Vignesh Shivan (born September 18, 1985 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is a multifaceted figure in Tamil cinema—an acclaimed film director, producer, lyricist, actor, and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut with Podaa Podi (2012), starring Silambarasan, and achieved widespread recognition with the cult black comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), which earned him the SIIMA Award for Best Director. Vignesh went on to direct commercial hits like Thaanaa Serndha Koottam (2018) and Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal (2022), while producing acclaimed titles like Pebbles (Koozhangal), Netrikann, Shubh Yatra, and Connect under his banner Rowdy Pictures. As a lyricist, he has penned songs for numerous films, collaborating frequently with Anirudh Ravichander on soundtracks such as Remo, Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, and Maari. Married to actress Nayanthara since 2022, the couple co-founded Rowdy Pictures. While his directorial style and lyrical tone often spark discussion—Reddit fans credit Naanum Rowdy Dhaan as his standout work, yet call much of his output uneven—he remains a prominent commercial voice in modern Tamil film.