V. S. Raghavan was an Indian film director, producer and audiographer in the 1950s and 1960s in the South Indian film industry. He produced his films under the banner of Revathi Productions and owned a recording studio. [1]
Raghavan directed films including Kalvanin Kadhali (1955), [1] Sarangadhara (1958), [2] Manimegalai (1959) [3] , Chandrika (1950 - Malayalam). [4]
He produced 2 films under the banner "Revathi Productions".
Manidhanum Mirugamum (1953)
Methavigal (1955)
V. S. Raghavan was working as the sound engineer in AVM studios and is the pioneer sound engineer in South India. He was trained by C. E. Biggs of Gemini Studios. Satya Harischandra, a Kannada film was dubbed into Tamil. It is the first dubbed film in Tamil cinema. V. S. Raghavan was the audiographer [5] [6]
His full name was V. Srinivasa Raghavan, often simply credited as V. S. Raghavan. (not be confused with actor V. S. Raghavan). His first wife was Jayalakshmi. His second wife lux R. Padma was actress from Tamil film industry.
Ghantasala Venkateswararao, known mononymously by his surname as Ghantasala, was an Indian playback singer and film composer known for his works predominantly in Telugu and Kannada cinema and also in Tamil, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi language films. He is considered one of the greatest singers of Telugu cinema. In 1970, he received the Padma Shri award, India's fourth highest civilian award for his contribution to Indian cinema. According to The Hindu and The Indian Express, Ghantasala was 'such a divine talent and with his songs he could move the hearts of the people'. 'Ghantasala's blending of classical improvisations to the art of light music combined with his virtuosity and sensitivity puts him a class apart, above all others in the field of playback singing'. Gifted with what Indian film historian V. A. K. Ranga Rao called 'the most majestic voice', Ghantasala helped Telugu film music develop its own distinct character which remains unparalleled. He is referred to as the 'Gaana Gandharva' for his mesmerising voice and musical skills.
Malayalam cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Malayalam language, which is widely spoken in the state of Kerala. Malayalam cinema includes the commercial film industry, popularly known as Mollywood, as well as independent cinema made in Malayalam.
Mouna Ragam is a 1986 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Mani Ratnam, and produced by G. Venkateswaran. The film stars Mohan and Revathi, with Karthik in a guest appearance. V. K. Ramasamy, Ra. Sankaran, Bhaskar, Kanchana, Vani, Kalaiselvi and Sonia play supporting roles. It narrates the life of Divya (Revathi), a free-spirited college girl who is forced into an arranged marriage with Chandrakumar (Mohan) by her father (Sankaran) though she still lives with the memory of her deceased lover Manohar (Karthik). The story follows Divya's inner conflict between holding on to her past and coming to terms with the present.
Asha Kelunni, better known by her stage name Revathi, is an Indian actress and director, known for her works predominantly in Tamil and Malayalam cinema - in addition to Telugu, Hindi and Kannada films. She was one of the most successful leading actresses of South Indian cinema and has won several accolades, including three National Film Awards, and seven Filmfare Awards South. She has also won the Kerala State Film Award for her performance in Bhoothakaalam (2022).
Kalvanin Kadhali is a 2006 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by newcomer Tamilvannan, and produced by Lakshman. The film stars S. J. Suryah and Nayanthara, with Shraddha Arya, Pyramid Natarajan, Vivek and Ganja Karuppu playing supporting roles. It is notably, Suryah's first film as the hero, which hasn't been directed by himself. The film was a high-budget production, the soundtrack and film score of which were composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja, which were considered the highlight and as a great hit, especially the soundtrack. This love story is set in the backdrop of a playboy's tricks. The film was released on 17 February 2006 enjoying relative success.
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.
G. Sasikumar is an Indian film editor, who has worked on Tamil,Malayalam,Kannada-language films.
T. S. Durairaj was a Tamil film comedian, drama artist, producer and director in the early stages of the Tamil film industry (Kollywood). He received a Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu Government in 2006.
Porayath Leela was an Indian playback singer, Carnatic vocalist, and a music director. She has recorded more than 5,000 songs in various Indian languages including Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit, Odia, Gujarati, Marati. and also Sinhale. She is also known for her extensive history of collaboration in the songs with Music Composers v.Dakshinamoorthy, MS Baburaj, G Devarajan, ghantasala, MS Viswanathan, K. Raghavan, Br Lakshmanan, LPR Varma, BA chithambara athletes, AT ummer, MK Arjun, Johnson, ouseppachan, ilaiyaraja, and with the playback singers KJ Yesudas and Ghantalasa over the years. Leela is known for her sweet and melodious voice that she named Ganamani. She was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2006. She made her debut as a playback singer in the 1948 Tamil film Kangkanam.
Pillavalu Gajapathy Krishnaveni, more famously known as Jikki, was an Indian playback singer from Andhra Pradesh. She sang around 10,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Sinhalese, and Hindi languages.
Jeevitha Nouka is a 1951 Malayalam-language film directed by K. Vembu and jointly produced by K. V. Koshi and Kunchako. It was the first "blockbuster cinema" in Malayalam cinema, with a theatrical run of 284 days. Made at a budget of ₹20,000, it was a commercial success at the box office, such that very few cinemas could surpass it later. It was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu, and was dubbed and released in Hindi. This cinema portrayed the life of simple folk in a small village in Kerala. It stars Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and B. S. Saroja, with the latter making her debut and the former in his first major role. Its music is composed by V. Dakshinamoorthy and popular playback singer Mehboob debuted through this cinema. It is a remake of the Hindi cinema Jeevan Naiya with revised screenplay.
Kalvanin Kadhali is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language romantic crime film directed by V. S. Raghavan and written by S. D. Sundharam. Starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi, it is based on the novel of the same name by Kalki Krishnamurthy. The film was released on 13 November 1955 and completed a theatrical run of 80 days.
Nalla Thanka is a 1950 Indian Malayalam-language mythological film directed by P. V. Krishna Iyer and produced by K. V. Koshy and Kunchacko under the banner of Udaya Studios and K & K Combines. It was the second film produced at the Udaya Studios, the first being Vellinakshatram (1949). The film stars Miss Kumari in the title role along with Augustine Joseph, Vaikom Mani and Miss Omana in other supporting roles. The film is based on the legend of Nalla Thanka, which is based on a popular Tamil folk tale.
Lalitha was an Indian actress and dancer. She was the eldest of the "Travancore Sisters"—Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini. She started her acting career in the 1948 Tamil film Adhithan Kanavu and has acted in movies of different Indian languages including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. She entered films before her sisters, concentrating more on Malayalam films, and was mostly cast in vamp roles.
Maragatham (transl. Emerald) is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language crime thriller film produced, directed and co-written by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It is an adaptation of the novel Karunkuyil Kunrathu Kolai by T. S. D. Sami. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. It was released on 21 August 1959.
Sarangadhara is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language film directed by V. S. Raghavan and written by S. D. Sundharam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi. Based on the epic of the same name by Gurajada Apparao, it has music by G. Ramanathan and was released on 15 August 1958.
Chandrika is a 1950 Indian film, directed by V. S. Raghavan and produced by K. M. K. Menon. The film stars Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and Nagavally R. S. Kurup. It was simultaneously shot in Malayalam and Tamil, with the Malayalam version releasing on 24 August 1950, and the Tamil version released on 29 September 1950.
S. D. Sundharam also written as S. D. Sundaram, was an Indian Tamil playwright, dialogue writer and lyricist. He also co-directed one Tamil feature film and produced and directed one documentary film. He played minor roles in a few films.
T. Tamilvannan is an Indian film director in Tamil cinema. His notable movies are Kalvanin Kadhali and Machakaaran.
Kalvanin Kadhali is the debut Tamil-language novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy. It was serialised in the magazine Ananda Vikatan in 1937, and published in paperback form in 1954. The novel was adapted into a play staged in 1953, and a film released in 1955.