Sudesh Kumar was born in Aruppukottai, Madurai – Tamil Nadu, and grew up in Chennai. When he was 14, he lost his father. He has two siblings, and his mother, struggling as a single parent, entrusted Sudesh to his cousin sister and uncle. At that time, his sister was exploring dubbing opportunities in Chennai. This is how Sudesh came to Chennai 25 years ago. His sister encouraged him to pursue a career in cinema, noting his good looks and height.
In 2003, Sudesh had the opportunity to meet the senior fight master, Thalapathy Dinesh. His calm, fun, and cool greatly inspired Sudesh. He frequently sat next to Thalapathy Dinesh Master to learn stunt direction and stunt editing. The challenges of stunts—running, chasing, jumping, and flying—fascinated him. Sudesh was amazed at how easily these feats were performed.
He was particularly impressed by how a person could jump from a height of 80 feet, land, and walk away as if nothing had happened. This intrigue led him to meet Film Director Sundar C, who appreciated Sudesh’s work and particularly his editing skills. Sudesh learned a great deal from Sundar C and eventually joined with Thalapathy Dinesh Master as a stuntman, obtaining an identity card from the stunt union. In 2016, he became a stunt director. According to an unwritten rule in the stunt union, one must serve as a stuntman for eight years before becoming a stunt director.
In his stunt journey, Sudesh Kumar faced many struggles and obstacles. While traveling with Thalapathy Dinesh Master, he usually drove his car. When Sudesh Kumar joined the stunt union, the stunt community was skeptical, thinking, “How could a driver become a stuntman? This isn’t fair.” Determined to change their perception, he worked hard to overcome their doubts. Weighing 140 kg, he put in tremendous effort and trained extensively in gymnastics.
The stunt union only accepts members aged 18-25. When Sudesh Kumar attempted to join as a stuntman, he was 25, making it a significant challenge for him to prove himself. He waited for the opportunity to get a union card, and fortunately, he got the chance to replace another stuntman, Philips. After obtaining the union card, he had to attend a union test shoot as part of the process. Sudesh Kumar did his best and received approval as a stuntman. He received his union card from Fefsi Vijayan Master, and throughout the process, Thalapathy Dinesh Master supported him. Raja Mani, the former secretary of the stunt union, also helped him achieve this goal.
After joining the stunt union, Sudesh Kumar worked with Thalapathy Dinesh Master for a time before collaborating with other masters such as Silva, Ram Laxman, Peter Hein, and Selva. During his journey, Sudesh Kumar received praise from senior masters. They remarked, “When you joined the union, we thought you were just a driver, but now we realize you are incredibly talented.” After 2010, he joined Anal Arasu Master and worked on Hindi movies like Dabangg and Rowdy Rathore with Anal arasu master.
Eventually, Sudesh and Anbariv worked together as assistants to Anal Arasu. When Anbariv began working as a stunt director, Sudesh joined with them and Up until the movie Kabalai, Sudesh Kumar worked with Anbariv Masters. Through Anbariv, Sudesh got the opportunity to become a stunt director for the movie Nibunan, directed by Arun Vaithiyanathan. Sudesh’s journey reflects his belief that time creates the right circumstances if you love something. Since then, he has worked as an action director, with current projects including the post-production of the film Alien, the Malayalam film Azadi (currently shooting), and the Tamil movie Miss Maggie, starring Yogi Babu. Recently, the film Weapon was released, featuring unconventional fight scenes between superhumans and between humans and superhumans.
Sudesh’s first movie as a stuntman was Parattai Enkira Alagu Sundaram, where his initial one-day salary was ₹1750. In other hand Thalapathy Dinesh Master continued to support him, taking care of him and treating him as an equal. With over 20 years of experience in cinema, Sudesh Kumar has a strong friendship with actor Vetri, spanning over 15 years. They are like family friends. Sudesh acted in Kumki 2 in a character role directed by Prabhu Solomon. He found acting to be a bit challenging but is learning and enjoys cinema as his favourite pursuit.
Sudesh Kumar stated, “In stunt direction, directors should be involved because their input is essential for achieving the best outcomes. Some stories rely heavily on stunt sequences, and in those cases, film directors should be actively involved. In the industry, one of the main struggles is politics; you need to have the courage to overcome it”
He also commented on the term “dupe” in cinema: “Dupe is a crucial aspect of stunt scenes, though it often carries a negative connotation. While everyone—both the public and those in the industry—may view dupes negatively, they play an essential role. The main actors invest in their acting and bodies, and if we don’t use dupes, we are responsible for any potential injuries to the actors. Despite its perception, dupes are essential and are also human beings. On set, we might see two heroes, but only one on screen”. Sudesh Kumar is currently writing a story about the role of dupes in cinema. In cinema, anything can happen at any time.
The one who loves cinema should perform their work diligently and perfectly, then await the surprises. Nowadays, he sees that most parents, particularly mothers, motivate their children to pursue what they like. However, he did not receive any support from his parents or family. This was one of the biggest things he missed. Yes, everyone is looking for family support, right? Nevertheless, he overcame all the struggles and is now working as an action director in many movies. He loves what he does, and that passion has been key to his success
His filmography as an Action director:
Weapon | Writer | O2 | Monster | Ratchasi | Secret Home | Red Sandalwood | Jiivi |Jiivi 2 | Kanam | Paper Rocket | K13 | Vattam | Nibunan | Gorilla | Vanam | Semma | Vella Raja | Gangstar Granny | Bumper| Vattara Valakku | Shot Boot 3 | Oomai Vizhikal | Nandivarman | Distant
