Anthony Mithradass, director of Harishchandra (1955), died of age-related ailments in Chennai on Monday. He was 103 years old.
The director, a World War veteran, and perhaps the oldest member of the South Indian film fraternity, was known for his collaborations with Malayalam actor Prem Nazir, and Tamil superstar MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar.
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Born in Madurai, Anthony graduated from the city’s famous American College, and went to Calcutta to study film direction. It was there that he met Ellis Dungan, who recommended him to TR Sundaram of Modern Theatres, Salem. Anthony walked out of that meeting with an opportunity to direct Dayalan (1941), with PU Chinnappa and TR Mahalingam. He followed this up with Pizhaikkum Vazhi (1948), Baalya Sakhi (1954), and Duppathage Duka (1956) – a Sinhalese film starring Laddy Ranasinghe and Gerly Gunawardana.
Decades after his last film as director – Sivagami – Anthony had been gearing up to collaborate with Ghibran for a new film as well.
A spokesperson told Silverscreen that the Tamil Film Directors’ Union will hold a memorial event to celebrate the life of the director.