Tamil cinema stalwart and ex-politician RM Veerappan dies at 97
Renowned Tamil film producer and five-time cabinet minister from Tamil Nadu, RM Veerappan, died on Tuesday in Chennai. He was 97 Per reports, the ex-minister was admitted to Apollo Hospital due to respiratory difficulties, where he breathed his last. His body will be taken to his residence on Thirumalai Pillai Road, where the current CM of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, will pay his tribute.
'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Veerappan': Tributes
Following the demise of Veerappan, industry colleagues and fans expressed their condolences on social media. Sivakarthikeyan Productions and AVM Productions shared their grief on X/Twitter, stating, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of R. M. Veerappan sir. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time." Additionally, visuals of CM Stalin paying tributes to the deceased soul are circulating on social media.
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How it all began for Veerappan in entertainment industry
Veerappan's career in the film industry began as a producer and screenwriter. He financed and penned scripts for numerous films, many of which starred actor-politician MG Ramachandran as the lead actor. Their collaboration began in 1953 when Veerappan met MGR on the advice of his mentor CN Annadurai and joined his drama company as a manager. He later became executive director of the company Em.Gee.Yar Pictures. Nadodi Mannan was the first film released under this banner in August 1958.
Veerappan's pioneering contributions to Tamil cinema
Veerappan then ventured into film production, establishing his own production house, Sathya Movies. The banner's inaugural film, Deiva Thai, starring MGR in the lead role, debuted in 1964. Subsequently, MGR and RMV collaborated on numerous projects under this banner, including Kaavalkaran, Kannan En Kadhalan, and Idhaya Kani. It's noteworthy that Rickshawkaran, produced by Sathya Movies, earned MGR a National Award.
Other renowned productions of Veerappan
Additionally, the production house churned out hits like Kadhal Parisu, Kakki Chattai, Ranuva Veeran, Moondru Mugam, Thanga Magan, Oor Kavalan, Panakaran, Baasha, Mandhira Punnagai, and Puthiya Vaanam. Among these, Baasha stood out, setting box office records across all major South Indian languages.
Veerappan's political journey and legacy
Known as the "Chanakya" of AIADMK politics due to his close association with the late MGR, Veerappan held a cabinet minister position for five terms between 1977 and 1996. He was acknowledged as a master strategist in Tamil Nadu politics. After leaving AIADMK, he founded and led the MGR Kazhagam party, further cementing his political legacy. Kazhagam lent its support to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Democratic Progressive Alliance during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.
