Sreedhar Rajan is an Indian journalist and film critic, based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He started his career as an advertising executive and later became a film director and screenwriter. His directorial debut Kann Sivanthaal Mann Sivakkum (1983) was based on Indira Parthasarathy's novel Kuruthipunal, about the Kilvenmani massacre of 1968. [1] The film won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director in 1983. Following that, he made films such as Iravu Pookkal (1986) and Pookkal Vidum Thooodhu (1987). He has also served various positions including a member of the advisory panel of the Central Board of Film Certification, and the National Film Development Corporation of India. [2] He is married to Jaya Sreedhar Rajan, daughter of Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan. [3] [4]
Ganapati Subramanian Sarma or Ramasamy Ganesan, better known by his stage name Gemini Ganesan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema. He was nicknamed "Kaadhal Mannan" for the romantic roles he played in films. Ganesan was one of the "three biggest names of Tamil cinema", the other two being M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. While Sivaji Ganesan excelled in dramatic films and M. G. Ramachandran was popular as an action hero, Gemini Ganesan was known for his romantic films. A recipient of the Padma Shri in 1971, he had also won several other awards including the "Kalaimamani", the "MGR Gold Medal" and the "Screen Lifetime Achievement Award". He is one of the few college graduates to enter the film industry at that time.
Palaniswamy, better known by his stage name Sivakumar is an Indian film actor and visual artist who has portrayed a wide range of leading and supporting roles onscreen in Tamil cinema and television. He made his acting debut in A. C. Trilogchander's Kakkum Karangal (1965). He has acted in over 190 movies in Tamil. He is also ambidextrous.
Bharathiraja is an Indian film director who works mainly in the Tamil film industry. Making his debut in 1977 with 16 Vayathinile, he is known for realistic and sensitive portrayals of rural life in his films. As of 2017, he has won six National Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards South, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and a Nandi Award. He has also directed films in Telugu and Hindi. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri award, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2004 for his contribution to the film industry. In 2005, he was conferred with the Doctor of Letters from Sathyabama University.
Aleksa Muhammed Fazil, known mononymously as Fazil, is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor who works in Malayalam cinema, in addition to directing a handful of Tamil films and a Telugu film. He made his directional debut with the 1980 film Manjil Virinja Pookkal. His popular films include Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku (1983), Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (1984), Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal (1986), Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (1987), Ente Sooryaputhrikku (1991), Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Aniyathipraavu (1997), Harikrishnans (1998). His 1993 film Manichitrathazhu won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. He won the Best Director award at the 13th Kerala State Film Awards for his 1983 film Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku.
Monisha Unni was an Indian film actress, known for her works in Malayalam cinema.
Paadha Kaanikkai is a 1962 Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Shankar. The film features Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, C. R. Vijayakumari, M. R. Radha and Kamal Haasan in lead roles. The film, produced by G. N. Velumani, had musical score by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.
Kurathi Magan is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film features Gemini Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Master Sridhar and Jayachitra introduced in the film, Shylashri, V. S. Raghavan, Suruli Rajan and Kamal Haasan in a brief role. R. Muthuraman plays a cameo.
Idhaya Malar is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Gemini Ganesan and Thamarai Manaalan. It is based on the novel Ninaivugal Nilaikkatum, written by Maniyan. It starred Sujatha, Gemini Ganesan, Kamal Haasan in the lead role of the protagonist. The film was later dubbed in Telugu language as Kalyana Jyothi, released on 7 November 1980.
Sankaramanchi Janaki, popularly known as Sowcar Janaki or Shavukaru Janaki, is an Indian actress who has acted in over 400 films of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows and was a radio artist during her earlier years.
Annai Velankanni is 1971 Indian drama film in Tamil. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, Padmini and K. R. Vijaya. Kamal Haasan briefly appears in an uncredited role as Jesus Christ. The film was directed by noted choreographer K. Thangappan. 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.
Kalaipuli S. Thanu is an Indian film producer and distributor, known for his films produced in Tamil cinema. He has produced several films through his two companies, V Creations and Kalaipuli Films International. Many of his films have been commercially successful, three of which are among the top-ten highest grossing Tamil films. He has won two National Film Awards and one Filmfare Awards South.
Soumendu Roy is an Indian cinematographer most known for his work with noted director Satyajit Ray's films, starting with Teen Kanya (1961), when Subrata Mitra developed an eye-problem, though he has earlier shot Ray's documentary Rabindranath Tagore (1961) and has been an assistant to Subrata in post Pather Panchali films.
Gnana Rajasekaran is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, playwright and Retired IAS Officer. His directional debut was Mogamul (1994) won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. His other works include Bharathi (2000), Periyar (2007) and Ramanujan (2014). As of 2014, Rajasekaran has won three National Film Awards, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. His films have been screened at international film festivals including the International Film Festival of India.
Konjum Salangai is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language musical film directed by M. V. Raman. The film features Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, R. S. Manohar and Kumari Kamala in lead roles. The film, had musical score by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and was released on 14 January 1962. The film was dubbed into Telugu as Muripinche Muvvalu. This film is the Indian Tamil cinema's one and only Tamil film to be entirely shot and released in Technicolor.
N.Viswanathan, popularly known as Calcutta Viswanathan in the Tamil film industry, was an Indian actor and academic. A Tamilian by birth, he moved to Calcutta at a young age and taught English at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta for more than 40 years. Viswanathan was also a well-known public speaker. He made his acting debut in Mrinal Sen's Punascha and continued to act in Bengali films. In a career that spanned 40 years, Viswanathan appeared in nearly 100 films in Bengali, Tamil and English. He was a member several theatre groups and also formed the "Calcutta Players", an acting troupe.
Raveendran (Ravindher), popularly known as Disco Raveendran is an Indian actor, primarily concentrating in Malayalam and Tamil films and he was a very busy actor of both these languages in the 1980s. A multi-faceted personality, Raveendran is also a screenwriter, interior designer, anchor, a film scholar, an acting coach, social activist and director of film festivals like Kochi Metro (Malayalam) Short Film Fest.
Kann Sivanthaal Mann Sivakkum is a 1983 Tamil film directed by debutant Sreedhar Rajan. Produced by R. Venkatraman, the film won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director at the 30th National Film Awards in 1983. The film was based on Indira Parthasarathy's novel Kuruthipunal which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977. It stars newcomer Vijaymohan and Poornima Jayaram in the lead roles, with Jaishankar, Rajesh, N. Viswanathan and Raveendran in pivotal roles. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Ilaiyaraaja while cinematography was handled by Soumendu Roy.
Kuruthipunal is a Tamil novel written by Indira Parthasarathy. A revolutionary novel, it was based on the Kilvenmani massacre that took place in Thanjavur district in 1968. The novel won the Sahitya Akademi for its author in 1977. The novel inspired Kann Sivanthaal Mann Sivakkum, a 1983 Tamil film, which in turn won a National Award. The novel has been translated into multiple langues including English, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Gujarati and Malayalam.
P. Krishnamoorthy was an Indian film art director, production designer and costume designer who worked predominantly in the South Indian cinema. As of 2015, he had worked in over 55 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Malayalam and English, and won five National Film Awards—three for Best Art Direction and two for Best Costume Design. In addition, he was the recipient of five Kerala State Film Awards and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. The five-time National Award winner died in Chennai on December 13 2020, due to age related ailments.
K. R. Indira Devi (1952–2017), born as Indira Devi, was an Indian stage and film actress who was active in Tamil Cinema during the latter half of the 20th Century. She was well known for her supporting roles, but was also a successful dubbing artist. In a career spanning close to five decades, she acted in more than 250 films in the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Indira debuted as heroine in Konjum Kumari (1963). She was awarded the Kalaimamani by Government of Tamil Nadu.