Saran Devaraj: A Humble Visionary’s Journey into Indian Cinema
Saran Devaraj, a notable Indian film director, hails from the serene town of Kotagiri in Ooty. His passion for cinema began as early as his 10th standard. Despite harboring a strong desire to direct films, he was hesitant to share his dream with his family, fearing they might not accept it. The loss of his father during his age of 12 further distanced him from expressing his aspirations. With life moving ahead, he chose a more conventional path and began working in the product oriented company after completing his college education.
However, the spark to become a director never faded. It kept resurfacing, constantly nudging him, even though he had no clue about how or where to begin his cinematic journey. The turning point came during his working days when he met a few college students who shared similar interests. They were based in Chennai and, through mutual conversations, discovered their shared enthusiasm for filmmaking. One day, his friends Prasanna Bala and Naveen invited him to collaborate on a short film. Determined, Saran began traveling to Chennai every weekend, dedicating his Saturdays and Sundays to exploring the world of cinema, while continuing his job during the weekdays.
Driven by his inner calling, he eventually created a short film independently. The experience intensified his desire to learn more and explore the craft deeply. Fortunately, Saran’s mother Mrs. Valli Devaraj played a pivotal role during this phase. A strong and supportive woman, she stood by his side and encouraged him to pursue his passion wholeheartedly. She told him she would take care of the household and that he should chase his dreams without fear even though when the family is financially struggling. Her words gave him the strength he needed.
Taking his first formal step toward the film industry, Saran enrolled in a short course at a modest institute named bridge academy (opposite Loyola College). There, he gained basic filmmaking knowledge and met Nandha, a music director who later became a close friend. As part of the course’s final project, Saran directed a short film based on a unique concept of reversed and straight screen play. Though he didn’t submit the film to any award ceremonies, he uploaded it to YouTube and even acted in it. With humility and humor, he mentioned that viewers would need to tolerate his acting, but overall, the film carried a good narrative.
Saran, known for his humble nature, never sought the spotlight but rather focused on growing and learning through every project. His work began opening doors. Initially, there was another project in the pipeline that eventually got shelved, but it led to Director Krish inviting Saran to work on Zhagaram instead. Zhagaram, was Saran devaraj’s first movie and it was directed by Krish. He got an opportunity to work on film 13am Number Veedu from music director Nandha film was directed by Vivy. It is a Bilingual Film.
All his projects came through pure passion, consistent effort, and the knowledge he was gradually gaining. In the early stages of his journey, Saran and his friends were actively trying to join as assistant directors. Around that time, he got an opportunity to interview for Super Deluxe, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Thiyagaraja Kumararaja.
Saran and His friend attended the interview and his friend got selected for the assistant director role. Later, when the same director received a request from Mumbai for a Tamil assistant director. Through his friend prasanna bala’s support Saran got this golden opportunity to work as an assistant director under the renowned filmmaker Sriram Raghavan in the movie Merry Christmas, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif.
Relocating to Mumbai for the film, Saran found the experience incredibly rewarding. Despite not knowing the Hindi language, he was warmly accepted by the team and was entrusted with significant responsibilities. He shared that Merry Christmas was not dubbed, but shot separately in both Tamil and Hindi, with different supporting casts for each version—only Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif were common in both.
Saran was in charge of the entire Tamil version. In addition to his directorial duties, he was also deeply involved in the editing process and took it upon himself to learn Hindi during the project. Initially, he was brought on board as a Script Supervisor, but Sriram Raghavan, recognizing his commitment and contributions, insisted that he be given the title of Associate Director. This acknowledgment was a major milestone in Saran’s career. He got full freedom from Mr Sriram Raghavan which helped him to involve and work creatively and logistically in all departments of the movie. Currently he is working as a Chief Assistant director (set runner) in Sriram raghavan’s on floor project ikkis (Biography on Second Lt.Arun khetarpal)
Saran Devaraj’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and authenticity. From working in MNC to directing short films, from missing out on one opportunity to landing a prestigious project, and from not knowing the language to working with top-tier actors and directors—his story reflects how dedication and belief can transform dreams into reality. His success is not just his own; it belongs to every individual who dares to dream, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
Through each struggle and every opportunity, Saran Devaraj has shown that cinema is not just a profession for him—it’s a calling. With his growing knowledge, experience, and an unshakable foundation built on sincerity and hard work, the future looks bright for this emerging talent in the Indian film industry. Despite the success he’s now seeing, Saran continues to remain grounded and humble, always acknowledging the people and moments that helped shape his path.
