Sivakumar Palakrishnan
Sivakumar Palakrishnan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Singapore |
| Occupations | Actor, producer, director |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Known for | A Yellow Bird, Tanglin, Sunny Side Up |
Sivakumar Palakrishnan is a Singaporean actor, producer, and director. He is known for his lead role in A Yellow Bird (2016), which premiered at Cannes Critics' Week, and for his performances in Mediacorp television dramas including Tanglin and Sunny Side Up. He won the ASEAN Film Award for Best Actor in 2017 and was a National Winner at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2025.
Career
Sivakumar has appeared in numerous productions across film, television, and theatre in Singapore. His work spans English-, Tamil-, and Mandarin-language productions across mainstream television and independent film in Singapore.
In film, he starred as **Siva** in A Yellow Bird (2016), a Singapore–French co-production directed by K. Rajagopal that premiered in Cannes Critics’ Week.[1][2][3] His performance was recognised with the ASEAN Film Award for Best Actor in 2017.[4] He later appeared in the psychological drama Repossession (2019),[5] and in the comedy-drama #LookAtMe (2022).[6]
On television, Sivakumar was part of the long-running Channel 5 drama Tanglin,[7] and appeared in Vasantham and Channel 5 programmes such as Sunny Side Up (2022–2024),[8] Reunion (2021),[9] Naam (2022),[10] and Folklore (2018) on HBO Asia.[11]
In addition to acting, Sivakumar has directed programmes for Mediacorp and independent platforms. He directed the short film Fiona, My Friend (2020) for Viddsee Originals,[12] and was credited as director for the Vasantham television comedy series Thiru Valluvan (2011).[13]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Naalai | Singapore Siva | Credited appearance (end credits at 2:05:18 of official YouTube video)[14] |
| 2016 | A Yellow Bird | Siva | Lead role; screened at Cannes Critics’ Week |
| 2019 | Repossession | Vinod | |
| 2022 | #LookAtMe | The Warden |
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Tanglin | – | Channel 5 drama |
| 2022–2024 | Sunny Side Up | – | Mediacorp Vasantham |
| 2021 | Reunion | – | Vasantham mini-series |
| 2022 | Naam | – | Vasantham drama |
| 2018 | Folklore (ep. "Nobody") | Arup | HBO Asia series |
Directing
- Fiona, My Friend (2020) – short film, Viddsee Originals[15]
- Thiru Valluvan (2011) – Vasantham comedy series (credited as director)[16]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards | Best Actor | A Yellow Bird | Won | [17] |
| 2011 | Pradhana Vizha | Best Actor | Veethi Varai | Won | [18] |
| 2022 | Pradhana Vizha | Best Supporting Actor (Limited Drama Series) | Kalaiyarasi Vayadhu 47, Vaagana Ottunar | Won | [19] |
| 2025 | Asian Academy Creative Awards (Singapore National Winner) | Best Actor in a Comedy Role | Kaathu Karuppu | Won | [20] |
| 2026 | Pradhana Vizha | Best Actor | Kaathu Karuppu | Nominated | [21] |
| 2026 | Pradhana Vizha | Best Supporting Actor | Pithamagan | Nominated | [22] |
References
- ^ "A Yellow Bird: Cannes Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Cannes Film Review: 'A Yellow Bird'". Variety. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Director K. Rajagopal's A Yellow Bird shows the underbelly of Singapore at Cannes Film Festival". The Straits Times. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Singaporean film A Yellow Bird". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Repossession". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "#LookAtMe (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "NTU CCA Singapore Digital Archive – Sivakumar Palakrishnan". NTU CCA Singapore. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Sunny Side Up". meWATCH. Mediacorp. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Reunion". meWATCH. Mediacorp. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Naam". meWATCH. Mediacorp. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Folklore – Nobody". HBO Asia. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Fiona, My Friend". National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Thiru Valluvan". Mediacorp Vasantham. 2011.
Sivakumar, director. Thiru Valluvan. MediaCorp Vasantham, 2011.
- ^ Naalai (2006) Full Movie. YouTube. Event occurs at 2:05:18. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
- ^ "Fiona, My Friend". National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Thiru Valluvan". Mediacorp Vasantham. 2011.
- ^ "Singaporean film A Yellow Bird". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "NTU CCA Singapore Digital Archive – Sivakumar Palakrishnan". NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Vasantham's Pradhana Vizha 2022 Winners". CNA Lifestyle. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Full List of National Winners 2025" (PDF). Asian Academy Creative Awards. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Pradhana Vizha 2026 Nominees". Mediacorp. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ "Pradhana Vizha 2026 Nominees". Mediacorp. Retrieved 2 February 2026.