Rajesh M. Selva

Biography:

Rajesh M. Selva is a prominent Indian film director and screenwriter primarily associated with Tamil cinema. His notable breakthrough came with the Kamal Haasan starrer “Thoongaa Vanam,” which garnered acclaim for its execution.

Rajesh initiated his career in the entertainment industry as part of the band Shenanigans in 1999. Despite pursuing a visual communications degree from St Thomas College and completing his Master’s at Loyola College in Chennai, he maintained his passion for music. In 2005, he founded DesignSelva, a record company, and released the independent album “She 16” with Saregama HMV in collaboration. In 2008, he directed the feature film “Kaalaippani,” a murder mystery with positive reviews, showcasing his clarity in execution.

His journey with Kamal Haasan began in 2008 when he joined Raaj Kamal Films International on the recommendation of director Sri Krishna. Initially serving as the third assistant director for “Marmayogi,” the film was eventually shelved. Nevertheless, Rajesh continued his collaboration with Raaj Kamal Films through “Vishwaroopam” (2013) and “Uttama Villain” (2015), even making cameo appearances in both.

After briefly leaving Kamal Haasan’s team, Rajesh returned in 2015 at the actor’s request to direct the official remake of “Sleepless Night.” The result was “Thoongaa Vanam” (2015) in Tamil and “Cheekati Rajyam” (2015) in Telugu, both receiving critical acclaim and performing well at the box office. His ability to adapt the script for different languages and manage an ensemble cast, including Kamal Haasan, Trisha, and Madhu Shalini, showcased his directorial prowess.

In 2022, Rajesh M. Selva directed “Irai,” a Tamil-language crime thriller series for Aha Tamil, starring R. Sarathkumar. Currently, he is helming a Tamil-Telugu bilingual film featuring Aditi Rao Hydari and Anson Paul. His versatile career, from music to successful filmmaking, underscores his creative contributions to the Indian entertainment industry.