Visu
Introduction '''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. 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'' (1981), directed by S. P. Muthuraman.
Career He started his career as a theatre artist, working with Y. G. Parthasarathy's drama troupe. He was writing scripts for stage dramas before getting into the film industry as an assistant to legendary director K. Balachander. During his time with Balachander, he wrote screenplays for numerous films including ''Pattina Pravesam'' (1977), ''Avan Aval Adhu'' (1980), ''Thillu Mullu'' (1981) and ''Netrikkan'' (1981). ''Thillu Mullu'' and ''Netrikkan'', which were both released in 1981, became box office hits for actor Rajinikanth.Visu made his debut as an actor in the film ''Kudumbam Oru Kadambam'' (1981), for which he also wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by S. P. Muthuraman. His first film as a director was ''Kanmani Poonga'' (1982). Most of his films including ''Manal Kayiru'' (1982), ''Dowry Kalyanam'' (1983), ''Samsaram Adhu Minsaram'' (1986), ''Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi'' (1987), ''Penmani Aval Kanmani'' (1988), ''Vedikkai En Vadikkai'' (1990) and ''Pattukottai Periyappa'' (1994) spoke about the issues of urban middle-class families. These films, which were released in the mid-80s, turned out to be crowd pullers, particularly with regard to the female audience. His other super hit was ''Chidambara Rahasiyam'' (1985), which is considered a cult-classic.While he has directed a rage of actors on screen, he and his brother Kishmu used to star in his films as well in memorable roles. His film ''Neenga Nalla Irukkanum'' won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1992.Based on prohibition, the film was the last onscreen appearance of then chief minister, J. Jayalalithaa.He has also shared the screen with Rajinikanth in ''Nallavanukku Nallavan'' (1984), ''Mr. Bharath'' (1986), ''Mannan'' (1992), ''Uzhaippali'' (1993) and ''Arunachalam'' (1997).During the ending phase of his career, he made movies which did not leave a lasting mark on the audience as ''Vaa Magale Vaa'' (1994), ''Meendum Savithri'' (1996) and ''Sigamani Ramamani'' (2001).Actor and stage artiste S. Ve. Shekher, who has worked in over 20 films with Visu, said that he was an extremely disciplined and committed. As an actor, he was last seen in ''Manal Kayiru 2'' (2016), the sequel to one of his earliest directorial successes, ''Manal Kayiru''.He is known to have starred in over 60 films and directed around 25 films.
Style In most of the films Visu directed, 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, such as ''Kudumbam Oru Kadambam'', ''Samsaram Adhu Minsaram'', ''Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi'', ''Kavalan Avan Kovalan'', ''Penmani Aval Kanmani'', ''Varavu Nalla Uravu'' and ''Vedikkai En Vadikkai''. His films 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 his films there is a character named Uma, named after a school teacher who predicted his rise to fame after reading one of his scripts when he was a travel agent.
Other works Visu became known for hosting live debates on television, namely  ''Arattai Arangam'' on Sun TV and ''Visuvin Makkal Arangam'' on Jaya TV. He joined and campaigned for BJP.
Final years and death On 22 March 2020 at Chennai, Visu died of kidney failure at the age of 74.
Filmography ;Films Year Title Credited asRole NotesDirectorWriterActor1977''Pattina Pravesam''         1978''Sadhurangam''         also dialogue 1980''Avan Aval Adhu''         1980''Mazhalai Pattalam''         1981''Thillu Mullu''       As a film crew  Voice-Over Actor (Dubbing) 1981''Netrikkan''         1981''Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum''         1981''Kudumbam Oru Kadambam''        Srinivasa Raghavan  1982''Kanmani Poonga''        Cricketer Ramkumar  1982''Simla Special''   1982''Manal Kayiru''        Uthramerur Narathar Naidu  1982''Pudhukavithai''        1983''Oru Kai Paappom''        Kai adi Kamalaknnan 1983''Dowry Kalyanam''        Ganesh  1984''Nallavanukku Nallavan''        Owner Gangadharan  1984''Puyal Kadantha Boomi''        Nammaalu allies Namachivaayan  1984''Rajathanthiram''        Bairavan  1984''Vaai Sollil Veeranadi''        Vengapuli Varadhachari  1984''Nanayam Illatha Nanayam''        Veerapandi 1984''Oorukku Upadesam''        Sankaran  1985''Pudhiya Sagaptham'' Ramadasaradan  1985''Aval Sumangalithan''        Watchman Aarumugam  1985''Ketti Melam''         1985''Chidambara Rahasiyam''        Beemarao  1986''Mr. Bharath'' Kumaresa Gounder  1986''Dharma Pathini'' Lawyer "Vicks" Vardarajan  1986''Samsaram Adhu Minsaram'' Ammaiyappa Mudaliyar National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment 1986''Oomai Vizhigal''        Rathnasabapathy  1986''Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu''        Thulasi's father 1986''Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu''        Ponnambalam 1986''Anandha Kanneer''        Paapa Panchu 1987''Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi''        Naagarkoil Naadhamuni  1987''Kavalan Avan Kovalan''        Prabhu's Father-in-law   1987''Kathai Kathaiyam Karanamam''         1987''Srimathi Oka Bahumathi''          Telugu film; remake of ''Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi'' 1988''Veedu Manaivi Makkal''        Subbaiah Pillai  1988''Penmani Aval Kanmani''        Radio Mama  1988''Aadade Aadharam''         Nandi Award for Second Best Story Writer  Telugu film; remake of ''Penmani Aval Kanmani'' 1988''Mappillai Sir''        Vakkil Varadharajan  1988''Illu Illalu Pillalu''         Telugu film; remake of ''Veedu Manaivi Makkal'' 1989''Sakalakala Sammandhi''        Mayavaram Malayappan 1990''Varavu Nalla Uravu''        Appa Ambalavanar  Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer 1990''Vedikkai En Vadikkai''        Kaavisattai Kandasamy  1992''Mannan''        Viswanathan  1992''Urimai Oonjaladugiradhu''        Kasturi's Father  1992''Neenga Nalla Irukkanum''         National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues 1993''Uzhaippali''       Barrister  1993''Sinna Mapplai''        Marriage Broker  1994''Pattukottai Periyappa''        Pattukottai Periyappa   1994 ''Aranmanai Kaavalan''        Silai thirudan Santhanam  1994''Vaa Magale Vaa''        Viswanathan 1994''Vanaja Girija''        Business man Ramanathan  1994''Vaanga Partner Vaanga''        Ganapathi  1995''Mayabazar''        Vishwanathan 1995''God Father''        Viswanatham Telugu film 1996''Irattai Roja''        Anchor  Guest appearance 1996''Meendum Savithri''        Narayana Moorthy 1996NetiSavithriTelugu film 1997''Nesam''        Himself  1997''Aravindhan''         1997''Adimai Changili''         1997''Vasuki''        Ramasamy  1997''Arunachalam''        Adv. Rangachari  1997''Sishya''        Aadhimoolam 1997''Vaimaye Vellum''        1998''Bhagavath Singh''          1999''Mannavaru Chinnavaru''        Shanmugasundaram  1999''Anbulla Kadhalukku''        Chandrasekhar 2000''Kakkai Siraginilae''        Judge 2000''Vaanavil''        Himself  2001''Sigamani Ramamani''        Sundaramoorthy  2001''Krishna Krishna''        Advocate Viswanathan  Guest appearance 2001''Middle Class Madhavan''        Advocate 2001''Vadagupatti Maapillai''        Gomathi Shankar2001''Looty''        Dr. Kuzhanthavelu  2001''Vedham''         Guest appearance2003''Thithikudhe''        Himself  2004''Maha Nadigan''         2005''Ji''        Raghavan  2007''Cheena Thaana 001''        Governor  Guest appearance 2007''Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum''          Guest appearance 2008''Ellam Avan Seyal''         2009''Innoruvan''        Judge  2009''Kannukulle''         2013''Alex Pandian''        Chief Minister 2013''Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu''        Judge  2016''Manal Kayiru 2''        Uthramerur Narathar Naidu ;Television*''Arattai Arangam'' - Sun TV*''Makkal Arangam'' - Jaya TV*''Naalavathu Mudichu'' - Jaya TV
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