Prabhuram Vyas – A Director’s Journey from Digital Media to Tamil Cinema
Prabhuram Vyas, a name that has quickly found its place among promising directors in Tamil cinema, hails from Salem. Born and raised there, he completed his school education locally and later pursued B.Tech Engineering from Sastra College in Thanjavur. Despite taking a conventional academic path, his creative aspirations were quietly taking shape.
After finishing college, Prabhuram moved to Chennai, marking the beginning of a transformative journey. It’s now been almost 12 years since he relocated to the city. Initially, he entered the IT sector and worked for a brief period. But the corporate world wasn’t where his heart lay. Soon, he found himself immersed in the digital media field — a transition that would become a major turning point in his life.
Though he had always enjoyed watching movies and television shows, going to theaters with his cousin, his real interest in films sparked during his college years. Thanks to friends and peers who were making short films, he was introduced to a new world of directing — beyond the usual commercial films he had grown up watching.
It was then that he began watching more complex and unconventional movies. This phase of exploration ignited a genuine passion for filmmaking. Motivated to try his hand at it, he directed a short film. The project opened doors: it led to a web series opportunity with the YouTube channel “Put Chutney”. The series, titled “Livin”, became a breakout hit and was widely appreciated for its relatable content and strong writing.
However, success didn’t come easy or consistently. After “Livin,” he tried developing other projects, but nothing materialized as expected. Then came the unexpected hurdle — the pandemic. During the “COVID-19 lockdown”, uncertain about what to do next, Prabhuram returned to digital media work. But creatively, he was not idle.
In that period of stillness, the seed for a new story began to grow — the story that would become his debut feature film, “Lover.” A completely self-taught filmmaker, Prabhuram Vyas had no formal training in direction or screenwriting. His craft was developed through experience and passion. His short film and web series became his portfolio — testaments to his skills that helped him gain the trust of producers. Even those unfamiliar with his earlier work were impressed once they saw the quality he delivered.
“Lover” is a 2024 Tamil-language romantic drama that tells the story of modern relationships in a raw and realistic way. The film stars “K. Manikandan” and “Sri Gouri Priya”, with music composed by “Sean Roldan”. Released on “February 9, 2024”, it received widespread critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of love, conflict, and emotional growth.
Interestingly, Manikandan was Prabhuram’s first and only choice for the lead role. As he neared the completion of the script, he envisioned Manikandan in the character and decided to approach him. Manikandan loved the story and readily agreed to come on board.
As for “Sri Gouri Priya”, Prabhuram came across her through modeling portfolios. Although she had acted in a few Telugu films, this was her “Tamil debut”. After meeting her in person and seeing her performance, he felt confident in her ability to deliver what the role required.
One of the defining elements of “Lover” is its “emotional soundtrack”, composed by “Sean Roldan” with lyrics by “Mohan Rajan”. The album includes seven songs, each complementing the film’s emotional narrative.
Prabhuram was thrilled to have Sean Roldan on board. As a longtime fan of Sean’s music, he didn’t hesitate when the production team asked him about the composer for the film. After meeting him in person, he was convinced that Sean was the right choice. The collaboration proved fruitful — the songs from “Lover” became instant hits, loved by fans and critics alike.
One of the most admirable things about Prabhuram is his commitment to authenticity. He insisted on translating every scene exactly as he envisioned it while writing the script. From casting to dialogues to visual tone, he made sure the execution stayed faithful to his original vision. That level of dedication, paired with strong performances and soulful music, is what helped “Lover” stand out.
Currently, Prabhuram is working on his next film, which belongs to a completely different “genre”. As usual, he is writing the script himself. He doesn’t work with co-writers. Instead, he drafts his stories and shares them with close friends for feedback. Based on their responses, he refines and reworks his material until it’s ready for production.
His journey from an engineering graduate to a successful director is inspiring. He never attended film school or received formal training, yet his directing instincts and hard work have brought him far. From short films to digital series to a theatrical release, Prabhuram Vyas has carved his niche in Tamil cinema.
With “Lover,” he not only introduced a new wave of romantic storytelling but also proved that passion, when nurtured with persistence and sincerity, can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
