CHENNAI: Humourous twists and strong storylines that explore in-depth family values and relationships, his movies were must-watch in the 80’s and 90’s. He has donned so many feathers in his hat — he’s a writer, director, actor, theatre artist and talk show host. Does “Godavari, veetuku kuruke kodu one kizhi di” (Godavari, draw a line between the house) ring a bell? Yes! We’re talking about M R Viswanathan, popularly known as Visu.
He began his career as a theatre artist in the 60s. An ardent theatre-lover since his school days, he joined Y G Parthasarathy’s troupe in 1967 and had a glorious run till 1973. As his love for theatre grew, he began writing a script for a play.
“Moulee used to write scripts, and we were good friends. He was asked to write a script for a drama, but didn’t have the time to; so he asked me to do it. I was hesitant, and he said, ‘Just go with the flow!’ That’s how I became a writer. Later, I thought, ‘Why not direct?’ and I began directing in 1974!” recalls Visu.
Eventually, he began getting offers to do films. But, he says, “The best thing I did was not accepting those offers. I was waiting for the right opportunity.”
And it was worth the wait. Visu began as a writer for Avan Aval Adhu (1980) directed by Muktha Srinivasan, and went on to write for K Balachander’s cult films, Thillu Mullu (1981) and Netrikann (1981).
Talking about the late veteran filmaker, his role model, Visu says, “I wanted to achieve what he did in theatre and films, but I achieved just 70% of what he did in theatre. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do the same in films. I started acting while writing and directing; it was too much for me to handle.”
Under the tutelage of Balachander, Visu learnt the nuances of direction, and later donned the greasepaint in Kudumbam Oru Kadambam (1981). “Since the script was mine, I demanded that I act. The makers were hesitant, but everything fell in place,” he smiles.
By 1982, Visu started directing films, and his movies Manal Kayiru (1982) and Dowry Kalyanam (1983) were hailed as pathbreaking films. “I worked for a travel agency and Balachander sir asked me if I would quit my job for movies. I had three daughters; it was a leap of faith but am glad I took it,” he says.
In 1986, Visu wrote and directed another classic — Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, which bagged the National Award for the Best Popular Film. “Growing up in a joint family, I observed how each person had a difference of opinion. It wasn’t bad; just that we were different. I wondered, ‘Wouldn’t other joint families have similar issues?’ So I started writing scripts that reflect the day-to-day scenario in a joint family,” says the 72-year-old.
Visu has acted in over 60 movies including Mr Bharath (1986), Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi (1987), Varavu Nalla Uravu (1990), Ellam Avan Seyal (2008) and Alex Pandian (2013). From playing a 55-year-old wastrel, Srinivasa Raghavan, in Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam (1981) to a respectable associate Rangachari in Arunachalam (1997), the actor-writer-director has rendered memorable performances throughout his career.
Talking about why he stopped writing scripts for movies after 1995, he says, “My movies in the 90s weren’t received well. I wouldn’t call them flops, but they just didn’t work out. So I turned to TV and that was great for my career.”
Having hosted two famous programmes (Visuvin Makkal Arangam and Arattai Arangam), Visu says, “I worked in television for 21 years and my programmes served a cause. Sometimes, listening to the stories of people around the state would leave me in tears.”
Though he shifted from theatre to cinema and then to TV, Visu says that being a writer tops the chart. “I am willing to write scripts even today. But I want to give them to someone who would do them justice. The film industry has changed a lot and so has the way people view cinema,” he says.
Stating that the 80s was the “golden period” of Tamil cinema, he adds, “It used to be difficult for outsiders to enter the industry. Now, it has become too open. It’s becoming over-crowded, and quality is going down. The period in-between was blissful and Balachander should be credited for taking cinema outside.”
The actor, who was last seen in Alex Pandian, will next be seen in the sequel to Manal Kayiru (1982). “I will make a brief appearance and will reprise my role as Naradhar Naidu. I am not taking up many projects these days, due to health complications,” he says.
After 40 years in the entertainment industry, he says, “I will always be a writer and contribute to the fraternity in some way or the other.”