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Shaji Kailas

Shaji Kailas

Director and writer · Born August 15, 1965 (61) · Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Shaji Kailas is an Indian film director best known for his hard-hitting Malayalam commercial films. He got a break in the industry with the comedy film Dr. Pasupathy (1990). He's known for his collaboration with screenwriters Renji Panicker and Ranijth. With Renji Panicker, Shaji made popular political thrillers such as Thalastaanam (1992), Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993), Ekalavyan (1993), Mafia (1993), Commissioner (1994), and The King (1995). Shaji's collaboration with Ranijth brought forth stories set in a feudal background, such as Aaraam Thampuran (1997), Narasimham (2000), and Valliettan (2000).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 15, 1965 (61)
From
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Works as
Director and writer
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 14% in 30 days

What are Shaji Kailas' films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
58%
Power
15%
Bonds
11%
Survival
9%
Ideas
4%
Society
3%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 1

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 1 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 0 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Thrilling
3
Dread
3
Melancholic
2
Contemplative
2
Other
1

How their films linger

Cathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Shaji Kailas' films?

As of October 24, 2026, all 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shaji Kailas' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Varavu(2026)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Director

  • Kaapa(2022)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Kaduva(2022)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Thakkol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Producer

  • Vaigai Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Screenplay

  • En Vazhi Thani Vazhi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Ginger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Madhirashi(2012)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Simhasanam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer

  • The King & The Commissioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • August 15 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Drona 2010 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Kerala Cafe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Red Chillies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Ellam Avan Seyal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Sound of Boot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Alibhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Time(2007)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Baba Kalyani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • The Don (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Chinthamani Kolacase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • The Tiger(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Natturajavu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Jana(2004)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Vishnu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Thandavam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Shivam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Vaanchinathan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Valliettan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Narasimham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • F.I.R(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Ustaad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Producer

  • The Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Aaram Thamburan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Asuravamsam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director

  • Mahathma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • The King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director

  • Rudraksham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Commissioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Ekalavyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Mafia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Joker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Original Story

  • Neelakurukkan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Thalasthanam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Kilukkampetti (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Souhrudam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Dr. Pasupathy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Sunday 7.P.M. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 52 titles from 1989 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Kaduva (2022)

$4M worldwide

Highest rated

Kaapa (2022)

Midcredits 61st

Most popular right now

Varavu (2026)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing49 of 52: 45 only directing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thWriting5 of 52: 1 only writing, 4 with another roleProducing2 of 52: 2 only producing, 0 with another role

52 titles, 4 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s19 · crew2000s18 · crew2010s9 · crew2020s5 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Shaji Kailas' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 49th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 20th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

3 of their 8 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned2
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · director, writer

Jana (2004)

99th percentile spread · 57% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Tiger (2005)

Midcredits 66th · 62% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 48/100 and the pacing 38/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Shaji Kailas work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shaji Kailas' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Janardanan shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Mixed roles