Visu
Visu | |
---|---|
Born | Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanthan[1] 1 July 1945[2] Tamil Nadu, India |
Occupation | Director, writer, stage actor, film actor, television host |
Years active | 1981-2016 |
Spouse(s) | Sundhari (m.1975-present) |
Children | Sangeetha |
Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanthan (born 1 July 1945), best known by his stage name Visu, is 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, directed by S. P. Muthuraman.
Career
In the films directed by him, all characters were given equal importance. Often in his films, there was huge house wherein a joint family would reside and the character of Visu would solve their problems. He was paired with K. R. Vijaya in Aval Sumangalithan, wherein the characters of Karthik Muthuraman and Illavarasi were given importance in the second half of the film. Again in Veedu Manaivi Makkal, he was paired with K. R. Vijaya and this film was a critically acclaimed blockbuster.
He cast his brother Kishmu opposite Manorama in Chidambara Rahasyam and Vedikkai En Vadikkai. He cast M. N. Rajam as the evil mother-in-law in Penmani Aval Kanmani and as an overcautious mother in Thirumathi Oru Vegamathi. He then cast M. N. Rajam as his wife in Naanayam Ilatha Nayanam.
His family dramas are laced with a heavy dose of comedy along with a message for the audience. The films like Samsaram Adhu Minsaaram, Penmani Aval Kanmani, Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi, Ketti Melam, Vaai Sollil Veerandi, Raja Thandiram, Dowry Kalyanam, Sakalakaala Sambandhi, Pudhiya Sagaptham, Naanayam Ilatha Nanayam, Varvu Nalla Uravu, Vedikkai En Vadikkai, Manal Kayiru, Puyal Kadantha Bhoomi, Urimai Oonjal Adigirathu, Kanmani Poonga, Pattukottai Periyappa and Vaa Magale Vaa became blockbusters in their respective years of release, with them often coming in the top five highest grossing films of the year and are considered classics today. Each of them had the combination of director, writer of dialogues and screenplay writer and the main role being that of Visu.
He often cast his brother Kishmu, S. V. Sekhar, Manorama, Kamla Kamesh, Delhi Ganesh, Dilip, Illavarasi, Illavarasan, Madhuri and Omakuchi Narasimhan in his directorial ventures. His film produced by the AIDMK government, Neenga Nalla Irukkanum in 1992 and Meendum Savitri starring Revathi, were box office flops but were critically acclaimed.
He also directed Prabhu in a double role in Kavalan Avan Kovalan. He has sung songs in Kaavalan Avan Kovalan and Patukottai Periyappa.
He directed movies in Telugu as well. Adade Adharam was a remake of Penmani Aval Kanmani. He acted in the Telugu film Illu Illalu Pillalu, directed by Dorai Raju, which was a remake of Veedu Manaivi Makkal. He directed a remake of his film Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi in Telugu as Srimathi Oka Baahumathi.
He also acted in films, wherein he was not the director, like Oorukku Upadesham, Oomai Vizhigal, Mella Thirandha Kadavu, Veedu Manaivi Makkal, Mappilai Sir, Uzhaipali, Vanaja Girija and Vaanga Partner Vaanga — each of which had him in the main role and became hits. He subsequently acted in supporting roles in films directed by others, like Maya Bazar (1995), Irratai Roja, Arunachalam, Vasuki, Nesam, Aravindham and Middle Class Madhavan.
Visu is widely renowned for his wit and inspirational dialogues in films.
Other works
A philanthropist, Visu had been supporting the needy through his own foundation. He became known for hosting live debates on television, namely Visuvin Makkal Arangam on Jaya TV and Arattai Arangam on Sun TV.[4][5] He joined and campaigned for BJP.[6]
Personal life
His wife Sundhari (Uma) is a Homemaker. He has three daughters, Lavanya, Sangeetha and Kalpana. They are married and settled. Lavanya moved to Chennai to help him in his profession. He has Kishmu, Rajamani and Kuriakose Ranga from his family who are part of film industry.
Filmography
Year | Title | Credited as | Role | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Writer | Actor | ||||
1977 | Pattina Pravesam | |||||
1978 | Sadhurangam | also dialogue | ||||
1980 | Avan Aval Adhu | |||||
1980 | Mazhalai Pattalam | |||||
1981 | Thillu Mullu | As a film crew | Voice-Over Actor (Dubbing) | |||
1981 | Netrikkann | |||||
1981 | Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum | |||||
1981 | Kudumbam Oru Kadambam | Srinivasa Raghavan | ||||
1982 | Kanmani Poonga | Cricketer Ramkumar | ||||
1982 | Simla Special | |||||
1982 | Manal Kayiru | Uthramerur Narathar Naidu | ||||
1982 | Pudhukavithai | |||||
1983 | Dowry Kalyanam | Ganesh | ||||
1984 | Nallavanuku Nallavan | Owner Gangadharan | ||||
1984 | Puyal Kadantha Boomi | Nammaalu alies Namachivaayan | ||||
1984 | Rajathandhiram | Bairavan | ||||
1984 | Vaai Sollil Veeranadi | Vengapuli Varadhachari | ||||
1984 | Naanayamillatha Naanayam | Veerapandi | ||||
1984 | Oorukku Upadesam | Sankaran | ||||
1985 | Puthiya Sagaptham | Ramadasaradan | ||||
1985 | Aval Sumangalithan | Watchman Aarumugam | ||||
1985 | Ketti Melam | |||||
1985 | Chidambara Rahasiyam | Beemarao | ||||
1986 | Mr. Bharath | Kumaresa Gounder | ||||
1986 | Samsaram Adhu Minsaaram | Ammaiyappa Mudaliyar | National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | |||
1986 | Oomai Vizhigal | Rathnasabapathy | ||||
1986 | Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu | Thulasi's father | ||||
1986 | Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu | |||||
1986 | Anandha Kanneer | |||||
1987 | Aadade Aadharam | Telugu film | ||||
1987 | Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi | Naagarkoil Naadhamuni | ||||
1987 | Kavalan Avan Kovalan | Prabhu's Father-in-law | ||||
1988 | Penmani Aval Kanmani | Radio Mama | ||||
1988 | Veedu Manaivi Makkal | Subbaiah Pillai | ||||
1988 | Mappillai Sir | Sock Puppet | ||||
1988 | Sakalakala Sammandhi | Mayavaram Sammandhi | ||||
1990 | Varavu Nalla Uravu | Appa Ambalavanar | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer | |||
1990 | Vedikkai En Vadikkai | Kaavisattai Kandasamy | ||||
1992 | Mannan | Viswanathan | ||||
1992 | Urimai Oonjaladugirathu | Kasturi's Father | ||||
1992 | Neenga Nalla Irukkanum | National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues | ||||
1993 | Uzhaippali | Barrister | ||||
1993 | Chinna Mapillai | Marriage Broker | ||||
1994 | Pattukottai Periyappa | Pattukottai Periyappa | ||||
1994 | Vaa Magale Vaa | Viswanathan | ||||
1994 | Vanaja Girija | Business man Ramanathan | ||||
1994 | Vaanga Partner Vaanga | Ganapathi | ||||
1995 | Mayabazar | |||||
1995 | God Father | Telugu film | ||||
1996 | Irattai Roja | Guest appearance | ||||
1996 | Meendum Savithri | Narayana Moorthy | ||||
1997 | Nesam | |||||
1997 | Aravindhan | |||||
1997 | Adimai Changili | |||||
1997 | Vasuki | Ramasamy | ||||
1997 | Arunachalam | Adv. Rangachari | ||||
1997 | Sishya | |||||
1997 | Vaimaye Vellum | |||||
1998 | Bhagavath Singh | |||||
1999 | Anbulla Kadhalukku | |||||
1999 | Mannavaru Chinnavaru | |||||
2000 | Kakkai Siraginilae | |||||
2000 | Vaanavil | himself | ||||
2001 | Sigamani Ramamani | Sundaramoorthy | ||||
2001 | Krishna Krishna | Advocate Viswanathan | Guest appearance | |||
2001 | Middle Class Madhavan | Advocate | ||||
2001 | Vadagupatti Maapillai | Gomathi Shankar | ||||
2001 | Looty | |||||
2003 | Thithikudhe | himself | ||||
2004 | Maha Nadigan | |||||
2005 | Ji | Raghavan | ||||
2007 | Cheena Thaana 001 | Governor | Guest role | |||
2007 | Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum | Guest role | ||||
2008 | Ellam Avan Seyal | |||||
2009 | Innoruvan | Judge | ||||
2013 | Alex Pandian | Chief Minister | ||||
2013 | Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu | Judge | ||||
2016 | Manal Kayiru 2 | Uthramerur Narathar Naidu |
References
- ^ "CHATTING for a cause". The Hindu. 19 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "TANTIS". tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Balasubramanian, V. (3 April 2014). "I never left the stage". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019.
- ^ thmrn. "The Hindu : Inimitable Visu". hindu.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
- ^ Devalla, Rani (11 November 2014). "A Passionate journey". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019.
- ^ https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/310116/veteran-actor-visu-joins-bjp.html
External links
- 1945 births
- Living people
- Tamil male actors
- Tamil Nadu television personalities
- Film directors from Tamil Nadu
- Tamil film directors
- Tamil screenwriters
- Tamil dramatists and playwrights
- Indian male dramatists and playwrights
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 20th-century Indian film directors
- Indian male film actors
- 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century Indian male actors
- 21st-century Indian film directors
- Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu
- Male actors in Tamil cinema
- 20th-century Indian male writers
- 21st-century Indian male writers
- Directors who won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award
- Directors who won the Best Film on Other Social Issues National Film Award