MUKTHA SEENIVASAN WELL KNOWN TAMIL PRODUCER / DIRECTOR BORN 1929 OCTOBER 31

MUKTHA SEENIVASAN 

WELL KNOWN TAMIL PRODUCER / DIRECTOR 

BORN  1929 OCTOBER 31

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

Muktha Srinivasan
Born	Venkatachary Srinivasan 31 October 1929 (age 86) 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]

Career[edit]

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.[citation needed]

 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] Ramaswamy had experience in making films and finance control as he had worked with Modern Theatres, Bell Pictures and the Narayanan Company who were producing, distributing and exhibiting films. 

During the making of Mudhalali, using the idle camera, his friend Somu directed Sampoorna Ramayanam, which too was produced by Ratna Studios. Actress Sandhya (Vedavalli), who was working on Samporrna Ramayanam, became his fiend, while he directed Mudhalali and promised him, that she would act in a film directed by him in future. 

Sandhya used to address him as Cheenu. Later Sandhya worked in the film PooJaikku Vandha Malar in 1962, directed by Muktha Srinivasan. 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 Hindi film Andaz Apna Apna made in 1994, was combination of scenes enacted by Cho Ramaswamy with Nagesh in the comedy films Thenmazhai, Bommalattam and Ninaivil Nindraval - all three directed by Mukhta Srinivasan, along-with one scene from Adimai Penn, directed by K.Shankar. 

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]Jayalalithaa sang duets with T.M. Sounderrajan in directorial ventures of Muktha - Suryagandhi and Anbai Thedi with music composed by M.S.Vishwanathan. He wanted to direct Jayalalithaa in Paritchaikku Neramaachu, however she had become member of parliament and hence he replaced her with Sujatha.

K. Balachandar wrote the story and dialogue for the film Poojaiku Vandha Malar, produced by Muktha. He introduced Vaali as lyricist, actresses Devika, Deepa and others to the silver screen. Lyricist Vaali once quoted "Had M.S.Vishwanathan not agreed to give me the chance to write lyrics in the film, I would have never become popular. It was his tunes, which made me a household name. 

Jayalalithaa flanked by Vidya (to her right)
and Muktha, daughters of V Ramaswamy

Muktha Srinivasan accepted me as the lyrcist only due to M.S.Viswanathan." 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 also casted actress Savithri in character roles in Andharangam, Suryagandhi.

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 which were all original stories and not remakes. 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 was Muktha Ramaswamy and his sister was Revathi. He married Prema in He has three children Muktha S. Sundar, Mukhta Ravi and Maya.

Bibliography[edit]

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".

Irupadam Noorrandin Kathaigal Part I -V
Thejasvi
Thalaimurai Kathaigal
Uthami
Thandanikku Thappiya Kutrangal
Manu
Mukthavin Sirukathaigal
Athma Vendradhu
Sollatha Rakasiyam
Thirumanam Punidhamanathu
Mana Santhippu
Manushya Dharmam
Koothukaran Thopu
Mukthavin Katturaigal
Manitha Neya Kathaigal
Edhir Veettu Hema
Kaala Vellam
Parampariyam
Ulagathin Sirantha Kadaigal Part – I & II
Ilakkiyathil Inaiyum India
Tamil Thiraippada Varalaru
Tamil Thiraippada Thayarippalargalin Varalaru
Kalainjargalodu Nan
Kathasiriyargalodu Nan
Arinjarkalodu Nan
Ninaivu Edugal
Kopamum Sirippum
Samooga Nidhi Porattangal
Manudam Kanda Maga Gyanigal
Inaiyatra Sadanaiyalargal Part I – V
Noolgal Tharum Nunnarivu Part I & II
Ramayanathil Thunai Kadha pathirangal
Manavarkalukana India Suthanthira Porattam – Tamil
Manavarkalukana India Suthanthira Porattam – English
Barathiyin Gyana Semmal
Tamil Thayaripalargal Varalaru Part I & II
Film Chamber Varalaru – in Tamil and in English
Kalidasanin Megadhoodam
Vada Mozhi Ilakkiyam
Nan Santhitha Kalaijargal
Raghu Vamasa Maha Kaviyam
Innum Sila Kadaigal