Pradeep Ranganathan is an Indian film director, actor and YouTuber who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He is known for directing Comali (2019) and Love Today (2022). He debuted as a lead actor in Love Today. He also runs a YouTube channel, that has 6.07 lakh subscribers as of May 2024.
Career
Pradeep began his career by making several short films including Whatsapp Kadhal (2015) and he used to multi-task by doing acting, editing and directing. He received his first feature film directorial debut opportunity from Jayam Ravi and Vels International who were impressed after watching some of his short films.
He made his directorial debut with Comali in 2019 which starred Jayam Ravi and Kajal Aggarwal and the film became a commercial success at the box office. Pradeep Ranganathan also eventually made a cameo appearance during the climax portion of Comali. He was the subject of controversy before the theatrical release of Comali as Rajinikanth's fans demanded the film to be boycotted due to the depiction of the flashback of Rajinikanth where he promised to enter the politics in 1996 being mentioned in a portion of the film trailer. It was also a major talking point and highlight in the trailer of the film. The scene was subsequently removed from the film following the backlash.
His second directorial venture, Love Today (2022) was based on his short film App(a) Lock and was a modest small budgeted theatrical release in Tamil Nadu. However, upon release, it became an instant blockbuster and surpassed expectations. Ranganathan rose to prominence and became an overnight sensation with Love Today. He also made his full-fledged acting debut with the film, playing the main male lead. He later revealed that love today reflects and relates to everyone, as everyone would have faced these situations in their life.
Filmography
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
As director, writer, and actor
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Actor | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Comali | Yes | Yes | Yes | auto driver Joseph (cameo) | Won—SIIMA Awards for Best Debutant Director | |
2022 | Love Today | Yes | Yes | Yes | Uthaman Pradeep | Won—SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actor; Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South | |
TBA | Love Insurance Kompany † | No | Yes | Yes | TBA | Filming | |
Dragon † | No | story | Yes |
References
- ^ "About Pradeep Ranganathan". YouTube.
- "Director Pradeep Ranganathan to Play Lead in His Next Directorial Love Today". News18. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Pradeep Ranganathan's film gets Vijay's film title". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Love Today is not a revengeful romance; it's a sweet dedication to my ex-girlfriend: Pradeep Ranganathan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Director Pradeep Ranganathan: Dedicating Next Film To The Girl Who Left Me". Outlook. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Love Today is a very close-to-heart film: Pradeep Ranganathan". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Tamil short film 'Whatsapp Kadhal' depicts a new trend in love". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "'Comali' director Pradeep Ranganathan to make his acting debut". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "I've narrated a story to Vijay, confirms Love Today director Pradeep Ranganathan". The Indian Express. 8 November 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "Joke on Rajini sir wasn't morally wrong to me: 'Comali' director Pradeep intv". The News Minute. 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "Rajinikanth fans outrage as Comali trailer mocks Tamil superstar". Hindustan Times. 4 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- S, Srivatsan (5 August 2019). "Controversial Rajinikanth scene will be removed: 'Comali' director Pradeep Ranganathan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "Pradeep Ranganathan on Love Today success: 'Are the things I am hearing and seeing real?'". The Indian Express. 9 November 2022. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "'Comali' director Pradeep Ranganathan to play the protagonist in his next film". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "Pradeep Ranganathan :பிரதீப் ரங்கநாதன் ஹீரோவாக நடித்துள்ள லவ் டுடே பட முதல் பாடல் வெளியிடு…!". Samayam. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- Chandar, Bhuvanesh (3 November 2022). "Tamil director Pradeep Ranganathan on 'Love Today', turning actor, and the evolving nature of romance". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- "Love Today is not a revengeful romance; it's a sweet dedication to my ex-girlfriend: Pradeep Ranganathan". The Times of India. 9 July 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- "'Soorari Pottru', 'Yajamana' Win Big At SIIMA Awards 2021". Outlook. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- "SIIMA 2023: Pradeep Ranganathan wins the award for Best Debut Actor, Aditi Shankar takes home Best Debut Actress honor". The Times of India. 17 September 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- "Gargi Twin Win at 68th Filmfare Awards South".
- "It's official! Vignesh Shivan to direct 'Love Today' star Pradeep Ranganathan". The Times of India. 19 September 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- "சரியான நேரத்துல என்னை காப்பாத்திட்டீங்க: 'லவ் டுடே' பிரதீப்புடன் கை கோர்த்த விக்னேஷ் சிவன்.!" [Save me at the right time: Vignesh Sivan joins hands with Pradeep in 'Love Today'! (machine translation)]. Samayam Tamil (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.