Remembering Visu: Close acquaintances and frequent collaborators talk about the auteur nonpareil
Is there another filmmaker in Tamil cinema who so cared about the joint family setup, of the quiet bonds that form between members? The director also donned several hats including writer, actor (stage, film and television) and talk-show host.
Tamil film personalities -- S.Ve.Sekhar, SP Muthuraman, Rekha, MS Baskar, Chinni Jayanth, Madhumita, and Kasthuri Raja who worked closely with the late veteran share what Visu meant to them
S.Ve.Sekhar: 'We are 'vaada poda' friends. Ours was a 50-year friendship. Our close association began right from our stage days. In fact, my first outstation play came through Visu'
'We were always in touch, even till his last days. I was told that he had a massive attack on Monday, and was taken to the hospital. Visu died a peaceful death. This is a huge loss.'
SP Muthuraman: I'm proud that he made his acting debut in my film, Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam. It was adapted from a play and we made him reprise his role from the play in the feature film version too
'Working with him in Netrikann was unforgettable. His dialogues elevated the film to the next level and the variation he showed while writing the father and son roles of Rajini is truly remarkable.'
Though he is known for his heartening family films, he was equally competent in writing mass dialogues for commercial films like Mr Bharath and Nallavanukku Nallavan
' He always worked towards cost-cutting for the benefit of producers. He was a big name on the small screen too. I'm genuinely happy that many people benefitted through the charity he did'
Kasthuri Raja: 'I've worked with him from Manal Kayiru till Sakalakala Sammandi. All my cinema knowledge has come from him. I learned the importance of being a producer's director
He instilled discipline in me and tamed my wildness to make me a gentleman. Cinema la enakku aana aavanna solli kuduthavaru avaru.
Chinni Jayanth: When I met Visu sir, he said he had created this role in Pattukotai Periyappa for me. I told him this is something that should be done by Rajini. The character was named Telex Pandian
I felt blessed to be acting under Visu sir's direction. Even with a horde of talented artistes around, I was given the most dialogues. He was a huge fan of cinema and a great artist. Legend saar avaru
MS Baskar: He was like the eldest brother in my family. When I was trying to make inroads in the field of dubbing, he gave me the opportunity to act in front of the camera in Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
'With the lockdown in place, I feel pained that I wouldn't be able to see his face, one last time. But I still believe Visu anna will always be in all of our hearts'
Rekha: Visu sir was a gentleman dedicated to his work. He taught acting to everyone on his sets, including Aachi amma. Even if one were an acting legend, he would still enact how he wanted a scene.
If you see me in Varavu Nalla Uravu and Vedikai En Vaadikkai, I would look quite close to how I looked in person. Well...we don't have filmmakers like him, who could make beautiful family dramas.'
Madhumita: People criticised his films for being dramatic, and instead of taking it as an insult, Visu sir took it as a compliment because of his stage experience, and believed it to be the purest art
Even today, his films have so much impact on society. In terms of family values, relationships, interpersonal drama, there's so much to learn from them. Ellame edharthama sollirupaaru...
