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V. C. Guhanathan

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V. C. Guhanathan
Born
V. Chellaiah Guhanathan

1942
Occupation(s)Director, writer
Years active1968–2006
SpouseJaya

Vishwalingam Chellaiya Guhanathan is a Sri Lanka Tamil film screenwriter, director and producer who has worked on Indian Tamil films. He made his directorial debut in the 1970s, before proceeding to make successful films like Thanikattu Raja (1982) and Michael Raj (1987).[1]

Career

Guhanathan was born in Changanai, Sri Lanka to parents Chelliah and Rajeswari in a family of seven kids. He lived in Jaffna until he was eleven years old, before shifting to India. His initials VC stands for Vishwalingam Chellaiya, Vishwalingam is his grandfather's name while Chellaiya is his father's name.[2] Guhanathan attended Pachaiyappa’s College and his writing abilities were first spotted by actor MGR, who suggested he worked on film scripts and appointed him as director Chankaya's assistant. He first worked on the script for Pudhiya Boomi (1968), aged just 17.[3] Guhanathan later worked for AVM Studios on a contract, and proceeded to write for films starring Sivaji Ganesan, NTR and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.[4] He also wrote Kumarikottam. Under the advice of A. V. Meiyappan, Guhanathan debuted as a producer aged 20 under his banner of AVM Chithramala Combines and made successful films including Kanimuthu Paappa (1972), Rajapart Rangadurai (1973) and Petha Manam Pithu (1973). Telugu producer D. Ramanaidu then requested Guhanathan to direct his Tamil production, Madura Geetham (1977), and since he has gone on to make further films including ventures with Rajinikanth and Ajith Kumar. As of 2010, Guhanathan had written 249 scripts in nine Indian languages, directed 49 films in Tamil and Telugu and produced 51 films in Tamil.[4] He is married to actress Jaya, who he had introduced through the film Kanimuthu Paappa.

In the early 2000s, Guhanathan's films began to perform less well commercially and as a result several of his films were launched and then left incomplete. This included shelved projects such as Mahajithan with Hamsavardhan, the Vivek-starrer Server Subbu, and Ethir Savaal which would have featured Vignesh and Ranjith.[5][6]

In May 2009, Guhanathan was elected to the Film Employees Federation of South India and pledged to improve conditions and work closely with producers.[7] During his reign, he oversaw issues including the 9th All India Film Employees Federation Conference in Chennai, the release of Enthiran (2010) and controversial statements made by actor Arya against the Tamil film industry.[8] He quit in 2011 shortly after the 2011 State elections results were released and departed from his post simultaneously with Rama Narayanan who left the TFPC.

Filmography

Director
Year Film Notes
1975 Manjal Mugame Varuga
1977 Madhura Geetham
1978 Machanai Paatheengala
1978 Mangudi Minor
1979 Muyalukku Moonu Kaal
1980 Vanjam
1980 Kaksha Telugu
1982 Thanikattu Raja
1984 Nee Thodum Pothu
1985 Yemaatrathe Yemaaraathe
1987 Michael Raj
1988 Kai Naattu
1990 Muthalali Amma
1991 Paattondru Ketten
1992 Mudhal Kural
1993 Paruvu Pratistha Telugu
1996 Minor Mappillai
1997 Adrasakkai Adrasakkai
1999 Manaivikku Mariyadhai
2001 Vadagupatti Maapillai
2005 Pethi Sollai Thattathe
2006 Aadhikkam
Writer
Producer

References

  1. ^ "- Tamil News". Archived from the original on 22 December 2017.
  2. ^ "அறிஞர் அண்ணா சொன்ன அறிவுரை : வி.சி.குகநாதன்". Kungumam (in Tamil). 12 August 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, V. C. Guhanathan".
  4. ^ a b "New challenges ahead". The Hindu. 22 May 2009.
  5. ^ "25-02-02". Archived from the original on 8 November 2004.
  6. ^ "Untitled". Archived from the original on 29 October 2004.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Arya in a pickle". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2022.