Vietnam Veedu Sundaram

"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram
Born Sundaram
1943
Died 6 August 2016 (aged 73)
Chennai
Occupation Scriptwriter, Director, Actor
Years active 1970-2016
Spouse(s) Chella[1]
Children Anu Parthasarathy

"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram was a popular Tamil scriptwriter and director. He has written scripts for nearly all the actors and wrote for 8 films starring Sivaji Ganesan after 1970. His directorial ventures Gauravam, Gnana Paravai, Vijaya, Devi Sri Kumariamman and Payanam are considered cult classics. He was the writer for Tamil classics like Vietnam Veedu, Gnana Oli, Satyam, Grihapravesam, Justice Gopinath Annan Oru Koyil starring Sivaji Ganesan, Naan Yen Pirandhen, Naalai Namadhe starring M. G. Ramachandran. He has directed more than a dozen films and is well known for his family themes. His stories have been made into films in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.[2] He has turned actor on the small screen and films after 1998 and has to his credit quite a few television serials.

Early life

Sundaram's mother brought him to Madras from Tiruchirapalli in 1945 to see Mahatma Gandhi at Island Grounds. Then he moved to Madras for good in 1955.As he was not well educated he was made to work in a factory even at a very young age. In 1955-56 he joined Dunlop factory as a machine operator. In the mean time he was also working as a service boy in United Amateur Artistes run by Y.G. Parthasarathy, his wife and Pattu. That kindled his interest in drama and cinema. He used to narrate real life incidents with imagination and make it an interesting story. This made him a good storyteller among his friends.Slowly he graduated himself in theatrics and play writing. Soon he became a good screenplay and dialogue writer.

Film career

He was the mastermind behind creating the highly successful play "Vietnam Veedu," hence the prefix for his name. Vietnam Veedu Sundaram played the hat-trick in films too with the same titles, all acted by the Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan, the Thespian of Indian cinema.[3] He is known as the ‘founder’ of social mythology. The well known movies which he wrote include Vietnam Veedu, Gnana Oli, Naan En Piranden, Naalai Namadhe,Satyam, Gruhapravesam, Justice Gopinath, Anaan Oru Koyil, Oru Malarin Payanam, Navagraha Nayaki, Geethanjali, Aayiram Kannudayaal,Dharmam, Piranthn Valarthen, Nambinar Keduvathillai, Jallikattu, Raja Mariyadhai, Velundu Vinaiyillai, Soora Samhaaram. He also wrote story for Kannada film Anupama. He gained national fame for writing the story for 1978 Hindi film Devata starring Sanjev Kumar in the lead. He cast the ever green K. R. Vijaya in the role of goddess in "Namma Veetu Deivam", the first time social mythology in Tamil, which was remade into Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. That set the social mythology trend in films and televisions. He has directed more than dozen films and is well known for his family themes with one of them Gouravam being a cult classic.[4] His stories have been made into films in other languages also. He started acting in films since 1999.He turned actor on the small screen from 1998 and has to his credit quite a few television serials. He has worked as a writer for films with many popular stars including M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, K. R. Vijaya, Sathyaraj and Karthik Muthuraman.[5]

Death

Sundaram died on 6 August 2016 at the age of 73 due to age related ailments.[6] He is survived by his wife Chella and daughter Anu Parthasarathy who is a costume designer.[1][7]

Awards and nominations

"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer for his magnum opus, Vietnam Veedu in 1970. He also won the Arignar Anna Award in the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award in 1991.

Filmography

Writer

Director

As Actor

Films
TV Serials

References

  1. 1 2 "Veteran script writer, director and actor Vietnam Veedu Sundaram passes away". newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sunday Celebrity: 'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram's thinking beyond tomorrow makes him batting still - Asian Tribune". asiantribune.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram passed away!". sify.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Small screen promotes theatre art, says 'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram". 7 May 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via The Hindu.
  5. ↑ Sundaram, One of the early scriptwriters "Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram is famous for his family-oriented storylines He goes on a rewind trip in a conversation with S. R. ASHOK KUMAR "Vietnam Veedu" (3 October 2005). "A veteran reminisces ...". p. 05. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via The Hindu (old).
  6. ↑ "IndiaGlitz - Director actor Screen writer Vietnam Veedu Sundaram dead in Chennai - Tamil Movie News". indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Anu Parthasarathy interview". behindwoods.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
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