Veteran make-up artiste L Muthappa, who was known to enjoy a close relationship with Superstar Rajinikanth, passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday. He was 75. On hearing the death of his close aide, Rajinikanth visited Muthappa’s residence in Chennai and paid his last respects and offered condolences to the bereaved family.
Popularly known as AVM Muthappa, he was a well-known make-up man having worked with legendary film icons such as MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. He was also associated with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, and later in his career became Rajini’s personal make-up artiste working on some prominent films with the star, such as Thambikku Entha Ooru, Nallavanukku Nallavan, Pandiyan and Murattukaalai.
The make-up artiste had formed a close relationship with the actor and loved to be on screen, which got him small guest roles in more than 30 of Rajini’s films, including Velaikkaran and Annamalai.
Muthappa started his career in the year 1959 as the main make-up artiste in the famous AVM Studios and worked in the field for nearly six decades. Incidentally, he also worked as the make-up man in Sivaji Ganesan’s debut movie Parasakthi and in Kamal Haasan’s first film Kalathoor Kannamma.
The star is awaiting the release of his next project, Petta, directed by Karthik Subbaraj of Pizza fame and produced by Sun Pictures. Slated for a Pongal 2019 release, the rest of its cast includes Simran, Trisha, Vijay Sethupathi, Sasikumar, Bobby Simha, Malayalam actor Manikandan R Achari and Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Actor Malavika Mohanan, daughter of renowned cinematographer TU Mohanan, will be making her Tamil debut opposite Rajinikanth in this film. In an interview to Times of India, Malavika said, “I am very excited to be working with Rajini sir at such an early stage in my career. He is an absolute delight to work… so humble and down to earth.”
Rajinikanth’s next film is rumoured to be with Sarkar director AR Murugadoss. Speculations are rife that the film could be titled Naarkali. More details on this venture are yet to be confirmed officially.
(Content provided by Digital Native)