Vietnam Veedu Sundaram

Vietnam Veedu Sundaram was a popular Tamil playwright, screenwriter and film director. He wrote films such as Gauravam, Vietnam Veedu, Gnana Oli, Satyam, Grihapravesam, Justice Gopinath, Annan Oru Koyil, Naan Yen Pirandhen and Naalai Namadhe. He also directed a few films and is well known for his family themes. His stories have been made into films in languages such as Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.[3] He also worked as an actor in films and television.

"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram
Born
Sundaram

c. 1943
Tiruchirappalli, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), British India[1]
Died6 August 2016 (aged 76)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
OccupationPlaywright, screenwriter, film director, actor
Years active1970-2016
Spouse(s)Chella[2]
ChildrenAnu Parthasarathy

Early life

Sundaram was born in 1943 to a lawyer father in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.[4] His mother brought him to Madras in 1945 to see Mahatma Gandhi at Island Grounds. 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 meantime, 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 narrated 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.[5] 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, Piranthen 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 Gauravam being a cult classic.[6] 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.[7]

Death

Sundaram died on 6 August 2016 at the age of 76 due to age related ailments.[8] He is survived by his wife Chella and daughter Anu Parthasarathy who is a costume designer.[2][9]

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
Films
Television
  • Vikramadithyan
  • En Peyar Ranganayaki

Director

As Actor
Films

Television
Year Title Role Channel
2000 - 2001KrishnadasiSamaSun TV
2004 - 2007My Dear BoothamMoosa's Grandfather
2000-2001 RishimoolamHostPuthuyugam TV
2002 - 2005Metti OliKathiresanSun TV
2004 - 2006Raja Rajeshwari
2004 - 2007Avargal
2007 - 2012AthipookalKrishnamurthy
2008 - 2009Kalasam
2010AbiramiVillainKalaignar TV
2010 - 2012Pondatti ThevaiMinor SundarrajanSun TV
2012 - 2015Bhairavi Aavigalukku Priyamanaval
2012 - 2014Pillai NilaNeelaveni's Uncle
2013 - 2016ValliSundaram
2015 - 2016Thangamana PurushanKalaignar TV

References
  1. B. Kolappan (6 August 2016). "'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. "Veteran script writer, director and actor Vietnam Veedu Sundaram passes away". newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. "Sunday Celebrity: 'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram's thinking beyond tomorrow makes him batting still - Asian Tribune". asiantribune.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  4. "Turns, twists and drama ruled Sundaram's life and films". The Times of India. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  5. "'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram passed away!". sify.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  6. "Small screen promotes theatre art, says 'Vietnam Veedu' Sundaram". 7 May 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via The Hindu.
  7. 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).
  8. "IndiaGlitz - Director actor Screen writer Vietnam Veedu Sundaram dead in Chennai - Tamil Movie News". indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  9. "Anu Parthasarathy interview". behindwoods.com. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
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