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Priyadarshan Soman Nair (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has worked primarily in Malayalam cinema and Hindi cinema cinema since 1982, directing over 98 films in multiple Indian languages, with notable works in Tamil language and Telugu language. Known for his memorable comedic films, he has received several accolades, including three National Film Awards, multiple Kerala State Film Awards, and the Padma Shri in 2012. Most of his Hindi films are remakes of Malayalam films, some of which Priyadarshan helmed both versions.
He began his cinematic journey in the early 1980s, primarily working in Malayalam cinema. He directed several notable films during this period, including Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986), Thalavattam (1986), Vellanakalude Nadu (1988), Chithram (1988), Vandanam (1989), and Kilukkam (1991). Throughout the 1990s, he continued directing successful films such as Abhimanyu (1991), Mithunam (1993), Thenmavin Kombath (1994), Kaalapaani (1996), Chandralekha (1997), and Megham (1999).
While working in Malayalam cinema, Priyadarshan also made his foray into Bollywood with Gardish (1994) and Virasat (1997), both of which were critically acclaimed. In the 2000s, he gained widespread recognition in Bollywood for his Hindi adaptations of Malayalam films, particularly in the comedy genre. Some of his most notable Bollywood films include Hera Pheri (2000), Hungama (2003), Hulchul (2004), Garam Masala (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Dhol (2007), De Dana Dan (2009), and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2008).
Though he initially aspired to become a cricketer, an eye injury shifted his focus toward filmmaking.
Following this success, Priyadarshan continued making comedies, directing Odaruthammava Aalariyam and Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil. He then experimented with a family thriller, Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya, starring Mammootty and Shankar. His first film without Mohanlal, Punnaram Cholli Cholli, was followed by Boeing Boeing and Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, both of which were well received.
However, Rakkuyilin Ragasadassil, despite featuring hit songs, failed at the box office. He regained success with Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi, and Dheem Tharikida Thom. The family drama Thalavattam established him as a director capable of handling serious themes, further strengthening his position in the Malayalam film industry.
During this period, Priyadarshan also directed a Tamil film, Chinnamanikkuyile, which remained unreleased. Meanwhile, his Malayalam film Cheppu achieved commercial success.
He then made Punnaram Cholli Cholli, his first film without Mohanlal, followed by Boeing Boeing and Aram + Aram = Kinnaram. He was later criticised for Rakkuyilin Ragasadassil. Despite hit songs, the film flopped. However, Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi and Dheem Tharikida Thom were successful. Priyadarshan gained recognition as a serious director with the successful family drama Thalavattam. His Tamil language film Chinnamanikkuyile remained unreleased, while his work in Malayalam continued with Cheppu, which was a success.
That same year, Chithram, a comedy-drama starring Mohanlal, was released. The film ran for 366 days in theaters, setting box office records at the time, later surpassed by his own film Kilukkam in 1991. Priyadarshan's other releases in 1988 included Oru Muthassi Katha and Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu. However, he faced setbacks in 1990 with Kadathanadan Ambadi and Akkare Akkare Akkare, which did not perform well commercially.
In 1991, Kilukkam, starring Mohanlal, Jagathi Sreekumar, and Revathi, became a box office success, further cementing Priyadarshan's reputation. His subsequent films, Abhimanyu (1991), Adhwaytham (1992), and Thenmavin Kombathu (1994), all ran for over 100 days in theaters. Midhunam (1993) and Minnaram (1994) also received positive responses from audiences.
Priyadarshan expanded into Tamil cinema when he was invited by M. Karunanidhi to direct Gopura Vasalile for his son's production house. In 1991, he directed his first Telugu cinema, Nirnayam, when actor Nagarjuna approached him to remake the Malayalam film Vandanam. He made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with Muskurahat, a remake of Kilukkam, though it failed at the box office.
In 1993, Priyadarshan returned to Bollywood with Gardish, an adaptation of the Malayalam film Kireedom, written by A. K. Lohithadas. In 1994, he directed his second and, to date, last Telugu cinema film, Gandeevam, starring Balakrishna. He gained national recognition in 1996 when he directed the Miss World pageant held in Bangalore. That same year, he released Kalapani, a period drama about India's independence struggle, scripted by T. Damodaran. The film, starring Mohanlal, Tabu, Prabhu, and Amrish Puri, was originally made in Malayalam and later dubbed into Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Kalapani won multiple awards and was widely praised for its historical narrative and cinematography.
In 1997, Priyadarshan directed two commercially successful films: Chandralekha in Malayalam and Virasat in Hindi, the latter being an adaptation of Bharathan Tamil film Thevar Magan. In 1998, he directed three Hindi films— Saat Rang Ke Sapne (a remake of Thenmavin Kombathu), Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (inspired by Aniyathipraavu), and Kabhi Na Kabhi—all of which underperformed at the box office. In 1999, he collaborated with Mammootty for Megham, marking their first film together in several years.
Following Hera Pheri, Priyadarshan directed several Hindi films, including Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar, Hungama, Hulchul, Garam Masala, and Kyon Ki. In 2000, he also directed Snegithiye, a bilingual Malayalam-Tamil thriller ( Snegithiye in Tamil), starring Tabu and Jyothika. Adapted from the Marathi language film Bindhaast, the film was notable for its all-female cast and received critical acclaim. While the Tamil version was released in 2000, the Malayalam version and a dubbed Hindi version ( Friendship) were released in 2007.
Priyadarshan's English language Epic film period film titled The Last Revolutionary, produced by 20th Century Fox and based on the life of Indian freedom fighter Chandrasekhar Azad, was planned for filming in 2001 but was eventually shelved. During this time, Kamal Haasan was working on Anbe Sivam and approached Priyadarshan to direct it. Pre-production commenced, but Priyadarshan left the project due to creative differences, leading to Sundar C. taking over as director. In 2001, Priyadarshan directed the comedy film Kakkakuyil, reuniting Mohanlal and Mukesh, a successful duo from the 1980s and 1990s. The film became a box-office hit. However, his next two Malayalam films, Kilichundan Mampazham (2003) and Vettam (2004), had only an average performance at the box office, prompting him to shift focus toward Bollywood. In Hindi cinema, Priyadarshan maintained his success with films such as Chup Chup Ke, Bhagam Bhag, Malamaal Weekly, Dhol, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, De Dana Dan, and Mere Baap Pehle Aap. However, subsequent films like Billu Barber, Bumm Bumm Bole, Khatta Meeta, Aakrosh, and Tezz did not meet expectations at the box office. His 2013 film Rangrezz also failed commercially.
Priyadarshan released Kanchivaram, a film about weavers in Kanchipuram. Prakash Raj won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2008 for his performance. Kanchivaram also won awards at film festivals.
Returning to Malayalam cinema, Priyadarshan directed Arabeem Ottakom P. Madhavan Nayarum in Oru Marubhoomikkadha, starring Mohanlal. However, his subsequent films Geethaanjali (2013) and Aamayum Muyalum (2014) were box-office failures.
In late 2015, Priyadarshan announced a crime thriller in Malayalam cinema with Mohanlal. The production was confirmed, and the title Oppam was announced in December 2015. Due to weather constraints in Russia, another big-budget Mohanlal film was delayed, allowing Priyadarshan to begin work on Oppam. The screenplay and dialogues, written by Priyadarshan based on a story by Govind Vijayan, received positive reviews and became a blockbuster, breaking records and becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year within 16 days of release.
Before the release of Marakkar, Priyadarshan directed a spiritual sequel to his 2003 Hindi film Hungama, titled Hungama 2. Released directly on 23 July 2021 on Disney+ Hotstar, the film received negative reviews. It was loosely based on Priyadarshan's 1994 Malayalam film Minnaram.
In 2023, Priyadarshan produced and directed Corona Papers, a Malayalam film starring Shane Nigam. The film, an official remake of the Tamil film 8 Thottakkal (inspired by Akira Kurosawa's 1949 Stray Dog), was released on April 6, 2023. It received positive reviews and was a moderate success at the box office.
In the same year, Priyadarshan directed the Tamil film Appatha, starring Urvashi in the lead role. Released directly on 29 July 2023 on JioCinema, the film was celebrated as Urvashi's 700th project and was showcased at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Film Festival.
In 2024, Priyadarshan announced the release of Bhooth Bangla, a horror-comedy film starring Akshay Kumar, marking their long-awaited collaboration after 14 years.
In August 2025, he announced his intention to retire following the completion of several landmark projects, including Bhoot Bangla, Haiwaan, Hera Pheri 3, and a highly anticipated 100th film starring his longtime collaborator Mohanlal. He is currently filming Hindi thriller Haiwaan a remake of his own Malayalam film Oppam starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, which will also feature a cameo appearance by Mohanlal. Priyadarshan also confirmed plans to helm Hera Pheri 3. The director expressed that he feels "tired" and hopes to step away from active filmmaking upon completing these projects.
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