His birth name is Shanmugha Raja, later changed to Mysskin, inspired by Russian writer Mikhail Mikhailovich Zoshchenko.
He is known for his trademark visual style, often using low-angle shots and long takes.
He is deeply influenced by world cinema, particularly Akira Kurosawa and Andrei Tarkovsky.
He has also worked as a lyricist and playback singer.
He is considered one of the few Tamil directors to consistently experiment with unconventional narratives.