C. V. Sridhar

• Name — C. V. Sridhar • Birth Name — Chithamur Vijayaragavalu Sridhar • Born — 22 July 1933 • Birthplace — Chithamur, Chingleput District, Madras Presidency, British India (now Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India) • Died — 20 October 2008 • Place of death — Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India • Spouse — Devasena • Children — 2 • Years Active — 1959–1991 • Occupation — * Film director • producer • screenwriter

In 1951, 18-year-old Sridhar went to AVM Productions with his story Latchiyavathi but P. Neelakantan rejected his story. 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 screenwriter in Ratha Paasam. Later AVM Productions produced it in Hindi as Bhaai Bhaai in 1956 starring Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar but direction was by R. S. Mani. The film Bhai Bhai gave a big commercial break for the music director Madan Mohan and the writer Sridhar himself. 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 many international books about films and directors, about film production, critical and technical essays. Sridhar alway looked up to director V. Shantaram.

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.

He started his own production company Chitralaya (the emblem was designed by Art director Ganga) in 1961 with his friends Gopu, V. Nagabushanam, A. Vincent, P. N. 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. He made a series of commercially successful films like Nenjil Or Aalayam, Kaadhalikka Neramillai, Vennira Adai and many more.

Sridhar died of Cardiac arrest in Chennai on 20 October 2008, aged 75.

• Year — Film — Credited as — Language — Notes • Director — Producer — Story — Screenplay/ Dialogues • 1954 — Ratha Paasam — Tamil • Ethir Paradhathu • 1955 — Maheswari • Latchadhipathi — Telugu dubbing of Parivartana • Maaman Magal • 1956 — Amara Deepam • Bhai-Bhai — Hindi • Mathar Kula Manickam — Tamil • 1957 — Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi • Yaar Paiyyan • 1958 — Uthama Puthiran • 1959 — Manjal Mahimai • Kalyana Parisu — Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil • 1960 — Pelli Kanuka — Telugu • Meenda Sorgam — Tamil • Vidivelli • 1961 — Velugu Needalu — Telugu • Nazrana — Hindi — Filmfare Award for Best Story • Punar Jenmam — Tamil • Then Nilavu • 1962 — Nenjil Or Aalayam — President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Tamil • Policekaran Magal • Sumaithaangi • 1963 — Chittor Rani Padmini • Dil Ek Mandir — Hindi — Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Director Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Story • Nenjam Marappathillai — Tamil • 1964 — Kaadhalikka Neramillai • Kalai Kovil • 1965 — Venniradai • 1966 — Kodimalar • Manase Mandiram — Telugu • Pyar Kiye Jaa — Hindi • 1967 — Nenjirukkum Varai — Tamil • Nai Roshni — Hindi • Ooty Varai Uravu — Tamil • 1968 — Saathi — Hindi • Galatta Kalyanam — Tamil • 1969 — Sivantha Mann • 1970 — Dharti — Hindi • 1971 — Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa — Tamil • Avalukendru Or Manam • Duniya Kya Jane — Hindi • 1973 — Alaigal — Tamil — 25th Film • Gehri Chaal — Hindi • 1974 — Urimai Kural — Tamil — First movie with MGR • 1975 — Vaira Nenjam • Ninagai Nanu — Kannada • Lakshmi Nirdoshi — Telugu — Telugu dubbing of Alaigal (1973) • Jagruthi — Kannada • 1976 — Oh Manju — Tamil • 1977 — Seeta Geeta Datithe — Telugu • Anna Nee En Deivam — Tamil • Meenava Nanban — Second movie with MGR. • 1978 — Ilamai Oonjalaadugirathu • Vayasu Pilichindi — Telugu • 1979 — Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren / Urvasi Neene Nanna Preyasi / Urvasi Neeve Naa Preyasi — Tamil / Kannada / Telugu • 1980 — Soundaryame Varuga Varuga — Tamil • 1981 — Mohana Punnagai • 1982 — Ninaivellam Nithya • Dil-E-Nadaan — Hindi • 1983 — Thudikkum Karangal — Tamil • Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu • 1984 — Alaya Deepam • 1985 — Unnai Thedi Varuven • Thendrale Ennai Thodu • Alaya Deepam — Telugu — | • 1986 — Yaaro Ezhuthiya Kavithai • Naanum Oru Thozhilali • Kulirkaala Megangal • 1987 — Iniya Uravu Poothathu — 50th Film • 1988 — Premayanam — Telugu • 1991 — Thanthu Vitten Ennai — Tamil