VETERAN VISU (1945-2020)

From Sampath’s Desk:

  

 

FILM VETERAN VISU (1945-2020)

 

The veteran and versatile Tamil film actor-director-screenplay-script-writer and a popular face in the talk show arena of the Tamil entertainment industry - Meenakshisundaram Ramaswamy Viswanathan (74), in short Visu - who carved a niche for himself in the Tamil celluloid world and small screen passed away on 22.3.2020. Who can forget his electrifying family subject-based movies like 'Samsaram Adhu Minsaram', 'Manal Kayiru', ‘Penmani Aval Kanmani’ and 'Dowry Kalyanam’, among others? He kept Tamil cine-fans entertained and enthralled through his movies mostly revolving around mundane family life and related concepts for three decades. 

 

While his versatile Guru K Balachandar was making films on diverse subjects - differently created characters behaving differently with different human emotions, susceptibilities, and finer feelings especially on out-of-the-ordinary and unchartered avenues - all from different angles - his disciple Visu specialized in different family formats, their members and the undercurrents and crosscurrents among them that made a deep impression and sensation among film-goers in general and women in particular.

 

Among others, he was conferred with the National Award for Best Popular Film in 1987  for providing wholesome entertainment through his film ‘Samsaram Athu Minsaram’ which was also a box-office hit. He also bagged the ‘National Film Award for Best Film for his 1993 ‘Neenga Nalla Irukkanum’ on social issues.

His portrayal of stark realities of family life vis-à-vis the kith and kin and other relatives, the uniqueness of each and every character he moulded for his movies who did not just act but lived the given characters, the timing, tenor, and the use of the ‘punch dialogues’ by him and his characters, etc. have been impressive. He kept at bay the influence and dominance of hero worship in his films. He pitched more for realism and opted for simple yet impressive presentation of his films at a time when ostentatiousness, exaggerated flattery of heroes and heroines attired in grandeur and gorgeous accoutrement, adventurist story background, extravaganza in devising costly, gigantic, and mind-blowing film-sets, etc. ruled the roost.

 

He was one film director who opted for dialogue-packed low-budgets most of which became popular among people, proving himself a new trendsetter in producing cheaper yet effective films. He entered the film world at a time when the hero-heroin-centric era was at its peak. He converted it into character-centric. And he carved a niche for himself and paved a unique and distinctive style in film-making staving off the beaten tracks to mesmerize, enchant and enthrall film-viewers in his own ways.

 

He was the true maverick and path-breaking director of all times. His film characters spoke for themselves. Many of his movies were contemporary sensations.

 

He proved that it did not need costly films to attract people. Many of his low-cost movies that proved to be astounding successes still stand testimony to that belief. Very few directors would have portrayed the subtle nuances of human emotions and relations so aptly, subtly, deftly, and dexterously as Visu did. The big and small screens will miss him forever. His is an irreparable loss to the tinsel world. His legendary films have immortalized him.

 

 

R.SAMPATH

23/3/2020