Saravana Subbiah

Saravana Subbiah worked as an assistant director to Pavithran for Kadhal Palli (1997). He made his directorial debut with Citizen (2001) featuring Ajith Kumar in the leading role of a social activist. Prior to release, the film created anticipation with reports suggesting that Ajith would portray several different get-ups in a double role. The film released in June 2001 to mixed reviews, with The Hindu labelling it "a slow starter, but it picks up momentum after the first half and peaks to a climax, with a difference", adding that it is a "definite milestone in Ajit's acting career".{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/06/15/stories/09150222.htm |title=The Hindu : Film Review: Citizen |website=www.thehindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519052901/http://www.thehindu.com/2001/06/15/stories/09150222.htm |archive-date=19 May 2015 |url-status=dead}} The actor and director then began work on another project titled Itihasam co-starring Simran, written by Sujatha and focusing on caste issues, but the production was shelved.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/20032002/news02.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031213001055/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/20032002/news02.shtml|archive-date=13 December 2003|url-status=dead|title=டோடோவின் ரஃப் நோட்டு — Tamil Kavithai -- தமிழ் கவிதைகள் - நூற்று கணக்கில்!}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg155/culture.htm |title=Arts & Culture |publisher=Tamilguardian.com |date=2002-04-03 |accessdate=2013-05-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022213751/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg155/culture.htm |archivedate=22 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} He was later offered the opportunity to direct a Telugu film featuring Venkatesh and Gracy Singh titled Vaakaaladu, narrating a tale on corrupt politics, but the project was stalled.{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/nov143.asp |title=Success has no boundaries |website=Chennai Online |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011122065256/http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/nov143.asp |archive-date=22 November 2001 |url-status=dead}} In 2002, he also briefly worked on a film titled Anthanan with Arjun for producer Navodaya Appachan, but that venture also did not develop beyond the pre-production stage.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/cinebit/c78.html|title=Nilacharal - A Tamil entertainment ezine presenting interesting contents and useful services}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/2002/nov/02-11-02.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050306221959/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/gossip/2002/nov/02-11-02.html|archive-date = 6 March 2005|title = 02-11-02}}

His second film, the romantic drama ABCD was released in November 2005, with Saravana also appearing in the film as an actor in a negative role. The film won mixed reviews, with a critic noting it had a "wafer-thin storyline".{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/abcd-review-tamil-pclvNKafaihbi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134101/http://www.sify.com/movies/abcd-review-tamil-pclvNKafaihbi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Review : ABCD |website=Sify |date= |accessdate=2015-06-20}} In 2007, he announced he had started pre-production work on a film titled Desam Kondan starring Sibiraj though that film also failed to progress. Similarly, he was briefly associated with a project titled Ennai Ezhanthen by Kumarappa, which was to feature Saravana in the leading role; this film too was cancelled.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/double-joy-for-saravana-subbiah-tamil-news-31583.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924171225/http://www.indiaglitz.com/double-joy-for-saravana-subbiah-tamil-news-31583.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Double joy for Saravana Subbiah |website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=2007-06-04 |accessdate=2015-06-20}}

Saravana subsequently took up other roles as a supporting actor, notably appearing in Mani Ratnam's Raavanan (2010) as a cop who betrays his team and in Thambi Vettothi Sundaram (2011), where he won critical acclaim for his performance.{{cite web|author=Malathi Rangarajan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/hue-and-cry-pray-why/article2642274.ece |title=Hue and cry, pray why |publisher=Thehindu.com |date=2011-11-19 |accessdate=2015-06-20}} In 2010, he worked as an anchor for the reality show Kanavu Meipadavendum on Makkal TV, which sought to hunt youngsters with managerial and leadership qualities.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/new-show/article506469.ece |title=New show |newspaper=The Hindu |publisher=Thehindu.com |date=2010-07-09 |accessdate=2015-06-20}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Tamil film directors

Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema

Category:21st-century Indian male actors

Category:1944 births

Category:Tamil television directors