K. Shankar

• Name — K. Shankar • Birth Name — Kannan Shankar • Born — 17 March 1926 • Birthplace — Kunnesscuri, Madras Presidency, British India • Died — 5 March 2006 • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter, Film editor • Parents — Father: Kannan Mother: Rukmani

Shankar started his film career as an editor Assistant at Central Studios, Coimbatore in 1939 and later moved to Pakshiraja Studios. He later became a successful editor at AVM Studios, before moving into film direction. An editor can become an excellent director and thus Shankar got the opportunity to direct first ever film, a Sinhala film Doctor (1956) under AVM banner. He continued to direct few other films especially Bhookailasa (Kannada) and Bhookailas (Telugu) in the year 1958. Shankar decided to move on so he came out of AVM and directed his first outside film Orey Vazhi (1959). He made several films with M. G. R including Panathottam (1963), Kalangarai Vilakkam (1965), Chandrodayam (1966) and Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968). Shankar was also credited with creating M. G. R in his own production, Adimai Penn (1969). Pallandu Vaazhga (1975), Uzhaikkum Karangal (1976) and Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977) were other films that were released. He gave blockbuster film Aalayamani (1962) for Sivaji Ganesan and went on to direct in other films like Andavan Kattalai (1964), Anbu Karangal (1965), Miruthanga Chakravarthi (1983), Chiranjeevi (1984), Ezhuthatha Sattangal (1984) and Raja Rishi (1985). He gave superhits Hindi films like Rajkumar (1964), Sachaai (1969) and Shehzada (1972). He has also directed Vijayakanth in five films such as Navagraha Nayagi (1985), Nambinar Keduvathillai (1986), Velundu Vinaiyillai (1987), Thambi Thanga Kambi (1988) and Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal (1989). His continuous making of devotional movies such as Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam (1992), Saranam Saranam Manikanta (1993), Manikantana Mahime (1993) and Vetri Vinayagar (1996).

• Year — Film — Credited as — Language — Notes • Director — Editor • 1953 — Ladki — Hindi • 1954 — Sangham — Telugu • 1954 — Penn — Tamil • 1954 — Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam — Telugu • 1956 — Doctor — Sinhala • 1956 — Nagadevatha — Tamil • 1958 — Bhookailasa — Kannada • 1958 — Bhookailas — Telugu — Dubbed in Tamil as Baktha Ravana • 1959 — Orey Vazhi — Tamil • 1959 — Sivagangai Seemai — Tamil • 1960 — Kavalai Illaadha Manithan — Tamil • 1960 — Kairasi — Tamil • 1961 — Arappavan — Malayalam • 1962 — Jhoola — Hindi • 1962 — Paadha Kaanikkai — Tamil • 1962 — Aadi Perukku — Tamil • 1962 — Aalayamani — Tamil • 1963 — Panathottam — Tamil • 1963 — Idhu Sathiyam — Tamil • 1963 — Bharosa — Hindi • 1963 — Ezhai Pangalan — Tamil • 1964 — Andavan Kattalai — Tamil • 1964 — Rajkumar — Hindi • 1965 — Anbu Karangal — Tamil • 1965 — Panchavarna Kili — Tamil • 1965 — Kalangarai Vilakkam — Tamil • 1966 — Chandrodayam — Tamil • 1966 — Gowri Kalyanam — Tamil • 1968 — Kudiyirundha Koyil — Tamil • 1968 — Kallum Kaniyagum — Tamil • 1969 — Adimaippenn — Tamil • 1969 — Sachaai — Hindi • 1970 — Koi Ghulam Nahi — Hindi • 1971 — Parde Ke Peechey — Hindi • 1972 — Bandagi — Hindi • 1972 — Shehzada — Hindi • 1974 — Chhote Sarkar — Hindi • 1975 — Pallandu Vazhga — Tamil • 1975 — Raja — Hindi • 1976 — Uzhaikkum Karangal — Tamil • 1977 — Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga — Tamil • 1977 — Sthree Janmam — Malayalam • 1978 — Varuvan Vadivelan — Tamil • 1978 — Vayasu Ponnu — Tamil • 1978 — Sundarimaarude Swapnangal — Malayalam • 1978 — Prathyaksha Deivam — Malayalam • 1978 — Kungumam Kathai Sollugiradhu — Tamil • 1979 — Srungara Ramudu — Telugu • 1979 — Suprabatham — Tamil • 1979 — Neelakadalin Orathile — Tamil • 1981 — Bala Nagamma — Tamil — Dubbed in Telugu with same name Dubbed in Hindi as Jadu Nagari • 1981 — Devi Dharisanam — Tamil • 1981 — Deiva Thirumanangal — Tamil — Director of story "Srinivasa Kalyanam" • 1982 — Erattai Manithan — Tamil • 1982 — Thaai Mookaambikai — Tamil • 1983 — Miruthanga Chakravarthi — Tamil • 1984 — Chiranjeevi — Tamil • 1984 — Ezhuthatha Sattangal — Tamil • 1985 — Navagraha Nayagi — Tamil • 1985 — Raja Rishi — Tamil • 1986 — Nambinar Keduvathillai — Tamil • 1986 — Aayiram Kannudayaal — Tamil • 1987 — Velundu Vinaiyillai — Tamil • 1987 — Mupperum Deviyar — Tamil • 1988 — Thambi Thanga Kambi — Tamil • 1989 — Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal — Tamil • 1992 — Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam — Malayalam • 1993 — Saranam Saranam Manikanta — Telugu • 1993 — Manikantana Mahime — Kannada — Dubbed in Hindi as Vishnuputra • 1993 — Swamy Ayyappa Sabarimalai — Kannada • 1993 — Nallathe Nadakkum — Tamil • 1996 — Vetri Vinayagar — Tamil — Dubbed in Hindi as Jai Ganesh Deva

Shankar died due to heart attack at his residence on 5 March 2006 at the age of 79. He is married to Kamakshi Ammal and has six children. He has daughters Vijayalakshmi, Rukmani and Radha and sons Sivaprasad, Saseetharan and Ganesan. Sivaprasad made his directorial debut with Kalyana Rasi (1991).