Arunasalam Murugadoss, popularly known as AR Murugadoss, is an Indian director, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the 2001 Tamil action-drama film Dheena, and rose to prominence with the critical and commercial success of the psychological thriller film Ghajini (2005) and its eponymous Bollywood remake in 2008. Murugadoss has since helmed a number of blockbusters in both Kollywood and Bollywood, notably 7aum Arivu (2011), Thuppakki (2012), Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty (2014), Kaththi (2014) and Akira (2016). Murugadoss has received multiple Filmfare Award nominations in the course of his career, and has won a Best Director award at the 2014 Filmfare Awards (South). He is also a two-time winner of the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards (for Best Film).