| Thota Tharani | |
| Birth Date: | 1949 12, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Chennai, India |
| Occupation: | Art director, production designer |
| Alma Mater: | The American College in Madurai |
| Children: | 1 |
Thota Tharani is an Indian film art director and production designer who has predominantly worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi cinema. As of 2013, he has won two National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. In 2001, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, for his contributions in the field of Art. His work consists of paintings, murals, paper collages, wooden montages, and installations.
Thota Tharani has been involved in the art of set design since he was just twelve when he helped his father. His work in the films Nayakan and Indian earned him National Film Awards.[1] His works include construction of a huge set replica of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple for the Telugu movie Arjun, Dasavathaaram, Kanthaswamy and Leader. He has worked in more than 100 feature films as a production designer, including three foreign productions: Pondichéry, dernier comptoir des Indes (French), Hanuman (French) and Branchie (Italian).
In addition to being an art director, Thota Tharani has worked as a Production designer and in the art department of various films.
Thota Tharani completed his Graduate Diploma in Mural Painting in 1971 and subsequently was offered a Fellowship from the Government of France to study print-making. Additionally, he completed print making courses from the Royal College of Art in London and New Delhi.[2]
Tiltles and honours
National Film Award for Best Art Direction
Nandi Award for Best Art Director[6]
Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director
Vijay Award for Best Art Director
Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction
| Year | Film | Language | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi | Telugu | ||
| 1981 | Raja Paarvai | Tamil | ||
| 1982 | Subhalekha | Telugu | ||
| 1983 | Pallavi Anu Pallavi | Kannada | ||
| 1983 | Nelavanka | Telugu | ||
| 1983 | Sagara Sangamam | Telugu | ||
| 1985 | Anveshana | Telugu | ||
| 1986 | Mouna Ragam | Tamil | ||
| 1987 | Pushpaka Vimana | Silent (Kannada) | ||
| 1987 | Nayakan | Tamil | National Film Award for Best Art Direction | |
| 1988 | Agni Natchathiram | Tamil | ||
| 1988 | Sathya | Tamil | ||
| 1988 | Solla Thudikuthu Manasu | Tamil | ||
| 1989 | Indrudu Chandrudu | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Apoorva Sagodharargal | Tamil | ||
| 1989 | Geethanjali | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Shiva | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Anjali | Tamil | ||
| 1990 | Chatriyan | Tamil | ||
| 1990 | Raja Kaiya Vacha | Tamil | ||
| 1991 | Chaitanya | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Nirnayam | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Thalapathi | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director | |
| 1991 | Abhimanyu | Malayalam | ||
| 1992 | Mannan | Tamil | ||
| 1992 | Chinarayudu | Telugu | ||
| 1993 | Thiruda Thiruda | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | I Love India | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | Valli | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | Gentleman | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | May Madham | Tamil | ||
| 1994 | Sethupathi IPS | Tamil | ||
| 1994 | Kadhalan | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director | |
| 1995 | Subha Sankalpam | Telugu | ||
| 1995 | Bombay | Tamil | ||
| 1996 | Indian | Tamil | National Film Award for Best Art Direction | |
| 1996 | Kadhal Desam | Tamil | ||
| 1996 | Mr. Romeo | Tamil | ||
| 1997 | Ratchagan | Tamil | ||
| 1997 | Minsara Kanavu | Tamil | ||
| 1998 | Jeans | Tamil | ||
| 1998 | Thaayin Manikodi | Tamil | ||
| 1998 | Choodalani Vundi | Telugu | Filmfare Award for Best Art Director – South | |
| 1999 | Kadhalar Dhinam | Tamil | ||
| 1999 | Vaalee | Tamil | ||
| 1999 | Mudhalvan | Tamil | ||
| 2000 | Mugavaree | Tamil | ||
| 2000 | Kushi | Tamil | ||
| 2000 | Mister Butler | Malayalam | ||
| 2001 | Hindi | |||
| 2001 | Virumbugiren | Tamil | ||
| 2001 | 12B | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Baba | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Five Star | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Samurai | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Gemini | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Bokshu – The Myth | English | ||
| 2003 | Okkadu | Telugu | ||
| 2003 | Priyamaana Thozhi | Tamil | ||
| 2003 | Jism | Hindi | ||
| 2004 | Arjun | Telugu | ||
| 2004 | Gambeeram | Tamil | ||
| 2004 | Mass | Telugu | ||
| 2005 | Athadu | Telugu | ||
| 2005 | Sachein | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Chandramukhi | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director(also for Sringaram) | |
| 2005 | Kanda Naal Mudhal | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Ullam Ketkumae | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Uyir | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Thirupathi | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Varalaru | Tamil | ||
| 2007 | Sivaji | Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Art Director – South Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director Vijay Award for Best Art Director Special appearance in the song Balleilakka | |
| 2007 | Sringaram | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Art Director(also for Chandramukhi) | |
| 2008 | Dasavathaaram | Tamil | Vijay Award for Best Art Director | |
| 2008 | Sathyam | Tamil | ||
| 2008 | Dhaam Dhoom | Tamil | ||
| 2008 | Kuselan | Tamil | ||
| 2009 | Ananda Tandavam | Tamil | ||
| 2009 | Kanthaswamy | Tamil | Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Art Director | |
| 2009 | Leader | Telugu | ||
| 2009 | Dam 999[7] | English | ||
| 2012 | Life is Beautiful | Telugu | ||
| 2012 | Adios | Silent | Short film | |
| 2014 | On A Quest | English | Role as an older Swami Chinmayananda[8] | |
| 2015 | Rudrama Devi | Telugu | ||
| 2015 | Eli | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Brahmotsavam | Telugu | ||
| 2017 | Khaidi No. 150 | Telugu | ||
| 2019 | Nuvvu Thopu Raa | Telugu | ||
| 2022 | Tamil | |||
| 2022 | Kadaisi Vivasayi | Tamil | ||
| 2023 | Tamil | |||
| 2023 | Chandramukhi 2 | Tamil | ||
| Telugu | Along with Rajeevan |