Vietnam Veedu Sundaram
| "Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Sundaram 1943 |
| Occupation | Scriptwriter, Director, Actor |
| Years active | 1970-present |
"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram is a popular Tamil scriptwriter and director. He has written scripts for nearly all the actors and was a favorite writer of Sivaji Ganesan. He has directed more than a dozen films and is well known for his family themes. His stories have been made into films in other languages also.[1] He has now turned actor on the small screen, and has to his credit quite a few television serials.
Early life
Sundaram's mother brought him to Madras from Tiruchirapalli in 1945 to see Mahatma Gandhi at Island Grounds. Then he moved to Madras for good in 1955.As he was not well educated he was made to work in a factory even at a very young age. In 1955-56 he joined Dunlop factory as a machine operator. In the mean time he was also working as a service boy in United Amateur Artistes run by Y.G. Parthasarathy, his wife and Pattu. That kindled his interest in drama and cinema.He used to narrate real life incidents with imagination and make it an interesting story. This made him a good storyteller among his friends.Slowly he graduated himself in theatrics and play writing. Soon he became a good screenplay and dialogue writer.
Film career
He was the mastermind behind creating the highly successful play "Vietnam Veedu," hence the prefix for his name. Vietnam Veedu Sundaram played the hat-trick in films too with the same titles, all acted by the Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan, the Thespian of Indian cinema. He is known as the ‘founder’ of social mythology. He cast the ever green K. R. Vijaya in the role of goddess in “Namma Veetu Deivam”, the first time social mythology in Tamil, which was remade into Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. That set the social mythology trend in films and televisions.He has directed more than dozen films and is well known for his family themes. His stories have been made into films in other languages also. He has now turned actor on the small screen, and has to his credit quite a few television serials. He has worked with many popular stars including M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, K. R. Vijaya, Sathyaraj and Karthik Muthuraman[2]
Awards and Nominations
"Vietnam Veedu" Sundaram won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Dialogue Writer for his magnum opus, Vietnam Veedu in 1970. He also won the Arignar Anna Award in the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award in 1991.
Filmography
Writer
- Vietnam Veedu (1970) - Scriptwriter
- Gnana Oli (1972) - Scriptwriter
- Naan Yen Pirandhen (1972)
- Naalai Namadhe (1975)
- Panakkara Penn (1976)
- Payanam (1976)
- Satyam (1976)
- Gruhapravesam (1976)
- Justice Gopinath (1978)
- Annan Oru Koyil (1978)
- Devata (1978) (Hindi)
- Anupama (1981) (Kannada)
- Paritchaikku Nermaachu (1982)
- Oru Malarin Payanam (1985)
- Navagraha Nayagi (1985)
- Geethanjali (1985)
- Aayiram Kannudayaal (1986)
- Dharmam (1986)
- Piranthaen Valarnthaen (1986)
- Nambinar Keduvathillai (1986)
- Anand (1987)
- Jallikattu (1987)
- Raja Mariyadhai (1987)
- Velundu Vinaiyillai (1987)
- Soora Samhaaram (1988)
- Bharatamlo Bala Chandrudu (1988) (Telugu)
Director
- Gauravam (1973)
- Vijaya (1973) - Scriptwriter, Director
- Devi Sri Karumariamman (1974) - Scriptwriter, Director
- Gnana Paravai (1991) - Scriptwriter
As Actor
- Films
- Appu (2000)
- Kannamoochi Yenada (2007) - Arumugam Gounder's father
- Kolakalam (2013)
- TV Serials
- My Dear Bootham — Moosa's Grandfather (Debut) (Sun TV)
- Rishimoolam
- Krishnadasi
- Enakkul Avan
- Metti Oli (Sun TV)
- Raja Rajeshwari (Sun TV)
- Tharkappu Kalai Theeratha (Sun TV)
- Avargal (Sun TV)
- Aadukiran Kannan (Sun TV)
- Marmadesam (Sun TV)
- Athi Pookal(Manohar's Uncle) (Sun TV)
- Thangamana Purushan (Kalaignar TV)
- Abhirami — Villain (Kalaignar TV)
- Kalasam
- Pondatti Thevai — Minor Sundarrajan (Sun TV)
- Bhairavi Aavigalukku Priyamanaval (Sun TV)
- Pillai Nila (Sun TV)
- Valli - Indrasena's Father (Sun TV)