Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan, also known as M.S.V., was an Indian music director, singer and actor who predominantly worked in Tamil film industry. Popularly known by the sobriquet Mellisai Mannar, he composed songs for more than 800 Indian films and various albums across languages primarily in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. He has also acted and sung in a few Tamil films. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa conferred the Thirai Isai Chakravarthy title on him in August 2012 and presented him with 60 gold coins and a new car.
Jaishankar was an Indian actor known for his work in Tamil cinema. He was a very popular lead actor in the 1960s and 70s. He was credited onscreen with title of Makkal Kalaingnar or Makkal Thamizhan in most films starring him. He was also referred to as Thennakathu James Bond because of his roles in films such as Vallavan Oruvan and CID Shankar.
Thoguluva Meenatchi Iyengar Soundararajan, popularly known as TMS, was an Indian Carnatic musician and a playback singer in Tamil cinema for over six and a half decades. He sang over 10,138 songs from 3,162 films, including devotional, semi-classical, Carnatic, classical and light music songs. He gave classical concerts starting in 1943.
Panakkara Kudumbam is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language film starring M. G. Ramachandran. The film was released on 24 April 1964, and ran more than 150 days in theatres. The film was remade in Hindi in 1970 as Humjoli, in Kannada in 1978 as Bhale Huduga, and in Telugu in 1984 as Intiguttu. All versions except Intiguttu were directed by the same director, T. R. Ramanna.
Aayirathil Oruvan is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language swashbuckler film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with M. N. Nambiar, Manohar, Nagesh, S. V. Ramadas, Vijayalakshmi and Madhavi in supporting roles. It revolves around a doctor who is sold into slavery for rebelling against the dictator of his nation, and later forced into a life of piracy.
Enga Veettu Pillai is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language masala film written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy and directed by Chanakya. A remake of his own 1964 Telugu film Ramudu Bheemudu, it stars M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi, with S. V. Ranga Rao, M. N. Nambiar, Rathna and Pandari Bai in supporting roles. The film is about two identical but contrasting twins who were separated at birth, and what happens when they cross paths.
Kanni Thai is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language action adventure film directed by M. A. Thirumugam, starring M. G. Ramachandran. The film was produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar and released on 10 September 1965.
Annai Velankanni is 1971 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Thangappan. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, Padmini and K. R. Vijaya. Kamal Haasan briefly appears in an uncredited role as Jesus Christ. It comprises three stories pertaining to Catholic beliefs. Velankanni, where the film is set, is a real village in India, and has a large church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
Karpagam is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film features an ensemble cast including Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, S. V. Ranga Rao, M. R. Radha, R. Muthuraman, V. K. Ramasamy, V. Nagayya, Karikol Raju, Sheeladevi, K. R. Vijaya and Baby Shakila. In Karpagam, a rich farmer makes his newly married daughter (Vijaya) and her husband (Ganesan) live in his house to take care of his business. Problems arise when his estranged son (Muthuraman) starts to squander his money.
Kunkhumam (transl. Kumkuma) is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Krishnan–Panju and written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Urvashi Sharada, S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari and R. Muthuraman. The film, produced by K. Mohan, was released on 2 August 1963.
Jayaram Jayalalithaa was an Indian politician and actress who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for more than fourteen years over six terms between 1991 and 2016. From 9 February 1989 to 5 December 2016, she was the 5th and longest-serving general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a Dravidian party whose cadre revered her as their "Amma" (Mother) and "Puratchi Thalaivi".
Srikanth was an Indian actor who has performed in around 200 Tamil films since his debut in 1965. He is also referred to as Venniradai Srikanth. He has played the lead hero in around 50 films between 1965 and 1979 and has also played supporting roles in films with actors Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman, Ravichandran and Jaishankar in the lead roles. In the late seventies to early nineties, he appeared as a villain opposite actors including Sivakumar, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.
Adimai Penn is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language action adventure film directed by K. Shankar and produced by M. G. Ramachandran and R. M. Veerappan. The film stars Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with Ashokan, Pandari Bai, Rajasree, Manohar, Chandrababu and Cho in supporting roles. It revolves around the efforts of a deceased king's son to free the enslaved people of a kingdom from their tyrant king.
Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy were an Indian music composing duo composed of M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy. They worked together on over 100 films, from 1952's Panam to 1965's Aayirathil Oruvan. After their split, Ramamoorthy worked on 16 films between 1966 and 1986. He and Viswanathan reunited in 1995 for Engirundho Vandhan.
Mattukkara Velan is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Pa. Neelakandhan. It is a remake of the 1966 Kannada film Emme Thammanna. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and Lakshmi, while S. A. Ashokan was the villain. It was released on 14 January 1970, and ran for 100 days in 16 theatres.
Kumari Kottam is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film directed by P. Neelakantan. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with Lakshmi, Sachu, S. A. Ashokan, V. K. Ramasamy, R. S. Manohar and Cho Ramaswamy in supporting roles. It was released on 26 January 1971.
Naan Aanaiyittal is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Tapi Chanakya. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and K. R. Vijaya. The film was produced and written by R. M. Veerappan, with a musical score by M. S. Viswanathan.
Kannan En Kadhalan is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by P. Neelakantan, produced and written by R. M. Veerappan, starring M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa and Vanisri. It was released on 25 April 1968.
Vandhaale Magaraasi is a 1973 Indian Tamil-language comedy film, directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan and produced by Ashok Pictures. The screenplay was written by Gopalakrishnan, the film was shot at his own studio, Karpagam Studios. Music was by Shankar–Ganesh. The film stars Jayalalithaa and M. N. Rajam, playing lead role, with Jaishankar, V. S. Raghavan, Cho Ramaswamy Pushpalatha and Bhagavathy in supporting roles. It was released on 16 March 1973.
Shakthi Leelai is a 1972 Tamil language film directed by T. R. Ramanna and produced by T. G. Somasundaram. The film script was written by Thuraiyur K. Moorthi. It starred B. Saroja Devi, Gemini Ganeshan, Jayalalithaa, K. B. Sundarambal and K. R. Vijaya. It is noted for being the last multi-starrer mythological film. The music was provided by T. K. Ramamoorthy. It was a successful film on its release. Later, The film was dubbed in 1976 into Hindi as Tu Hi Kali Tu Hi Durga and 1985 into Telugu as Parashakthi Mahimalu.
