P. Vasu is an Indian director, actor, producer, and writer, who worked in various South Indian film industries and Bollywood. He is known for the films Chinna Thambi (1991), Apthamitra (2004), Chandramukhi 1 (2005), and Chandramukhi 2 (2023).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Vasudevan Peethambharam, widely known as P. Vasu, was born on Thursday, 15 September 1955 (age 68 years; as of 2023) in Chennai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He completed his school education at Wesley Higher Secondary School in Royapettah, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His college education was at the Pachaiyappa’s College in Chetpet, Chennai, which he discontinued to pursue a career in the film industry.
P. Vasu in his younger days
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Salt and pepper
Eye Colour: Black
P. Vasu with Raghava Lawrence and producer A Subaskaran
Family & Caste
P. Vasu belongs to a Malayali Hindu family of the Nair community. The family was from Nedumbal village in Thrissur district, Kerala, and settled in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Parents & Siblings
His father, M Peethambaran Nair, popular as Peethambaram, was a veteran make-up artist who worked with legendary actors like M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NTR. He was also a film producer of almost 25 films in Tamil and Telugu. He passed away due to age-related ailments at the age of 89. [1]The Hindu
Peethambaram, P. Vasu’s father
His mother’s name is Kamala. He has two brothers, Vidyasagar and P. Vimal Kumar, and three sisters, Vijayalakshmi, Vasantha, and Vanaja. His brother Vimal wrote the story of the Tamil film, 7 Naatkal (2017).
Wife & Children
His wife’s name is Shanti. He has two children – a son, Shakthi Vasudevan (born as Prashanth Vasudevan), an actor in the Tamil film industry, and a daughter, Abhirami Vasudevan, an architect.
P. Vasu with Shanti
Shakthi Vasudevan and family at his sister’s wedding
Other Relatives
The veteran cinematographer, M. C. Sekhar, was his father’s brother. He passed away due to age-related ailments at the age of 91 in February 2023.
P. Vasu’s uncle M. C. Sekhar
His father-in-law, K. Raman, was a veteran make-up artist, who worked with actors such as M. N. Nambiar.
P. Vasu’s father-in-law
His nephew, Gautham V.R., is a Tamil film director, known for the Tamil film 7 Naatkal (2017).
P. Vasu’s nephew
Career
Director
P. Vasu started his film career as an assistant director under the film director C. V. Sridhar in 1978. He co-directed his first Tamil film, Panneer Pushpangal (1981), along with director Santhana Bharathi. Some of the films co-directed by them are the Tamil films, Mella Pesungal (1983), Needhiyin Nizhal (1985), and the Telugu film Sahasame Jeevitham (1984).
P. Vasu with the cast and crew of Panneer Pushpangal
In 1986, Vasu directed his independent first Kannada film Kathanayaka (1986), featuring Vishnuvardhan and Sumalatha Ambarish.
The poster of the film Kathanayaka
Some of the blockbusters directed by him in the 1990s were the Tamil films Chinna Thambi (1991), Mannan (1992), Walter Vetrivel (1993), and Sethupathi IPS (1994). He directed the Hindi film Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999) which starred Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, and Neha (Shabana Raza). It was a commercially successful film.
He received the Filmfare Award for Best Director in Kannada for the film Apthamitra (2004). The film was a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu (1993), and it received widespread appreciation in the Kannada film industry.
A poster of the film Apthamitra
In 2005, he directed the Tamil language film, Chandramukhi which starred Rajinikanth, Prabhu, and Jyothika.
His 50th film as a director was the Tamil action film Paramasivan (2006), which featured Ajith Kumar and Laila. Some of the films directed by him are the Tamil film Kuselan (2008), the Kannada film Aptharakshaka (2010), the Kannada film Drishya (2014), and Shivalinga, released both in Kannada language in 2016 and Tamil language in 2017. In 2023, he directed the film Chandramukhi 2 which featured Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut.
P. Vasu on the sets of Drishya
Actor
P. Vasu made his acting debut in a negative role as the character R. Kandasamy in the Tamil film Vallarasu (2000). He appeared as a political leader and minister R. K. Santhanam in his first Malayalam film, Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001). In his first Telugu film, Seema Simham (2002), he played the role of a negative character named MP Kaaleeswara Rao. He played a role named J. Raagavendra (Jaa Raa) in the sci-fi Tamil film Dasavathaaram (2008).
He appeared as himself in various Tamil films, such as Kadhal Virus (2002), Chandramukhi (2005), Kuselan (2008), Kathanayakudu (2008), and Sivalinga (2017).
Writer
P. Vasu wrote the screenplay for the Kannada film Karunamayi (1987). He also wrote the stories of the films, Nammoora Raja (1988), Purusha Lakshanam (1993), and Ayushman Bhava (1998).
Producer
P. Vasu was the producer for the Tamil film Thottal Poo Malarum (2007). Although uncredited, the Tamil films, Walter Vetrivel (1993) and Malabar Police (1999) were produced by Vasu’s wife, Shanti Vasudevan.
Awards & Honours
- In 1990, he won the Best Screenplay and Dialogues Award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for the film Nadigan.
- In 1991, he won the Best Director Award and the Best Film Award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for the film Chinna Thambi.
- In 1991, he won the Best Director Award at the Cinema Express Awards for the film Chinna Thambi.
- In 1992, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award – Jayalalithaa Award for his contribution to Tamil Cinema.
- In 2004, he was honoured with the Kalaimamani Award, the highest civilian award of the Tamil Nadu State.
- In 2005, he won the Best Director – Kannada at the Filmfare Awards South for the film Apthamitra.
- In 2005, he won the Best Film Award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for the film, Chandramukhi.
- In 2013, he was honoured at the celebration of 100 Years of Indian Cinema for his contribution to Tamil films.
P. Vasu was honoured at the centenary celebrations of Indian cinema
Facts/Trivia
- During his school days, P. Vasu was a good sportsman, and his father wanted him to join a government service. He was passionate about joining the film industry as an actor.
- In an interview, Vasu said that he parted ways with director Santhana Bharathi, as they wanted to pursue their styles of filmmaking.
P. Vasu with Santhana Bharathi
- P. Vasu was a victim of the celebrity death hoax in 2018 when the news spread through social media. He clarified through a video message that he was fit and fine. [2]The Times of India
- The actor and politician, Khushbu Sundar, consider P. Vasu in high regard, as her guide and mentor.
References
| ↑1 | The Hindu |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | The Times of India |
