Lokesh Kanagaraj is a name that has become synonymous with blockbuster films in the Tamil film industry. He is a director, screenwriter, and producer who has delivered some of the most successful and critically acclaimed films in recent years. He is also the creator of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), a franchise that features some of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema in action-packed thrillers.
Lokesh Kanagaraj Wiki/Bio
| Name | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 March 1986 (age 37) |
| Birthplace | Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Alma mater | PSG College of Arts and Science, Anna University |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Known for | Lokesh Cinematic Universe (2019–present) |
| Spouse | Aishwarya Lokesh (m. 2012) |
| Children | Adhvika Lokesh (daughter), Aarudhra Lokesh (son) |
| Awards | Best Debut Director (10th Vijay Awards), Favourite Director (Zee Cine Awards Tamil, Galatta Crown Awards), Best Director (SIIMA) |
| Notable works | Maanagaram (2017), Kaithi (2019), Master (2021), Vikram (2022), Leo (2023) |
Early Life, Birthdate, and Education
Lokesh Kanagaraj was born on 14 March 1986 (age: 37 years, as of 2023) in Kinathukadavu, a town in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a middle-class family, with his father working as a bus conductor. He did his schooling in Palanayiammal Matric Hr. Sec. School Kalliyapuram, Pollachi. He was interested in filmmaking from a young age and used to watch a lot of movies with his friends. He also participated in cultural events and skits in school and college.
He pursued his graduation in fashion technology from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, and then completed his MBA from Anna University, Chennai. He worked as a bank employee for five years, but he was not satisfied with his job. He wanted to follow his passion for filmmaking and decided to quit his job and pursue his dream.
Career Beginnings
Lokesh Kanagaraj started his career by making short films. He participated in a corporate short film competition, where he presented his short film Acham Thavir, which won him the Best Director, best film, and Best Actor awards. The judge of the competition was Karthik Subbaraj, a renowned director who was impressed by Lokesh’s talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in filmmaking.
Lokesh then joined Karthik Subbaraj’s production house, Stone Bench Creations, and worked as an assistant director. He also made another short film, Kalam, which was included in the anthology film Aviyal, produced by Karthik Subbaraj in 2016. Aviyal was a collection of five short films by different directors, and Kalam was the last segment of the film. It was a thriller that revolved around a group of friends who get trapped in a haunted house.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 10 crores |
| 2022 | 15 crores |
| 2023 | 20 crores |
Breakthrough with Maanagaram
Lokesh made his feature film debut with Maanagaram, which was released in 2017. Maanagaram was a hyperlink film, which means that it had multiple stories that were interconnected by a common theme or event. The film was set in Chennai and followed the lives of four characters who get involved in a series of events over the course of a night. The film was a gripping thriller that explored the themes of urban life, crime, corruption, and survival.
Maanagaram was a critical and commercial success and received rave reviews from the audience and critics alike. The film was praised for its screenplay, direction, editing, cinematography, and performances. The film also won several awards, including the Best Debut Director Award for Lokesh Kanagaraj at the 10th Vijay Awards. The film was also remade in Telugu as Nagaram, and in Hindi as Mumbai Diaries 26/11.
Profile
Rise to Fame with Kaithi and Master
After Maanagaram, Lokesh worked on his next film, Kaithi, which was released in 2019. Kaithi was an action-thriller that starred Karthi in the lead role. The film was about a prisoner who gets released on parole and has to save a group of police officers from a gang of drug dealers. The film was a non-stop roller coaster ride that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The film was also praised for its technical aspects, such as the sound design, the background score, the stunts, and the cinematography.
Kaithi was a huge hit at the box office and became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2019. The film also received positive reviews from the critics, who appreciated the film’s originality, intensity, and entertainment value. The film also won the Favourite Director Award for Lokesh Kanagaraj at the Zee Cine Awards Tamil. The film was also remade in Hindi as Khakee, and in Kannada as Karthavyam.
Kanagaraj’s next film was Master, which was released in 2021. Master was a highly anticipated film, as it starred two of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema, Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi. The film was an action-drama that pitted Vijay as a college professor who tries to reform a group of juvenile delinquents, against Vijay Sethupathi as a ruthless gangster who wants to use them for his criminal activities. The film was a mass entertainer that had all the elements of a commercial blockbuster, such as the songs, the fights, the dialogues, and the twists.
Master was released on 13 January 2021, a day before the Pongal festival, and received a massive response from the audience. The film broke several box office records and became the highest-grossing Indian film of 2021. The film also received positive feedback from critics, who praised the film’s direction, screenplay, performances, and music. The film also won the Favourite Director Award for Lokesh Kanagaraj at the Galatta Crown Awards.
Creation of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe
Lokesh is also the creator of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), a franchise that features some of the most popular characters and actors from his films. The LCU was launched with Kaithi, which was the first installment of the franchise. The LCU is a series of action-thrillers that are connected by a common thread, and have crossover appearances and references. The LCU is inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which is a similar franchise that features superheroes from Marvel Comics.
The second installment of the LCU was Vikram, which was released in 2022. Vikram was a film that starred Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahadh Faasil in the lead roles. The film was a political thriller that revolved around a vigilante who targets corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. The film was a huge success and became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2022. The film also received critical acclaim and won the Best Director Award for Lokesh Kanagaraj at the South Indian International Movie Awards.
The third installment of the LCU was Leo, which was released in 2023. Leo was a film that starred Vijay and Nayanthara in the lead roles. The film was a spy thriller that followed a secret agent who goes on a mission to stop a terrorist plot. The film was a commercial hit and received positive reviews from the audience and critics. The film also won the Best Director (Tamil) Award for Lokesh at the 11th South Indian International Movie Awards.
Lokesh has also announced his next film, which will be the fourth installment of the LCU. The film will star Rajinikanth in the lead role and will be tentatively titled as Thalaivar 171. The film will be produced by Kalanithi Maran, under Sun Pictures, and the music will be composed by Anirudh Ravichander. The film is expected to release in 2024.
How did He and Aishwarya Lokesh Met and Fell in Love?
Lokesh Kanagaraj and Aishwarya Lokesh met each other when they were studying at PSG College of Arts and Science in Coimbatore. They were both pursuing their graduation in fashion technology. They became friends and soon realized that they had a lot in common. They shared a passion for movies, music, and books. They also had similar dreams and aspirations. They decided to pursue their higher studies together and enrolled in Anna University in Chennai for their MBA degree.
During their MBA course, their friendship blossomed into love. They started dating and supported each other through their academic and personal challenges. They also discovered each other’s talents and encouraged them to follow their passions. He was impressed by Aishwarya’s intelligence and creativity, while Aishwarya was amazed by his filmmaking skills and vision.
How He Proposed to Aishwarya Lokesh and Got Married?
After completing their MBA, Lokesh and Aishwarya got jobs in different fields. Lokesh joined a private bank as an employee, while Aishwarya became a software engineer. They continued their long-distance relationship and stayed in touch through phone calls and messages. They also visited each other whenever they got a chance.
He , however, was not satisfied with his job. He wanted to pursue his passion for filmmaking. He participated in various short film competitions and festivals. He got his first break when he won the Best Director award for his short film Acham Thavir at the Clubace Short Film Festival, a corporate short film competition. One of the judges at the festival was the renowned director Karthik Subbaraj, who was impressed by Lokesh’s talent and encouraged him to pursue his career in the film industry.
Lokesh Kanagaraj decided to follow his advice and quit his job. He also decided to propose to Aishwarya and ask her to marry him. He planned a romantic surprise for her and took her to a beautiful location. He got down on his knees and popped the question. Aishwarya was overjoyed and said yes. They got engaged on 15 September 2011.
They got married on 8 January 2012, in a traditional ceremony attended by their family and friends. They also had a grand reception, where they invited many celebrities from the film industry, including Karthik Subbaraj, who had become Lokesh’s mentor and friend.
How He and Aishwarya Lokesh Became Parents of Two Children?
He and Aishwarya also welcomed their first child, a daughter named Adhvika Lokesh, on their wedding anniversary in 2013. They were over the moon and shared their happiness with their fans and followers on social media. They also thanked God for blessing them with a beautiful baby girl.
He and Aishwarya also welcomed their second child, a son named Aarudhra Lokesh, in 2020. They were ecstatic and shared their joy with their fans and followers on social media. They also thanked God for blessing them with a handsome baby boy.
Awards and Recognition
Lokesh Kanagaraj has won several awards and accolades for his work in the film industry. Some of the notable awards he has received are:
- Best Debut Director Award for Maanagaram at the 10th Vijay Awards in 2018
- Favourite Director Award for Kaithi at the Zee Cine Awards Tamil in 2020
- Favourite Director Award for Master at the Galatta Crown Awards in 2021
- Talent of the Decade Award at the 8th Edition of Behindwoods Gold Medal Awards in 2022
- Best Director Award for Master at the South Indian International Movie Awards in 2022
- Best Director (Tamil) Award for Vikram at the 11th South Indian International Movie Awards in 2023
He has also been featured in various lists and rankings of the most influential and successful filmmakers in India. Some of the notable lists he has been included in are:
- The 100 Most Influential People in Tamil Cinema by The Hindu in 2019
- The 50 Most Powerful People in Indian Entertainment by Forbes India in 2020
- The 40 Under 40 Achievers in Indian Cinema by Filmfare in 2021
- The 25 Most Creative People in Indian Cinema by India Today in 2022
- The 10 Most Visionary Directors in Indian Cinema by The Times of India in 2023
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
- Weight: 75 kg or 165.5 lbs
- Eye color: Dark brown
- Hair color: Black
