Chitra Lakshmanan

Lakshmanan Ramasamy (born 23 January 1948), known professionally as Chitra Lakshmanan, is an Indian journalist, filmmaker and actor. He produced and directed several Tamil language films starring some of Tamil cinema's major stars during the 1980s and 1990s, while appearing in numerous films and television series in supporting roles.[2][3] He currently operates a YouTube channel called Touring Talkies, which features interviews and talk shows about Tamil cinema.[4]

Chitra Lakshmanan[1]
Born
Lakshmanan Ramasamy

(1948-01-23) 23 January 1948
Occupation(s)Film director, Film producer, Actor, Film journalist
Years active1983-present
SpouseRadhika (m.1989-present)
ChildrenGayatri, Krithiga

Career

Lakshmanan began working in a hardware shop in Arani. He later joined the magazine Vidhi Velli as a sub-editor until its closure. He later joined Thayin Manikodi run by Jayakanthan. He later joined a Singaporean Tamil magazine. After it's failure, he decided to start his own magazine Thirai Kathir which became successful. His career in entertainment journalism helped him to also become a public relations officer.[5]

He became acquainted with director Bharathiraja to enter the film industry, and subsequently served as a co-producer on all his films with Lakshmanan's brother, Ramu. In 1983, he produced Mann Vasanai under Gayathri Films, which won commercial success as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film. He also served as a press relations officer for Tamil films during the 1980s, and later reprised that role as an actor through Uttama Villain (2015).[6][7] His first directorial venture was Soora Samhaaram (1988) with Kamal Haasan and later he directed Periya Thambi (1997) with Prabhu and Chinna Raja (1999) with Karthik in the lead role. He turned actor in Japanil Kalyanaraman (1985) and began to prioritise acting commitments in the 2000s, winning acclaim for his comedy roles in Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Nene Ambhani) (2010) and Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru (2013).[8][9]

Throughout his career, Lakshmanan has also taken up posts of responsibility. He served as the Secretary of Tamil Film Producers Council for four years and as an executive committee member in South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, Film Federation of India, and Tamil Film Directors Association for several years. In 2011, he published the book 80 Years of Tamil Cinema, an account documenting the history of Tamil cinema.

Filmography

As producer

Year Film Cast Notes
1983Mann VasanaiPandiyan, Revathi, Vijayan
1984Ambigai Neril VanthaalMohan, Radha, Urvashi
VaazhkaiSivaji Ganesan, Ambika, Pandiyan
1985Puthiya TheerppuVijayakanth, Ambika
1987JallikattuSivaji Ganesan, Sathyaraj, Radha
1989ChinnappadassSathyaraj, Radha, Kodai Mazhai Vidya

As director and producer

Year Film Cast Notes
1988Soora SamhaaramKamal Haasan, Nirosha, Nizhalgal Ravi
1997Periya ThambiPrabhu, Nagma, Goundamani
1999Chinna RajaKarthik, Roja, Priya Raman

As writer

  • Idhuthan Kadhala (1997) (dialogues only)
  • Rekha IPS - Kalaignar TV (story only)

As actor

Films
Year Film Role Notes
1984Pudhumai Penn
Dhavani KanavugalGuest Appearance
1985Japanil KalyanaramanGuideMunusamy
Puthiya TheerppuMurali
1987JallikattuDharmaraj
1997Periya Thambi
1999Chinna Raja
Sundari Neeyum Sundaran NaanumRamalingam (guest appearance)
2001Ullam Kollai PoguthaeJyothi's father
Azhagana Naatkal
2002Kadhal VirusGuest Appearance
Unnai NinaithuVaidyalingam
2004Bose
Kangalal Kaidhu SeiSubramaniam
Vasool Raja MBBSDr. Kalidas
2006UnarchigalBalaji's father (guest appearance)
Pachchak KuthiraThe mayor's personal assistant
Kusthi
2007PiraguFilm Producer
2008VaitheeswaranDhanasekaran's Henchman
Bommalattammakeup man
2010Boss Engira BhaskaranShanmugasundaram
2011Sadhurangam
2012SaguniBoopathi's sidekick
2013SettaiMurugaraj
IsakkiDevarajan
Pattathu YaanaiInspector
Theeya Velai Seiyyanum KumaruKunchithapadam
Arya Surya
Ya YaKanaka's father
Naveena Saraswathi SabathamKovai Kamaraj
2014Ninaithathu Yaaro
Nimirndhu NilJudge Chitra Lakshmanan
AranmanaiMaya's father
2015Janda Pai KapirajuJudgeTelugu film
NannbendaHotel Manager
Uttama VillainPRO Lakshmanan
Sakalakala VallavanShakthi’s Uncle
2016 Aranmanai 2 Anitha and Ravi's father
2016Pokkiri RajaDr. Kothandam
Vaaliba RajaChithra Lakshmanan
Muthina KathirikaPolitician
Vellikizhamai 13am ThethiRaasathi's father
2017Kattappava KanomJayagopal
Ullam Ullavarai
2018Vidhi Madhi UltaaDivya's father
Nagesh ThiraiyarangamPundek
ItlyBank Manager
2021DikkiloonaL. Gopal, Priya's father
2022Kaathuvaakula Rendu KaadhalRambo's fake father
2023Kannai NambatheyDivya's father
Television
Year Title Role Channel
2003 - 2009AnandhamSun TV
2006 - 2008Ganga Yamuna Saraswati
2009 - 2012IdhayamDevarajan
2012 - 2013Sondha BandhamDamodaran
2014 - 2015AkkaJaya TV
2018 - 2019ChandralekhaGemini GaneshanSun TV

Voice actor

Year Title Actor Character Notes
2017VasukiS. N. SwamySwamyDubbed version of Malayalam film Puthiya Niyamam

References

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