Sivaji Productions Explained

Sivaji Productions
Type:Film production
Film distribution
Foundation:1956
Defunct:2010
Location City:Chennai, India
Key People:Ramkumar Ganesan
Prabhu
Industry:Entertainment, Software
Products:Motion pictures (Tamil)
Motion pictures (Hindi)

Sivaji Productions was an Indian film production and distribution company based in Chennai. Established in 1958, it was involved mainly in Tamil and Hindi-language films until 2010.

History

Sivaji Productions company is owned by Prabhu and his brother Ramkumar Ganesan. It is named after their father, the thespian Sivaji Ganesan. Notable films released under their banner includes Puthiya Paravai, Vietnam Veedu, Thanga Pathakkam, Thirisoolam, Aruvadai Naal, Vetri Vizha, Mannan, Chandramukhi and Aasal.

Sivaji Productions was started in 1956 by Dr. Sivaji Ganesan and his brother Sri V.C. Shanmugam. It was first started as a distribution company and distributed many of Dr. Sivaji's movies.[1] In 1958, Sivaji Productions co-produced its first film Amardeepam which was a Hindi remake of Amardeep. Its first solo production was Puthiya Paravai in 1964 with Dr. Sivaji in the lead role.

Since then, Sivaji Productions has produced about 18 films till date.

After Sri V.C. Shanmugam's death in 1986, Dr. Sivaji's son Mr. G.Ramkumar took over Sivaji Productions.

Sivaji Productions has also ventured into the production of television serials. It has produced two serials, Kokila engey Pogirral in Tamil and Seethama Maeyamma in Telugu and is currently producing a Tamil serial called Thavam for Kalaingar TV.

During the success meet of the P. Vasu-directed Mannan (1992), Rajinikanth announced that he would act in Sivaji Productions' 50th film. However, following their 49th film Rajakumaran, Sivaji Productions went on hiatus for 12 years. In September 2004, Rajinikanth was impressed with Vasu's Kannada film Apthamitra (2004) and wanted to remake it in Tamil with Sivaji Productions producing. The remake, titled Chandramukhi, became Sivaji Productions' 50th film.[2] The film received positive reviews from critics and became a successful venture at the box-office.[3] [4]

Their next project was initially announced with Gautham Vasudev Menon as director.[5] However, the film's production failed to take off, with repeated dates being announced by the directors for the film's first schedule throughout 2009. Subsequently, Menon was removed from the project by the producers due to the film's inactivity, with directors Dharani, Vishnuvardhan and Saran leading the race to take over.[6]

In January 2009, the film was reannounced as Asal by Prabhu and the story was subsequently changed with Saran being signed up as the film's director.[7] The film received negative reviews from critics and became a failure at box-office.[8]

Filmography

Films
Year Film Language Director Notes
1958 Amar Deep Hindi T. Prakash RaoCo Production with venus Pictures
Uthama Puthiran Tamil Distributed in Madras circuit
1962 Rakhi Hindi Co Production with Prabhuram pictures
1964 Puthiya ParavaiTamil Dada Mirasi Distributed by Sivaji Productions
1969 Deiva MaganA. C. Tirulokchandar
1970 Vietnam Veedu P. Madhavan
1974 Thanga Pathakkam
1977 Annan Oru Koyil K. Vijayan
1979 Thirisoolam
1980 Ratha Paasam
1982 Vaa Kanna Vaa
1983 Sandhippu
1985 Needhiyin Nizhal
1986 Anandha Kanneer
Aruvadai Naal
1987 Anand
1988 En Thamizh En Makkal
1989 Vetri Vizha Pratap Pothan
1990 My Dear Marthandan
1991 Thalattu Ketkuthamma
1992 Mannan
1993 Kalaignan
1994 Rajakumaran
2005 Chandramukhi
2007 Delhii Heights Hindi Anand Kumar
2010 Aasal Tamil
Television

Notes and References

  1. Book: Baskaran, S. Theodore . Sivaji Ganesan: Profile of an Icon . Wisdom Tree . 2015 . 9788183281096 . 39–40 . S. Theodore Baskaran . 2008.
  2. Web site: Warrier . Shobha . 4 October 2004 . Rajnikanth's new film! . 11 March 2021 . Rediff . en.
  3. News: Kamath . Sudhish . Sudhish Kamath . 15 April 2005 . Return of the king . dead . 27 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140927061028/http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2005/04/15/stories/2005041511660200.htm . . 27 September 2014.
  4. News: Rangarajan . Malathi . 22 April 2005 . The Superstar strikes in style . dead . 27 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140927014733/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/04/22/stories/2005042202620200.htm . . 27 September 2014.
  5. Web site: Moviebuzz . 2008 . Ajith & Gautham come together in Surangani . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080927135655/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14766479 . 27 September 2008 . 25 September 2008 . Sify.
  6. Web site: Moviebuzz . 2008 . Breaking News- Gautham parts way with Ajit . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081207123740/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14793682 . 7 December 2008 . 10 November 2008 . Sify.
  7. Web site: Moviebuzz . 2009 . Ajith's Asal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090411102302/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14879557 . 11 April 2009 . 8 April 2009 . Sify.
  8. http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/05/south-tamil-movie-review-asal.htm Review: Asal is for Ajith fans – Rediff.com Movies