Thambi Ramaiah is an Indian actor, director and comedian who works in the Tamil film industry. He has also worked occasionally as a music director and lyricist. He directed three films, Manu Needhi (2000), Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008) and Maniyaar Kudumbam (2018). He has won one National Film Award, two SIIMA Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Award and one Filmfare Award South in his career.
Career
Thambi Ramaiah was born in Rarapuram village in Pudukkottai, and initially entered the film industry hoping to become a screenwriter. His father was a poet and a fiction writer and his mother was a housewife, while Ramaiah was their eldest child. He earned pocket money during his school days by writing love letters for his classmates. He also had an interest in lyric writing, often writing lyrics for parody versions of popular songs, while becoming trained in various instruments including the harmonium and guitar. At the age of 20, he moved to Chennai and tried to make a breakthrough into the film industry, but was hindered by his lack of contacts and instead worked for a private company for nine years. He got a break in 1994 and took up a job as a dialogue writer for a serial on Sun TV, doubling up as an assistant director, script writer and lyricist. He then earned opportunities to work as an assistant director in films directed by T. Rajender and P. Vasu, and he considers the latter his teacher of screenplay-writing. He made a cameo acting appearance in Vasu's film Malabar Police (1999) in a scene featuring Goundamani. The following year, he made his directorial début with Manu Needhi (2000), which starred Murali and Napolean. He carried on playing supporting roles in films as well as writing comedy tracks, also directing the Vadivelu-starrer Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008).
He made a breakthrough as an actor portraying a friendly cop in Prabhu Solomon's romantic film Mynaa (2010) and won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. He subsequently won positive reviews for his performances in films including Saattai, Kumki (2012) and Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam (2014). At the peak of his career in 2013–2014, he worked for up to four films a day, while being on locations for close to 25 days a month. He also served as his own manager and often was in charge of his own make-up and costumes in films.
In 2014, he announced plans to introduce his son, Umapathy Ramaiah, as an actor. His son later made his debut in Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay (2016). He made his comeback as a director after a gap debut after a 10-year hiatus with the film, Maniyaar Kudumbam (2018), starring his son Umapathy in the lead role. He also marks the debut of Thambi Ramaiah as a music director.
In 2021, he has played in lead role in Samuthirakani's Vinodhaya Sitham. In 2024, Rajakili, which marks the directorial debut of Umapathy, also has Thambi Ramaiah as a music composer. The latter has also written the story, lyrics, and dialogue.
Filmography
As actor Year Title Role Notes 1999 Malabar Police Perumal Credited as Ramaiah 2001 Manu Needhi Broker Dharmalingam 2003 Kovilpatti Veeralakshmi Tea shop owner 2004 Arul Sethupathy's assistant Jore 2005 Kodambakkam Dhanam's father Bambara Kannaley Uncredited roleVetrivel Sakthivel Selvi's father-in-law Aaru Subbu Aanai RTO officer 2006 Idhaya Thirudan Police constable Uncredited roleKovai Brothers Astrologer Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi priestNee Venunda Chellam Sillunu Oru Kadhal Vellaichaamy's assistant Thalaimagan Inspector Veeraraj Vathiyar Flower sellerNenjil Thagapansamy 2007 Maa Madurai Osamma's husband Thottal Poo Malarum Kabaaleeswaran's friendOram Po Rani's father Piragu 2008 Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan Chithraguptan Also directorTheekuchi Kurangu Ramasamy Arjunan Kadhali UnreleasedKee Mu 2009 Guru En Aalu Lawyer Malai Malai Odipolama Visu's uncle 2010 Magane En Marumagane Singaram's sidekick Kaadhal Solla Vandhen College Principal Vaada Mynaa Ramaiah Winner, Vijay Award for Best Supporting ActorWinner, National Film Award for Best Supporting ActorWinner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best ComedianNominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - TamilMandhira Punnagai Manmadhan Naidu 2011 Nanjupuram Village PresidentAayiram Vilakku Vaagai Sooda Vaa Twonaalettu (2×4=8) Osthe Masana Moorthy Rajapattai Shanmugham 2012 Vettai Constable Ambuli Vethagiri Kazhugu Shanmugam (Chittappa) Pechiyakka Marumagan Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam Muthiah Mannaru Also writerSaattai Singaperumal Winner, Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Villain Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated, Vijay Award for Best VillainThaandavam Thappachae Mama Neerparavai Joseph Bharathi Kumki Kothali Winner, SIIMA Award for Best ComedianWinner, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Tamil2013 Lokpal SI Ramdas Malayalam film Mathil Mel Poonai Moondru Per Moondru Kadhal Thiruvengadam Keeripulla Bus conductor Neram Saravanar Summa Nachunu Irukku Chinniah Apple Penne Aarumugam 2014 Jilla Shivan's aide Veeram Savarimuthu Pulivaal Valliappan Vu Ganesh Nimirndhu Nil Head constable Nedunchaalai Master Ennamo Nadakkudhu Burma's friend Un Samayal Arayil Krishna Athithi Ondipuli Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam Seenu Winner, Vijay Award for Best ComedianWinner, Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Comedian Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Tamil Amara Kaaviyam Gnanam Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani Silambu Chinnadurai Vanavarayan Vallavarayan Vanavarayan & Vallavarayan's father Rettai Vaalu Ramasamy Padayatchi Yaan Chinna Nerungi Vaa Muthamidathe Rajagopalan Gnana Kirukkan Selvamani Oru Oorla Rendu Raja Good Samaritan Kaaviya Thalaivan Koduvaai Kaadu Chettiar 2015 Isai Church priest Sandamarutham Nirukalathan Vajram Ramaiah En Vazhi Thani Vazhi Serndhu Polama Kumaran Komban Rajakili Kangaroo Thakapan Swami Nadar Inimey Ippadithan Ulaganathan Thani Oruvan Sengalvarayan SIIMA Award for Best ComedianAdhibarSiva's uncle Strawberry Arnold's friend Yatchan Sotta Mani Maanga PuliKodangi Sivappu Thiraipada Nagaram Vedalam Thamizh's father 2016 Azhagu Kutti Chellam Orphanage owner Peigal Jaakkirathai Pazhaivel Annachi Saagasam ACP Seetharaman Vetrivel Othasai Appa Singaperumal Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum Manikandan Iru Mugan Muthaiah Thodari Chandrakanth Virumandikkum Sivanandikkum Ganduchamy 2017Bairavaa Narayanan Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga Enakku Vaaitha Adimaigal Muthu Vinayagam Kuttram 23 Thirupathi Mupparimanam Santhosh Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva Home Minister Dora Vairam Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Jambulingam Thondan Income tax officer Vanamagan Pandian Vizhithiru 12-12-1950 Vanangamudi Palli Paruvathile Velaikkaran Stella Bruce 2018 Thaanaa Serndha Koottam Iniyan's father Maniyaar Kudumbam Narthanga Saamy also director and composerBilla Pandi 2019 Viswasam Rosamani Thirumanam Kumaraguru Vilambaram Gem Ad Agency owner Pottu Arjun's father Aghavan Mr. Local Lakshman Thiruttu Kalyanam 100% Kadhal Ramasamy Adutha Saattai Singaperumal 2021 Bhoomi Velusaamy Released on Disney+ Hotstar Michaelpatty Raja Magician Devadas Brothers Thalaivii Madhavan Bilingual film (Tamil and Hindi) Rudra Thandavam Police Constable Joseph Murray Vinodhaya Sitham Parasuram Released on ZEE5 Enemy 'Risk' Ramalingam Raajavamsam Kalyanasundaram Thanne Vandi Sadhasivam Velan Ananda Kuttan 2022 Maha Constable Alex Pandian The Legend Thulasi's father Lilly Rani Moorthy Sembi Anbu 2023 Thalainagaram 2 Malik Kick Michael Jackson "MJ" 2024 Inga Naan Thaan Kingu Jaameen Indian 2 Thangavel Rajakili Murugappa Sendrayar Also story writer and composer Thiru.Manickam Gurumoorthy 2025 Yaadhum Ariyaan Muthal Pakkam Inspector Ramaiah Galatta Family Sambasiva 2026 Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil Mani Hot Spot 2 Much Sharmitha's father Anthology film; segment: Black & White Sweety Naughty Crazy Anitha's father Lucky the Superstar Ramu Voice role TN 2026 Sivalinga Mandradiyar Also story writer Chinna Chinna Aasai Malayalam film Con City Varadharaj G.D.N Ramaswamy Mama Magudam Thambi Durai
Web series YearTitleRoleNetwork2022VictimKandan, SikkandarSonyLIV
As director Year Film Notes 2000 Manu Needhi 2008 Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan 2018 Maniyaar Kudumbam Also lyricist
As writer Year Film Writer Notes 2012 Mannaru 2024 Rajakili Also lyricist 2026 TN 2026
Discography As composer Year Film Notes 2010 Oru Koodai Mutham Unreleased film 2018 Maniyaar Kudumbam 2024 Rajakili Songs only
As playback singer Year Film Song Composer Lyrics Notes 2013 Vu "Oru Padi Mela" Abhijith Ramasamy Murugan Manthiram 2015 Asurakulam "Polladhavaa" C. Sathya Yugabharathi 2010 Oru Koodai Mutham "Nongala Enakku" Shanthan Thambi Ramaiah "Pappa Poranthathu" Shanthan 2026 TN 2026 "Vaadaa Thondaa" Darbuka Siva Mohan Rajan Alt URL
References
External links