Durai

Prominent 70s independent Tamil director. Former assistant to ​Yoganand and ​G.V. Iyer (Hamsa Geethe, 1975). First film, [[Avalum Penn Thaane]], is a tragic portrayal of an orphaned woman saved from a vice den who sacrifices her life to protect another woman from being trapped into prostitution. It attracted some critical attention as one of the better mid-70s commercial films engaging with the feminist movement. However, he went on Doordarshan 93 to make a formula of this theme, featuring a series of florid female characters such as the tragic heroine who marries her lover’s son in Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam. Best-known film is Pasi, which redeems its sentimentalism through a realistic usage of dialect and a number of well-sketched characterisations. Worked in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. Also scripted his films.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1974: Avalum Penn Thaane; 1975: Oru Kudumbathin Kathai; 1976: Mugiyada Kathe; Asai Arubathu Naal; 1977: Raghupati Raghava Rajaram; 1978: Aval Thantha Uravu; Chadarangam; Pavathin Sambalam; Ayiram Janmangal; Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam; 1979: Kadamai Nenjam; Pasi; Neeya; Needhikku Mun Neeya Nana; Malligai Mohini; Priya Bandhavi; Pathai Marinal; 1980: Kaadu; Maria My Darling; Pennukku Yar Kaval; Enga Vathiar; Porkalam; Thani Maram; Oli Pirandathu; 1981: Aval Oru Kaviyam; Vadagai Veedu; Mayil; Kilinjalgal; 1982: Ruby My Darling; Velicham Vitharunna Pennkutty; Nalanthana; Thunai; Theerpugal Thirutha Padalam; 1983: Do Gulab; 1984: Pet Pyar Aur Paap; 1985: Veli; 1986: Oru Manithan Oru Manaivi; 1987: Veera Pandian; 1988: Palaivanathil Pattampoochi; 1990: Pudhiya Athiyayam.