Veteran writer and film producer Panchu Arunachalam died in Chennai on Tuesday. He was 75.
Born on 18 June, 1941 in Karaikudi district of Tamil Nadu, Panchu Arunachalam has written around 100 films in Tamil. He produced 45 films under his banner PA Arts, which was one of the leading production houses in 1970s and 80s. He also directed 4 films and distributed over 400 films in Tamil.
A nephew of Kannadasan, the renowned Tamil lyricist, Panchu was also a renowned lyricist. He wrote lyrics for over 200 films. It was he who introduced composer Ilaiyaraaja as a music director in the film Annakili (1976).
Panchu Arunachalam entered Tamil cinema at a time when the industry was making formulaic films of MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. His Annakili, a rural drama starring Sivakumar and Sujatha, is regarded as a game-changer that revived the commercial cinema in Kollywood. He made 23 films with Rajinikanth and 13 with Kamal Haasan. The films he wrote for Rajini, such as Kazhugu, Pokkiri Raja, Murattu Kalai and Paayum Puli, were the ones that made the actor a hero for the masses.
Last year, national award-winning film historian and producer G Dhananjayan had made A Creator With Midas Touch, a documentary film on Panchu Arunachalam. In an interview with Times of India, Dhananjayan said, “He (Panchu) is the man who invented Rajinikanth as an actor and showed the world that he can act. Even Rajini sir acknowledges this in the documentary, and says, ‘Even though Balachander sir is the one who introduced me, Panchu Arunachalam is the person who made me a big artist.”
Panchu’s Sakalakala Vallavan was the first Tamil movie to do a Rs. 1 Crore business at the box-office. However, in spite of having made many superhit movies and being instrumental in the making of two superstars – Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, Panchu Arunachalam lived a modest life. In the final leg of his life, he suffered many financial losses.
Panchu Arunachalam was recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at SIIMA 2016. His son, Subbu Panchu Arunachalam is an actor and voice artiste in Kollywood.
So shocked to hear of the sudden demise of veteran Panchu Arunachalam, spent a lot of time with him in recent times. I am shocked. RIP
— Radikaa Sarathkumar (@realradikaa) 9 August 2016
Panchu Arunachalam sir was a passionate creator. His contribution to Tamil cinema will live on forever. RIP sir. Strength to the family.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) 9 August 2016
The Tamil film landscape would be very different without Panchu Arunachalam. @Dhananjayang‘s doc is a good intro. pic.twitter.com/xKHBsO02JF
— Baradwaj Rangan (@baradwajrangan) 9 August 2016
Oh god. Another legend leaves us forever. #PanchuArunachalam sir is no more.this industry is gonna miss u forever https://t.co/j5qiPUVECL
— Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) 9 August 2016
Feature Image Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle
