Beyond the Reel: The Atlee Story
Atlee (born Arun Kumar on 21 September 1986) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He is known for his commercial and critical successes, such as Raja Rani (2013), Theri (2016), Mersal (2017), and Bigil (2019).
Atlee was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He studied Visual Communication at Satyabama University in Chennai. After graduating, he worked as an assistant director to S. Shankar in the films Enthiran (2010) and Nanban (2012).
Atlee made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy Raja Rani in 2013. The film was a critical and commercial success, and won Atlee the Vijay Award for Best Debut Director. He followed it up with the action thriller Theri in 2016, which was a major blockbuster. The film won him the Vijay Award for Best Director.
Atlee’s next film was Mersal, a masala film starring Vijay. The film was a huge commercial success, and was also critically acclaimed. It won Atlee the Vijay Award for Best Director for the second time.
Atlee’s latest film is Bigil, a sports drama starring Vijay. The film was a massive blockbuster, and became the highest-grossing Tamil film of all time. It won Atlee the Vijay Award for Best Director for the third time.
Atlee is one of the most successful directors in Tamil cinema today. He is known for his commercial films with strong emotional content. He is also a talented screenwriter, and his films are known for their witty dialogue and memorable characters.
In addition to his work in films, Atlee has also directed a short film, Mugaputhagam (2011). He has also produced the film Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae (2017).
Atlee is married to Krishna Priya, a TV and film personality. They have a son together.
Here are some of Atlee’s notable awards and achievements:
Vijay Award for Best Debut Director (2013)
Vijay Award for Best Director (2016, 2017, 2019)
IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Direction – Tamil (2017)
Filmfare Award South for Best Director (Tamil) (2019)
SIIMA Award for Best Director (2019)
Atlee is a rising star in the Tamil film industry. He is a talented director with a bright future ahead of him.
Career-
At the tender age of 19, Atlee embarked on his cinematic journey as an assistant director, working alongside the seasoned director S. Shankar in the creation of two notable films: “Enthiran” (2010) and “Nanban” (2012), a remake of the Bollywood hit “3 Idiots.” His early venture into filmmaking bore fruit with the release of his short film, “Mugaputhagam” (2011), which garnered widespread acclaim from both the public and various media platforms.
In 2013, Atlee took his first steps into the director’s chair with “Raja Rani,” a romantic comedy produced by the collaboration of AR Murugadoss, Fox Star Studios, and Next Big Films. The star-studded cast included Arya, Jai, Nayanthara, Nazriya Nazim, and Sathyaraj. This cinematic gem not only captured hearts but also raked in over ₹50 crores at the box office. For his directorial debut, Atlee was bestowed with the prestigious Best Debut Director award at the Vijay Awards.
The success of “Raja Rani” propelled Atlee forward, leading him to helm his next cinematic triumph, “Theri” (2016), an emotionally charged action thriller produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu. Starring Vijay, Samantha, and Amy Jackson in pivotal roles, the film garnered mixed reviews from critics. However, it stood tall as a commercial juggernaut, amassing over ₹156 crores at the box office and ranking as the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2016.
In 2017, Atlee directed “Mersal,” an action-packed extravaganza produced by Thenandal Studio Limited. Once again, Vijay graced the screen, sharing the limelight with Nithya Menen, Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, S. J. Surya, Sathyaraj, Vadivelu, Hareesh Peradi, and Kovai Sarala. “Mersal” emerged as a commercial powerhouse, grossing more than ₹250 crores worldwide and earning critical acclaim. The film even found international recognition with releases in China and Europe, cementing Atlee’s global impact.
Atlee’s directorial prowess continued to shine with “Bigil” (2019), a sports action drama produced by AGS Entertainment. Reuniting with Vijay for the third consecutive time, the film also featured Nayanthara, Jackie Shroff, Vivek, and Kathir in prominent roles, with a captivating musical score by A. R. Rahman. Despite receiving mixed-to-positive reviews, “Bigil” emerged as the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019, collecting a staggering ₹310 crore upon its release and securing a place among the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time.
Beyond directing, Atlee ventured into film production. In 2017, he and his wife, Priya Atlee, established their production house, A for Apple Productions. Their maiden production, in collaboration with Fox Star Studios, was “Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae,” a comedic horror film written and directed by Ike, starring Jiiva, Sri Divya, and Soori.
In 2020, A for Apple Productions continued its cinematic journey with “Andhaghaaram,” a supernatural horror thriller penned and directed by V. Vignarajan. This film, produced by Priya Atlee, alongside Sudhan Sundaram, and Jayaram, garnered attention for its unique storyline and was released directly on Netflix for streaming.
Marking a significant milestone in his career, Atlee made his foray into Hindi cinema with “Jawan” (2023), featuring an ensemble cast including Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani, Sanya Malhotra, Ridhi Dogra, Deepika Padukone, and Sanjay Dutt in special and cameo appearances, respectively. Produced by Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma under Red Chillies Entertainment, the film was complemented by an impactful musical score by Anirudh Ravichander. “Jawan” received positive reviews from critics and set a record for a Hindi film by grossing ₹75 crore (US$9.4 million) on its opening day.
Criticism-
While Atlee’s films have undoubtedly achieved remarkable commercial success, they have not been immune to criticism for relying on well-worn narrative tropes that have been prevalent in Tamil cinema since the 1980s. For instance, “Raja Rani” was noted for its similarities to “Mouna Ragam” (1986), and “Theri” drew comparisons to “Chatriyan” (1990). “Mersal” was deemed to draw inspiration from “Apoorva Sagodharargal” (1989), while “Bigil” earned comparisons to “Chak De! India” (2007) with an extra dose of intensity.
