# R. Ravikumar

**R. Ravikumar** (Ravikumar [Rajendran](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajendran), ரவிக்குமார் ராஜேந்திரன்) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in the Tamil film industry. He entered feature filmmaking from the short-film circuit, debuting in 2015 with the science-fiction comedy *Indru Netru Naalai*, and is known for *Ayalaan*, a second science-fiction comedy announced in 2016 with music by [A. R. Rahman](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-r-rahman) and [Sivakarthikeyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivakarthikeyan) in the lead role.<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | R. Ravikumar; full name Ravikumar Rajendran (ரவிக்குமார் ராஜேந்திரன்)<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup> |
| Profession | Director and screenplay writer, mainly in Tamil cinema<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> |
| Born | 13 May, in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> |
| Route into cinema | Directed the well-known short film *Zero Kilometer* (ஜீரோ கிலோமீட்டர்) before making features<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup> |
| Feature debut | *Indru Netru Naalai* (இன்று நேற்று நாளை), 2015, a science-fiction comedy he wrote and directed<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> |
| Second film | *Ayalaan*, a science-fiction comedy first announced in 2016, with A. R. Rahman as composer and Sivakarthikeyan starring<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> |
| Recognition | Behindwoods Gold Medal for Best Screenplay Writer for *Indru Netru Naalai* (2015)<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> |

## Identity and disambiguation

Behindwoods, a Tamil-language film-industry trade outlet, lists him as ரவிக்குமார் ராஜேந்திரன் (Ravikumar Rajendran), the director of the short film *Zero Kilometer* who debuted in Kollywood in 2015 with *Indru Netru Naalai*, and notes that his next film was announced with music by A. R. Rahman and Sivakarthikeyan in the starring role.<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup> That combination, a 2015 debut followed by the Rahman and Sivakarthikeyan project, distinguishes him from other directors named [Ravikumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravikumar).<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup>

## Early life and background

Ravikumar Rajendran was born in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India.<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> His entry into cinema ran through short filmmaking: *Zero Kilometer* was described by [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) as a well-known short film.<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup>

## Career

**Indru Netru Naalai (2015).** His first feature, which he both wrote and directed, was *Indru Netru Naalai*, a science-fiction comedy released in 2015.<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup> Behindwoods counts it as his debut as a director in Kollywood that year.<sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup> The film earned him the Behindwoods Gold Medal for Best Screenplay Writer in 2015.<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup>

**Ayalaan.** His second feature, *Ayalaan*, is also a science-fiction comedy. It was first announced in 2016, with A. R. Rahman as the film's music composer, and Sivakarthikeyan was reported as the star when the project was announced.<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)</sup> WikiBio dates the film to 2023.<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup>

## Reception and recognition

He received the Behindwoods Gold Medal for Best Screenplay Writer, awarded for *Indru Netru Naalai* in 2015.<sup>[2](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)</sup>

## References

1. [ரவிக்குமார் ராஜேந்திரன் | குறும்படம் டூ கோலிவுட், Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/short-film-directors-who-became-successful-feature-film-directors/ravikumar-rajendran.html)
2. [R. Ravikumar Wiki, Age, Family, Biography & More, WikiBio](https://wikibio.in/r-ravikumar/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of South Asia*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license