Visu

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title: "Visu" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1945-births", "2020-deaths", "20th-century-indian-dramatists-and-playwrights", "20th-century-indian-male-actors", "20th-century-indian-male-writers", "21st-century-indian-dramatists-and-playwrights", "21st-century-indian-male-actors", "21st-century-indian-male-writers", "deaths-from-kidney-failure-in-india", "directors-who-won-the-best-film-on-other-social-issues-national-film-award", "directors-who-won-the-best-popular-film-providing-wholesome-entertainment-national-film-award", "film-directors-from-tamil-nadu", "indian-film-directors", "indian-male-dramatists-and-playwrights", "indian-male-film-actors", "male-actors-in-tamil-cinema", "screenwriters-from-tamil-nadu", "tamil-dramatists-and-playwrights", "tamil-film-directors", "tamil-male-actors", "television-personalities-from-tamil-nadu", "tamil-screenwriters"] description: "Indian screenwriter and film director (1945–2020)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visu" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Indian screenwriter and film director (1945–2020) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Visu
birth_name	Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan
birth_date
death_date
birth_place	Kalakkad, Tamil Nadu, India
death_place	Chennai, India
spouse	Sundari
children	3
occupation	Film director, Screenwriter, Actor, Television host.
yearsactive	1977–2019
::

| name = Visu | image = | birth_name = Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan | birth_date = | death_date = | birth_place = Kalakkad, Tamil Nadu, India | death_place = Chennai, India | relatives = | spouse = Sundari | children = 3 | occupation = Film director, Screenwriter, Actor, Television host. | yearsactive = 1977–2019 Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan (1 July 1945 – 22 March 2020), best known by his stage name Visu, was an Indian screenwriter, film director, stage, film and television actor and talk-show host known for his work in Tamil theatre and film. Visu initially worked as an assistant to director K. Balachander until becoming a director himself. He later began acting, with his first notable film being Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981), directed by S. P. Muthuraman.

Career

Visu started his career as a theatre artist, working with Y. G. Parthasarathy's troupe. He was writing scripts for stage dramas before getting into the film industry as an assistant to director K. Balachander. During his time with Balachander, he wrote screenplays for numerous films including Pattina Pravesam (1977), Avan Aval Adhu (1980), Thillu Mullu (1981) and Netrikkan (1981). Thillu Mullu and Netrikkan, which were both released in 1981, became box office hits for actor Rajinikanth. Visu made his debut as a character actor in the film Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981), for which he also wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by S. P. Muthuraman.

His first film as a director was Manal Kayiru (1982). Most of his films including Manal Kayiru, Dowry Kalyanam (1983), Samsaram Adhu Minsaram (1986), Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi (1987), Penmani Aval Kanmani (1988), Vedikkai En Vadikkai (1990) and Pattukottai Periyappa (1994) spoke about the issues of urban middle-class families. These films, which were released in the mid-80s, turned out to be crowd pullers, particularly with regard to the female audience. His other super hit was Chidambara Rahasiyam (1985), which is considered a cult-classic.

While he has directed a rage of actors on screen, he and his brother Kishmu used to star in many of his films. His film Neenga Nalla Irukkanum won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1992. Based on prohibition, the film was the last onscreen appearance of then Tamil Nadu chief minister, J. Jayalalithaa.

He has also shared the screen with Rajinikanth in Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984), Mr. Bharath (1986), Mannan (1992), Uzhaippali (1993) and Arunachalam (1997).

During the ending phase of his career, he made movies which did not leave a lasting mark on the audience as Vaa Magale Vaa (1994), Meendum Savithri (1996) and Sigamani Ramamani (2001).

Actor and stage artiste S. Ve. Shekher, who worked in over 20 films with Visu, called him extremely disciplined and committed.

As an actor, he was last seen in Manal Kayiru 2 (2016), the sequel to one of his earliest directorial successes, Manal Kayiru.

He is known to have starred in over 60 films and directed around 25 films.

Visu later became known for hosting live debates on television, namely Arattai Arangam on Sun TV and Visuvin Makkal Arangam on Jaya TV.

Style

::quote

::

| quote="Growing up in a joint family, I observed how each person had a difference of opinion. It wasn't bad; just that we were different. I wondered, 'Wouldn't other joint families have similar issues?' So I started writing scripts that reflect the day-to-day scenario in a joint family". | source = – Visu in 2016 | align = right | width = 33% In most of the films Visu wrote or directed, all the characters were given equal importance. Often, the plot included a huge house where a joint family would reside and the character of Visu would solve their problems. Many of Visu's film titles contain rhyming words, such as Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi, Kavalan Avan Kovalan, Penmani Aval Kanmani, Varavu Nalla Uravu and Vedikkai En Vadikkai. His films focused on many family issues like dowry, need of remarriage for women, mother in law-daughter in law disputes and so on which were occurring that time. In most of his films there is a character named Uma, named after a school teacher who predicted his rise to fame after reading one of his scripts when he was a travel agent. During his last years before death, he wrote the script for Samsaram Adhu Minsaram Part 2 which is yet to see the light of day.

Personal life

In 2016, he joined and campaigned for BJP.

On 22 March 2020 at Chennai, Visu died of kidney failure at the age of 74.

Filmography

As director

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Notes
1982	Kanmani Poonga
Manal Kayiru
1983	Dowry Kalyanam
1984	Puyal Kadantha Boomi
Rajathanthiram
Vaai Sollil Veeranadi
Naanayam Illatha Naanayam
1985	Pudhiya Sagaptham
Aval Sumangalithan
Ketti Melam
Chidambara Rahasiyam
1986	Samsaram Adhu Minsaram	National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment
1987	Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
Kavalan Avan Kovalan
Srimathi Oka Bahumathi	Telugu film; remake of Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
1988	Penmani Aval Kanmani
Aadade Aadharam	Nandi Award for Second Best Story Writer
Telugu film; remake of Penmani Aval Kanmani
Illu Illalu Pillalu	Telugu film; remake of Veedu Manaivi Makkal
1989	Sakalakala Sammandhi
1990	Varavu Nalla Uravu	Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer
Vedikkai En Vadikkai
1992	Urimai Oonjaladugiradhu
Neenga Nalla Irukkanum	National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
1994	Pattukottai Periyappa
Vaa Magale Vaa
1996	Meendum Savithri
Neti Savithri	Telugu film	last=అల్లూరు రహీం
2001	Sigamani Ramamani
::

As writer

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Credited as	Notes	Writer
1977	Pattina Pravesam			last=Bhatt
1978	Sadhurangam
1980	Avan Aval Adhu
Mazhalai Pattalam
1981	Thillu Mullu
Netrikkan
Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum
Kudumbam Oru Kadambam
1982	Simla Special
Pudukavithai
1984	Nallavanukku Nallavan
1986	Mr. Bharath
::

As an actor

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	Thillu Mullu	One of the interview candidates	Also dubbing artist
Kudumbam Oru Kadambam	Srinivasa Raghavan
1982	Kanmani Poonga	Ramkumar
Manal Kayiru	Uthramerur Narathar Naidu
1983	Oru Kai Paappom	Kai Adi Kamalakannan
Dowry Kalyanam	Ganesan
1984	Nallavanukku Nallavan	Thakkali
Puyal Kadantha Boomi	Nammaalu allies Namachivaayan
Rajathanthiram	Bhairavan
Vaai Sollil Veeranadi	Vengapuli Varadhachari
Naanayam Illatha Naanayam	Veerapandi
Oorukku Upadesam	Sankaran
1985	Pudhiya Sagaptham	Ramadasaradan
Aval Sumangalithan	Watchman Aarumugam
Ketti Melam	Chinna Paiyan
Chidambara Rahasiyam	Beemarao
1986	Mr. Bharath	Kumaresa Gounder
Dharma Pathini	"Vicks" Vardarajan	Special appearance
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram	Ammaiyappa Mudaliyar
Oomai Vizhigal	Rathnasabapathy
Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu	Thulasi's father
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu	Ponnambalam
Anandha Kanneer	Paapa Panchu
1987	Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi	Naagarkoil Naadhamuni
Kavalan Avan Kovalan	Chakravarthi's father-in-law
Kathai Kathaiyam Karanamam
Srimathi Oka Bahumathi		Telugu film
1988	Veedu Manaivi Makkal	Subbaiah Pillai
Penmani Aval Kanmani	Radio Mama
Aadade Aadharam		Telugu film
Mappillai Sir	Vakkil Varadharajan
Illu Illalu Pillalu		Telugu film
1989	Sakalakala Sammandhi	Mayavaram Malayappan
1990	Varavu Nalla Uravu	Appa Ambalavanar
Vedikkai En Vadikkai	Kaavisattai Kandasamy
1992	Urimai Oonjaladugiradhu	Kasturi's father
Neenga Nalla Irukkanum
Mannan	Viswanathan
1993	Uzhaippali	Barrister
Sinna Mapplai	Marriage Broker
1994	Pattukottai Periyappa	Pattukottai Periyappa
Aranmanai Kaavalan	Santhanam
Vaa Magale Vaa	Viswanathan
Vanaja Girija	Ramanathan
Vaanga Partner Vaanga	Ganapathi
1995	Mayabazar	Vishwanathan
God Father	Viswanatham	Telugu film
1996	Meendum Savithri	Narayana Moorthy
Irattai Roja	Anchor	Guest appearance
1997	Nesam	Himself
Aravindhan
Adimai Changili
Vasuki	Ramasamy
Arunachalam	Adv. Rangachari
Sishya	Aadhimoolam
Vaimaye Vellum
1998	Bhagavath Singh
1999	Mannavaru Chinnavaru	Shanmugasundaram
Anbulla Kadhalukku	Chandrasekhar
2000	Kakkai Siraginilae	Judge
Vaanavil	Himself
2001	Sigamani Ramamani	Sundaramoorthy
Krishna Krishna	Advocate Viswanathan	Guest appearance
Middle Class Madhavan	Advocate
Vadagupatti Maapillai	Gomathi Shankar
Looty	Dr. Kuzhanthavelu
Vedham		Guest appearance
2003	Thithikudhe	Himself
2004	Maha Nadigan
2005	Ji	Raghavan
2007	Cheena Thaana 001	Governor	Guest appearance
2008	Ellam Avan Seyal
2009	Innoruvan	Judge
Kannukulle
2013	Alex Pandian	Chief Minister
Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu	Judge
2014	Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum		Guest appearance
2016	Manal Kayiru 2	Uthramerur Narathar Naidu
::

;Television

• Arattai Arangam - Sun TV
• Makkal Arangam - Jaya TV
• Naalavathu Mudichu - Jaya TV

Plays/novels

;As writer ::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Notes
1977	Pattina Pravesam	plays
	Bharatha Matharkku Jai
	Kudumbam Oru Kadambam
	Modi Masthan
	Dowry Kalyana Vaibhogame
	Aval Sumangalithan
	Uravukku Kai Koduppom
	Meendum Savithri	novel
::

References

References

1. (19 August 2004). "CHATTING for a cause". [[The Hindu]].
2. "TANTIS". tamilfilmdirectorsassociation.com.
3. Balasubramanian, V.. (3 April 2014). "I never left the stage". The Hindu.
4. (22 March 2020). "Tamil actor-director Visu passes away".
5. "Veteran Tamil actor, director Visu passes away at 74".
6. (23 March 2020). "Remembering veteran actor Visu, pioneer of successful family-friendly Tamil films".
7. "Kollywood Director Visu Biography, News, Photos, Videos".
8. (22 March 2020). "Actor, director Visu dies at 75, funeral to be held on Monday". The Hindu.
9. "Veteran Tamil actor-director Visu dies of prolonged kidney-related ailments at age 74".
10. (11 September 2004). "Inimitable Visu".
11. Devalla, Rani. (11 November 2014). "A Passionate journey". The Hindu.
12. (9 July 2016). "Looking back at the golden years". [[The New Indian Express]].
13. Ashok Kumar, S. R.. (26 March 2020). "Visu, a colossus". [[The Hindu]].
14. Rangan, Baradwaj. (23 March 2020). "A Tribute To Visu, Known For His Middle-Class Melodramas Like Samsaram Adhu Minsaram".
15. (24 March 2020). "Remembering Visu, the king of the middle-class family drama".
16. (22 March 2022). "விசு நினைவு தினம்: காலத்தால் அழியாத 'சம்சாரம் அது மின்சாரம்'".
17. (31 January 2016). "Veteran actor Visu joins BJP".
18. (22 March 2020). "Veteran Kollywood director Visu passes away at 74". [[The New Indian Express]].
19. (22 March 2020). "Director Visu passes away". [[The Times of India]].
20. (22 March 2020). "Veteran Kollywood director Visu passes away at 74".
21. (23 March 2020). "குடும்பங்களின் மகத்துவத்தை உணர்த்திய விசு - ஓர் பார்வை".
22. Anantharam, Chitradeepa. (8 November 2016). "Not a marriage made in heaven". [[The Hindu]].
23. "Raja Thanthiram ( 1984 )".
24. "Nanayam Illatha Nanayam ( 1984 )".
25. (1 December 2002). "நட்சத்திர படப் பட்டியல்". [[Cinema Express]].
26. (18 July 1985). "அவள் சுமங்கலிதான்". Anna.
27. "Ketti Melam (1985)".
28. "சிதம்பர ரகசியம் / Chidambara Ragasiyam (1985)".
29. Krishnaswamy, N.. (20 March 1987). "Celebrating AVM's Visu's unassuming hit". [[The Indian Express]].
30. "Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi (1987)".
31. (29 May 1987). "Kavalan Avan Kovalan". [[The Indian Express]].
32. (27 March 1988). "பெண்மணி அவள் கண்மணி".
33. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)". [[Andhra Pradesh (magazine).
34. "வரவு நல்ல உறவு / Varavu Nalla Uravu (1990)".
35. "வேடிக்கை என் வாடிக்கை / Vedikkai En Vadikkai (1990)".
36. (14 August 1992). "உரிமை ஊஞ்சலாடுகிறது". [[The Indian Express]].
37. Vijiyan, K.. (26 December 1992). "Tamil movie with a hard message against drinking". [[New Straits Times]].
38. யுவராஜ், லாவண்யா. (23 September 2022). "Pattukottai Periyappa: 'விசு வந்தாலே போதும்...' 28 ஆண்டுகளை நிறைவு செய்யும் 'பட்டுக்கோட்டை பெரியப்பா'".
39. "வா மகளே வா / Vaa Magale Vaa (1994)".
40. "Meendum Savithri ( 1996 )".
41. అల్లూరు రహీం. (8 March 1996). "చిత్రసమీక్ష: నేటి స్త్రీ వ్యక్తిత్వాన్ని ప్రతిబింబిచలేకపోయిన నేటి సావిత్రి". [[Zamin Ryot]].
42. (22 March 2020). "Visu had a peaceful death: S Ve Sekhar reacts to the demise of his long-time friend".
43. Bhatt, Karthik. (12 April 2016). "Pattinapravesam : From Stage to Celluloid".
44. (26 March 2020). "ரஜினியைக் காட்டி ஸ்ரீகாந்த்; ஸ்ரீகாந்தைக் காட்டி ரஜினி; விசுவின் கதை வசனத்தில் 'சதுரங்கம்'".
45. (23 March 2020). "Sivakumar pens down emotional note for his friend, Visu".
46. (21 December 1980). "வசிஷ்டர் வாயால்...".
47. Sundaram, Nandhu. (1 May 2022). "41 years of Thillu Mullu: This hilarious Rajinikanth film still entertains".
48. ராம்ஜி, வி.. (26 October 2022). "ரஜினி நடிக்க ஆசைப்பட்ட 'கீழ்வானம் சிவக்கும்!'".
49. முத்துராமன், எஸ்.பி.. (20 April 2016). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 55: 'குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்'". [[Hindu Tamil Thisai]].
50. (11 September 2018). "''அப்போ இயக்குநர்; இப்போ லாட்ஜ் ஓனர்..!" - டி.பி.கஜேந்திரன் 'அப்போ இப்போ' பகுதி 20".
51. Jaya TV. (11 October 2021). "நாலாவது முடிச்சு- Naalavathu Mudichu {{!}} Tamil Serial {{!}} Jaya TV Rewind {{!}} Episode 1".

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