N. K. Viswanathan (died 25 March 2017) was an Indian film director and cinematographer who has worked on Tamil films.[1][2] After beginning his career working as a cinematographer for Tamil films during the 1980s, he branched into film direction and made commercially successful films during the 1990s.

N. K. Viswanathan
Born(1941-04-23)23 April 1941
Namanur(Sivagangai district)
DiedApril 25, 2017(2017-04-25) (aged 76)
Occupation(s)Director, cinematographer
Years active1978-2017

Career

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Viswanathan appeared as the cinematographer for many films since the 1970s predominantly worked in films directed by Rama Narayanan and also helped recommend actor Sathyaraj for his first role in Sattam En Kaiyil (1978).[3] At the insistence of Kamal Haasan, he directed Sankarlal (1981) when the film's director T. N. Balu died during the shoot.[4] He began directing films in the 1990s, working on family dramas.

In the early 2000s, he worked on several devotional films as a cinematographer and developed his knowledge of CGI and VFX related scenes.[5] Viswanathan went on to direct Jaganmohini (2009), a remake of the 1978 film of the same name, with Namitha and Nila starring. Despite creating attention prior to release, it opened to mixed reviews, with a critic citing that the film felt "dated".[6][7]

Death

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He died on 25 April 2017 due to cardiac arrest.[8]

Filmography

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As director

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Year Film Notes
1981 Sankarlal Completed the film after death of T. N. Balu
1990 Periya Veetu Pannakkaran
1990 Inaindha Kaigal
1992 Nadodi Pattukkaran
1993 Poranthalum Ambalaiya Porakka Koodathu
1994 Pondattiye Deivam
1994 Pudhupatti Ponnuthayi
1994 Periya Marudhu
1995 Varraar Sandiyar
1996 Purushan Pondatti Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (3rd Prize)
2009 Jaganmohini

As cinematographer

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References

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  1. ^ "N. K. Viswanathan". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Casting a spell". The Times of India.
  3. ^ "The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : He is still going strong". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Grillmill". The Hindu. 16 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  5. ^ "The Hindu : Focus is on graphics". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 February 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Jaganmohini review. Jaganmohini Tamil movie review, story, rating".
  7. ^ "Movie Review: Jaganmohini". Sify. Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  8. ^ "ஒளிப்பதிவாளர் என் கே விஸ்வநாதன் காலமானார் | photographer n.k. Viswanathan expire". 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.