Film producer M Muthuraman, who backed Tamil films in the 1970s and 80s, died in the early hours of Tuesday, around 3.30 am. The 83-year-old died due to natural causes.
The late producer entered the Tamil cinema industry in 1961 and began to work as an assistant director under late filmmaker Srinivasan (also known as Muktha Srininavasan). After working with him until 1964, Muthuraman took up the role of a production executive for five years and later began to produce films under his own banner.
He made his debut as a producer with the 1978 Tamil drama Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam. The film starred veteran actors Vijay Babu, Srikanth, Major Sundarrajan, Delhi Ganesh, Surulirajan, Shoba, Pandari Bai, and Manorama, among others. Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam earned its director Durai the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Director that year. The film follows a woman from an orthodox family who falls in love with a teacher outside her community, something that was considered taboo at the time.
Subsequently, Muthuraman and Durai collaborated again on the Tamil films Ayiram Jenmangal and Mayil, which were released in 1978 and 1981, respectively.
Other films backed by Muthuraman include Deiveenga Ragangal (1980) and Raja Mariyathai (1987).
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As a producer, he worked with ace artists of that period such as Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Prabhu, Sathyaraj, Nizhalgal Ravi, Sivakumar, Shoba, Vadivukkarasi, Banumathi, Latha, and Sujatha, among many others. Even behind the camera, Muthuraman had a set of technicians that he frequently collaborated with. They included writers Cho and Vietnam Veedu Sundaram, composer MS Vishwanathan, and lyricist Vaali.
Muthuraman is survived by his wife Sumangali and daughter Anu. The late producer’s final rites are scheduled to take place in T Nagar, Chennai on Tuesday afternoon.