# K. Shankar

Kannan Shankar (17 March 1926 - 5 March 2006) was an Indian film editor, screenwriter and director. He directed more than 80 films in South Indian languages including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada as well as in Hindi.

## Film career

Shankar started his film career as an editor Assistant at Central Studios, Coimbatore in 1939 and later moved to Pakshiraja Studios. He later became a successful editor at AVM Studios, before moving into film direction. He gave blockbuster film Alaya mani (1962) for Sivaji Ganesan highest grosser of that year and went on to direct 7 Sivaji Ganesan films. He gave superhits like Rajkumar (1964) and Sachaai (1969) with Shammi kapoor and Sadhana in lead roles. Next to P. Neelakantan, Shankar was also credited with creating M. G. Ramachandran's (MGR) movie persona, in 8 movies he had directed MGR. MGR chose Shankar to direct his own production, "Adimai Penn".

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Credited as | Credited as | Language | Notes |
| Year | Film | Director | Editor | Language | Notes |
| 1953 | Ladki | N | Y | Hindi | |
| 1954 | Sangham | N | Y | Hindi | |
| 1954 | Penn | N | Y | Tamil | |
| 1954 | Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam | N | Y | Telugu | |
| 1956 | Nagadevatha | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1958 | Bhookailas | Y | Y | Telugu | Dubbed in Tamil as Baktha Ravana |
| 1958 | Bhookailasa | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1959 | Orey Vazhi | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1960 | Kavalai Illaadha Manithan | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1960 | Kairasi | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1961 | Arappavan | Y | N | Malayalam | |
| 1962 | Jhoola | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1962 | Paadha Kaanikkai | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1962 | Aadi Perukku | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1962 | Aalayamani | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1963 | Panathottam | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1963 | Idhu Sathiyam | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1963 | Bharosa | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1963 | Ezhai Pangalan | Y | N | Tamil | |
| 1964 | Andavan Kattalai | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1964 | Rajkumar | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1965 | Anbu Karangal | Y | N | Tamil | 25th Film |
| 1965 | Panchavarna Kili | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1965 | Kalangarai Vilakkam | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1966 | Chandrodayam | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1966 | Gowri Kalyanam | Y | N | Tamil | |
| 1968 | Kudiyirundha Koyil | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1968 | Kallum Kaniyagum | Y | N | Tamil | |
| 1969 | Adimaippenn | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1969 | Sachaai | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1970 | Koi Ghulam Nahi | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1971 | Parde Ke Peechey | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1972 | Bandagi | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1972 | Shehzada | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1974 | Chhote Sarkar | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1975 | Pallandu Vazhga | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1975 | Raja | Y | Y | Hindi | |
| 1976 | Uzhaikkum Karangal | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Sthree Janmam | Y | Y | Malayalam | |
| 1978 | Varuvan Vadivelan | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1978 | Vayasu Ponnu | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1978 | Sundarimaarude Swapnangal | Y | Y | Malayalam | |
| 1978 | Prathyaksha Deivam | Y | Y | Malayalam | |
| 1978 | Kungumam Kathai Sollugiradhu | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1979 | Srungara Ramudu | Y | Y | Telugu | |
| 1979 | Suprabatham | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1979 | Neelakadalin Orathile | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1981 | Bala Nagamma | Y | Y | Telugu | Dubbed in Tamil with same name Dubbed in Hindi as Jadu Nagari |
| 1981 | Devi Dharisanam | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1981 | Deiva Thirumanangal | Y | Y | Tamil | Director of story "Srinivasa Kalyanam" |
| 1982 | Erattai Manithan | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1982 | Thaai Mookaambikai | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1983 | Miruthanga Chakravarthi | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1984 | Chiranjeevi | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1984 | Ezhuthatha Sattangal | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1985 | Navagraha Nayagi | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1985 | Raja Rishi | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1986 | Nambinar Keduvathillai | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1986 | Aayiram Kannudayaal | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1987 | Velundu Vinaiyillai | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1987 | Mupperum Deviyar | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Thambi Thanga Kambi | Y | Y | Tamil | 50th Film |
| 1989 | Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam | Y | Y | Malayalam | |
| 1993 | Saranam Saranam Manikanta | Y | Y | Telugu | |
| 1993 | Manikantana Mahime | Y | Y | Kannada | Dubbed in Hindi as Vishnuputra |
| 1993 | Swamy Ayyappa Sabarimalai | Y | Y | Kannada | |
| 1993 | Nallathe Nadakkum | Y | Y | Tamil | |
| 1996 | Vetri Vinayagar | Y | Y | Tamil | Dubbed in Hindi as Jai Ganesh Deva |

## Death

Shankar died due to heart attack at his residence on 5 March 2006 at the age of 79. He is married to Kamakshi Ammal and has six children. He has daughters Vijayalakshmi, Rukmani and Radha and sons Sivaprasad, Saseetharan and Ganesan. Sivaprasad made his directorial debut with Kalyana Rasi (1991).