S. Shankar

Shankar Shanmugam, commonly known as Shankar, is an Indian film director and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Recognized for directing high budget films, he is also a pioneer of vigilante movies in Tamil. He made his directorial debut in Gentleman (1993) produced by K. T. Kunjumon, for which he was awarded the Filmfare Best Director Award and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director. He is the highest paid film-maker in India among his contemporaries.

Two of his films, Indian (1996) and Jeans (1998), were submitted by India for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2007, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by M. G. R. University.

Early life

Shankar was born on 17 August 1963 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu to Muthulakshmi and Shanmugam. He had completed diploma Mechanical Engineering from Central Polytechnic College, before entering film industry. He was roped into film industry by S. A. Chandrasekhar for scriptwriting, who accidentally saw the drama stage shows made by Shankar and his team.Wanted to be an actor initially,he chose to be a director instead.

Shankar

Shankar is a Sanskrit word meaning "Beneficent" or "Giver of Bliss". Shankar is the Hindi/North Indian version of the name Shankara also written sometimes as Sankara.

People

S Shankar

Vidwan S.Shankar (born 1950) is a popular karnatic vocalist, the disciple of his mother Smt.Rajamma Sastry and also Smt.Nagarathna bai & Smt Vallabham Kalyana sundaram. A performer for more than four decades, he is an ‘a top’ grade artist of A.I.R & Doordarshan.

He participated in the national programme of music over A.I.R. And D.D. In 1998 & 2007 and also in the Radio Sangeetha Sammelan in 1992 and 2004 at Mumbai.

He won the first prize in A.I.R. competition in 1973, Best Musician Award by the Bangalore Gayana Samaj & the Best young musician award by The Music Academy, Chennai. He has performed all over the country and at many places in the U.S. He has conducted music workshops at Bharatiya vidya bhavan in London & has performed at the venue too.. He has performed jugal bandhi concerts with Hindustani vocalists.

He is endowed with a sturdy voice & his rendering of raga is mellifluous & enthralling. His repertoire consists of the compositions of the trinity, Swathi Thirunal, Patnam Subrahmanya iyer, Jayachamarajendra wodeyer, Mysore vasudevachar, Mayuram Vishwanatha Sastry, Papanasam sivan, D.V.Gundappa, Padmacharan & Haidasas.His rendering of slokas is unique.