Rama Narayanan (3 April 1949 – 22 June 2014) was an Indian film director, producer and politician. In the 1980s, he was known as a director who specialized in shooting commercial films in which animals played vital roles, while in the 1990s, several of his films were based on Hindu devotional subjects. Having directed over 100 films, he was renowned for his quick completion of films well within budget constraints.
Career Narayanan came to Chennai intending to become a songwriter, but he became a dialogue writer for films. He and his friend M. A. Khaja started to write dialogues together under the pen name Ram-Rahim.
In 1976, Narayanan wrote his first story, screenplay and dialogue for the film Aasai Arubadhu Naal. He produced his first film Meenakshi Kungumam in 1977 and directed his first film Sumai in 1981. He also wrote the story for Chiranjeevi's film Punnami Naagu. His 50th film was Veeran Veluthambi, for which M. Karunanidhi wrote the story and dialogue. His 100th film was Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa.
In the 2010s, he finished the making of a comedy film titled Siva Poojaiyil Karadi with Shiva and Udhayathara starring, but the film did not have a theatrical release.
Filmography
As director Year Film Language Notes1981 Sumai Tamil Debut as Director Sivappu Malli Tamil Pattam Parakattum Tamil 1982 Ilanjodigal Tamil Chinnan Chirusugal Tamil Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai Tamil Kanne Radha Tamil Sivantha Kangal Tamil Attaku Tagga Alludu Telugu 1983 Soorakottai Singakutti Tamil Idhu Enga Nadu Tamil Manaivi Solle Manthiram Tamil Seerum Singangal Tamil 1984 Shabash Tamil Kadamai Tamil Kaval Kaidhigal Tamil Vengayin Maindhan Tamil Manmatha Rajakkal Tamil Sattathai Thiruthungal Tamil Maaman Machan Tamil Vai Pandal Tamil Pei Veedu Tamil Thiruttu Rajakkal Tamil Nandri Tamil Thangamadi Thangam Tamil 1985 Veeran Tamil Kutravaaligal Tamil Chain Jayapal Tamil Chilipi Yavvanam Telugu Ilamai Tamil Veettukari Tamil Thandanai Tamil Vesham Tamil Dayyala Meda Telugu Sigappu Nila Tamil Urimai Tamil Engal Kural Tamil Inspector Lakshmi Telugu Ragasiyam Tamil Vetrikani Tamil Sivappu Kili Tamil 1986 Karimedu Karuvayan Tamil Jyothi Malar Tamil Kagitha Odam Tamil Choru Tamil Mamiyaargal Jaagrathai Tamil Naga Devatha Telugu Adutha Veedu Tamil 1987 Nilavai Kayil Pudichen Tamil Megam Karuththirukku Tamil Veeran Veluthambi Tamil Nalla Pambu Tamil 1988 Manaivi Oru Manthiri Tamil Makkal Aanaiyittal Tamil Neruppu Nila Tamil Sahadevan Mahadevan Tamil 1989 Thangamani Rangamani Tamil Thangamana Purushan Tamil Mananthal Mahadevan Tamil 1990 Aadi Velli Tamil Sathan Sollai Thattathe Tamil Durga Tamil Vaaliba Vilayattu Tamil Shakthi Parasakthi Tamil Avadellam Pennaley Tamil 1991 Thai Poosam Tamil Sendhoora Devi Tamil Eeswari Tamil Aadi Viratham Tamil Bhairavi Kannada 1992 Sivashankari Tamil Madha Komadha Tamil Purushan Enakku Arasan Tamil Devar Veettu Ponnu Tamil Sambhavi Kannada Naga Bala Telugu Gauravamma Telugu 1993 Sivarathiri Tamil Dakshayini Kannada 1994 Vaanga Partner Vaanga Tamil Bhuvaneshwari Kannada Naga Jyoti Oriya 1996 Thirumbi Paar Tamil 1997 Nattupura Nayagan Tamil 1998 Jagadeeshwari Kannada 1999 Maaya Tamil Jayasoorya Kannada Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa Tamil 100th Film2000 Raja Kaliamman Tamil Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Tamil Kuberan Tamil Palayathu Amman Tamil 2001 Nageswari Tamil Viswanathan Ramamoorthy Tamil Kottai Mariamman Tamil 2002 Shakalaka Baby Tamil 2003 Annai Kaligambal Tamil Sri Kalikamba Kannada 2005 Mannin Maindhan Tamil 2010 Kutti Pisasu Tamil Bombat Car Kannada Cara Majaka Telugu 2012 Kalpana Kannada Cinta Beruang Malay 2013 Arya Surya Tamil 2015 Billa Kannada
As producer Year Title Notes 1977 Meenakshi Kungumam produced under the Sri Devipriya Films banner 1979 Velum Mayilum Thunai 1979 Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai 1980 Pournami Nilavil 1985 Naagam 1988 Kazhugumalai Kallan 1994 Pudhupatti Ponnuthaayi 2002 Koundar Veettu Mappillai produced under the Sri Devipriya Films banner 2005 Mannin Maindhan 2010 Kutti Pisasu produced under the Sri Thenandal Films banner 2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya 2013 Karimedu 2013 Arya Surya
As writer only Year Film Writer Language Notes 1976 Aasai Arubathu Naal Tamil Co-written with M. A. Khaja as Ram-Rahim 1977 Durgadevi Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram 1979 Manthoppu Kiliye 1980 Theru Vilakku 1980 Punnami Naagu Telugu Remake of the Kannada film Hunnimeya Rathriyalli originally written by Rajasekhar 1985 Maruthi Tamil Also provided direction supervision 1988 Thenpandi Seemaiyile 1990 Manaivi Oru Manickam
Politics and other posts Narayanan was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Karaikudi constituency in 1989.
He became the chairman of Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram in late-1996.
He has also headed the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) for three consecutive elections, before resigning in 2011.
Awards and recognition He has received the Kalaimamani award of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Death Rama Narayanan died on 22 June 2014 at a Singapore hospital due to kidney-related ailments.
References
External links
at Cinesouth Rama Narayanan Profile and Biography at Veethi