Visu

Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan (1 July 1945 – 22 March 2020), best known by his stage name Visu, was an Indian writer, director, stage, film and television actor and talk-show host.[3] Visu initially worked as an assistant to director K. Balachander until becoming a director himself. He later began acting, with his first film being Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, directed by S. P. Muthuraman.

Visu
Born	Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan[1] (1945-07-01)1 July 1945[2] Tamil Nadu, India
Died	22 March 2020(2020-03-22) (aged 74) Chennai, India
Occupation	Director, writer, stage actor, film actor, television host.
Years active	1981–2016
Spouse(s)	Sundhari (m.1975–2020)
Children	Lavanya, Sangeetha and Kalpana
Relatives	Kishmu (brother)

Style

"Growing up in a joint family, I observed how each person had a difference of opinion. It wasn't bad; just that we were different. I wondered, ‘Wouldn't other joint families have similar issues?’ So I started writing scripts that reflect the day-to-day scenario in a joint family".

– Visu in 2016[4]

In Visu's films, all the characters were given equal importance. Often, there was huge house wherein a joint family would reside and the character of Visu would solve their problems. Many of Visu's film titles contain rhyming words, a trait which began with Samsaram Adhu Minsaram. His movies focused on many family issues like dowry , need of remarriage for women , mother in law-Daughter in law disputes and so on which were occurring that time. In most of the films he directed there's a character named Uma,that's his wife's name.[5]

Other works

A philanthropist, Visu had been supporting the needy through his own foundation. He became known for hosting live debates on television, namely Visuvin Makkal Arangam on Jaya TV and Arattai Arangam on Sun TV.[6][7] He joined and campaigned for BJP.[8]

Death

Visu died from kidney failure[9] on 22 March 2020[10][11] at Chennai.[12]

Filmography

Year	Title	Credited as			Role	Notes
		Director	Writer	Actor
1977	Pattina Pravesam	N	Y	N
1978	Sadhurangam	N	Y	N		also dialogue
1980	Avan Aval Adhu	N	Y	N
1980	Mazhalai Pattalam	N	Y	N
1981	Thillu Mullu	N	Y	Y	As a film crew	Voice-Over Actor (Dubbing)
1981	Netrikkann	N	Y	N
1981	Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum	N	Y	N
1981	Kudumbam Oru Kadambam	N	Y	Y	Srinivasa Raghavan
1982	Kanmani Poonga	Y	Y	Y	Cricketer Ramkumar
1982	Simla Special	N	Y	N
1982	Manal Kayiru	Y	Y	Y	Uthramerur Narathar Naidu
1982	Pudhukavithai	N	Y	N
1983	Dowry Kalyanam	Y	Y	Y	Ganesh
1984	Nallavanuku Nallavan	N	Y	Y	Owner Gangadharan
1984	Puyal Kadantha Boomi	Y	Y	Y	Nammaalu alies Namachivaayan
1984	Rajathandhiram	Y	Y	Y	Bairavan
1984	Vaai Sollil Veeranadi	Y	Y	Y	Vengapuli Varadhachari
1984	Naanayamillatha Naanayam	Y	Y	Y	Veerapandi
1984	Oorukku Upadesam	N	N	Y	Sankaran
1985	Puthiya Sagaptham	Y	Y	Y	Ramadasaradan
1985	Aval Sumangalithan	Y	Y	Y	Watchman Aarumugam
1985	Ketti Melam	Y	Y	Y
1985	Chidambara Rahasiyam	Y	Y	Y	Beemarao
1986	Mr. Bharath	N	Y	Y	Kumaresa Gounder
1986	Samsaram Adhu Minsaaram	Y	Y	Y	Ammaiyappa Mudaliyar	National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
1986	Oomai Vizhigal	N	N	Y	Rathnasabapathy
1986	Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu	N	N	Y	Thulasi's father
1986	Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu	N	N	Y
1986	Anandha Kanneer	N	N	Y
1987	Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi	Y	Y	Y	Naagarkoil Naadhamuni
1987	Kavalan Avan Kovalan	Y	Y	Y	Prabhu's Father-in-law
1987	Aadade Aadharam	Y	Y	Y		Telugu film
1987	Kathai Kathayam Karanamam	N	N	Y
1988	Penmani Aval Kanmani	Y	Y	Y	Radio Mama
1988	Veedu Manaivi Makkal	N	N	Y	Subbaiah Pillai
1988	Mappillai Sir	N	N	Y	Sock Puppet
1989	Sakalakala Sammandhi	Y	Y	Y	Mayavaram Malayappan
1990	Varavu Nalla Uravu	Y	Y	Y	Appa Ambalavanar	Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer
1990	Vedikkai En Vadikkai	Y	Y	Y	Kaavisattai Kandasamy
1992	Mannan	N	N	Y	Viswanathan
1992	Urimai Oonjaladugirathu	Y	Y	Y	Kasturi's Father
1992	Neenga Nalla Irukkanum	Y	Y	Y		National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
1993	Uzhaippali	N	N	Y	Barrister
1993	Chinna Mapillai	N	N	Y	Marriage Broker
1994	Pattukottai Periyappa	Y	Y	Y	Pattukottai Periyappa
1994	Aranmanai Kaavalan	N	N	Y	CBI Officer
1994	Vaa Magale Vaa	Y	Y	Y	Viswanathan
1994	Vanaja Girija	N	N	Y	Business man Ramanathan
1994	Vaanga Partner Vaanga	N	N	Y	Ganapathi
1995	Mayabazar	N	N	Y
1995	God Father	N	N	Y	Viswanatham	Telugu film
1996	Irattai Roja	N	N	Y		Guest appearance
1996	Meendum Savithri	Y	Y	Y	Narayana Moorthy
1997	Nesam	N	N	Y
1997	Aravindhan	N	N	Y
1997	Adimai Changili	N	N	Y
1997	Vasuki	N	N	Y	Ramasamy
1997	Arunachalam	N	N	Y	Adv. Rangachari
1997	Sishya	N	N	Y
1997	Vaimaye Vellum	N	N	Y
1998	Bhagavath Singh	N	N	Y
1999	Anbulla Kadhalukku	N	N	Y
1999	Mannavaru Chinnavaru	N	N	Y
2000	Kakkai Siraginilae	N	N	Y
2000	Vaanavil	N	N	Y	himself
2001	Sigamani Ramamani	Y	Y	Y	Sundaramoorthy
2001	Krishna Krishna	N	N	Y	Advocate Viswanathan	Guest appearance
2001	Middle Class Madhavan	N	N	Y	Advocate
2001	Vadagupatti Maapillai	N	N	Y	Gomathi Shankar
2001	Looty	N	N	Y
2003	Thithikudhe	N	N	Y	himself
2004	Maha Nadigan	N	N	Y
2005	Ji	N	N	Y	Raghavan
2007	Cheena Thaana 001	N	N	Y	Governor	Guest role
2007	Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum	N	N	Y		Guest role
2008	Ellam Avan Seyal	N	N	Y
2009	Innoruvan	N	N	Y	Judge
2009	Kannukulle	N	N	Y
2013	Alex Pandian	N	N	Y	Chief Minister
2013	Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu	N	N	Y	Judge
2016	Manal Kayiru 2	N	Y	Y	Uthramerur Narathar Naidu

References

1. "CHATTING for a cause". The Hindu. 19 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
2. "TANTIS". tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
3. Balasubramanian, V. (3 April 2014). "I never left the stage". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019.
4. "Looking back at the golden years". The New Indian Express. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
5. Rangan, Baradwaj (23 March 2020). "A Tribute To Visu, Known For His Middle-Class Melodramas Like Samsaram Adhu Minsaram". Film Companion. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
6. thmrn. "The Hindu: Inimitable Visu". hindu.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
7. Devalla, Rani (11 November 2014). "A Passionate journey". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019.
8. "Veteran actor Visu joins BJP". Deccan Chronicle. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
9. "Veteran Kollywood director Visu passes away at 74". The New Indian Express. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
10. "உடல்நலக்குறைவால் நடிகர் விசு காலமானார்..!" [Actor Visu expired due to illness]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
11. "Director Visu passes away". The Times of India. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
12. "Veteran Kollywood director Visu passes away at 74". The News Minute. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

External links

• Visu on IMDb