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Dr.
Vimala A/P Perumal Deputy Dean, Postgraduate & Collaborations / Assistant Professor FACULTY OF CREATIVE MULTIMEDIA (FCM) R2030 , Multimedia University, Persiaran Multimedia 63100, Cyberjaya, Selangor vimala.perumal@mmu.edu.my 
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Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal is an award-winning filmmaker, academic, and one of the pioneering voices of Malaysian Tamil cinema, with over two decades of experience in the creative and film industry. She currently serves as Deputy Dean of Research and Industry Collaboration and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University (MMU). She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Creative Multimedia (IJCM) published by MMU Press, where she actively advances scholarly discourse in creative and practice-based research.
Born in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal grew up in a mixed parental family, which played a significant role in shaping her appreciation for cultural diversity and community narratives—an influence that continues to inform both her cinematic storytelling and academic inquiry. She graduated from Multimedia University in Film and Animation and began her professional journey in 2004 as an academic, teaching visual research and communication. She later earned a Master’s degree in Knowledge Management, followed by a PhD in Film Production and Human Communication, becoming Malaysia’s first female feature film director with a doctoral qualification.
Her filmmaking career began with the socially driven feature film Chalanggai (Dancing Bells), a landmark project that received international recognition at its development stage, including support from the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the National Geographic All Roads Seed Grant. The film went on to screen at numerous international festivals, earning critical acclaim for its realistic and artistic portrayal of the Indian community in Malaysia.
Her early short film work was selected among the top 60 films globally and screened at the Busan International Short Film Festival, marking her emergence on the international stage. She made cinematic history with her debut feature film Vilaiyaatu Pasangge (Playful Folks), which became the first Malaysian Tamil film screened on Astro Box Office, significantly expanding the visibility of Malaysian Tamil cinema.
She followed this success with Vetti Pasanga (Useless Folks), which surpassed expectations by breaking box-office records under the Wajib Tayang Scheme, winning international awards, and becoming the first Malaysian Tamil film premiered on Astro First. Her Pasanga franchise continued with Vedigundu Pasangge, a milestone production that elevated Malaysian Tamil cinema to global platforms. The film achieved wide international theatrical releases, won over 50 national and international awards, and received the Special Jury Award at the 30th Malaysian Film Festival, among many other recognitions.
Beyond cinema, Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal has made a significant impact in television, creating and directing highly successful Tamil drama series that became the highest-rated programmes on Astro’s Indian channels. She has also explored emerging media formats, including directing one of Malaysia’s earliest 360-degree VR short films for Maxis, reflecting her engagement with innovation and new storytelling technologies.
In recognition of her international influence and artistic contribution, she became the first Malaysian film director awarded the UAE Golden Visa for Arts and Culture, affirming her global standing as a creative professional.
As an academic leader, she is deeply committed to practice-based research, non-traditional research outputs (NTROs), postgraduate supervision, and mentorship. She is a frequent keynote speaker, invited panelist, and jury member for national and international film festivals, academic conferences, and industry platforms. Through her dual roles in academia and filmmaking, Ts. Dr. Vimala Perumal continues to shape the future of Malaysia’s creative and cinematic landscape, nurturing emerging talents while advancing meaningful, socially grounded storytelling on the global stage.
