from reviewers. This success prompted Ibrahim Rowther to offer Vijayakanth and Selvamani another project, leading to the creation of “Captain Prabhakaran” in 1991. The film’s title paid tribute to Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE, while the storyline drew inspiration from the forest brigand Veerappan. Rupini and Sarath Kumar reprised their roles in this film.

“Captain Prabhakaran” marked Vijayakanth’s hundredth project and further solidified Selvamani’s reputation as a director specializing in action-packed films. The movie achieved significant commercial success, and Selvamani received acclaim for his skills as a filmmaker in the action genre.