Kovai Chezhiyan was an Indian senior leader of the Dravidian movement, leader of the

Kongu vellala gounder Kongu may refer to: * Kongu Nadu, a region of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and its inhabitants * Kongu Tamil, a dialect of Tamil language spoken in Western Tamil Nadu * Kongu vellala Gounder, a Dominant Landowning community in Western Tamil Nadu ...

community and film producer who worked in the 1950s up to late 1990s. He was also the vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu State planning commission when MGR was the Chief minister. He had produced films with famous stars including MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Sivakumar, Muthuraman, NTR, Jayalalitha, Vijaykanth, Rajesh khanna, Mammooty etc. Chezhiyan, originally from

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

, has also produced Telugu and Hindi films also and was the first president of Tamil Film producers council. He was earlier the Hononrary Secretary of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce. He was involved in politics and closely associated with Periyar, Anna, Kalaignar and MGR. He was the District Secretary of the DMK, and leader of the Dravidian movement in the Kongu region. He was later introduced to Tamil films as a producer by his good friend Kavignar Kannadasan, who initially produced films with Kannadasan as partner and later individually from the movie ''Sumaithangi'' directed by Sridhar. He produced and distributed various films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi successfully. He was the first President of the Tamil Film Producers Council. Kovai Chezhiyan was the founder President of Kongu Vellala Goundergal Peravai. He was elected as an MLA of Kangeyam in 1971. He was also the selection committee chairman of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. During the later part of his life he worked tirelessly for the uplifting the folks of the Kongu region and the Kongu Vellala Gounders. He was one of the main person, who along with his colleagues got the Backward Community Status for the Kongu Vellala Gounders, during the tenure of chief minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He died on March 14, 2000. After his death in 2000, the Kongu Vellala Gounder Peravai constructed a memorial and arch in his native place at Kungarupalayam, near Kangayam in Tirupur district where thousands from Kongu region visit every year on his anniversary (14 March) to pay respects to him. Kamalam Chezhiyan, wife of Kovai Chezhiyan died on April 24, 2021 due to age related ailments.

Filmography

*'' Sumaithaangi'' (1962) *''

Ooty Varai Uravu ''Ooty Varai Uravu'' () is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written and directed by C. V. Sridhar. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, R. Muthuraman and L. Vijayalakshmi. It was Vijaylakshmi's last film before her m ...

'' (1967) *''

Kumari Kottam ''Kumari Kottam'' is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film directed by P. Neelakantan. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with Lakshmi, Sachu, S. A. Ashokan, V. K. Ramasamy, R. S. Manohar and Cho Ramaswamy in supporting roles. ...

'' (1971) *''

Uzhaikkum Karangal ''Uzhaikkum Karangal'' () is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Shankar, starring M. G. Ramachandran Latha and Bhavani. It was released on 23 May 1976. It had a mediocre run for an MGR movie, in its first release. Cast *M. G. ...

'' (1976) *'' Circus Ramudu'' (1980) *''

Chandamama ''Chandamama'' was a classic Indian monthly magazine for children, famous for its illustrations. It also published long-running mythological/magical stories that ran for years. Originally, "Chandamama" was started in Telugu by Chakrapani and ...

'' (1982) *''

Asha Jyoti ''Asha Jyoti'' is a 1984 Hindi film starring Rajesh Khanna, Rekha, Reena Roy in lead roles. The film was directed by Dasari Narayana Rao, who had also directed '' Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar'' with Khanna in the lead role and music was given by Lax ...

'' (1984) *''

Enakku Nane Needipathi ''Enakku Nane Needipathi'' () is a 1986 Tamil-language action drama film, directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar and produced by Kovai Chezhiyan. The film stars Vijayakanth, Jeevitha, Jaishankar and Lakshmi . The film had musical score by Ilaiyaraa ...

'' (1986) *''

Mounam Sammadham ''Mounam Sammadham'' () is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language legal thriller film written by S. N. Swamy, directed by K. Madhu and produced by Kovai Chezhiyan. The film stars Mammootty (in his Tamil film debut) and Amala. It revolves around a lawye ...

'' (1990) *''

Azhagan ''Azhakan'' () () is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander and produced by Kovai Chezhiyan. It stars Mammootty, in lead role with an ensemble supporting cast. The film, released on 25 August 1991, was critically ...

'' (1991) *''

Pudhayal ''Pudhayal'' () is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Selva. The film stars Mammooty, Arvind Swamy and Sakshi Shivanand. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Vidyasagar. Cast * Mammooty as Captain Viswanath, Indian Army o ...

''(1997)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Chezhiyan Indian film producers Tamil film producers Trade unionists from Tamil Nadu 1931 births 2000 deaths People from Tiruppur district Film producers from Tamil Nadu