Lakshmanan Ramasamy (born 23 January 1948), known professionally as Chitra Lakshmanan, is an Indian journalist, filmmaker and actor. He produced and directed several Tamil language films starring some of Tamil cinema's major stars during the 1980s and 1990s, while appearing in numerous films and television series in supporting roles.[2][3] He currently operates a YouTube channel called Touring Talkies, which features interviews and talk shows about Tamil cinema.[4]

Chitra Lakshmanan[1]
Born
Lakshmanan Ramasamy

(1948-01-23) 23 January 1948 (age 76)
Occupation(s)Film director, Film producer, Actor, Film journalist
Years active1983-present
SpouseRadhika (m.1989-present)
ChildrenGayatri, Krithiga

Career

edit

Lakshmanan began working in a hardware shop in Arani. He later joined the magazine Vidhi Velli as a sub-editor until its closure. He later joined Thayin Manikodi run by Jayakanthan. He later joined a Singaporean Tamil magazine. After its failure, he decided to start his own magazine Thirai Kathir which became successful. His career in entertainment journalism helped him to also become a public relations officer.[5]

He became acquainted with director Bharathiraja to enter the film industry, and subsequently served as a co-producer on all his films with Lakshmanan's brother, Ramu. In 1983, he produced Mann Vasanai under Gayathri Films, which won commercial success as well as the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film. He also served as a press relations officer for Tamil films during the 1980s, and later reprised that role as an actor through Uttama Villain (2015).[6][7] His first directorial venture was Soora Samhaaram (1988) with Kamal Haasan and later he directed Periya Thambi (1997) with Prabhu and Chinna Raja (1999) with Karthik in the lead role. He turned actor in Japanil Kalyanaraman (1985) and began to prioritise acting commitments in the 2000s, winning acclaim for his comedy roles in Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Nene Ambhani) (2010) and Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru (2013).[8][9]

Throughout his career, Lakshmanan has also taken up posts of responsibility. He served as the Secretary of Tamil Film Producers Council for four years and as an executive committee member in South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, Film Federation of India, and Tamil Film Directors Association for several years. In 2011, he published the book 80 Years of Tamil Cinema, an account documenting the history of Tamil cinema.[citation needed]

Filmography

edit

As producer

edit
Year Film Cast Notes
1983 Mann Vasanai Pandiyan, Revathi, Vijayan
1984 Ambigai Neril Vanthaal Mohan, Radha, Urvashi
Vaazhkai Sivaji Ganesan, Ambika, Pandiyan
1985 Puthiya Theerppu Vijayakanth, Ambika
1987 Jallikattu Sivaji Ganesan, Sathyaraj, Radha
1989 Chinnappadass Sathyaraj, Radha, Kodai Mazhai Vidya

As director and producer

edit
Year Film Cast Notes
1988 Soora Samhaaram Kamal Haasan, Nirosha, Nizhalgal Ravi
1997 Periya Thambi Prabhu, Nagma, Goundamani
1999 Chinna Raja Karthik, Roja, Priya Raman

As writer

edit
  • Idhuthan Kadhala (1997) (dialogues only)
  • Rekha IPS - Kalaignar TV (story only)

As actor

edit
Films
Year Film Role Notes
1984 Pudhumai Penn
Dhavani Kanavugal Guest Appearance
1985 Japanil Kalyanaraman GuideMunusamy
Puthiya Theerppu Murali
1986 Neethana Antha Kuyil
1987 Jallikattu Dharmaraj
1997 Periya Thambi
1999 Chinna Raja
Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum Ramalingam (guest appearance)
2001 Ullam Kollai Poguthae Jyothi's father
Azhagana Naatkal
2002 Kadhal Virus Guest Appearance
Unnai Ninaithu Vaidyalingam
2004 Bose
Kangalal Kaidhu Sei Subramaniam
Vasool Raja MBBS Dr. Kalidas
2006 Unarchigal Balaji's father (guest appearance)
Pachchak Kuthira The mayor's personal assistant
Kusthi
2007 Piragu Film Producer
2008 Vaitheeswaran Dhanasekaran's Henchman
Bommalattam makeup man
2010 Boss Engira Bhaskaran Shanmugasundaram
2011 Sadhurangam
2012 Saguni Boopathi's sidekick
2013 Settai Murugaraj
Isakki Devarajan
Pattathu Yaanai Inspector
Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru Kunchithapadam
Arya Surya
Ya Ya Kanaka's father
Naveena Saraswathi Sabatham Kovai Kamaraj
2014 Ninaithathu Yaaro
Nimirndhu Nil Judge Chitra Lakshmanan
Aranmanai Maya's father
2015 Janda Pai Kapiraju Judge Telugu film
Nannbenda Hotel Manager
Uttama Villain PRO Lakshmanan
Sakalakala Vallavan Shakthi's Uncle
2016 Aranmanai 2 Anitha and Ravi's father
2016 Pokkiri Raja Dr. Kothandam
Vaaliba Raja Chithra Lakshmanan
Muthina Kathirika Politician
Vellikizhamai 13am Thethi Raasathi's father
2017 Kattappava Kanom Jayagopal
Ullam Ullavarai
2018 Vidhi Madhi Ultaa Divya's father
Nagesh Thiraiyarangam Pundek
Itly Bank Manager
2021 Dikkiloona L. Gopal, Priya's father
2022 Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal Rambo's fake father
2023 Kannai Nambathey Divya's father
2024 Dear Doctor
Television
Year Title Role Channel
2003 - 2009 Anandham Sun TV
2006 - 2008 Ganga Yamuna Saraswati
2009 - 2012 Idhayam Devarajan
2012 - 2013 Sondha Bandham Damodaran
2014 - 2015 Akka Jaya TV
2018 - 2019 Chandralekha Gemini Ganeshan Sun TV

Voice actor

edit
Year Title Actor Character Notes
2017 Vasuki S. N. Swamy Swamy Dubbed version of Malayalam film Puthiya Niyamam

References

edit
  1. ^ "TANTIS". 30 October 2012. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012.
  2. ^ "KS RaviKumar's felicitation ceremony". photogallery.indiatimes.com.
  3. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Director Chitra Lakshmanan Special Interview". YouTube.
  4. ^ "8 YouTube Channels That Are Essential Viewing For The South Movie Buff". Film Companion. 25 August 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Exclusive - 'பாரதிராஜாவுடன் 50 வருட நட்பு' - Chithra Lakshmanan". You Tube. Chennai, India.
  6. ^ "Chitra Lakshmanan to share the screen with Kamal Haasan – Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Video Songs | Film News".
  7. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (2 May 2015). "Uttama Villain: A superb core let down by lacklustre filmmaking". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  8. ^ "What Kamal Hassan Did for Me in Uttama Villain – Chithra Lakshmanan | Uttama Villain, Vishwaroopam 2 | Jyothika Surya". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Director Badri's next on corruption in cricket". Sify. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
edit