Parthiban

14 Oct, 1958 | Thoothugudi, Tamilnadu

Actor/Director/Producer

Biography

Radhakrishnan Parthiban (also credited as R. Parthiepan, Ra Parthiepan, or Parthiepan) is a Tamil actor and director. He was born in 1957 near Thoothugudi. After passing his HSC Exam in 1974, Parthiban went to Madras to become an actor. Instead he was told that he did not look like having an actor material and was encouraged to make films. This led to him pursuing a D.F.E (Diploma in Film Editing) from the Film and Technology Institute in Tambaram. After graduating in 1979, he briefly had a career writing short stories under the pen name of "Bharathi" in Tamil Magazines. In 1984, he became K. Bhagyaraj's personal assistant and later Assistant Director. The Bhagyaraj-Parthiban duo worked in over 40 films from 1984 to 1991. Parthiban also had small roles in several Bhagyaraj films. His acting debut was in 1992 with "Puthiya Padai" along with actress Seetha, whom he later married. His commercial song "Ae Kala Kala Kan Adicha Kalakala" from the film "Devathiyin Paadhangal" made him a known name. However, it was only the super-hit film Bharathi Kanamma (1996), which made him a star. This was followed by a National Award-winning performance in Housefull and a number of popular films such as Thooku Sandhu, Tirupuram, Kannata Kaanadhavan and James Pandu in the late 90's-early 2000's. He also moved to comedy and had memorable funny scenes with Vadivel beginning with Bharathi Kanamma. However, he was remaking several Thangar Bacchan concepts in films such as Azhagi, Ammuvagiya Naan and Thendral - away from commercial cinema and towards critically acclaimed films. He married actress Seetha and has two daughters - Keerthana of the Kannathil Mutthamittal fame and Anushree. Seetha and parthiban get divorced in the year 2018.