Dharani is an Indian film director, who primarily directs action-masala films. He is best known for directing the blockbuster films Dhill, Dhool and Ghilli. He first directed the film Ethirum Pudhirum, loosely based on forest brigand Veerappan and his younger brother's death, starring Mammootty. Financial constraints and political controversies ensured its delayed release in 1999. It received critical acclaim and was awarded second place in the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. The film's producer Purna Chandra Rao made Dharani the director of his next production, starring Vikram, Dhill. The film was a box-office success and his next film Dhool, produced by A. M. Rathnam in 2003, again with Vikram along with Jyothika, turned out to be a blockbuster. He worked with A. M. Rathnam again for the film Ghilli starring Vijay and Trisha which was again a blockbuster. It was followed by Telugu film Bangaram, featuring Pawan Kalyan in the lead, that received below average reviews. In 2008, he directed Kuruvi, rejoining the lead cast of Ghilli. Unlike the previous success in Ghilli, Kuruvi was a disaster at the box office and was panned by critics. In 2011, he remade the 2010 Hindi blockbuster Dabangg in Tamil as Osthe, with Silambarasan in the lead role, which was again a critical and commercial disaster.
Dharani announced that he would make a Telugu film titled Merupu with Ram Charan Teja and Kajal Aggarwal in the lead roles, and the film had an official launch in late April 2010. The film progressed slowly throughout 2010 and was later shelved by 2011.
Nickname(s): V C Ramani
