S. P. Muthuraman

S. P. Muthuraman
எஸ். பி. முத்துராமன்
Born (1935-04-07) 7 April 1935 (age 89)[1]
Karaikudi, Pudukkottai State, British India,
(now in Tamil Nadu, India)
Occupation(s)Film Director,
Producer
Years active1972–1995 (Movies)
1997 (TV Series)
Spouse
Kamala
​
​
(m. 1957; died 1992)​
Children3
Parent(s)Rama Subbaiah
Visalatchi
RelativesSuba Veerapandian
(younger brother)

S. P. Muthuraman, also referred to as SPM,[2] is an Indian film director who works in the Tamil film industry. He has directed 72 films in Tamil. He was one of the most successful commercial directors in Tamil cinema.[3] Initially he worked mainly with R. Muthuraman, Jaishankar, Sivaji Ganesan and went on to direct successful films with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.[4]

S. P. Muthuraman debuted as an assistant director in the film Kalathur Kannamma (1960).[5][6] He has received two South Filmfare Awards and a Best Director award from the Tamil Nadu State Government.

Since 1977, his association with Rajinikanth proved to be extremely successful, as they went on work together in 25 films. Muthuraman was mainly responsible for moulding Rajini's career and turning him into a commercial star.[7] He was also the associate producer of the Rajinikanth starrer Sivaji.

Early life and family

Muthuraman was born on 7 April 1935 as the second of seven children in a family in Karaikudi. As per the norms in their region, Muthuraman's parents gave him another name - Rajaram Mohan - which became obsolete over time.[8] His father Karaikudi Rama. Subbaiah was one of the forerunners of the Dravidian Movement and a member of the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Legislative Council during 1972-78. Muthuraman's youngest brother is the Dravidian ideologue Suba Veerapandian.[9]

Career

After working as office boy to assistant editor for Thendral magazine owned by Kannadasan,[10] Muthuraman initially dreamt of becoming a screenwriter and expressed his interest to join story department in AVM Productions but Meiyappan insisted him to join editing department to learn the craft of filmmaking thus he started his film career through AVM Productions as an assistant editor,[11] then an assistant director to the duo Krishnan–Panju, eventually working with A. Bhimsingh, D. Yoganand, Puttanna Kanagal, M. Krishnan Nair and A. C. Tirulokchandar.[12]

Personal life

He married Kamala in 1957.[13] The couple have 3 children. His wife Kamala died on 15 October 1992 before the release of his 70th film, Pandiyan.[14]

Other works

Muthuraman wrote a weekly column for The Hindu Tamil named Cinema Eduththu Paar; all articles were later published as a single book in paperback format.[15]

Awards

Filmfare Awards South
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

Filmography

Muthuraman with Suba Veerapandian (left) in 2016.

As director

Year Film Notes
1972 Kanimuthu Paappa
1973 Petha Manam Pithu
1973 Kasi Yathirai
1973 Deiva Kuzhandhaigal
1974 Engamma Sapatham
1974 Anbu Thangai
1975 Yarukku Mappillai Yaro
1975 Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu
1975 Aan Pillai Singam
1976 Thunive Thunai
1976 Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham
1976 Oru Oodhappu Kan Simittugiradhu Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
1976 Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal
1976 Mogam Muppadhu Varusham
1977 Sonthamadi Nee Enakku
1977 Pennai Solli Kutramillai
1977 Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri Filmfare Award for Best Director – Tamil
1977 Aadu Puli Attam
1977 Aalukkoru Aasai
1978 Kaatrinile Varum Geetham
1978 Vattathukkul Chaduram 25th Film
1978 Sakka Podu Podu Raja
1978 Priya Made simultaneously in Kannada as Priya
1979 Kavari Maan
1979 Kadavul Amaitha Medai
1979 Oru Koyil Iru Dheebangal
1979 Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director
1979 Vetrikku Oruvan
1980 Rishi Moolam
1980 Murattu Kaalai
1981 Kazhugu
1981 Netrikkan
1981 Ranuva Veeran
1981 Kudumbam Oru Kadambam
1982 Pokkiri Raja
1982 Puthukavithai
1982 Enkeyo Ketta Kural
1982 Sakalakala Vallavan
1983 Paayum Puli
1983 Oru Kai Pappom
1983 Adutha Varisu
1983 Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey
1984 Naan Mahaan Alla
1984 Oorukku Upadesam
1984 Nallavanukku Nallavan
1984 Enakkul Oruvan
1985 Nalla Thambi
1985 Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye
1985 Uyarndha Ullam 50th Film
1985 Sri Raghavendrar
1985 Japanil Kalyanaraman
1986 Mr. Bharath
1986 Dharma Devathai
1987 Samsaram Oka Chadarangam Telugu film
1987 Velaikaran
1987 Per Sollum Pillai
1987 Manithan
1988 Guru Sishyan
1988 Nallavan
1988 Dharmathin Thalaivan
1989 Raja Chinna Roja
1990 Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga
1990 Thiyagu
1990 Athisaya Piravi
1990 Guru Sishyulu Telugu film
1991 Thaiyalkaran
1991 Jeevana Chadarangam Telugu film
1992 Kaaval Geetham
1992 Pandian 70th Movie
1995 Thottil Kuzhandhai Last film

TV series

1997 Nimmadhi Ungal Choice

References

  1. ^ Muthuraman 2017, p. 20.
  2. ^ "Rajinikanth deserves all the love he gets: SP Muthuraman". The Indian Express. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  3. ^ "S P Muthuraman - Successive hits - Who gave the most in Tamil cinema?". www.behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  4. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (3 December 2009). "Musings, the Muthuraman way". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ Muthuraman, S. P. (13 May 2015). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 8- திரைக்கதை ஜாம்பவான் டி. பிரகாஷ் ராவ்!" [Try making a film, part 8 – The screenplay legend T. Prakash Rao!]. The Hindu (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  6. ^ Jeshi, K. (18 March 2014). "Director's chair". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Salute to the superstar -- A Rediff Special". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  8. ^ Bs_yILhtmrAC. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  9. ^ Dinamalar (11 July 2017). "எஸ்.பி.முத்துராமன் பேத்தி திருமண வரவேற்பு: திரையுலகினர் திரண்டு வாழ்த்து - SP Muthraman grand daughter wedding : Celebrities wished". தினமலர் - சினிமா. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. ^ Muthuraman 2017, p. 30.
  11. ^ Muthuraman 2017, p. 38.
  12. ^ "Tamil Cinema News – Kollywood News – Tamil Film News – Maalaimalar". cinema.maalaimalar.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. ^ Muthuraman 2017, p. 55.
  14. ^ "மனைவி மறைந்த துயரத்தை அடக்கிக்கொண்டு 'பாண்டியன்' படத்தை முடித்து வெளியிட்டார், முத்துராமன்". Maalai Malar. 1 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  15. ^ Cinema eduththu paar சினிமா எடுத்து பார். Tamil Hindu. January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  16. ^ "The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South)". Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 8 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2012.

Bibliography

Further reading