About Me
I am Nilavazhagan Subbiah, an independent filmmaker working between Germany and India. Born and raised in a small village in southern India, I was captivated early by the transformative power of cinema with its interplay of light, sound and emotion. My exposure to world cinema happened during the later years and expanded my worldview immensely, inspiring me to take this path as a filmmaker to explore and understand the human experience through films.
My passion for cinema led me to write essays on world films for renowned Tamil journals such as Vikatan and Nizhal Film Magazine, focusing on the language, history, and aesthetics of filmmaking. Influenced by auteurs like Werner Herzog and Hirokazu Kore-eda, my storytelling combines realism with deep emotional introspection.
I produced the short film Into The Deep Blue (2020, dir. Ponselvam Karthi). My latest production of a feature film, Adrift (Tamil, 2025), is currently in the final stages of post-production. I am also currently in the post production of my first short film as a director 'Displaced' as well as developing my first feature film ‘Absence’ set in my native region in southern Tamilnadu, where I grew up in my formative years.
Working with a small, independent crew, I pursue authenticity and creative freedom. I draw on my technical background to develop efficient, cost-conscious production models reaffirming my belief that powerful cinema can be created through simplicity, precision, and conviction.
More Education
Engineering
PhD, Uni Freiburg (Higher Education)
2010 - 2026
Microsystems engineering
General