This image was posted on Instagram by arunachalam.arun
Chennai:
Tamil filmdom plunged into gloom on Tuesday over the passing away of popular writer-producer Panchu Arunachalam, who was known for taking superstar Rajinikanth to the masses. He was 75.
According to the veteran's publicist, he was suffering from blood cancer and passed away at his residence.
Known as a screenwriter, producer as well as a lyricist, Mr Arunachalam started his career as an assistant to legendary poet and lyricist Kannadasan in 1958, and went on to work on over 300 Tamil films.
According to senior Tamil filmmaker J Mahendran, Mr Arunachalam was truly a man with the Midas touch.
"Almost every film he worked on struck gold at the box-office. His films enjoyed over 80 per cent success rate," Mahendran said, adding his death comes as a huge blow to the industry.
Rajinikanth's daughter Aishwaryaa R Dhanush tweeted:
Celebrities from Tamil filmdom including actors Suriya, Karthi, Sivakumar, Jayam Ravi, Goundamani, Khusbhu, Nasser, Sathyaraj and Shanthanu among others paid their last respects to the veteran here.
He is survived by son Subbu Panchu Arunachalam, a popular Tamil actor. It is yet to be confirmed when his last rites will be performed.
Mr Arunachalam had penned the original story for 45 films, screenplay and dialogues for nearly 100 films and wrote songs for 100 films.
As a producer, he had bankrolled 45 films and was instrumental in delivering several blockbusters with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
Known for reinventing commercial Tamil cinema with Rajinikanth, Mr Arunachalam's's best films with the latter include Kazhugu, Pokkiri Raja and Paayum Puli among others. The duo had worked together in 23 films.
With Kamal Haasan, he was popular for films such as Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey and Uyarndha Ullam. They had worked together in 13 films.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
According to the veteran's publicist, he was suffering from blood cancer and passed away at his residence.
Known as a screenwriter, producer as well as a lyricist, Mr Arunachalam started his career as an assistant to legendary poet and lyricist Kannadasan in 1958, and went on to work on over 300 Tamil films.
According to senior Tamil filmmaker J Mahendran, Mr Arunachalam was truly a man with the Midas touch.
"Almost every film he worked on struck gold at the box-office. His films enjoyed over 80 per cent success rate," Mahendran said, adding his death comes as a huge blow to the industry.
Rajinikanth's daughter Aishwaryaa R Dhanush tweeted:
Rest in peace #PanchuArunachalam uncle ...you will always be loved and remembered as fondly as ever.
— Aishwaryaa.R.Dhanush (@ash_r_dhanush) August 9, 2016
Celebrities from Tamil filmdom including actors Suriya, Karthi, Sivakumar, Jayam Ravi, Goundamani, Khusbhu, Nasser, Sathyaraj and Shanthanu among others paid their last respects to the veteran here.
He is survived by son Subbu Panchu Arunachalam, a popular Tamil actor. It is yet to be confirmed when his last rites will be performed.
Mr Arunachalam had penned the original story for 45 films, screenplay and dialogues for nearly 100 films and wrote songs for 100 films.
As a producer, he had bankrolled 45 films and was instrumental in delivering several blockbusters with Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
Known for reinventing commercial Tamil cinema with Rajinikanth, Mr Arunachalam's's best films with the latter include Kazhugu, Pokkiri Raja and Paayum Puli among others. The duo had worked together in 23 films.
With Kamal Haasan, he was popular for films such as Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey and Uyarndha Ullam. They had worked together in 13 films.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
