Veteran film maker CV Sridhar (80) passed away on Monday in Chennai Malar Hospitals.

Sridhar had suffered a stroke few years before, was admitted hospital a week ago when he was fell serious ill. But yesterday his condition was very critical and on Monday morning the doctors announced the legendary director’s journey to the eternal world.

Sridhar was brought fresh air to Tamil cinema industry which was simply experienced with dialogue oriented dramatic films in the sixties.

His Nenjil Oru Aalayam which was remade into Hindi and became a super hit as Dil Ek Mandir is an evergreen classic in Tamil cinema.

Sridhar was the film maker who introduced Jayalalithaa into film industry through his super hit film Vennira Aadai.

Sridhar started his career as a dialogue writer when his play Ratha Pasam was adapted as a film. He made his debut as a director with super hit film Kalyanaparisu starred Gemini Ganesan and Saroja Devi.

He started his own production company Chitralaya in 1961 and made a series of commercially successful films.

Kadhalikka Neramillai was one of the best block buster movies of Tamil film history made by Sridhar and later the same was remade in Hindi with musical legend Kishore Kumar.

Sridhar handled all kind of actors with applying his style, but at the same time he never forgot to give a perfect treatment as per the image of the superstars like MGR and Rajini.

Who can forget the soft romantic Rajini – Kamal starrer Ilamai Oonchaladugirathu in late Seventies?

His combination with Makkal Thilagam MGR, Urimai Kural and Meenava Nanban was worked out in big way and both the films turned as blockbusters in the box office.

Rajini, always special to me! - Sridhar

Both Rajini and Sridhar have maintained a good relationship apart from an actor – director bond.

When Sridhar chose Rajini for his Ilamai Oonchaladugirathu, he offered the soft romantic character to Rajini, just for a change. But after a short thought he gave it to Kamal and offered a different one to Rajini.

Once Rajini remembered this and says, “If I was selected for that role, definitely I might do my part well. But it may be forgotten by the people soon, because of its nature. But Sridhar gave me an immortal role in that movie. I enjoyed my role and Kamal made that role unforgettable…That is Sridhar…”

After few years, Sridhar made a movie with the superstar, Thudikkum Karangal under KRG banner and released in big manner.

During the time of the film’s release Sridhar advised the producer to erect big cut outs for Rajini all ove the state, especially in Chennai. Rajini is the very first hero in Tamil who had a huge 90 ft height cut out for his film in front of Alankar, Mount Road.

However the film was managed well in B and C centers and done above average business in class center.

14 years later, Rajini wanted to help Sridhar after known his poor health as well as financial condition in 1997, but Sridhar, the man always stick with his self respect, declined the offer. But he told the Super star that instead getting a share from Arunachalam as a Sleeping partner he would ready to direct a movie with the superstar again.

He conveyed the same reply when P.Vasu, one of his disciples approached him and requested his permission to produce a film with popular stars to raise fund for Sridhar’s welfare.

In 1997 Sridhar says, “We should preserve and honour Rajini, a true gentleman of Indian Cinema. According to Me, Rajini is the only possible replacement for MGR. I’m telling this on the basis of Rajini’s cinematic skills and the great art of judging the pulse of the public rightly. Rajini is always very special to me and he never makes a loss to anyone in the tinsel world...”

-Sanganathan