# M. Muthaiya

M. Muthaiya Thevar is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Tamil cinema. He is known for directing village-based action films.

## Career

Muthaiya moved to Chennai from Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar to make movies and debuted with the rural drama Kutti Puli (2013) starring Sasikumar. The film did not receive favorable reviews from the media but went on to perform well at the box office.
Muthaiya moved on to make Komban (2015), a story set in the Ramanathapuram district starring Karthi, Lakshmi Menon, and Rajkiran. The film is about an aggressive man (Karthi) and his relationship with his father-in-law (Rajkiran). Muthaiya, inspired by the egotistical tussles between his father and his grandmother, scripted the story straight from his own experiences. The release of Komban was mired by controversy when protesters claimed that the story revolved around the animosity between different Thevar caste groups and that it therefore had the potential to incite violence in southern districts of Tamil Nadu. After a brief legal battle, the film opened to positive reviews and did well commercially.
Following the success of Komban, Muthaiya made Marudhu (2016), featuring Vishal and Sridivya in the lead roles. The film received mixed reviews from critics but was a decent hit.
In 2017, Muthaiya reunited with Sasikumar to make another rural drama film titled Kodiveeran. Prior to the release of the film, the film's producer committed suicide due to financial problems.
In January 2018, Muthaiya began work on Devarattam, a second film with Studio Green, which features a brother-sisters relationship with Gautham Karthik in the lead role. The film released in 2019 to negative reviews but was still a hit. The film was an average rural action entertainer with routine elements that may have worked for audiences in Madurai, Tirunelveli, and surrounding areas.
Muthaiya followed the same successful style in Pulikkuthi Pandi (2021), which stars Vikram Prabhu and Lakshmi Menon comparing their previous film. Pulikkuthi Pandi is Lakshmi Menon's third film under Muthaiya's direction, and the film also marks the actress's comeback to big screens after four years of film.
In August 2022, Muthaiya's much expected Viruman, the first time under the banner of 2D Entertainment was released. The film features Karthi in the lead role, marking his second collaboration with Muthaiya, and was produced by Suriya and Jyothika. The film claimed to be an overall hit on a commercial basis even though it critically attained mixed reviews, like Muthaiya's previous movies. Aditi Shankar, the daughter of Indian director Shankar, made her acting debut as the female lead.
In 2023, Muthaiya directed Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam, which saw him collaborating with Arya for the first time.

## Filmmaking style

Muthaiya is known for his regional village oriented scripts and mostly directs Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Theni, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi-based movies.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Notes |
| 2013 | Kutti Puli | Mother Son Bonding Story |
| 2015 | Komban | Father in Law Son in Law Bonding Story |
| 2016 | Marudhu | Grandmother Grandson Bonding Story |
| 2017 | Kodiveeran | Brother-in-law Bonding Story |
| 2019 | Devarattam | Brother Sister bonding |
| 2021 | Pulikkuthi Pandi | Revenge Story, Husband Wife bonding |
| 2022 | Viruman | Father Son Melodrama |
| 2023 | Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam | Husband Wife bonding |