K. T. Kunjumon | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Producer, writer and politician |
Years active | 1985– 2008 |
K. T. Kunjumon (born 15 November 1953) is a former Indian film producer and writer, politician active in Tamil and Malayalam films. He began his career co-producing several Malayalam films, often working with director P. G. Viswambharan. His first Kollywood project, Pavithran's Suriyan as Sarathkumar's first solo lead role was a success. Kunjumon's second venture, S. Shankar's directorial debut Gentleman was a major success and set several records for Tamil film production. His subsequent films, Kaadhalan (1994) and Kadhal Desam (1996) were also successful, while Ratchagan (1997) became the most expensive Tamil film ever made on release.
After finishing his school education, Kunjumon worked in the travel agency business and then the hotel industry, before he became a film producer. He entered to film industry as a distributor and distributed approximately 350 films in different languages, in Tamil and Malayalam. He dubbed many films from Tamil to Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi. He produced Malayalam films in the late 1980s and began to produce Tamil films from 1991. He owned the film production company A.R.S.Movies Pvt Ltd. His debut Tamil film as producer was Vasanthakala Paravai (1991) which became successful, he then went on to produce successful big-budgeted flicks such as Suriyan (1992), Gentleman (1993), Kadhalan (1994) and Kadhal Desam (1996).
Kunjumon was well known for suggesting director S. Shankar to rewrite the climax of Gentleman based on the assassination of former Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa, much to the dissatisfaction of Arjun, who felt that his heroism would get diluted. However, Kunjumon was adamant about the climax and it was shot as per his wish. [1] [2] In 1990, he was appointed as Kerala AIADMK State Secretary by J. Jayalalithaa. Kunjumon announced a venture titled Kodiesvaran in 1996, which would mark the acting debut of his son, Eby Kunjumon. The film started production the following year with Eby appearing alongside Simran, with Hindi actress Karisma Kapoor making a guest appearance in an item number. [3] The film's music album and trailer were released in early 1999, but Kunjumon's financial troubles meant that the film failed to have a theatrical release. Likewise, a proposed project titled En Idhayathil Nee starring Eby opposite Shalini did not begin production despite being announced in late 1998. [4] Another production titled Swasam was launched with Eby and Priyanka Trivedi, and began filming schedules in 2001, but also failed to complete work. [5] [6] In 2005, he contemplated remaking Thotti Jaya (2005) in Telugu with Eby in the lead role, but later opted against making the venture. [7]
Kunjumon's last two released films are the Vijay-starrers Nilaave Vaa (1998) and Endrendrum Kadhal (1999), both of which costed less than his previous venture, Ratchagan . In an interview in 2006, Kunjumon lamented the failure of the two films starring Vijay for his bankruptcy, stating he lost 1.5 and 1.75 crore rupees respectively on those two projects and added that Vijay's father S. A. Chandrasekhar had gone back on an agreement they had made about the rights of the films. [8] The producer announced a comeback in 2008 and began working on a film titled Kathalukku Maranamillai, also operating as the film's script-writer. Starring rookie actors Tejas, Meera Nandan and Madalasa Sharma , the film was completed in 2009 but did not have theatrical release. [9] [10]
In an interview in 2018, Kunjumon said that he might no longer be able to replicate his film world successes of the 1990s, citing as reasons a string of failed projects and changes in the world of film production world that meant individual film producers no longer got the respect they deserved. He however added that he was happy that the people he had introduced to the film world had become successful and wished them well. [2]
Year | Film | Director | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985 | Ee Thanalil Ithiri Nerum | P. G. Viswambharan | Malayalam | |
Ee Lokam Evide Kure Manushyar | ||||
1987 | Ivide Ellavarkkum Sukham | Jeassy | ||
1988 | Oozham | Harikumar | ||
Adholokam | Thevalakkara Chellappan | |||
Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas | Kamal | |||
Mrithunjayam | Paul Babu | |||
Simon Peter Ninakku Vendi | P. G. Viswambharan | |||
1989 | Adharvam | Dennis Joseph | ||
Prayapoorthi Aayavarkku Mathram | Suresh Heblikar | |||
Prabhatham Chuvanna Theruvil | N. P. Suresh | |||
1990 | Ponnaranjanam | Babu Narayanan | ||
1991 | Aakasha Kottayile Sultan | Jayaraj | ||
Vasanthakala Paravai | Pavithran | Tamil | ||
Mr & Mrs | Sajan | Malayalam | ||
1992 | Suriyan | Pavithran | Tamil | |
1993 | Gentleman | Shankar | Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film | |
1994 | Sindhu Nathi Poo | Senthamizhan | ||
Kaadhalan | Shankar | |||
1996 | Kadhal Desam | Kadhir | ||
1997 | Sakthi | Raghuraj | also story writer | |
Ratchagan | Praveen Gandhi | |||
1998 | Nilaave Vaa | A. Venkatesh | ||
1999 | Endrendrum Kadhal | Manoj Bhatnagar |
Yuvan Shankar Raja is an Indian film score and soundtrack composer and singer-songwriter. He mainly scores music for Tamil films along with few Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films. Considered a versatile composer, he is particularly known for his use of Western music elements and often credited with having introduced hip hop to the Tamil film and music industry and started the "era of remixes" in Tamil Nadu which included mixed EDM and jazz. He is frequently referred to as the "BGM King" and the "Young Maestro" of Tamil Film Music. Yuvan has won two Filmfare Awards South, five Mirchi Music Awards South, four Vijay Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.
Selvaraghavan is an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor who has directed and acted predominantly Tamil films. His directorial debut had with Thulluvadho Ilamai (2002) but his father is credited for business reasons, which stars his brother Dhanush K. Raja, Selvaraghavan went on to make a series of romantic drama films with Kadhal Kondein (2003) and 7G Rainbow Colony (2004) before also venturing into coming-of-age films Pudhupettai (2006) and Mayakkam Enna (2011), both starring Dhanush. He has also ventured into making science fiction and fantasy films, such as depicting a fantasy Chola kingdom in Aayirathil Oruvan (2010) and a parallel universe in Irandam Ulagam (2013). He has been critically acclaimed for his directorial skills.
Prashanth Thiagarajan, known professionally as Prashanth, is an Indian actor and businessman, known for his works predominantly in Tamil cinema. Besides Tamil films, he has also appeared in few Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam films. At the peak of his career in the late 1990s, Prashanth was one of the popular actors in South India. He has won a Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The son of actor-director Thiagarajan, Prashanth began his career at 17 by appearing in Vaigasi Poranthachu (1990) and went on to feature in other films including Balu Mahendra's Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992), R. K. Selvamani's Chembaruthi (1992), K. Rushendra Reddy's Tholi Muddhu (1993), and Mani Ratnam's action-comedy Thiruda Thiruda (1993). Prashanth rose to stardom with Shankar's romantic comedy Jeans (1998) in which he played a dual role alongside Aishwarya Rai. The success of this film saw him garner opportunities to work in bigger film projects and in the late 1990s, he featured in a series of breakthrough films such as Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998), Kaadhal Kavithai (1998), Jodi (1999), Parthen Rasithen (2000) and Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001).
Shankar Shanmugam, credited as S. Shankar or his mononymShankar, is an Indian filmmaker who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. He is one of the most prolific and highest paid film directors in India. His films typically deal with the contemporary social issues, vigilante themes and the usage of state of the art technology and VFX. He has won one National Film Award, four Filmfare Award South and six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards in his career.
Gentleman is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language action heist film co-written and directed by S. Shankar in his directorial debut, and produced by K. T. Kunjumon. The film stars Arjun, Madhubala and Subhashri, with M. N. Nambiar, Manorama, Goundamani, Senthil, Charan Raj, Vineeth, and Rajan P. Dev in supporting roles. It revolves around a respected Madras-based businessman who moonlights as a thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor for their education.
Kadhal Desam is a 1996 Indian Tamil-language romance film written and directed by Kathir and produced by K. T. Kunjumon. The film stars Tabu with Vineeth and Abbas in the main leads. This film marked Abbas's feature debut film and Tabu's Tamil debut film. The film stars with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vadivelu, Chinni Jayanth, Srividya and others are featured in other pivotal characters. K. V. Anand was the cinematographer for the project and A. R. Rahman composed the film's soundtrack and score. The film was released in August 1996 and became a box office success. The film was remade in Bangladeshi Bengali as Narir Mon.
G. V. Prakash Kumar is an Indian music composer, playback singer, actor and producer known for his work in Tamil films and a few Telugu films as well. His first film was S Pictures' Veyil (2006) and he gained fame in Tamil films by the early 2010s. He made his debut in acting on 2015 through Darling. He has won one National Award and three Filmfare Awards in his film career.
A. Venkatesh is an Indian film director and actor working in Tamil cinema. Beginning his career as an assistant, he directed his first film, Mahaprabhu, in 1996.
Kadhal 2 Kalyanam is an unreleased Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by newcomer Milind Rau that stars debutante Sathya, brother of Tamil actor Arya, and Divya Spandana, whilst, Jayashree, Nagendra Prasad, Kasthuri and Anuja Iyer play pivotal roles. Noted film critic Baradwaj Rangan had written the dialogues, while Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the film's score and soundtrack. The cinematography and editing were handled by P. S. Vinod and Leo John Paul, respectively. Pre-production works began by mid-2008, while the filming continued for over one year, being completed by July 2010. The film was jointly produced by Mirchi Movies and East Coast Entertainment, who are now not in the film-making business. Hence the movie remains unreleased.
Revathy, known by her stage name Kadhal Sandhya, is an Indian former actress who appeared mainly in Tamil film industry and in a few Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films.
Vikram Prabhu is an Indian actor working in Tamil language films who made his debut in Prabhu Solomon's Kumki (2012). He also played the protagonist in Ivan Veramathiri (2013) and Vellaikaara Durai (2014). He is the son of actor Prabhu and grandson of the veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan.
Kaadhal Solla Vandhen is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language romance film written and directed by Boopathy Pandian, which stars Balaji Balakrishnan of Kana Kaanum Kaalangal fame and Meghana Raj in lead and Arya in a guest role. The film, previously titled as Naanum En Sandhyavum and Naan Avalai Sandhitha Pozhudhu, is produced by S3 Films and features music scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja. It released on 13 August 2010.
Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer is a 2013 Indian Tamil language romantic drama film directed by Suseenthiran. It features debutant Santhosh Ramesh and Manisha Yadav of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 fame in the lead roles. It is produced by Nallu Studios and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Cinematography is by Soorya.A.R, editing by Antony, stunts by Anal Arasu, lyrics by Vaali and Yugabharathi. The film released with highly positive reviews. The film was remade in Kannada as Naduve Antaravirali (2018).
Praveen Gandhi is an Indian film director, and actor known for his works in Tamil cinema.
Pavithran is an Indian film director, who has made many hit Tamil films. He was active primarily in the 1990s collaborating in ventures which often included Sarathkumar in pivotal roles. He was awarded the Tamil Nadu state Kalaimamani award for his works in the film industry. He is known to have made his assistants huge stars in the film Industry. All his assistant film directors have gone to be huge like S. Shankar, A. Venkatesh, Balaji Sakthivel, Vincent Selva, Saravana Subbaiya and many more. He has also introduced stars like Prabu Deva, Devayani, and Roja. During the 1990s his movies with newcomers like Sarathkumar, Ajith Kumar, and Vijay made them stars and established actors in the industry. He also introduced comedians like Soori and Vimal in his movie Mattuthavani.
The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) is an Indian organisation consisting of technicians from the Tamil film industry in Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 23 unions belonging to different trades in the film and television industry are affiliated to the FEFSI that has around 25,000 members.
M. Bhaskar was an Indian filmmaker who worked mainly in the Tamil film industry. Bhaskar started his film career as an assistant to director C. V. Sridhar. After relieving from his mentor and guru C. V. Sridhar, he was working under Sundaram's Modern Theaters, Chinnappa Thevar along with S. P. Muthuraman, Panju Arunachalam, Thuyavan, Uthiripookkal Balakrishnan and others. He also worked as a second unit Director for 20th Century Fox, during their production in Goa, India.
The following is a list of unproduced Kamal Haasan projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, Indian film actor-director Kamal Haasan has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his acting commitments or direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell or were officially cancelled.
Suriyan Satta Kalloori is a 2009 Tamil language action drama film directed by R. Pavan. The film stars newcomers Kajni and Mithra Kurian, with Radha Ravi, Pawan, M. S. Bhaskar, Ganja Karuppu, Aarthi, Kadhal Sukumar and Chaams playing supporting roles. The film, produced by Sivasakthi Pandian, was released on 25 September 2009.
Sivasakthi Movie Makers is an Indian film production and distribution company headed by Sivasakthi Pandian. The film had been a leading production studio in the Tamil film industry in the 1990s, but has struggled following the switch to digital film-making. The studio has made eleven films, all of which have music composed by Deva.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)