AVM scion emerges from hibernation with remake

Chennai, May 21 (IANS) After a long hiatus, AVM scion Kumaran is back in movies through the launch of a Tamil remake of a Telugu hit, publicists said here Wednesday.

The first schedule of the venture titled 'Chandamama' featuring Monica and Navdeep in the lead began with a low-key 'Muhurat' (inaugural function) and will soon move to locales in southern Tamil Nadu.

The rest of the credits include Sabapathy (direction), Aruldas (cinematography) and Vijay Anthony (music). Kumaran is holding discussions for at least three more projects, a communique said.

Kumaran had been the creative head of the AVM group before he broke away in 1984.

Since then, Kumaran had adopted a low profile and later produced a number of television soaps for second-string Tamil satellite television channels.

It is a sign of changing times, renowned film historian and filmmaker Randor Guy told IANS.

'Kollywood's first family's separation saga that began in 1978 - a year before the demise of its founder A.V. Meiyappan Chettiar - may soon be forgotten if their films click,' Guy said.

'Chettiar not only created a premier film company but is also accepted as the father of Kollywood who launched the careers of as many as 40-odd stars including Sivaji Ganeshan, and Vyjayanthimala. Perhaps conflicting claims to fame under the limelight led to the family's breakup,' Guy recalled.

The name Kollywood has derived from Kodambakkam, the area in Chennai (formerly Madras) where Tamil films are largely produced.

The first to leave AVM Studios in 1978 was AVM Murugan, who has since passed away. Kumaran and his son Shanmugam broke away in 1984. M. Balasubramanian and his son Gurunath did the same in 2005. The more famous and successful AVM Saravanan had almost given up movie-making in 2004 after not-so-successful ventures plagued by video piracy, Guy added.

'Film production in studios is no longer a paying proposition. Why should I spend money and invest in a film that is sold as a CD for just Rs.30 on the Mount Road pavement on the third day of release?' Saravanan had been quoted as saying in a 2004 IANS report.

The release of Rajnikanth starrer 'Shivaji - The Boss' three years later changed the pessimism and re-launched the careers of the father-son duo of AVM Saravanan and M.S. Guhan. They are currently producing two major projects starring Tamil star Ajith Kumar and a Telugu venture, sources close to Saravanan said.

The 12-storeyed AVM complex in a southwest suburb here is the only major studio surviving in Kollywood jointly owned by the AVM first generation as per the wishes of the late Meiyappan Chettiar whose birth centenary was celebrated last year.

The others in the vicinity, including the bigger ones like Gemini and Vauhini have morphed into hotels, residential complexes and hospitals.