# Visu

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. Visu initially worked as an assistant to director K. Balachander until becoming a director himself. He later began acting, with his first film being Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981), directed by S. P. Muthuraman.

## Career

He started his career as a theatre artist, working with Y. G. Parthasarathy's drama troupe. He was writing scripts for stage dramas before getting into the film industry as an assistant to legendary 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 an 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 Kanmani Poonga (1982). Most of his films including Manal Kayiru (1982), 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 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 has worked in over 20 films with Visu, said that he was 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.

## Style

   "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".
In most of the films Visu directed, all the characters were given equal importance. Often, there was huge house wherein 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.

## Other works

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

## Final years and death

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

## Filmography
### As director/writer

This is a list of films that he directed and/or wrote. He also acted in many of his own directed films.
| Year | Title | Credited as | Credited as | Credited as | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Actor | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 1977 | Pattina Pravesam | N | Y | N | — | | |
| 1978 | Sadhurangam | N | Y | N | — | also dialogue writer | |
| 1980 | Avan Aval Adhu | N | Y | N | — | | |
| 1980 | Mazhalai Pattalam | N | Y | N | — | | |
| 1981 | Thillu Mullu | N | Y | Y | As a film crew | Voice-Over Actor (Dubbing) | |
| 1981 | Netrikkan | N | Y | N | — | | |
| 1981 | Keezh Vaanam Sivakkum | N | Y | N | — | | |
| 1981 | Kudumbam Oru Kadambam | N | Y | Y | Srinivasa Raghavan | | |
| 1982 | Kanmani Poonga | Y | Y | Y | Cricketer Ramkumar | | |
| 1982 | Simla Special | N | Y | N | — | |
| 1982 | Manal Kayiru | Y | Y | Y | Uthramerur Narathar Naidu | | |
| 1982 | Puthukavithai | N | Y | N | — | |
| 1983 | Dowry Kalyanam | Y | Y | Y | Ganesh | | |
| 1984 | Nallavanukku Nallavan | N | Y | Y | Owner Gangadharan | | |
| 1984 | Puyal Kadantha Boomi | Y | Y | Y | Nammaalu allies Namachivaayan | |
| 1984 | Rajathanthiram | Y | Y | Y | Bairavan | | |
| 1984 | Vaai Sollil Veeranadi | Y | Y | Y | Vengapuli Varadhachari | |
| 1984 | Naanayam Illatha Naanayam | Y | Y | Y | Veerapandi | | |
| 1985 | Pudhiya Sagaptham | Y | Y | Y | Ramadasaradan | | |
| 1985 | Aval Sumangalithan | Y | Y | Y | Watchman Aarumugam | | |
| 1985 | Ketti Melam | Y | Y | Y | | | |
| 1985 | Chidambara Rahasiyam | Y | Y | Y | Beemarao | | |
| 1986 | Mr. Bharath | N | Y | Y | Kumaresa Gounder | | |
| 1986 | Dharma Pathini | N | Y | Y | Lawyer "Vicks" Vardarajan | | |
| 1986 | Samsaram Adhu Minsaram | Y | Y | Y | Ammaiyappa Mudaliyar | National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | |
| 1987 | Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi | Y | Y | Y | Naagarkoil Naadhamuni | | |
| 1987 | Kavalan Avan Kovalan | Y | Y | Y | Prabhu's Father-in-law | | |
| 1987 | Srimathi Oka Bahumathi | Y | Y | Y | | Telugu film; remake of Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi |
| 1988 | Veedu Manaivi Makkal | N | N | Y | Subbaiah Pillai | | |
| 1988 | Penmani Aval Kanmani | Y | Y | Y | Radio Mama | | |
| 1988 | Aadade Aadharam | Y | Y | Y | | Nandi Award for Second Best Story Writer Telugu film; remake of Penmani Aval Kanmani | |
| 1988 | Illu Illalu Pillalu | Y | Y | Y | | Telugu film; remake of Veedu Manaivi Makkal | |
| 1989 | Sakalakala Sammandhi | Y | Y | Y | Mayavaram Malayappan | | |
| 1990 | Varavu Nalla Uravu | Y | Y | Y | Appa Ambalavanar | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer | |
| 1990 | Vedikkai En Vadikkai | Y | Y | Y | Kaavisattai Kandasamy | | |
| 1992 | Urimai Oonjaladugiradhu | Y | Y | Y | Kasturi's Father | | |
| 1992 | Neenga Nalla Irukkanum | Y | Y | Y | | National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues | |
| 1994 | Pattukottai Periyappa | Y | Y | Y | Pattukottai Periyappa | | |
| 1994 | Vaa Magale Vaa | Y | Y | Y | Viswanathan | | |
| 1996 | Meendum Savithri | Y | Y | Y | Narayana Moorthy | | |
| 1996 | Neti Savithri | Y | Y | N | — | Telugu film | |
| 2001 | Sigamani Ramamani | Y | Y | Y | Sundaramoorthy | | |
| 2016 | Manal Kayiru 2 | N | Y | Y | Uthramerur Narathar Naidu | | |

### Actor

This is a list of films that Visu worked only as an actor.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | 1983 | Oru Kai Paappom | Kai Adi Kamalakannan |
| 1984 | Oorukku Upadesam | Sankaran | |
| 1986 | Oomai Vizhigal | Rathnasabapathy | |
| 1986 | Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu | Thulasi's father | |
| 1986 | Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu | Ponnambalam | |
| 1986 | Anandha Kanneer | Paapa Panchu | |
| 1987 | Kathai Kathaiyam Karanamam | | |
| 1988 | Mappillai Sir | Vakkil Varadharajan | |
| 1992 | Mannan | Viswanathan | |
| 1993 | Uzhaippali | Barrister | |
| 1993 | Sinna Mapplai | Marriage Broker | |
| 1994 | Aranmanai Kaavalan | Santhanam | |
| 1994 | Vanaja Girija | Business man Ramanathan | |
| 1994 | Vaanga Partner Vaanga | Ganapathi | |
| 1995 | Mayabazar | Vishwanathan | |
| 1995 | God Father | Viswanatham | Telugu film |
| 1996 | Irattai Roja | Anchor | Guest appearance |
| 1997 | Nesam | Himself | |
| 1997 | Aravindhan | | |
| 1997 | Adimai Changili | | |
| 1997 | Vasuki | Ramasamy | |
| 1997 | Arunachalam | Adv. Rangachari | |
| 1997 | Sishya | Aadhimoolam | |
| 1997 | Vaimaye Vellum | | |
| 1998 | Bhagavath Singh | | |
| 1999 | Mannavaru Chinnavaru | Shanmugasundaram | |
| 1999 | Anbulla Kadhalukku | Chandrasekhar | |
| 2000 | Kakkai Siraginilae | Judge | |
| 2000 | Vaanavil | Himself | |
| 2001 | Krishna Krishna | Advocate Viswanathan | Guest appearance |
| 2001 | Middle Class Madhavan | Advocate | |
| 2001 | Vadagupatti Maapillai | Gomathi Shankar | |
| 2001 | Looty | Dr. Kuzhanthavelu | |
| 2001 | Vedham | | Guest appearance |
| 2003 | Thithikudhe | Himself | |
| 2004 | Maha Nadigan | | |
| 2005 | Ji | Raghavan | |
| 2007 | Cheena Thaana 001 | Governor | Guest appearance |
| 2007 | Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum | | Guest appearance |
| 2008 | Ellam Avan Seyal | | |
| 2009 | Innoruvan | Judge | |
| 2009 | Kannukulle | | |
| 2013 | Alex Pandian | Chief Minister | |
| 2013 | Oruvar Meethu Iruvar Sainthu | Judge | |

#### Television

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