Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar

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Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar

Born June 28, 1907(1907-06-28)
Karaikudi, Madras Presidency, India
Died August 12, 1979 (aged 72)
Madras, India
Years active 1934-1973
Spouse(s) Rajeswari Meiyappan[1]

Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar (June 28, 1907 – August 12, 1979), also known as A. V. Meiyappan or AVM was an Indian film producer, director and philantropist who established the AVM Productions in Vadapalani, Chennai. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Tamil cinema,[2] and one of three movie moguls of the South Indian film industry along with S.S.Vasan and L. V. Prasad[3]. His production company AVM Productions is the only production company in Kollywood (The Tamil film industry) to run successfully for five decades and three generations.

AVM was born in Karaikudi in a well-to-do Nagarathar family. He moved to Chennai (then known as Madras) at an early age and established Saraswathi Stores which sold gramophone records. Subsequently, he entered the film industry and started directing his own films. After some initial setbacks, AVM delivered a string of hits in the early 1940s. Following the immense success of his 1947 film Nam Iruvar, AVM moved to film production and established AVM Productions in Chennai, first at Santhome and then at Kodambakkam. In 1951, AVM entered the Hindi film industry with the film Bahar starring Vyjayanthimala. By the time he died in 1979, he had produced 167 films in all Indian languages.

Some of the greatest hits produced by AVM Productions are Vazhkai, Parasakthi, Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, Bhookailash, Kalathur Kannamma, Server Sundaram and Major Chandrakanth. AVM also directed a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s, the notable ones being Alli Arjuna, Bhookailash, Sabapathy, Sri Valli and Nam Iruvar.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Young Meiyappan along with his father Avichi Chettiar
Young Meiyappan along with his father Avichi Chettiar

AVM was born in Karaikudi on June 28, 1907[4] to father Avichi Chettiar and mother Lakshmi Achi. Avichi Chettiar owned a department store called AV & Sons which sold gramophone records.[1] AVM was born in the aristocratic Nagarathar community whose members had gained a fine reputation in the mercantile and money-lending business in the later half of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century.[2] At an early age, AVM envisioned better prospects in the trade of manufacturing records than simply selling them.[4][5] Hence, he moved to Madras with his friends K.S.Narayana Iyengar and Subbaiah Chettiar and established a new firm called Saraswathi Stores on September 9, 1932.[1] This new firm also manufactured gramophone records apart from selling them.[4][2] In this new venture, he got excellent support from the manager K.P.Varadachari and his lawyer friend Thoothukudi Govindachari Raghavachari.[2]Some of AVM's early productions comprised of dramas on mythological subjects like Ramayanam.[4]

[edit] Early film career

With the dawn of the talkies, AVM established the Saraswathi Sound Productions.[2] In 1935, AVM made his debut as a producer with the Tamil film Alli Arjuna which performed miserably at the box-office. His next venture Ratnavali was another failure. He then teamed up with Jayanthilal, a cinema house owner and promoted a new company, Pragati Pictures Ltd.[4][2]

In 1938, AVM bought the rights for the Tamil remake of a Marathi film on the boyhood of Lord Krishna.[4] This film Nandakumar was an average grosser. AVM introduced a 14-year old boy, T. R. Mahalingam,[6][7] for the part of the young Lord Krishna. This young boy would later become an efficient singer turning in a number of melodious hits. Lalitha Venkataraman sang for the character Devaki making Nandakumar the first film to introduce the concept of playback singing in the Tamil film industry.[4] Nandakumar was also one of the first Tamil movies to be shot on location as AVM leased the Club House off Mount Road in Chennai to shoot scenes without erecting sets.[2]

AVM started his own studios in 1940 and named it Pragathi Studios.[1]In the same year, AVM produced Bhoo Kailash which became one of the most popular film versions of the Ramayana.[4] The film was made in Telugu, its lead actors were from Kannada cinema and it was directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni, a Mangalorean who had received his training in Bombay.[2] AVM's comedy flick Sabapathy(1941) starring T.R. Ramachandran, K. Sarangapani and Kali N. Ratnam was a runaway hit[2][7] as also Poli Panchali, another comedy.[4] Sabapathy eventually emerged as one of the greatest comedy films of the era. He followed this with another hit En Manaivi.[2]

In 1943, he produced the film Harischandra in Kannada based on the legend of a king who attempted to kill his own son to defend justice.[2] The next year, the film was dubbed into Tamil making it the first Indian film to be dubbed from one language to another.[7][1] During the making of Sri Valli in 1945,[4] he employed singer Periyanayaki to sing for actress Rukmini. This was AVM's second film to make use of playback.[2] Pragati technicians worked round the clock to synchronise voice and lip. Reels were shipped back and forth in cars and trains between Madras and Karaikkudi to ensure good quality.[2]

[edit] AVM Productions

Logo of AVM Productions in its early days
Logo of AVM Productions in its early days

On November 14, 1945, riding on the phenomenal success of his first few films, AVM established his new production company, AVM Productions at Santhome, Chennai.[1] He wanted to start his studio in Kodambakkam but was unable to, due to the acute power shortage during the Second World War.[1] Left with no other choice, AVM established his studio at his hometown of Karaikudi. AVM's first film under the banner of AVM Productions was Vedala Ulagam.[1]

In 1947, AVM produced the film Nam Iruvar based on Sahasranamam's play of the same name.[4][8] Reflecting the intense patriotic fervour and hope which engulfed the newborn nation, the film released in January 1947 after six months of shooting and was "a thundering success".[9] The story begins with a Subramania Bharati anniversary and ends with Gandhi's 77th birthday celebrations.[4] The success of Naam Iruvar was followed by the success of Vedala Ulagam in 1948 and Vazhkai in 1949.[1] Vazhkai saw the introduction of Vyjayanthimala who would later emerge as one of the top film stars of India.[10] The film ran for 25 weeks and was released as Jeevitham(1949) in Telugu[11] and Bahar in Hindi. With the success of Vazhkai, AVM Productions began to produce films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and even Sinhalese.[1] Following India's independence, the power shortages had been met and AVM studios shifted to the sprawling location in Kodambakkam chosen by AVM, in the year 1948.[1]

[edit] The 1950s

The decade of 1950s was a honeymoon period for AVM Productions which turned out a series of hits. The early years were marked by AVM's attempts to conquer the Hindi film industry.

In 1952, AVM's Tamil film Parasakthi released in theatres all over Madras and was an instant success.[8] With a powerful storyline and fiery dialogues by a future Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, the film preached social revolution and questioned the authority of Hindu temple priests. Sivaji Ganesan, then a new-comer, was cast in the lead role.[12] By the mid-1950s, he had emerged as one of the top-stars in Kollywood.[12][13][14]

Sivaji also starred in AVM's next Tamil film Andha Naal (1954) directed by Sundaram Balachander.[15] The film, the first film without any songs to be released in any Indian language,[16] was about a radio engineer who intrigues with the invading Japanese during the Second World War and is eventually killed by his wife.[17] The style of narration had been heavily borrowed from Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon.

In 1953, AVM produced the Kannada film Jatakaphala which was dubbed into Jatakaphalam in Tamil and Telugu.[18][19] In 1958, AVM made Bhookailas in Telugu,[20] which triggered the "golden age of Telugu cinema".[20] It was subsequently remade as Bhakta Ravana in Tamil and Bhakti Mahima in Hindi.[21]

[edit] The 1960s

Poster of Telugu film Bhakta Prahlada(1967) produced by AVM
Poster of Telugu film Bhakta Prahlada(1967) produced by AVM


In 1961, AVM produced the Telugu film Papa Pariharam[22] which was a remake of the Tamil film Pavamanippu[23] which released in the same year. Both were directed by eminent director A. Bhimsingh and starred Shivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri and Devika. Like most of AVM's early films, Pavamanippu too had a storyline based on the Second World War.

Kalathur Kannamma in 1960 saw the introduction of another star in Tamil cinema, the thespian Kamal Hassan[24][25] who played a unforgettable supporting role as a young orphan. He was barely six years old at the time[25].

His next Tamil venture Server Sundaram (1964) featuring Nagesh, who was a budding comedian then and debutant Major Sundarrajan was a roaring success. Server Sundaram was one of Nagesh's early hits which set the pace for an illustrious career.[26] It also launched Major Sundarrajan as a character actor in the Tamil film industry.[27] Sundarrajan's second hit, Major Chandrakanth where his famous portrayal of title role earned him the screen name "Major" Sundarrajan was also produced by AVM.[4]

Pavithra Prema, Penchina Prema, Naadi Aada Janme, Chitti Chellelu, Letha Manasulu and Mooga Nomu were some good Telugu films which were produced by AVM during the period. However, AVM's greatest success of the 1960s was Bhakta Prahalada which was produced in Telugu and subsequently dubbed into Tamil and Hindi. The film was based on the story of Narasimha avatar from Hindu mythology. It was directed by Chitrapu Narayana Murthy and starred S. V. Ranga Rao as Hiranyakasyapu and Baby Rojaramani as Prahlada.[28] Narayanmurthy had earlier directed a black-and-white version of Bhakta Prahlada in 1942 which had failed at the box-office.[28] However, the colour version which was produced a quarter of a century later under the banner of AVM Productions was a resounding success. Of the 10 different filmized versions of the Prahlada story, the 1967 colour version remains the most famous and remembered.[28]

Another successful film by AVM in the 1960s was the 1966 film Anbe Vaa featuring the legendary M. G. Ramachandran, Saroja Devi and Nagesh[29]. The film was a major success and the song Rajavin Paarvai topped the charts for a long time.[29] In 1970, AVM produced Enga Mama featuring Sivaji Ganesan. '"Enga Mama was a Tamil remake of the Hindi film Brahmachari produced by G. P. Sippy and performed moderately at the box-office.

[edit] Films in Hindi

Bahar(1951) was the first Hindi film produced by Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar
Bahar(1951) was the first Hindi film produced by Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar

From the initial phase of his career, AVM was associated with a number of producers and directors from North India. His 1938 film Nandakumar was the Tamil remake of a Marathi film. His 1940 film Bhookailash was directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni who had received his training in Bombay.

In 1951, AVM made his entry into the Hindi film industry with Bahar. Starring Karan Dewan, Vyjayanthimala, Padmini, Pran, Om Prakash and Tabassum, it was a remake of the 1948 Tamil film Vazhkai. Apart from being AVM's first film in Hindi, it also marked the launch of Vyjayanthimala in the Hindi film industry. In 1954, he made Ladki, his second film in Hindi, with Vyjayanthimala again in the lead. Both these films were directed by M. V. Raman.

After enjoying moderate successes in his first two films in Hindi which went unnoticed, AVM ascended the heights of Bollywood with the third one Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke(1955). It was a children's film based on the theme of national integration and won him the Prime Minister's gold medal.[1]

After the phenomenal success of Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, AVM produced some good films like Bhai Bhai(1956), which was popular for the song Mera Naam Abdul Rehman sung by Kishore Kumar[30] and Miss Mary(1957), the dubbed version of the Tamil film Missiamma.[31] Bhabhi featured comedian Jagdeep as the hero. This was Jagdeep's first film in a romantic role.[32] Jagdeep also acted in other films produced by AVM as Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke and Barkha.[32]

The Hindi films Miss Mary, Bhakti Mahima and Bhakt Prahlad were dubbed versions of AVM's Tamil or Telugu hits.

The 1961 film Chhaya won Nirupa Roy, the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[33] Other notable Hindi films made by AVM during the 1960s were Man Mauji, Main Chup Rahungi, Pooja Ke Phool and Mehrban.

AVM's last Hindi film was Jaise Ko Taisa directed by Krishnan-Panju in 1973.

[edit] Later Years and Death

With dawn of the 1970s, production had slowed down considerably.[4] This was due to the fact that AVM himself was ageing. Moreover, the AVM family chose to focus their attention upon social activities other than filming. AVM Productions produced not more than four films during the decade: Bomma Borusa,Dil Ka Raja,Akka Thamudu and Jaise Ko Taisa. Bomma Borusa made in Telugu by K. Balachander was an average grosser as was the Hindi film Dil Ka Raja which released in 1972. Akka Thamudu directed by the successful partnership of Krishnan-Panju was AVM's last film in Telugu. It was also AVM's only Telugu film featuring Jayalalithaa. In 1973, AVM produced his last film Jaise Ko Taisa starring Jitendra in the lead role.

AVM did not produce any more movies following Jaise Ko Taisa in 1973. He spent his time on social activities and the charitable instituitions he had built as well as looking after his massive business empire.

AVM passed away on August 12, 1979 at the age of 72. In 1980, as per AVM's last wishes, AVM Studios commenced film production under Meiyappan's son M. Saravanan, after a seven-year long hiatus.[2][4]

[edit] Legacy

Commemorative stamp of A.V.Meiyappan released by the Indian Government on his centenary year
Commemorative stamp of A.V.Meiyappan released by the Indian Government on his centenary year

During a career spanning four decades, AVM had produced 167 movies in all Indian languages.[4][34] He also directed most of his early movies. He is credited with having introduced Kollywood's first playback singers, made India's first dubbed film and Kollywood's first film shot on location. He has also had the distinction of having had five chief ministers work in his films - C. N. Annadurai wrote the script for AVM's Ore Iravu, M. Karunanidhi scripted the dialogues for Parasakthi, M. G. Ramachandran played the hero in Anbe Vaa, J. Jayalalithaa was the heroine in AVM's Major Chandrakanth and Akka Thamudu and N. T. Rama Rao starred in AVM's Jeevitham, Ramu and Bhookailash.[1] During his four decades in the Indian film industry, he also introduced actors as T. R. Mahalingam, Vyjayanthimala, Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Hassan and Major Sundarrajan who later became top stars in Kollywood. But his greatest achievement is undoubtedly his massive business empire which comprises a production company, a movie theatre, a movie studio and a string of educational instituitions and charities.

Six decades after Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar had founded his production house, AVM Productions continues to turn out hits as the 2007 Rajnikanth starrer Sivaji the Boss
Six decades after Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar had founded his production house, AVM Productions continues to turn out hits as the 2007 Rajnikanth starrer Sivaji the Boss

Of AVM's creations, AVM Productions is the most prominent. The production company is into its sixty second year with three generations of the AVM family into the film production business. After AVM's death, the company passed into the hands of his sons M. Balasubramanian and M. Saravanan. Under the able leadership of M. Saravanan, AVM Productions has continued producing hits as Murattu Kalai (which launched Rajnikanth into superstardom), Samsaram Adhu Minsaram (1989), Minsara Kanavu (1997), Gemini (2002), M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi (2004) and Perazhagan (2004). In 2007 (which was also AVM's birth centenary year), AVM Productions released Sivaji the Boss starring Rajnikanth and Shreya.[35] Made at enormous cost of Rs. 60 to 96 crores (15 to 20 million dollars), it is the costliest Tamil film made to date and had earned a critical reception worldwide.[36] In recent times, AVM Productions has significant lessened film production making only one or two films a year.[31]. Instead, the production house is concentrating on making tele serials and documentaries[31] Currently, Saravanan's son M. S. Guhan and Balasubramanian's son, B. Gurunath are also into show business forming the family's third generation in the business.

In 1955, AVM won the President's gold medal for the Hindi film Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke.[1] In 2006, the Government of India issued a stamp commemorating the achievements of AVM.[37] On the 24th death anniversary of Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar, in 2003, AVM Productions released a VCD on the life of its founder.[5] Starting with his early childhood in Karaikudi, the 2-hour long documentary told the story of AVM's entry into the film industry and his rise to greatness.

On July 30, 2006, in commemoration of AVM's centenary year, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi unveiled a statue of A. V. Meiyappan at the campus of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.[38]

[edit] Philantropy

Apart from his contributions to the growth of motion picture industry in Tamil Nadu, AVM has also donated extensively for charitable causes. The charitable activities of the AVM group were channeled through an organization called AVM Charities established at Mylapore in Chennai.[39] This trust has been managed by the descendants of AVM since his death in 1979. The AVM Charities had provided land for old age homes[40] and organizing social events. The AVM family also owns a marriage hall, AVM Rajeswari Kalyana Mandapam which is generally rented for Hindu marriages.[41] This marriage hall is controlled by the AVM family through AVM Charities.[42] Following the astounding success of the 2007 Tamil film Sivaji, AVM Productions declared publicly that it would offer 25% of the revenues from the film as charity.[36]

The AVM Group owns a string of educational institutions all over Chennai. On June 10, 1963, AVM inaugurated Avichi School in Virugambakkam in memory of his father Avichi Chettiar. The motive behind the founding was to provide good quality education to the poorer sections of society. A number of schools have been established since the creation of Avichi School. In 1994, AVM's son Kumaran established the Avichi High School for girls. This was followed by the establishment of AVM Rajeswari Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Virugambakkam in 1995. These schools which are run by the AVM Group as a part of AVM Charities are regarded as some of the best in Chennai.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] As producer

Year Film Language Cast Director
1935 Alli Arjuna Tamil

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n A.V. Meiyappa Chettiar Birth Centenary. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Guy, Randor. "AVM, the adventurer", The Hindu: Friday Review, July 28, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  3. ^ "The Stamp of Honour", The Hindu: Friday Review, July 10, 2000. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Biography of AVM. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
  5. ^ a b "Saga of a Legend", The Hindu, August 15, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. 
  6. ^ Detailed biography of T.R.Mahalingam. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  7. ^ a b c Tamil Cinema History - The Early Days.Part II:1937-1944. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  8. ^ a b Landmarks in Tamil cinema. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  9. ^ "From Naam Iruvar to Sivaji", The Hindu:Business Line, August 15, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-16. 
  10. ^ Umashankar, Sudha. "Bali Uncensored", The Hindu, April 29, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-04-14. 
  11. ^ Entry for Jeevitham in IMDB. IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  12. ^ a b Guy, Randor. "Talent,charisma and much more", The Hindu, July 27, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-04-16. 
  13. ^ R. Rangaraj. The rise of a colossus. chennaionline.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  14. ^ Personalities of Indian cinema -- Stars:Sivaji Ganesan
  15. ^ Entry for Andha Naal in IMDB. IMDB. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  16. ^ History of Tamil cinema. culturopedia.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-16.
  17. ^ Review of film Andha Naal
  18. ^ IMDB entry for Jatakaphalam
  19. ^ "Yesteryear actress Kamala Bai in coma", The Indian Express News Service, November 21, 1998. Retrieved on 2008-04-16. 
  20. ^ a b AVM's Bhookailas (1958) film review from cinegoer.com
  21. ^ IMDB entry for Bhookailash
  22. ^ IMDB entry for Papa Pariharam
  23. ^ Pavamanippu from the Complete Index to World Film datbase
  24. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R.. "'AVM brings family entertainment'", The Hindu, May 11, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-04-17. 
  25. ^ a b Profile of Kamal Hassan from telugucinema.com
  26. ^ Landmarks in Tamil cinema, from chennaibest.com
  27. ^ Guy, Randor. "Dialogue delivery set him apart", The Hindu, March 7, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  28. ^ a b c Review of Bhakta Prahlada (1967) from cinegoer.com
  29. ^ a b Anbe Vaa - 1966. 123indiaonline.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  30. ^ AVM. musicindiaonline.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
  31. ^ a b c "No more Tamil films, says AVM Studios", Deccan Herald. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. 
  32. ^ a b Srinivasan, V.S.. "Meet Soorma Bhopali", rediff.com, July 14, 1998. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. 
  33. ^ Filmfare Award Best Supporting Actress - Complete Winners List. bollywoordsoundtracks.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
  34. ^ AVM Productions Began As Saraswati Sound Productions. cinegoer.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
  35. ^ Rajini: Lucky mascot for AVM Prod. Galatta.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  36. ^ a b Sivaji in Bay area. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  37. ^ Cinema on Indian Stamps. indiapicks.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.
  38. ^ "Tributes paid to A.V. Meiyappan", The Hindu, July 30, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-05-12. 
  39. ^ A V M Charities, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, From Jimy Yellow Pages.. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  40. ^ A Heavenly abode for the Aged. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  41. ^ Marriage Halls in Chennai. chennaiatlas.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
  42. ^ Humane Education. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.

[edit] Further Reading

  • Enatu Valkkai Anuppavangal (English: My Experiences in Life), Autobiography by A. V. Meiyappan.(Tamil)

[edit] External links

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