Thazhathupurakkal Karunakara Panicker Rajeev Kumar (born 20 September 1961) is a National Award-winning Indian director of Malayalam films, from Trivandrum. He is the winner of five Kerala State Film Awards for Best Film, Director, Story Writer & Script Writer, a show director, theatre actor and percussionist (Mridangam). He is a founding member and leader of the musical band Blue Birds in 1980 and Super Mimics, a comedy show in 1979. He is also the Kerala University winner of Mono Act in the University Youth Festivals 1980–1982 and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy winner for Mono Act 1979–1982.^{[citation needed]}

TK Rajeev Kumar was the chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy from 2003 to 2006. He was also the director of IFFK International Film Festival of Kerala from 2003 to 2006 and was the vice-chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy in 2002.^[1] He was nominated as jury chairman for Kerala State Film Awards 2007. He is a member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). He is a member, general council, of the Film & Television Institute, Pune (2003–2008). He was the founding artistic director of JTPac, Kochi (Jose Thomas Performing Art Centre), now the artistic director of Blue Mermaid Events, Kochi. He has conceived and directed more than 40 international shows, four plays, 80 national cultural events and state pageantries.

He was the creative director for the 35th National Games of India 2015 held in Kerala, opening and closing ceremonies.

He conceived and directed Sentimental Celluloid, the signature film for the 22nd International Film Festival (!FFK) 2017.

He was the CREATIVE DIRECTOR of all the 7 cultural events of G 20 SHERPA MEETINGS @ KUMARAKOM 2023

His only brother TK Sajeev Kumar, visual editor at Kerala Kaumudi and is the chief editor of flash movies published by Kerala Kaumudi group. Sajeev Kumar T.K has been re-appointed as Society for News Design regional director for Asia and South Pacific. He runs a website, www.newspaperdesign.in, about news designing in India and the neighboring countries.

He is closely related to the family of renowned Nadaswaram performers Ambalapuzha Brothers. His talents were identified early by Sri. Ramunni (lead actor of Aravindan's Kumatty), the younger brother of Ambalapuzha brothers. Sri. Ramunni took the initiative and he was made the disciple of Ghattom exponent Alleppey Prabhu; under him he started lessons on the percussion instrument mridangam at an early age. He continued his mridangam studies later with renowned percussionist Mavelikkara SR Raju in Trivandrum. During his college days in Government Arts College, Trivandrum, Professor Aliyar Kunju gave exposure to university youth festivals, theatre productions and film societies. Advertising filmmaker Mathew Paul introduced him to Jijo and Jose of Navodaya films. The former general manager of the State Bank of Travancore, Sri: Sreenivasan, gave him support to become a filmmaker.

TK Rajeev Kumar was born on 20 September 1961 in the Thazhathupurrakal family, Thirunaekkara, Tekkumgopuram in Kottayam district, Kerala. His school education started from Baker Kindergarten School, Kottayam (1966–1970) and continued in MT seminary high school (1971–1972) followed by SDV School, Alleppey (1973–1975) and in MT seminary high school (1971–1972 and 1976), Kottayam. His college studies started at Government Arts College, Trivandrum (1976–1978) and he graduated from University College, Thiruvananthapuram (1978–1982). He was a student of Kerala Law Academy Law College, Thiruvananthapuram from 1982.

During his studies, he joined State Bank of Travancore, Kottyam Main Branch. He started his Malayalam film career as an assistant director with the Navodaya Production Company at the age of 19. He had his lessons from the filmmaker Jijo Punnose, son of Navodaya Appachan. He was lucky to associate with Jijo Punnose in the making of India's first 3D film, My dear Kuttichathan (My dear Chotta Chaetan). He was associated with Regunath Paleri in his debut directorial venture Onnu Muthal Poogyam Varae produced by Navodaya Production Company. His debut film was Chanakyan which featured Kamal Haasan and Urmila Matondkar starring alongside Jayaram. After his debut film, he got associated with the making of Bible ke Khaniya (Stories from Bible) produced by Navodaya for Doordarshan in 1990–1993. He was signed by Kamalhassan to direct a period film in Tamil written by renowned writer Sujatha in 1990, which never took off due to budget constraints. While he was with State Bank Of Travancore, Sri. Sreenivasan, then general manager, supported his cultural inclinations and special permissions were given to him for directing his debut film Chanakyan. The bank authorities were supportive but the rules never permitted them to protect Rajeev's services in the bank. He left State Bank of Travancore, when he was associated with SBT Zonal Office, Trivandrum in early nineties.

Kerala University Youth Festival award for Best Monact performer – 1978–1980

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy award for Best Monoact Performance – 1980

All India One Act play, Pune 1981, Best Actor

• Chanakyan
  • Kerala Film Critics Award for the Debut Director 1989
  • Filmfare for Best Malayalam Film
  • Filmfans Award for Best Director

Pavithram

• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Mohanlal
• Film Fans award for Best Film

Jalamarmaram

• National Award for Best Environmental Film 2000
• National Award for Best Child Artiste – Ashwin 2000
• Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film 2000
• Kerala State Film Awards 2000 Best Screenplay award shared with B. Unnikrishnan
• Gulf Malayalee Best Film Award 2000
• Selected to the Milan Festival (MIFF 2000), Cairo Festival 2000, Euro-Shorts 2000, Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival (2001), Toronto Environmental Film Festival (2001) and Cornell Environmental Film Festival (2001)

Shesham

• Kerala State Film Award for Best Film 2001^[3]
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Story 2001
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Editing and Sound Recording 2001
• Santharam Award for the Best Film and Director 2001
• Kerala Film Critics Award for the Best Film. Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Sound Recording. 2001
• Padmarajan Puraskaram for the Best Film & Director 2001 & Asianet Awards for the Best Screenplay 2001–2002
• Mathrubhoomi Award for Best Film 2001
• Cinema Express Award for Best Film 2001 – 2002

Kolaambi

• Official Entry to Indian Panorama, International Film Festival of India 2019, Goa,
• National Award winner for Best Lyric Writer 2020
• State Award Winner for Best Female Playback Singer 2020

Palathully, a short film on rain harvesting for Malayala Manorama won the UN International Award for the Best film for Campaign.