Tamil Cinema has seen its fair share of directors across the ages. The audience has had the privilege of witnessing beautiful creations from several talented masterminds. But if you were to stop and make a list of some of the best directors who have weaved their magic in the form of movies, there will be a few names that one cannot forget. And among these will feature AR Murugadoss. On the legendary director’s birthday today, let’s take a look at the impact he has created in Kollywood.

If one were to look at all the movies directed by Murugadoss, it will be clear that he is one of the best in the business. Every single film directed or produced by him has made a mark in the industry. His very first film ‘Dheena’ with Ajith was not only a hit, but also gave the star his title, ‘Thala.’ No ordinary film could have achieved such a feat. The movie lifted both its director and hero to new and well-deserved heights.

The director continued to prove his worth in his next few films such as ‘Ramana’ and ‘Ghajini.’ Murugadoss’s tendency to bring in a social message through his movies was visible in this early period itself. Both in small and prominent ways he touched upon important issues such as corruption and human trafficking. ‘Ghajini’ emerged as a path-breaking movie in its time and continues to be as fresh as ever. Whether the comedy, romance, suspense or the concept of memory loss itself, the movie was a class apart. This has been extremely characteristic of the director’s movies. A perfect blend of various elements which elevates the creation to the next level would probably be an apt way to describe Murugadoss’s movies.

It wasn’t a great surprise then that this new talented director then remade his film in Hindi with Aamir Khan. At a time when Tamil Cinema was not considered much at a national level, Murugadoss showed just what Bollywood was missing out on. The Hindi version of ‘Ghajini’ became the first Indian film to reach the 100 crore mark. It is definitely praiseworthy that the 100 Crore Club itself was started after Murugadoss’s super hit. The director had made history again.

Then came another set of hits with ‘7am Arivu’ and ‘Thuppakki.’ Both films were like none other seen before. Not only were they commercially successful and entertaining, they also enlightened the public. ‘7am Arivu’ brought to light the story of Bodhidharma, a monk who lived in the 5th century. The portrayal of the villain in the movie was incredibly effective and till date one cannot forget Dong Lee. ‘Thuppakki’ was a huge hit and is still considered Thalapathy Vijay’s best film by many. With an interesting take on the role of sleeper cells in propogating terrorism, the movie also beautifully captured the emotions of soldiers in the army and their families. The Hindi version ‘Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty’ did not disappoint either and was a huge hit.

Just when one may have thought that Murugadoss had delivered his best, there emerged another super hit, ‘Kaththi.’ This was another revolutionary movie which made us all believe that when Vijay and Murugadoss join hands, just about anything is possible. Again the director portrayed a very significant and real issue of corporate companies grabbing the resources needed for agriculture, the country’s main occupation. In recent years, this has become a growing reality. But it’s not enough for a movie to just have a strong message. In order for that message to actually reach the audience, powerful scenes and dialogues that evoke emotions are crucial. And this director knows just how to do that. The impact of ‘Kaththi’ was largely due to such factors and the way it had been neatly packaged with other elements of comedy, romance and action. The idea to show that elderly individuals are not a burden but are actually valuable was also very commendable.

‘Spyder’ needs appreciation as well for the superb backstory of the villain. The story depicted how the character portrayed by the villain actually developed an evil streak in the most realistic, and simultaneously, an incredibly chilling way. At the same time, it also portrayed the power of housewives. This seems to be another trend in the director’s movies, to show that common people and those often considered to be vulnerable or without value, are actually strong and worthy. Life also came full circle for the director in this movie when he cast SJ Surya, his mentor in his initial stages, as the villain.

Murugadoss’s last movie to hit the screens, ‘Sarkar,’ not only provided the public with legal education, but also depicted a very interesting way of forming a party based on actual contributions of members in society. With this interesting premise and Thalapathy Vijay by his side, the director again impressed with hard-hitting dialogues. It is highly possible that the number of voters would have increased after the movie. This goes to show the power of good cinema and how an idea can encourage positive action.

In spite of such success, Murugadoss continues to be as simple and humble as ever. His vision, the issues that he brings to light, his portrayal of common people as powerful and the way he integrates the various facets of a film will always make him stand out. He has proven that a commercial entertainer can represent an important social issue. The fact that he has worked with the biggest stars in the industry with each and every film also goes to show his demand and success. Here is wishing this superb director a very happy birthday!

Soon we will have the privilege of seeing Superstar Rajnikanth in a movie written and directed by our very own director, AR Murugadoss. And all I can say is, “I am waiting!”