Muktha Srinivasan

Muktha Srinivasan
Born	Venkatachary Srinivasan (1929-10-31) 31 October 1929 Manapuram, Tanjore District, Tamil Nadu
Nationality	Indian
Education	SSLC, Visharath(Hindi)
Occupation	Film Director & Producer
Spouse(s)	Prema
Children	S. Ravi, Muktha S. Sundar, Maya
Parent(s)	Venkatachariar, Chellammal[1]

Muktha Srinivasan is an Indian film director and producer.^[2]

Career

V. Srinivasan alias Muktha Srinivasan entered the film industry in 1947, as Senior Assistant to T. R. Sundaram, by coaching artists in dialogue delivery. He worked with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Manthiri Kumari and with major artists of the time including T. R. Mahalingam, Anjali Devi, Madhuri Devi, S. Balachandar and L. V. Prasad. He worked with Director K. Ramnoth as assistant along with K. S. Sethumathavan.

Muktha Srinivasan directed his first film, Mudhalali, in 1957 which was produced by Ratna Studios. Production was four months and three days in a period when films usually took more than a year to be completed.^[3] The film was a success, despite its having had a relatively unknown cast. It won a National Award presented by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, then President of India, in the presence of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru^[3] Srinivasan started producing films with his elder brother Muktha V. Ramaswamy under the name Muktha Films in 1962.^[3] He always preferred to have music by either the duo Vishwanatha-Ramamoorthy or by M.S.Viswanathan.

His first choice for hero in the sixities, was always Gemini Ganesan and directed Panithirai, Idhayathil Nee, Poojaikku Vandha Malar, Thenmazhai. The 4 comedy films directed by him - Thenmazhai, Ninaivil Nindraval, Bommalattam and Ayiram Poi are recongised as landmark films in Tamil Cinema. He directed actress Sandhya's daughter J.Jayalalithaa in two landmark films - Suryagandhi, Anbai Thedi and made her do guest appearance in Cinema Paithiyam.The film Suryagandhi is considered by him as the best of all the films he directed. Suryagndhi was digitalized and re-released in September 2016.^[4] He introduced Vaali as lyricist, actresses Devika, Deepa and others to the silver screen. He brought to light Actor-Director T. S. B. K. Mouli's acting prowess in his film Sooryakanthi. Visu the dramatist became Visu the filmmaker after working in his Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum. He has received numerous awards^[5] and today he is the most senior director in the Tamil film industry.^[6]

He directed Sivaji Ganesan in Nirai Kudam, Arunodhayam,Thava Pudhalvan, Anbai Thedi,Andaman Kadhali, Imayam, Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum and Iru Medhaigal. He directed Sivaji Ganesan in 11 films. He directed Kamal Hasan in Andharangam and Simla Special and directed Rajnikanth in Polladhavan (1980 film).Out of his 43 directorial ventures, 29 were box office hits. In his films, Cho Ramaswamy and Manorama were casted regularly through out his career.

The film Andha Naal, in which he assisted S. Balachander, was the first film without songs that was made in Madras.^[7] This became a hit.^[7]

Srinivasan was one of the founders of, and served as President for, the Tamil Film Producer Council.^[5] He served as President of the South Indian film chamber of commerce.^[8] He was Chairman of Film City, owned by the state government of Tamil Nadu.^[9] He was also Member of Award Films Committees and a Board Member of the Film Censor Board.^[10]

His elder brother is Muktha Ramaswamy and his sister is Revathi. He married Prema in He has three children Muktha S. Sundar, Mukhta Ravi and Maya.

Filmography

Year	Film	Credited as			Notes
		Director	Producer	Screenplay
1958	Mudhalali	Y
1959	Panchaali	Y
1959	Naalu Veli Nilam	Y
1959	Thamarai Kulam	Y
1960	Odi Viliyadu Paapa	Y
1961	Panithirai	Y	Y
1963	Idhayathil Nee	Y	Y
1965	Poojaikku Vandha Malar	Y
1965	Magane Kel	Y
1966	Thenmazhai	Y
1967	Ninaivil Nindraval	Y
1968	Bommalattam	Y
1969	Ayiram Poi	Y
1969	Nirai Kudam	Y	Y
1971	Arunodhayam	Y	Y
1972	Thava Pudhalvan	Y	Y
1973	Suryakanthi	Y
1973	Anbai Thedi	Y	Y
1975	Cinema Paithiyam	Y
1975	Andharangam	Y
1976	Perum Pugazhum	Y
1977	Balaparitchai	Y
1978	Andaman Kadhali	Y	Y
1979	Imayam	Y	Y
1979	Sri Ramajayam	Y
1980	Avan Aval Adhu	Y	Y
1980	Polladhavan	Y	Y
1981	Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum	Y	Y
1982	Simla Special	Y	Y
1982	Paritchaikku Neramaachu	Y	Y
1983	Sivappu Sooriyan	Y	Y
1983	Thambathigal	Y
1984	Iru Medhaigal	Y	Y	Y
1985	Oru Malarin Payanam	Y	Y	Y
1986	Kodai Mazhai		Y
1987	Nayagan		Y
1988	Kathanayagan	Y	Y
1989	Vaai Kozhuppu	Y	Y	Y
1989	Chinna Chinna Aasaigal		Y
1990	Ethir Kaatru		Y	Y
1992	Brahmachari	Y	Y	Y
1994	Rajapandi		Y
1998	Kangalin Vaarthaigal		Y
2013	Pathayeram Kodi		Y		[11]
2015	Sivappu		Y

Awards

• Recipient of National Award for the film Mudalali^[12]
• Best film 1977-78 Balaparitchai by Tamil Nadu state government
• Best Science Fiction film Avan-Aval-Adhu State Award
• Best film 1981-82 keezh vanam sivakkum' State Award
• Best Film Director1982-83 ParitChaikku Neramaachu State Award

Politics

Srinivasan was attracted to politics from the age of seven when he carried the flag of the Symbol of Congress and went to various places around his village. This was the first instance of him canvassing for Congress and his relatives asked him to concentrate on studies and stopped him from canvassing due to the age factor.

After completing school he met Somu Rao who influenced him to follow the Communist ideology. He became close friends with Manali Kandasamy, Amirthalingam, Bala Dandayutham, and P. Ramamoorthy, which finally led him to meet Comarade Jeevanandham. They became close friends and together organised meetings in Tamil Nadu. It was at this time that the communist party was banned. Srinivasan, who at that time had been working in a government office at Selam in 1946, lost his job and was arrested. His brother Muktha Ramasamy, who was working with modern theatre, approached his boss and sought his help to release Srinivasan from jail. His films such as Mudalali, Naalu Veli Nilam & Thamarai kulam were influenced by the Communist ideology. When disputes started arising in the Communist Party he lost his interest. At this stage Srinivasan was an avid reader becoming inspired by Gandhian principles and he joined Congress in 1961. While working with Sivaji Ganesan he started organizing meetings. He canvassed for the 1962 elections and gave speeches supporting Congress under the leadership of K. Kamaraj.

He used to follow "Mouna-Viradham". He would not speak and would have only water on holy days. In his early days he used to spin his own clothes with a Raatai chakkaram (Hand machine).

When Gk Moopanar started the Tamil Maanila Congress in 1996 he appointed Srinivasan as General Secretary. Mr Gk Vasan later merged the Tamil Maanila Congress with the Indian National Congress. He is now working under the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

Srinivasan has held the positions of

• District Congress president
• Vice-President Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC)
• Gen-secretary Tamil Maanila Congress (Gk moopanar)

<http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20141110/2492066.html> <http://eci.nic.in/archive/ge1999/pollupd/pc/candlwc//tmc%28m%29pcnst.htm> <http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/12/stories/2005091208760400.htm> <http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/08/stories/2005080813920600.htm>

Bibliography

Mr. Muktha Srinivasan has written many books and short stories on cinema, history, science, literature, and spirituality in both English and Tamil. He compiled an Encyclopedia of Tamil Cinema in 1994, Tamil Thirapada varalaru, which was published in "Thuglaq".

References

1. ↑ http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/11/10213205/muktha-srinivasan-cinema-histo.html
2. ↑ "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A celebrated veteran of the south Indian film industry". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2007-04-15. Retrieved 2012-11-14. 
3. 1 2 3
4. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/aug/17/Suriyagandhi-An-old-classic-gets-new-life-1509952.html
5. 1 2 "A celebrated veteran of the south Indian film industry". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 15 April 2007. 
6. ↑ "Keezhvaanam Sivakkum | burrp!TV Guide". Tv.burrp.com. 1981-10-26. Retrieved 2012-11-14. 
7. 1 2 "Cinema Plus / Columns : Andha Naal 1954". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2008-12-12. Retrieved 2012-11-14. 
8. ↑ The Hindu. Chennai, India. 22 July 2001 http://www.hindu.com/2001/07/22/stories/0222000e.htm.  Missing or empty |title= (help)
9. ↑ http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/ie/weekly/19961230/MAY/mad08may.htm#Film
10. ↑ "Front Page : Censor Board reconstituted". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 2012-11-14. 
11. ↑ vivek, times of india. "pathayeram kodi". times of india. Retrieved 15 January 2014. 
12. ↑ <http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm5thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=5NFA.pdf/>

External links

• Indiaglitz.com
• Rajshritmil.com - Iru Methaigal
• Rajshritmil.com - Aayiram-Poi
• Rajshritmil.com - Andaman-Kaadhali
• Facebook.com
• Clickindia.com
• Muktha.co.in