Veteran director-producer Muktha V Srinivasan dies at 89

One of Tamil cinema's most distingushed director-producer, Muktha Srinivasan, passed away late last night at his residence in Thyagaraya Nagar in Chennai. He was 89.

Srinivasan, who has delivered several blockbusters both as a director and a producer in his 70-year long career, is most known for producing the cult classic, Nayakan, starring Kamal Haasan and Saranya Ponvannan and directed by Mani Ratnam.

The veteran director, who is survived by his wife Prema, sons Muktha Sundar, Muktha Ravi and daughter Maya, had been unwell for some time.

Srinivasan debuted as a director with Mudhalali in 1957, which won National Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. He has delivered several classic hits including Andaman Kathali (1978), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha Jayakar and Polladhavan (1980), starring Rajnikanth and Lakshmi. In all, he has directed and produced over 50 films.

Several celebrities from the film industry including Kamal Haasan, and political leaders have been paying their respects to the departed director.

According to sources close to the family, his body has been kept a his residence for the public to pay their last respects. The last rites will be performed later this evening at the Kannamma Pettai funeral grounds in the city.