Kathir is a very popular Tamil filmmaker. Composer A. R. Rahman had composed music for most of his films; and hence many of them were dubbed into Hindi and musically successful.

Biography

Kathir was born in Kalkarai, a small village in the Radhapuram taluk district of Thirunelveli, state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Kathir grew up in a middle-class family as the only son along with his three sisters. His father Subbiah was a farmer and mother Isakiammal assisted him in his farming. Kathir had his elementary schooling in Kalkarai Chiristian elementary school. He finished his 5th standard there and joined Nehru middle school, Vadakangulam. After completing his 8th standard there he attended the Concordia high school, Vadakangulam for just one year to study 9th standard. Then joined St. Teresa’s school in Vadakangulam. He completed his school studies here.

During his school days he was interested in arts and spent his leisure time painting. The walls in his house became the canvas and charcoals got the jobs as brushes. His father seeing this craze was inspired to send him to a drawing school. It was decided then to send to a fine arts college.

Kathir got into to the renowned College of Fine arts and Crafts, Chennai. He did a five year course in Fine arts and graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts. He continued to study there by opting for a two year Post Graduate degree and got one to

During the final years in college he started write poems and began to exploit his talent for writing. Only at this stage he developed his favor for becoming a movie director. Passing out of his college he was already established as a famous Publicity and Title designer who has worked in bigger films

He tried to narrate the story to Sathya Jyothi Films, the same company who gave him his first chance in the movies as a publicity designer. But chances kind of evaded him for a while. After regular attempts for more than a year the producer R. Thyagarajan finally agreed to meet him. The producer was so impressed by the story he agreed to produce it.

Even after getting a producer the film remained a non starter because none of the major heroes was willing to be cast in this film as it had no commercial aspects like fights or duets that accord their hero image. It finally went Murali, an upcoming hero then and he liked it and accepted it. It can also be said from this experience he developed a knack to introduce newer artists and technicians.

The film was inaugurated by Mani Ratnam, Illayaraja, Bharathi Raja and Bala Chander. On September 5, 1992 the film was released and became the biggest blockbuster and turned into a milestone for love themes. Kathir got an unforgettable place in the minds of youth and other audiences alike. Songs of the movie 'Idhayam' was the biggest hit of the year, composed by Ilayaraja. And is considered to be the best music of Kathir films and the films BGM still waves in the heart of millon youths of yesteryear.

He then directed movies like Uzhavan, Kadhal Desam, Kadhalar Dhinam. He showed advanced and futuristic lifestyles of youth beforehand in his movies Kadhal Desam and Kadhalar Dinam.

In 2001, he founded his own production studio Sound Light Studio through which he produced Kadhal Virus. He also distributed the film all over Tamil Nadu.