After his visit to the mortal remains of legendary filmmaker AVM Saravanan, Rajinikanth spoke to the media about the demise and what the man meant to him.
Speaking about his collaborations with AVM Saravanan and the production house, Rajinikanth said, "He loved me a lot and was a well-wisher of mine. He has stood by me when I went through difficult times. I have acted in nine films in AVM. All nine films emerged as big hits. It won't be an exaggeration if I say that the main reason for them becoming hits was Saravanan sir."
He then listed his hit films that were backed by AVM and revealed details about a collaboration that didn't happen. "In the eighties, it was Murattu Kalai. It was made on a grand scale in Tamil. In the 2000s, it was Sivaji, which was again made on a grand scale. Similarly, he was in talks with me to make another film in the 2020s. That hasn't happened," he explained.
Further, the veteran actor also went on to praise the man he was. "He was a really great person. He was a true example of a gentleman. He would always wear white-coloured dresses, and his heart was likewise pure. He was someone who loved cinema with all his heart. If he spoke for minutes, he would remember his dad, whom he called "Appachi" several times."
Rajinikanth then concluded, "I express my deepest condolences to his family members, and may his soul rest in peace." Some of Rajinikanth's other collaborations with AVM Studios are Pokkiri Raja, Nallavanuku Nallavan, Mr. Bharath, Manithan, Raja Chinna Roja, and Ejamaan.
AVM Saravanan breathed his last on Thursday due to age-related ailments. He was 86. Born in 1939, Saravanan, along with his brother M Balasubramanian, assisted their father, the legendary AV Meiyappan, in managing the iconic AVM Productions and its famous studios. Saravanan was involved in filmmaking since the late 1950s and took over the studios and production after his father's demise in 1979.
M Saravanan is survived by his son, MS Guhan, another producer. Guhan has twin daughters, Aruna Guhan and Aparna Guhan. M Saravanan's mortal remains have been placed for public homage till 3:30 pm at AVM Studios, where friends, family, industry members, and well-wishers can pay their last respects.