Actor, Producer and Director M. Sasikumar turns 51 today.

M Sasikumar was born on 28 September 1974 in Madurai where he spent his childhood.

After completing his schooling in Kodaikanal and his Bachelor of Business Administration in Madurai, he began his film career as an assistant to director Balu in the Vikram starrer, Sethu.

It was on the sets that he met and befriended Ameer who was also an assistant director. When Ameer became a director, Sasikumar was his assistant in films like Mounam Pesiyathey, Raam and Paruthi Veeran.

A year after the release of Paruthi Veeran, Sasikumar wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film Subramaniapuram which was a mammoth success and has since gone on to achieve cult status. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Film and won for Sasikumar the Best Director Award. He also won the Vijay Award for Best Director and won nominations for Best debut actor and Best Supporting Actor.

A year later he acted in Naadodigall which was directed by his close friend, Samuthrakani. This film had an excellent run and cemented his place as an actor capable of powerfully emotive roles.

He then produced Pasanga which launched the careers of director Pandiraj, actor Vimal, actress Vega as well as child actors Kishore DS, Sree Raam and Pandian.  The film won three national awards, two state awards and a multitude of others – firmly entrenching Sasikumar’s place as a producer of quality films.

His second directorial, Eeasan, featured Samuthrakani and Vaibhav in the lead roles and was a moderate success.

After starring in Sundarapandian and Kutti Puli, he co-produced Thalaimuraigal with the legendary Balu Mahendra which also saw Balu Mahendra in the lead role. Sasikumar played an important guest role in the film. Thalaimuraigal won a national award for Best Film on National Integration.

Sasikumar then starred in Bala’s Thara Thappattai which was the 1000^th film of Isai Gnani Illaiyaraja. The film won a national ward for Illaiyaraja for his background score, but he refused to accept the award, stating that the decision to split the Best Music Award into two was taken when the awards were being decided. Despite a modest reception to the film, Thara Thapattai showed Sasikumar’s versatility in his craft.

After more acting roles in vetrivel, Appa, Kidaari and Balle Vellaithevaa, Sasikumar produced and acted in Kodiveeran.

Despite some high profile roles in Rajinikanth’s Petta and Gautham Vasudev Menon’s Ennai Nokki Paayum Thotaa, Sasikumar appeared to have reached a plateasu in his acting.

His roles in Naadodigal 2, Udan Pirrappe, MGR Magan, Rajavamsam, Komba Vatcham Singamda, Naan Mirugamaai Maara and Kaari received praise but were not regarded as out of the ordinary.

This changed in 2024 with his role in Ayothi, that won largely good reviews from critics, but went on to become one of the most talked about film for that year.

His subsequent films – Garudan and Nandhan – also received positive reviews but he reached his pinnacle with his last released film, Tourist Family which became his highest grossing release to date, falling 10 crores short of the 100-crore mark.

Sasikumar has become the darling of the film world because of his warm and friendly disposition and his unstoppable sense of humour.

Sasikumar’s next film will be Freedom which was initially slated for release in July this year, but has now been postponed to November,

Sasikumar turns 51 today.