Chithralaya Gopu

Chitralaya Gopu
Gopu at the play "Chocolate Krishna" in 2015
Born	Sadagopan (1931-07-02) 2 July 1931 (age 93) [1]
Occupation(s)	Writer, director
Years active	1959–1990
Spouse	Kamala
Children	4

Sadagopan (better known as Chitralaya Gopu) is an Indian screenwriter and director who works in the Tamil cinema. He has written nearly 60 films, and directed 27 of them. ^[2] He scripted dramatic films such as Moondru Dheivangal and Shanti Nilayam and comedies such as Kadhalikka Neramillai , Galatta Kalyanam , Patti Sollai Thattathe and Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa . ^[3]

Career

C. V. Sridhar and Sadagopan were childhood friends since their schooldays in St. Joseph's High School, Chengalpattu. ^[4] Both were playwrights; Sridhar wrote stage plays and played the hero while Sadagopan wrote the humorous parts and played the comedian. ^[5] Later, when Sridhar had the opportunity to direct a film, he asked Sadagopan to join him and produce the comedy track. ^{[6] [7]} The film Kalyana Parisu (1959) was a hit and Sridhar started his own production house, Chitralaya. ^{[4] [8]} Sadagopan became popularly known as 'Chitralaya' Gopu. ^[9]

He received the Kalaimamani Award from Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa in 1992.^{[ citation needed ]}

He directed and acted in television forays, such as Washingtonil Thirumanam, which was shot in the U.S.^{[ citation needed ]}

Personal life

Gopu is married to Kamala, a novelist. ^[5] They have four sons. ^{[10] [11]}

Partial filmography

Year	Film	Credited as		Notes
		Director	Writer
1959	Kalyana Parisu	N	Y
1962	Nenjil Or Aalayam	N	Y
1964	Kadhalikka Neramillai	N	Y
1964	Kalai Kovil	N	Y
1966	Pyar Kiye Jaa	N	Y	Remake of Kadhalikka Neramillai
1966	Kodimalar	N	Y
1967	Nenjirukkum Varai	N	Y
1967	Ooty Varai Uravu	N	Y
1967	Anubavam Pudhumai	N	Y
1968	Galatta Kalyanam	N	Y
1969	Shanti Nilayam	N	Y
1970	Veettuku Veedu	N	Y
1971	Moondru Deivangal	N	Y
1971	Sumathi En Sundari	N	Y
1971	Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa	N	Y
1972	Kasethan Kadavulada	Y	Y
1974	Athaiya Mamiya	Y	Y
1974	Penn Ondru Kanden	Y	Y
1974	Galate Samsara	N	Y
1977	Kalamadi Kalam	Y	Y
1977	Rasi Nalla Rasi	Y	Y
1979	Alankari	Y	Y
1979	Asaikku Vayasillai	Y	Y
1979	Dhairyalakshmi	Y	Y
1984	Raja Veettu Kannukkutty	N	Y
1985	Thanga Mama 3D	N	Y
1985	Vellai Manasu	Y	Y
1985	Thendrale Ennai Thodu	N	Y
1988	Vasanthi	Y	Y
1988	Paatti Sollai Thattathe	N	Y
1989	Dilli Babu	Y	Y
1990	Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga	N	Y	Last film [5]

References

1. "Happy 80th birthday, Chitralaya Gopu!". The New Indian Express . 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
2. "Happy 80th birthday, Chitralaya Gopu!". IBN Live . 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
3. Kumar, S. R. Ashok (18 February 2010). "In relaxed mood – 'Chitralaya' Gopu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
4. Srinivasan, Meera (21 October 2008). "Veteran film director Sridhar dead". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
5. Rangarajan, Malathi (10 July 2009). "Looking back with a smile". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
6. Ashok Kumar, S.R. (20 November 2005). "'Chithralaya' Gopu, proprietor of Mannar & Co, Oho Productions". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
7. Parthasarathy, Anusha (24 November 2010). "Memories of Madras: Heaven on earth". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
8. "Sridhar – The man with the midas touch". The Hindu. PTI. 21 October 2008. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
9. Narayanan, Sujatha (3 March 2019). "Thamizh Talkies: When the pen isn't thought to be mighty". Cinema Express . Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
10. Balasubramanian, V. (18 February 2016). "An account of family ties". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
11. Rekhs (29 June 2012). "Gopu Is Gold". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.

External links

• Chithralaya Gopu at IMDb