Rudraiah Chockalingam (1947–2014) was a pioneering Tamil filmmaker who brought the spirit of the French New Wave into Indian cinema, helping pioneer the parallel cinema movement in Tamil film with a bold, art-house sensibility. His 1978 directorial debut Aval Appadithan, grew into a cult classic after being championed by directors Bharathiraja and Mrinal Sen. A gold medallist from the Chennai film institute, he was regarded by his peers as a formidable creative talent, and his work remains a touchstone for Tamil filmmakers pushing beyond commercial convention.