Mathivanan Rajendran

Mathivanan Rajendran
Mathivanan at the 2020 International Film Festival Rotterdam
Born	Pudukkottai, India
Alma mater	Virginia Tech
Occupations	Film producer Actor Stage Director
Years active	2011-present
Website	http://www.strayfactory.com

Mathivanan Rajendran (born 12 January) is an Indian media entrepreneur, film producer and actor.

Rajendran’s work spans film, theater, and digital media.His 2020 Tamil-language production, Nasir, premiered at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam, where it was nominated for the Tiger Award and won the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film.^[1] The film also received the FIPRESCI Best Indian Film and was featured at the New Directors/New Films Festival at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Additionally, Nasir was included in the *British Film Institute’s list of 10 Great Modern Indian Independent Films' ^[2] underscoring its global recognition.

Rajendran’s portfolio includes Humans in the Loop (HITL) and Taak (Tracker), two short films exploring themes of artificial intelligence and surveillance, respectively. Developed under the Museum of Imagined Futures (MOIF),^[3] an initiative connecting speculative storytelling with social relevance, these films were supported by the Omidyar Network India. Humans in the Loop was showcased at the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) and the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK),^[4] while Taak (Tracker) premiered at Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) and featured at the Dharamshala International Film Festival (DIFF).

Rajendran’s production credits also include Nirvana Inn, a psychological drama supported by the Asian Cinema Fund (ACF), which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival^[5] and earned acclaim for its atmospheric exploration of guilt and redemption. B. Selvi and Daughters, supported by GIZ, received three Critics' Choice nominations for its portrayal of women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu.

In 2024, Rajendran launched Earthbound/100, a platform aimed at developing 100 socially impactful media projects. Supported by the Mantra Foundation, the initiative focuses on blending storytelling with measurable social outcomes, positioning media as a tool for systemic change. He also established the root.ax accelerator, a transmedia program fostering collaboration among creators in film, digital media, and immersive storytelling.

In addition to film, Rajendran co-founded Rascalas, a platform amplifying South Indian narratives.^[6] He produced Black Sheep.(2016),^[7] one of South India’s pioneering web series, known for its relatable and humorous take on urban youth culture. His theatrical work has been internationally recognized, with productions staged at the National Arts Festival in South Africa and the Hollywood Fringe Festival in the United States. These works blend regional narratives with universal themes, earning critical acclaim for their innovative storytelling.^[8]

As an actor, Rajendran has appeared in films such as Mayakkam Enna (2011), Sawaari (2016), Andhra Mess (2018), and Freddie's Piano (2020),

In 2022, he was named as a BAFTA Breakthrough Talent from India.,^[9] a distinction recognizing exceptional contributions to film, games, and television. He holds a Masters degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, which informs his analytical approach to storytelling and production. Through Stray Factory, Storiculture, and initiatives like Earthbound/100 and the root.ax accelerator, he continues to champion innovative narratives that explore social, cultural, and technological themes, advancing the role of media in creating global impact.

• Mathivanan Rajendran at IMDb