Veteran filmmaker Sridhar passes away

Veteran Tamil film director C V Sridhar, who introduced actors like AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa and tasted success in Hindi cinema
also, died on Monday of cardiac arrest, family sources said.

Sridhar (73) is survived by wife, a son and a daughter. After making his directorial debut with Gemini Ganesan starrer "Kalyana Parisu," a critically acclaimed box-office grosser, in the early 60s, Sridhar went on to make movies that are etched in the memories of many an avid Tamil cinema fan.

The man credited with 'the Midas touch', Sridhar did not confine himself to melodramatic subjects like 'Kalyana Parisu' and 'Nenjil Ore Aalayam', remade in Hindi as 'Dil Ek Mandir', but also ventured into the then unbeaten tracks of light-hearted romantic movies, with his "Kaathalikka Neramillai," topping the list of evergreen Tamil movies and "Ooty varai uravu."

His "Then Nilavu" (Honeymoon), starring Gemini Ganesan and Vyjayanthi Mala Bali and the first Tamil film to be shot in Jammu and Kashmir, "Kadhalikka Neramillai," a cult classic, and others like "Ooty Varai Uravu," starring Tamil icon late Sivaji Ganesan, in the lead are rated as some of the best movies in Indian cinema.

His "Nenjam Marapadillai" was again an offbeat effort, with the script focussing on a romance story of two lead characters different by their wealth status, with the plot woven in the background of "previous birth".

Known for his penchant for new faces, Sridhar has introduced various top yesteryear actors such as Jayalalithaa, airhostess-turned-actor Kanchana, actor Ravichandran and noted comedian "Vennira Adai" Murthy among others, who went on to carve their own places in the Tamil film world.

Source : Times of India