Filmmaker and producer Muktha Srinivasan passed away on May 29 in Chennai. He was 88.
His first film Mudhalali, which was released in 1958, won the National Award. Muktha Srinivasan went on to direct several films with some of Tamil cinema's biggest stars, including Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, Sivaji Ganesan and later Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.
Films such as Thenmazhai, Ninaivil Nindraval, Bommalatam, Aiyiram Poi, Suryagandhi, Anbai Thedi, Nirai Kudam, Imayam and so on are still considered remarkable by fans of Tamil cinema. Notably, Muktha Srinivasan was also the producer of Mani Ratnam's Nayagan, which is considered to be a landmark film in Tamil cinema. However, he had a fall-out with the hero of the film, Kamal Haasan, after the latter wrote an article in The Hindu about how Mani Ratnam had allegedly suffered a heart attack due to the production pressure on him. Muktha wrote a rebuttal to the article in the same newspaper.
His film Polladhavan with Rajinikanth was a huge hit and established Rajini further in his career. The film was a remake of the Kannada film Premada Kanike.
Muktha Srinivasan was a prominent member of the film industry and had been an influential voice throughout his career. He had received state and central Government awards, and the Kalaimamani and Raja Sandow titles. He was also instrumental in founding the Tamil Film Producer's Council (TFPC) on MGR's urging. His last directorial was the 1992 film Brahmachari starring Nizhalgal Ravi and Gauthami.
Tributes poured in for the veteran on social media.
Muktha Srinivasan is dead. My fav among his movies was the stellar comedy 'Kathanayagan' with Pandiarajan and S Ve Shekar. He made so many successful movies with second rung stars like Jaishankar, SSR. Was instrumental in Gemini Ganesan's rise. Also, produced Nayagan.
— Sruthisagar Yamunan (@sruthisagar) May 29, 2018
Very sad to hear the passing away of one of the oldest & passionate Director & Producer Muktha V. Srinivasan sir, who produced films like #Nayagan #Polladhavan ...he was the one who pioneered small budget films like #Mudhalali & made it a huge hit. Rest in peace the great man https://t.co/xKOq75pv4B
— Dhananjayan BOFTA (@Dhananjayang) May 29, 2018
Legendary Director & Producer #MukthaSrinivasan has passed away #RIP
— Sathish Kumar M (@sathishmsk) May 29, 2018
#MukthaSrinivasan , veteran Producer (#Nayagan and many other Tamil films) passes away. RIP
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) May 29, 2018