Karthik Subbaraj

Director · Writer · Tamil cinema

Karthik Subbaraj

Karthik Subbaraj is an Indian director and writer who makes films in Tamil, and he works as a producer as well. He is best known for Pizza (2012), Petta (2019) and Mahaan (2022). His top honour is a South Indian International Movie Award, which he won for Pizza in 2012. His early work includes Parallax (2009), and Pizza (2012) was the film that earned him his award. He went on to direct Bench Talkies (2015), Iraivi (2016) and Mercury (2018). Petta followed in 2019, and he was one of the directors of Putham Pudhu Kaalai (2020). He then made Jagame Thandhiram (2021), Mahaan (2022) and Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023). Retro came out in 2025, and in 2026 he directed and wrote Dorothy and also appeared as an actor in Pocket Novel. Karthik is a filmmaker who writes his own stories, and those stories have travelled beyond his own films. Golpo Holeo Shotti (2014), Gaddalakonda Ganesh (2019) and Bachchhan Paandey (2022) all credit him as story writer. As a producer, he has backed Aviyal (2016), Penguin (2020), Rathnam (2024) and Neelira (2026). Along with his South Indian International Movie Award win for Pizza, he earned a nomination at the same awards in 2014.

43 yearsBorn Mar 19, 1983Madurai

Career at a glance

The ring shows where Karthik Subbaraj ranks among Tamil directorsHow it works

Each ring compares Karthik Subbaraj with every one of the Tamil directors on Clapnumber, one measure at a time. A fuller ring means higher: Top 4% means only 4 in 100 have as much. Critics compares review averages, out of 5 claps. A ring shows only when there are enough people to compare fairly and Karthik Subbaraj is in the top half; otherwise you see just the number.

Top8%39Titleson file2.7Criticsaverage, out of 51Awardswon17On screenyears

Now and next

DorothyOut now · Sep 25, 2026DorothyPocket NovelComing 2026 · ActorPocket Novel

Latest on Karthik Subbaraj

Karthik Subbaraj says he has narrated a script to ChiranjeeviNewsKarthik Subbaraj says he has narrated a script to ChiranjeeviOct 18, 2026Dorothy director Karthik Subbaraj condemns Mohan G over remarks to a transgender womanNewsDorothy director Karthik Subbaraj condemns Mohan G over remarks to a transgender womanOct 14, 2026Rajinikanth calls Dorothy mindblowing after an hour with Karthik Subbaraj's teamNewsRajinikanth calls Dorothy mindblowing after an hour with Karthik Subbaraj's teamOct 11, 2026Rajinikanth explains why he refused Baasha 2 and Petta 2 but said yes to Jailer 2NewsRajinikanth explains why he refused Baasha 2 and Petta 2 but said yes to Jailer 2Oct 9, 2026Karthik Subbaraj narrates a script to Chiranjeevi, waits for his nodNewsKarthik Subbaraj narrates a script to Chiranjeevi, waits for his nodOct 7, 2026Mysskin calls Retro a 'mokka' film at Karthik Subbaraj's Dorothy success meetNewsMysskin calls Retro a 'mokka' film at Karthik Subbaraj's Dorothy success meetOct 7, 2026

Videos

All videos ›

Known for

Hits, ranked within the career
PettaPetta2019PizzaPizza2012JigarthandaJigarthanda2023MahaanMahaan2022ParallaxParallax2009Jigarthanda DoubleXJigarthanda DoubleX2023Bench TalkiesBench Talkies2015IraiviIraivi2016

Filmography

39
Jigarthanda TripleXJigarthanda TripleXDirectorMahaan 2DirectorUntitled Karthik Subbaraj FilmDirectorDorothyDorothy2026 · DirectorRetroRetro2025 · DirectorJigarthandaJigarthanda2023 · DirectorJigarthanda DoubleXJigarthanda DoubleX2023 · DirectorMahaanMahaan2022 · DirectorJagame TantramJagame Tantram2021 · DirectorJagame ThandhiramJagame Thandhiram2021 · DirectorPutham Pudhu KaalaiPutham Pudhu Kaalai2020 · DirectorPettaPetta2019 · as DirectorMercuryMercury2018 · DirectorIraiviIraivi2016 · DirectorBench TalkiesBench Talkies2015 · DirectorPizzaPizza2012 · DirectorParallaxParallax2009 · Director

Awards

1 won
  • South Indian International Movie AwardsTamil · 2012 · PizzaWon
  • South Indian International Movie AwardsTamil · 2014Nominated

Family in films

Sathya PremaSathya PremaSpouse

Photos

1

Karthik Subbaraj works with

Kaarthekeyen SanthanamKaarthekeyen Santhanam17 filmsSanthosh NarayananSanthosh Narayanan13 filmsSantosh NarayananSantosh Narayanan12 filmsGajarajGajaraj12 filmsNikhil MuruganNikhil Murugan11 filmsM Ashok Narayanan11 filmsSherif M11 filmsPraveen RajaPraveen Raja10 filmsVijay SethupathiVijay Sethupathi9 filmsBobby SimhaBobby Simha9 filmsVivek HarshanVivek Harshan9 filmsRamachandran DurairajRamachandran Durairaj8 films

About Karthik Subbaraj

Karthik Subbaraj is a director and writer in Tamil cinema and Telugu cinema. Karthik Subbaraj's work is mostly action, drama and thriller.