tributes to Mr Visu ..

A middle class Orthodox Brahmin family mother Pandari Bai has two sons, Sundaresan (Rajinikanth) and Ram Kumar (Sreekanth). Both sons have great love for mother. - Sadhurangam  was released in  1978, and had  Jayachitra and Prameela in lead roles – not many would know that Visu was the writer for the movie.

Visu, is always visualized as a talkative middle-aged person, representing and speaking for the travails of middle class Indian.  He conducted ‘ Arattai Arangam’ a programme tailor-made for him speaking on ills and expectations of society.  It created lot of awareness .. ..

I see very few movies – and when I saw him in close quarters in Vani Mahal a couple of years ago, in a protest – was sort of shocked to hear him.  The lion in him was missing, clearly he was under physical stress, controlling his pain, he promised that he would fight and do something for his community. 

His films were outstanding more for the human and family values.  In the glitzy world of glamorous heroines and double-entendre, he was a gentleman. His films would resemble a drama stage – with many family characters in every scene, debating the pros and cons – with people talking in turns, one after the other, sometimes in pitched voices.   He was paired with KR  Vijaya in Aval Sumangalithan,  and in Veedu Manaivi Makkal, which were  acclaimed blockbuster.

Most people would have seen and enjoyed this film that in the entry scene shows an  ordinary day in the lives of the families in a large apartment house in Chennai. Each family representing  a different slice of early 1980s middle-class society. Kannan and Uma,  a working couple. Kannan's father, retired from Government service, lives with them. They enjoy the comforts of dual income, but their general lament is that their long work hours compel them to send their five-year-old daughter Priya to boarding school. .. .. .. ‘Kudumbam Oru Kadambam’ released in 1981 was of money and working women in 1980s Indian middle-class society.  The film was remade in Kannada as Ananda Sagara,  in Telugu as Manishiki Charithra, and in Hindi as Aaj Ka Daur.

Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanthan (1945) breathed his last today.  Visu, the man, Writer, director, actor and talk-show host has left a void in the hearts of middle class people.  With towel on shoulder and a white veshti he symbolized the urban middle class.   From  an assistant under  K. Balachander to becoming a Director, he worked industriously rising levels.   Pattina Pravesam  1977 too based on play  written by Visu starred Delhi Ganesh, Sivachandran and Sarath Babu, all making their debuts.

Sad to know that director Visu, who has also acted in 60+ films, passed away due to cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Chennai. Reportedly, he was also suffering from kidney-related ailments for the past couple of years. Visu, aged 74, breathed his last at 4:15 pm at a private hospital. His mortal remains have been brought to his residence in Thoraipakkam, Chennai where people can pay their respects on March 23. His final rites will take place at 4 PM at Besant Nagar crematorium.

He is survived by his wife Sundhari and daugters Lavanya, Sangeetha and Kalpana. A philanthropist, Visu had been supporting the needy through his own foundation.

Om shanthi – we will miss you Visu Sir

-       S. Sampathkumar (22.3.2020)