Film News Anandan

Film News Anandan (born Mani in 1911) is an Indian film historian based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[1] He is popularly known as the "walking encyclopedia" of Tamil cinema.[2][3]

Early life

Anandan was born as Mani. His father P. K. Gnanasagaram was a government servant. When he was being admitted in school he told his teacher his name was Anandakrishnan which led to change his name.[4] After school he joined Quaide Millath Arts college, known as Government Arts college then. When he was a college student, he had a chance to interact with the drama troupes of Y. G. Parthasarathy and M. G. Ramachandran among others. He used to write the dialogues, do stage management and help in small odd jobs.[5]

Career

Anandan was interested in becoming a camera man and he joined as an assistant to C.J. Mohan, who was the cameraman for Kalaivanar. He conducted photography classes for him. Mohan appreciated the photos of Anandan and asked him to buy a Rolliflex camera. After buying, Sivaji Ganesan was the first person whom he had captured first. Anandan worked as a news reporter for Film chamber and his job was to collect details about the actors, producer, director of a film. Devarajan of film news once asked him to take pictures for his magazine. When the pictures were published, credit in the magazine was given as "Film News Anandan" and eventually the pen name got prefixed to his name.[4][5][6]

As an actor, his first film was Policekaran Magal (1962) where he played a police photographer. He reprised the role in its Telugu remake Constable Koothru. In Bommai (1964), he plays a doctor. In Natchathiram (1980), he plays the role of a press reporter, posing questions to a disillusioned star. In the 1986 crime film Oomai Vizhigal, he plays a press photographer. In Sugamana Sumaigal (1992), he plays the role of the heroine’s father. He also made appearances in Aasai (1995) and Indian (1996), though his scenes were deleted in both; however, in the former, the credits read, "Thanks to Film News Anandan".[7]

Awards

Film News Anandan received the distinguished Y. Venkanna Clowdary's "Kala Peedam" award for his tremendous contribution to Human Progress as a Film Historian. In 1991, the Tamil Nadu State Government awarded him with their highest honour in the title of Kalaimaamani. In 1989, Anandan was honoured as a veteran during the Golden Jubilee of the Film Chamber.[6] He was awarded the "Kalai Selvam" title by the South Indian Artist Association in Chennai. Furthermore, Anandan was given world recognition in 1998, by The American Biographical Institute of South Carolina (U.S.) as a veteran among 5000 people around the world. Anandan's name was included in the book Who's Who... released in January 1998, while he was awarded the "Man of the Year for 1997" by the same institution.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Ramya Kannan. "Film news personified: He made stars glitter". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Film directors Who Made a Difference in Tamil Cinema World". indolink.com. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Our thanks to ‘Film News’ Anandan". Lakshmansruthi.com. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 MALATHI RANGARAJAN. "Tryst with the past". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The mobile library of Tamil Cinema". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Sunday Celebrity: ‘Film News’ Anandan, the mobile encyclopedia on films". asiantribune.com. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  7. ↑ T. K. Srinivas Chari (June 2011). "The film photographer". Madras Musings. p. 8. Retrieved 10 March 2015.

External links