C. V. Sridhar

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C. V. Sridhar
200 px
Born Chithamur Vijayaraghavulu Sridhar
(1933-07-22)22 July 1933
Chithamur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Chennai
Occupation
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active 1959–1991
Spouse(s) Devasena
Parent(s) Vijayaraghavulu Reddiar
Thaayaramma

C. V. Sridhar (22 July 1933 – 20 October 2008) was a South Indian screenwriter and film director. He has directed nearly 60 films in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu.

Early life

Sridhar hailed from Chitthamur, a village near Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu. He studied at St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, where he began writing and staging plays while he was in Grade seven.

Career

Entry

In 1951, 18-year-old Sridhar went to AVM Productions with his story Latchiyavathi but P. Neelakantan rejected his story.[1] Avvai T. K. Shanmugam was very much impressed by the story and Sridhar wrote the screenplay and dialogues for the drama. It was staged as Raththa Paasam and was one of the most successful dramas staged by TKS brothers. Sridhar was proudly taken to the stage and introduced to the audience as the writer. It was later produced jointly by TKS and Jupiter pictures under Jupiter – Avvai Productions where Jupiter pictures recommended some other writer to write the dialogues for the film. It was T. K. Shanmugam who was staunch that Sridhar should write the screenplay and dialogues. Sridhar made his entry into films as a screen writer in Raththa Paasam. Later AVM Productions produced it in Hindi as Bhaai Bhaai starring Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar. The film gave a big commercial break for the music director Madan Mohan.[2]

Sridhar wrote story and dialogues for Edhir Paradhathu. Sridhar wrote the dialogues in Tamil for the Telugu movie Parivartana and the movie was dubbed in 1955 as Latchadhipathi. Sridhar continued on writing for films like Maaman Magal, Maheswari, Amara Deepam, Maadharkula Manikkam, Engal Veetu Mahalakshmi, Yaar Paiyan, Manjal Mahimai, Uthama Puthiran and Punar Jenmam.

While working in Modern Theatres as writer for the film Maheswari, Sridhar had an opportunity to improve his knowledge and skills about film production. T. R. Sundaram had a huge library of international books about great films and directors, about film production, critical and technical essays. Sridhar read those books and gained immense knowledge in film making. Sridhar had a very high esteem on the legendary director V. Shantaram.[3]

Venus Pictures

In 1956, Sridhar turned producer along with associates Krishnamoorthi, Govindarajan and Sundararajan in Venus Pictures where he scripted Amara Deepam and followed by Uthama Puthiran. Both films had Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini as the main roles. He made his debut as a director with Kalyana Parisu. This movie ran for more than 25 weeks, and is revered to this day as a milestone in the history of Tamil cinema. After this, he had a huge fan following and his name was talked about among the middle class movie going audience.[4]

Chithralaya

He started his own production company Chithralaya (the emblem was designed by Art director Ganga) in 1961 with his friends Gopu, Vincent, Sundaram and Tiruchi Arunachalam made Then Nilavu. The latter which had Gemini Ganesan and Vyjayanthimala in the lead was the first Tamil film to be shot in Jammu and Kashmir.[5] He made a series of commercially successful films like Nenjil Ore Alayam, Kaadhalikka Neramillai, Vennira Adai and many more.

Film-making style

Sridhar wrote in a variety of styles, from the comical Kaadhalikka Neramillai to the serious Nenjil Or Aalayam. The latter was remade in Hindi with Rajendra Kumar and Meena Kumari as Dil Ek Mandir which earn him two nomination at Filmfare Awards, Best Director and Best Story categories. He brought out the best in comedians T. R. Ramachandran, K. A. Thangavelu, and Nagesh, and helped introduce Murthy to a wider audience in Vennira Adai. Murthy, now a TV and movie comedian, is still sometimes referred to as "Venniradai Moorthy" after the fame he received from his performance in the movie.[6][7]

Sridhar's Kaadhalikka Neramillai was one of the greatest blockbusters of Tamil film history;[citation needed]. It was later remade in Hindi with actor Kishore Kumar and Shashi Kapoor. Sridhar helped launch the career of some of the celebrities in Tamil cinema namely R. Muthuraman and Devika in Nenjil Or Aalayam, Sreekanth, J. Jayalalithaa, Vennira Aadai Nirmala and Venniradai Moorthy in Vennira Adai (White Dress), Ravichandran, Kanchana and Rajasree in Kaadhalikka Neramillai, Jayashree in Thendralae Ennai Thodu and Vikram in Thanthu Vitten Ennai.

His Bollywood films include Nazrana (1961), Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Pyar Kiye Jaa (1966) and Gehri Chaal (1973). Nazrana, starring by Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, Usha Kiran and Gemini Ganesan in guest appearance, earned him Filmfare Award for Best Story.

Sridhar's films with Sivaji Ganesan include Ooty Varai Uravu, Nenjirukkum Varai, Sivantha Mann. Sivanthaman was the first color movie in Tamil shot at foreign locations. Dharti, the Hindi version was released in 1970.

With M. G. Ramachandran, he made Urimai Kural (which was a commercial success) and Meenava Nanban (which happened to be MGR's last movie).

In all his films he used a combination of stars, melodrama and melodious songs. He has directed films in Tamil, Hindi and Telugu. Sridhar was considered an expert in song picturisation as he could transform any song into sheer poetry. The formidable Sridhar – KannadasanM. S. Viswanathan combination held a magic spell on the audience and the songs contributed to the tremendous success of those films.

Retirement and death

In 1997 when Sridhar was in poor health, Rajinikanth offered financial help to tide him over, but Sridhar refused the charity. He gave the same reply to director P. Vasu, who was his disciple. Sridhar, whose career spanned four decades, is credited with understanding the pulse of the public and creating movies in tune with the times.

Sridhar died of Heart attack in Chennai on 20 October 2008.[8]

Filmography

List of films directed by Sridhar. You may refer to the notes for the extra activities of him in the particular films.

Year Film Credited as Language Notes
Director Producer Story Screenplay/ Dialogues
1954 Ratha Paasam Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1954 Edhir Paradhathu Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1955 Maheswari Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1955 Latchadhipathi Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Tamil Telugu dubbing of Parivartana
1955 Maman Magal Green tickY Tamil
1956 Amara Deepam Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1956 Bhai-Bhai Green tickY Hindi
1956 Madhar Kula Manikkam Green tickY Tamil
1957 Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi Green tickY Tamil
1957 Yaar Paiyan Green tickY Tamil
1958 Uthama Puthiran Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1959 Manjal Mahimai Green tickY Tamil
1959 Kalyana Parisu Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1960 Pelli Kanuka Green tickY Green tickY Telugu
1960 Meenda Sorgam Green tickY Tamil
1960 Vidivelli Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1961 Then Nilavu Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1961 Punar Jenmam Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Tamil
1961 Nazrana Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Hindi Filmfare Award for Best Story
1962 Sumaithaangi Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1962 Policekaran Magal Green tickY Tamil
1962 Nenjil Or Aalayam Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1963 Nenjam Marappathillai Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY Tamil
1963 Dil Ek Mandir Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN Hindi Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Director
Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Story
1964 Kalai Kovil Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1964 Kaadhalikka Neramillai Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1965 Vennira Aadai Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1966 Pyar Kiye Jaa Green tickY Hindi
1966 Manase Mandiram Green tickY Telugu
1966 Kodimalar Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1967 Nenjirukkum Varai Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Tamil
1967 Nai Roshni Green tickY Hindi
1967 Ooty Varai Uravu Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1968 Saathi Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN Hindi
1969 Sivandha Mann Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1970 Uttharavindri Ulley Vaa Green tickY Tamil
1970 Dharti Green tickY Hindi
1971 Duniya Kya Jane Green tickY Hindi
1971 Avalukendru Oru Manam Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1973 Alaigal Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1973 Gehri Chaal Green tickY Green tickY Hindi
1974 Urimai Kural Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1975 Vaira Nenjam Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1975 Ninagai Nanu Green tickY Telugu
1975 Lakshmi Nirdoshi Green tickY
1975 Jagruthi Green tickY Hindi
1976 Oh Manju Green tickY Tamil
1977 Seeta Geeta Datithe Green tickY Tamil
1977 Anna Nee En Deivam Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1977 Meenava Nanban Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1978 Ilamai Oonjalaadugirathu Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1978 Vayasu Pilichindi Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Telugu
1979 Urvasi Niney Naa Priyasi Green tickY
1979 Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1980 Saundariyame Varuga Varuga Green tickY Tamil
1980 Hare Krishna Hello Radha Green tickY
1981 Mohana Punnagai Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1982 Ninaivellam Nithya Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1982 Dil-E-Nadaan Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Hindi
1983 Thudikkum Karangal Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1983 Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1984 Alaya Deepam Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1984 Unnaithedi Varuven Green tickY Tamil
1984 Thendraley Ennai Thodu Green tickY Tamil
1986 Yaaro Ezhuthiya Kavithai Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1986 Naanum Oru Thozhilali Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1986 Kulirkaala Megangal Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1987 Iniya Uravu Poothathu Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Tamil
1988 Premayanam Green tickY Telugu
1991 Thanthu Vitten Ennai Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Tamil

Awards

Won
Nominated

References

External links