A. C. Thirulokachandar (11 June 1930 – 15 June 2016), also known as A. C. Tirulokchandar, was an Indian film director and screenwriter who worked mainly in Tamil films from the 1960s to 1988. He also directed a few films in Hindi and Telugu.[2] His 1969 Tamil film Deiva Magan was the first South Indian film to be submitted by India in contest for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[3][4]
A. C. Thirulokachandar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Arcot Chengalvaraya Mudaliyar Thirulokachandar 11 June 1930 |
| Died | 15 June 2016 (aged 86) |
| Education | M. A. |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1964–1988 |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1] |
| Children | 3 |
Career
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2022) |
During the making of the film Kumari in 1952, A.C. Tirulokchandar was working as a junior assistant on the sets and during the shooting of this film became a close friend of M. G. Ramachandran. Producer A. V. Meiyappan noticed his talent and gave A.C. Tirulokchandar his break as the director in 1962 film Veerathirumagan.
With the success of his debut film, he got one more film to direct under AVM Productions which was bilingual made simultaneously as Main Bhi Ladki Hoon in Hindi and as Nannum Oru Penn (1963) in Tamil. The latter won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at 11th National Film Awards and also won Filmfare Award for Best film. With this, he became a permanent fixture as director with AVM. He became like the fifth son of Mr. A. V. Meiyappan and became close friend of A.V.M.Saravanan.
Tirulokchandar directed the fiftieth film produced by AVM banner – Anbe Vaa, a romantic comedy film, in 1966 with M.G. Ramachandran in the lead. He directed the films produced by K. Balaji – Thangai (1967), En Thambi (1968), Thirudan (1969) and Engiruntho Vanthaal (1970) which were Tamil remakes of blockbuster films in other languages. He was not only adept at directing social dramas like Babu (1971) with Sivaji Ganesan in the lead, Ramu (1966) with Gemini Ganesan as the hero but also romantic dramas such as Iru Malargal (1967) and Anbalippu (1969) as well as the romantic comedies Anbe Vaa (1966) and Anbe Aaruyire (1975).
He was given the task of directing the first bilingual suspense thriller film from AVM banner in 1967 which was Ave Kallu in Telugu and Adhey Kangal in Tamil. He directed the pair Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalitha in five films – Deiva Magan (1969), Dharmam Engey (1972), Engirundho Vandhaal (1970), Enga Mama (1970) and Avanthan Manidhan (1975). He directed Rajesh Khanna in Babu in 1985 which became a hit. His other acclaimed Tamil films include Thirudan, Aval, Dheerga Sumangali, Vasandatil Oru Naal, Bhadrakali, Anbe Aaruyire and Bharata Vilas. He was known to co-ordinate the colour schemes of the actors' outfits with the sets designed for the film.
Personal life
editTirulokchandar had a daughter and two sons,[5][6] the younger of whom died of cancer in 2016.[7]
Death
editTirulokchandar died on 15 June 2016 at the age of 86. The reason for death was declared as "age-related issues".[8][9]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Kumari | Tamil | Assistant Direction |
| 1960 | Vijayapuri Veeran | Tamil | Story & Dialogue Writer |
| 1962 | Paarthaal Pasi Theerum | Tamil | Story & Dialogue Writer |
| 1962 | Veerathirumagan | Tamil | |
| 1963 | Naanum Oru Penn | Tamil | |
| 1964 | Main Bhi Ladki Hoon | Hindi | |
| 1965 | Naadi Aada Janme | Telugu | |
| 1965 | Kakkum Karangal | Tamil | |
| 1966 | Anbe Vaa | Tamil | Remake of American film Come September |
| 1966 | Ramu | Tamil | |
| 1967 | Thangai | Tamil | |
| 1967 | Athey Kangal | Tamil | |
| 1967 | Iru Malargal | Tamil | |
| 1967 | Ave Kallu | Telugu | |
| 1968 | Ramu | Telugu | Remake of Tamil film of same name |
| 1968 | En Thambi | Tamil | |
| 1969 | Thirudan | Tamil | Remake of Adrushtavanthulu |
| 1969 | Deiva Magan | Tamil | |
| 1969 | Anbalippu | Tamil | |
| 1970 | Engirundho Vandhaal | Tamil | Simultaneously made as Khilona |
| 1970 | Enga Mama | Tamil | Remake of Brahmachari |
| 1971 | Pavitra Hrudayalu | Telugu | |
| 1971 | Babu | Tamil | Remake of Odayil Ninnu |
| 1972 | Itho Entha Deivam | Tamil | |
| 1972 | Aval | Tamil | |
| 1972 | Dharmam Engey | Tamil | |
| 1973 | Radha | Tamil | 25th Film |
| 1973 | Sontham | Tamil | |
| 1973 | Bharatha Vilas | Tamil | |
| 1974 | Dheerga Sumangali | Tamil | |
| 1975 | Dr. Siva | Tamil | |
| 1975 | Anbe Aaruyirae | Tamil | |
| 1975 | Avanthan Manithan | Tamil | Remake of Kasturi Nivasa |
| 1976 | Nee Indri Naanillai | Tamil | |
| 1976 | Bhadrakali | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Penn Jenmam | Tamil | |
| 1977 | Bhadrakali | Telugu | |
| 1978 | Pilot Premnath | Tamil | |
| 1978 | Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye | Tamil | |
| 1980 | Vishwaroopam | Tamil | |
| 1980 | Kadhal Kiligal | Tamil | Remake of Ghar[10] |
| 1981 | Lorry Driver Rajakannu | Tamil | |
| 1982 | Teri Kasam | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Baawri | Hindi | |
| 1982 | Vasandhathil Or Naal | Tamil | Remake of Mausam |
| 1985 | Babu | Hindi | |
| 1985 | Do Dilon Ki Dastaan | Hindi | |
| 1987 | Kudumbam Oru Koyil | Tamil | |
| 1987 | Anbulla Appa | Tamil | |
| 1988 | Shukriyaa | Hindi |
References
edit- ^ "Storyteller who found his flair in versatility". The Times of India. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Performer to the core". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ "India's Oscar drill". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ "திருலோகசந்தர் இயக்கத்தில் சிவாஜி கணேசன் 3 வேடத்தில் நடித்த 'தெய்வ மகன்'" [Sivaji Ganesan portrayed 3 roles in 'Deiva Magan' under Tirulokachander's direction]. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
- ^ Roshne B; Johanna Deeksha (16 June 2016). "The Deiva Magan of all directors, he shared special bond with Sivaji Ganesan". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Veteran film director AC Tirulokchandar passes away". Deccan Chronicle. 16 June 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Maalaimalar News: Director AC Thirulogachander son death". Maalaimalar.com. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Veteran Tamil film director AC Tirulokachandar passes away". 15 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Tamil film director AC Tirulokachandar passes away". 16 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Kalki magazine". archive.org. 4 May 1980. Retrieved 8 April 2023.