# Sandy (choreographer)
**Sandy** (born Santhosh Kumar, 1986, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian dance choreographer and actor who works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada-language productions.[2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy) • [3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html) He first became known through Tamil television dance reality shows, beginning as a choreographer on the debut season of Maanada Mayilada in 2005 under Kala Master, and later choreographed widely filmed songs such as "Pathala Pathala" and "Monica".[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp) • [2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy) In the 2020s he built a second career as a screen actor, chiefly in villain roles, with his breakthrough coming as a villain in [Lokesh Kanagaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/lokesh-kanagaraj)'s Leo (2023), followed by Lokah Chapter 1 and [Kishkindhapuri](https://www.edgepedia.org/kishkindhapuri).[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp) He was also a contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil 3 (2019) on Vijay TV.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html)
He first became known through Tamil television dance reality shows, later choreographed widely filmed songs such as "Pathala Pathala" and "Monica", and in the 2020s built a second career as a screen actor, chiefly in villain roles.[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name and date | Santhosh Kumar, born 1986 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu[2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy) |
| Professions | Dance choreographer for films and stage, and actor in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada-language productions[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html) |
| Television debut | Choreographer on the dance reality show Maanada Mayilada (2005), working under Kala Master[2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy) |
| Acting breakthrough | Villain role in Lokesh Kanagaraj's Leo (2023), followed by Lokah Chapter 1 and Kishkindhapuri[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp) |
| Reality television | Contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil 3 (2019) on Vijay TV[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html) |
## Early training and television work
Sandy trained under the choreographer Kala Master, entering the film industry as her student, and worked as a dance teacher for a competing pair on the Kalaignar TV program Maanada Mayilada.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html) He began his career as a choreographer in the debut season of Maanada Mayilada in 2005, a dance reality show directed by Kala Master, and helped an on-screen couple win the competition.[2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy) His television work gave him a recognizable personal style: rather than presenting dance alone, he mixed comedy into his routines, a trait audiences came to associate with his name.[4](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/from-choreographer-to-villain-the-rise-of-sandy-master-xzzwaba)
He has also worked as a host and judge on dance programs on Vijay TV.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html) In 2019 he took part as a contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil season 3.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html)
## Film choreography
His IMDb listing records continuing choreography credits, including the films Karuppu and LIK: [Love Insurance Kompany](https://www.edgepedia.org/love-insurance-kompany) (both 2026) and upcoming projects such as OM Chapter 1: Udhiram - The Blood Wood and an untitled [Pradeep Ranganathan](https://www.edgepedia.org/pradeep-ranganathan) film.[5](https://www.imdb.com/de/name/nm8842905/)
## Acting career
Sandy's first screen appearance as a performer was in the role of Maika in the Tamil comedy Ivanuku Thannila Gandam.[2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy) His acting career took a decisive turn when director Lokesh Kanagaraj cast him in a villain role in Leo; Sandy has said that Lokesh saw a dangerous actor in him and encouraged him when he doubted he could do it.[4](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/from-choreographer-to-villain-the-rise-of-sandy-master-xzzwaba) The role's impact showed in audiences shouting "Chocolate Coffee", a line associated with the character, while he appeared in Lokah.[4](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/from-choreographer-to-villain-the-rise-of-sandy-master-xzzwaba)
**Pan-Indian villain roles.** After Leo, Sandy expanded beyond [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema). In Lokah Chapter 1 he played a character with screen presence following [Kalyani Priyadarshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalyani-priyadarshan) and Naslen, appearing both as a police officer and in a villainous role; the film collected ₹2.5 billion (₹250 crore) and took second place among [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema)'s all-time highest-grossing films.[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp) In the Telugu film Kishkindhapuri he played another distinct character whose performance in the second half was described as a booster for the film.[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp) Telugu-language coverage has framed his trajectory as that of a choreographer who became a pan-Indian villain actor, noting that his villain roles have coincided with blockbuster hits.[1](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp) • [4](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/from-choreographer-to-villain-the-rise-of-sandy-master-xzzwaba)
## Personal life
Sandy married the Tamil film personality Kajal Pasupathi and later divorced her, citing differences of opinion; in 2017 he married Sylvia.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html) He was educated at St Gabriel's School in George Town, Chennai.[2](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy)
## References
1. [Sandy Master: choreographer turns blockbuster villain in Leo, Lokah and Kishkindhapuri, NTV Telugu](https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/cinema-news/sandy-master-choreographer-turns-blockbuster-villain-in-leo-lokah-and-kishkindhapuri-across-industries-866599.html/amp)
2. [Tamil Choreographer Sandy Biography, News, Photos, Videos, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/choreographer/sandy)
3. [சாண்டி மாஸ்டர் பயோடேட்டா (Sandy Master biography), Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/sandy-master/biography.html)
4. [From Choreographer To Villain: The Rise Of Sandy Master, Asianet News Tamil](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/gallery/cinema/from-choreographer-to-villain-the-rise-of-sandy-master-xzzwaba)
5. [Sandy Master, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/de/name/nm8842905/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Dance and ballet › Dance forms beyond ballet › Non-ballet choreographers and choreography*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license