Visu

Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan (1 July 1945 – 22 March 2020), best known by his stage name Visu, was an Indian writer, director, stage, film and television actor and talk-show host.[3] Visu initially worked as an assistant to director K. Balachander until becoming a director himself. He later began acting, with his first film being Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981), directed by S. P. Muthuraman.

Visu
Born
Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan[1]

(1945-07-01)1 July 1945[2]
Tamil Nadu, India
Died22 March 2020(2020-03-22) (aged 74)
Chennai, India
Occupation(s)Director, writer, actor, television host.
Years active1977–2019
SpouseUma
Children3

Career

He started his career as a theatre artist, working with Y. G. Parthasarathy's drama troupe. He was writing scripts for stage dramas before getting into the film industry as an assistant to legendary director K. Balachander. During his time with Balachander, he wrote screenplays for numerous films including Pattina Pravesam (1977), Avan Aval Adhu (1980), Thillu Mullu (1981) and Netrikkan (1981). Thillu Mullu and Netrikkan, which were both released in 1981, became box office hits for actor Rajinikanth.Visu made his debut as an actor in the film Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981), for which he also wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by S. P. Muthuraman.

His first film as a director was Kanmani Poonga (1982). Most of his films including Manal Kayiru (1982), Dowry Kalyanam (1983), Samsaram Adhu Minsaram (1986), Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi (1987), Penmani Aval Kanmani (1988), Vedikkai En Vadikkai (1990) and Pattukottai Periyappa (1994) spoke about the issues of urban middle-class families. These films, which were released in the mid-80s, turned out to be crowd pullers, particularly with regard to the female audience.[4] His other super hit was Chidambara Rahasiyam (1985), which is considered a cult-classic.[5]

While he has directed a rage of actors on screen, he and his brother Kishmu used to star in his films as well in memorable roles. His film Neenga Nalla Irukkanum won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1992. Based on prohibition, the film was the last onscreen appearance of then chief minister, J. Jayalalithaa.[6]

He has also shared the screen with Rajinikanth in Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984), Mr. Bharath (1986), Mannan (1992), Uzhaippali (1993) and Arunachalam (1997).

During the ending phase of his career, he made movies which did not leave a lasting mark on the audience as Vaa Magale Vaa (1994), Meendum Savithri (1996) and Sigamani Ramamani (2001).[7]

Actor and stage artiste S. Ve. Shekher, who has worked in over 20 films with Visu, said that he was an extremely disciplined and committed.[8]

As an actor, he was last seen in Manal Kayiru 2 (2016), the sequel to one of his earliest directorial successes, Manal Kayiru.

He is known to have starred in over 60 films and directed around 25 films.[9]

Style

"Growing up in a joint family, I observed how each person had a difference of opinion. It wasn't bad; just that we were different. I wondered, 'Wouldn't other joint families have similar issues?' So I started writing scripts that reflect the day-to-day scenario in a joint family".

 – Visu in 2016[10]

In most of the films Visu directed, all the characters were given equal importance. Often, there was huge house wherein a joint family would reside and the character of Visu would solve their problems. Many of Visu's film titles contain rhyming words, such as Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi, Kavalan Avan Kovalan, Penmani Aval Kanmani, Varavu Nalla Uravu and Vedikkai En Vadikkai. His films focused on many family issues like dowry, need of remarriage for women, mother in law-daughter in law disputes and so on which were occurring that time. In most of his films there is a character named Uma, named after a school teacher who predicted his rise to fame after reading one of his scripts when he was a travel agent.[11][12][13][14]

Other works

Visu became known for hosting live debates on television, namely Arattai Arangam on Sun TV and Visuvin Makkal Arangam on Jaya TV.[15][16] He joined and campaigned for BJP.[17]

Final years and death

On 22 March 2020 at Chennai, Visu died of kidney failure at the age of 74.[18][19][20][21]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Credited as Role Notes
Director Writer Actor
1977 Pattina PravesamRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1978 SadhurangamRed XNGreen tickYRed XNalso dialogue
1980 Avan Aval AdhuRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1980 Mazhalai PattalamRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1981 Thillu MulluRed XNGreen tickYGreen tickYAs a film crewVoice-Over Actor (Dubbing)
1981 NetrikkannRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1981 Keezh Vaanam SivakkumRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1981 Kudumbam Oru KadambamRed XNGreen tickYGreen tickYSrinivasa Raghavan
1982 Kanmani PoongaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYCricketer Ramkumar
1982 Simla SpecialRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1982 Manal KayiruGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYUthramerur Narathar Naidu
1982 PudhukavithaiRed XNGreen tickYRed XN
1983 Oru Kai PaappomRed XNRed XNGreen tickYKai adi Kamalaknnan
1983 Dowry KalyanamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYGanesh
1984 Nallavanuku NallavanRed XNGreen tickYGreen tickYOwner Gangadharan
1984 Puyal Kadantha BoomiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYNammaalu allies Namachivaayan
1984 RajathandhiramGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYBairavan
1984 Vaai Sollil VeeranadiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYVengapuli Varadhachari
1984 Nanayam Illatha NanayamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYVeerapandi
1984 Oorukku UpadesamRed XNRed XNGreen tickYSankaran
1985 Puthiya SagapthamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYRamadasaradan
1985 Aval SumangalithanGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYWatchman Aarumugam
1985 Ketti MelamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickY
1985 Chidambara RahasiyamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYBeemarao
1986 Mr. BharathRed XNGreen tickYGreen tickYKumaresa Gounder
1986 Dharma PathiniRed XNGreen tickYGreen tickYLawyer "Vicks" Vardarajan
1986 Samsaram Adhu MinsaaramGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYAmmaiyappa MudaliyarNational Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
1986 Oomai VizhigalRed XNRed XNGreen tickYRathnasabapathy
1986 Mella Thirandhathu KadhavuRed XNRed XNGreen tickYThulasi's father
1986 Thaaiku Oru ThaalaattuRed XNRed XNGreen tickYPonnambalam
1986 Anandha KanneerRed XNRed XNGreen tickYPaapa Panchu
1987 Thirumathi Oru VegumathiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYNaagarkoil Naadhamuni
1987 Kavalan Avan KovalanGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYPrabhu's Father-in-law
1987 Kathai Kathayam KaranamamRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
1987 Srimathi Oka BahumathiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYTelugu film; remake of Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
1988 Veedu Manaivi MakkalRed XNRed XNGreen tickYSubbaiah Pillai
1988 Penmani Aval KanmaniGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYRadio Mama
1988 Aadade AadharamGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYNandi Award for Second Best Story Writer[22]
Telugu film; remake of Penmani Aval Kanmani
1988 Mappillai SirRed XNRed XNGreen tickYVakkil Varadharajan
1988 Illu Illalu PillaluGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYTelugu film; remake of Veedu Manaivi Makkal
1989 Sakalakala SammandhiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYMayavaram Malayappan
1990 Varavu Nalla UravuGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYAppa AmbalavanarTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer
1990 Vedikkai En VadikkaiGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYKaavisattai Kandasamy
1992 MannanRed XNRed XNGreen tickYViswanathan
1992 Urimai OonjaladugirathuGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYKasturi's Father
1992 Neenga Nalla IrukkanumGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYNational Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
1993 UzhaippaliRed XNRed XNGreen tickYBarrister
1993 Chinna MapillaiRed XNRed XNGreen tickYMarriage Broker
1994 Pattukottai PeriyappaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYPattukottai Periyappa
1994 Aranmanai KaavalanRed XNRed XNGreen tickYSilai thirudan Santhanam
1994 Vaa Magale VaaGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYViswanathan
1994 Vanaja GirijaRed XNRed XNGreen tickYBusiness man Ramanathan
1994 Vaanga Partner VaangaRed XNRed XNGreen tickYGanapathi
1995 MayabazarRed XNRed XNGreen tickYVishwanathan
1995 God FatherRed XNRed XNGreen tickYViswanathamTelugu film
1996 Irattai RojaRed XNRed XNGreen tickYAnchorGuest appearance
1996 Meendum SavithriGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYNarayana Moorthy
1997 NesamRed XNRed XNGreen tickYHimself
1997 AravindhanRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
1997 Adimai ChangiliRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
1997 VasukiRed XNRed XNGreen tickYRamasamy
1997 ArunachalamRed XNRed XNGreen tickYAdv. Rangachari
1997 SishyaRed XNRed XNGreen tickYAadhimoolam
1997 Vaimaye VellumRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
1998 Bhagavath SinghRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
1999 Mannavaru ChinnavaruRed XNRed XNGreen tickYShanmugasundaram
1999 Anbulla KadhalukkuRed XNRed XNGreen tickYChandrasekhar
2000 Kakkai SiraginilaeRed XNRed XNGreen tickYJudge
2000 VaanavilRed XNRed XNGreen tickYHimself
2001 Sigamani RamamaniGreen tickYGreen tickYGreen tickYSundaramoorthy
2001 Krishna KrishnaRed XNRed XNGreen tickYAdvocate ViswanathanGuest appearance
2001 Middle Class MadhavanRed XNRed XNGreen tickYAdvocate
2001 Vadagupatti MaapillaiRed XNRed XNGreen tickYGomathi Shankar
2001 LootyRed XNRed XNGreen tickYDr. Kuzhanthavelu
2001 VedhamRed XNRed XNGreen tickYGuest appearance
2003 ThithikudheRed XNRed XNGreen tickYHimself
2004 Maha NadiganRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
2005 JiRed XNRed XNGreen tickYRaghavan
2007 Cheena Thaana 001Red XNRed XNGreen tickYGovernorGuest appearance
2007 Nenjirukkumvarai NinaivirukkumRed XNRed XNGreen tickYGuest appearance
2008 Ellam Avan SeyalRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
2009 InnoruvanRed XNRed XNGreen tickYJudge
2009 KannukulleRed XNRed XNGreen tickY
2013 Alex PandianRed XNRed XNGreen tickYChief Minister
2013 Oruvar Meethu Iruvar SainthuRed XNRed XNGreen tickYJudge
2016 Manal Kayiru 2Red XNGreen tickYGreen tickYUthramerur Narathar Naidu
Television
  • Arattai Arangam - Sun TV
  • Makkal Arangam - Jaya TV
  • Naalavathu Mudichu - Jaya TV[23]

References

  1. "CHATTING for a cause". The Hindu. 19 August 2004. Archived from the original on 19 October 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  2. "TANTIS". tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  3. Balasubramanian, V. (3 April 2014). "I never left the stage". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  4. "Tamil actor-director Visu passes away". 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  5. "Veteran Tamil actor, director Visu passes away at 74". The Week. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  6. "Remembering veteran actor Visu, pioneer of successful family-friendly Tamil films". Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  7. "Kollywood Director Visu Biography, News, Photos, Videos". Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  8. "Actor, director Visu dies at 75, funeral to be held on Monday". The Hindu. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  9. "Veteran Tamil actor-director Visu dies of prolonged kidney-related ailments at age 74". Indulge Express. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  10. "Looking back at the golden years". The New Indian Express. 9 July 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  11. Ashok Kumar, S. R. (26 March 2020). "Visu, a colossus". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. Rangan, Baradwaj (23 March 2020). "A Tribute To Visu, Known For His Middle-Class Melodramas Like Samsaram Adhu Minsaram". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  13. "Remembering Visu, the king of the middle-class family drama". The News Minute. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  14. "விசு நினைவு தினம்: காலத்தால் அழியாத 'சம்சாரம் அது மின்சாரம்'". Dinamani (in Tamil). 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  15. "Inimitable Visu". The Hindu. 11 September 2004. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  16. Devalla, Rani (11 November 2014). "A Passionate journey". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  17. "Veteran actor Visu joins BJP". Deccan Chronicle. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  18. "Veteran Kollywood director Visu passes away at 74". The New Indian Express. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  19. "உடல்நலக்குறைவால் நடிகர் விசு காலமானார்..!" [Actor Visu expired due to illness]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. "Director Visu passes away". The Times of India. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  21. "Veteran Kollywood director Visu passes away at 74". The News Minute. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  22. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  23. Jaya TV (11 October 2021). நாலாவது முடிச்சு- Naalavathu Mudichu | Tamil Serial | Jaya TV Rewind | Episode 1. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021 via YouTube.
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