N. K. Viswanathan (died 25 March 2017) was an Indian film director and cinematographer who has worked on Tamil films. After beginning his career working as a cinematographer for Tamil films during the 1980s, he branched into film direction and made commercially successful films during the 1990s.

Career

Viswanathan appeared as the cinematographer for many films since the 1970s predominantly worked in films directed by

Rama Narayanan Rama Narayanan (3 April 1949 – 22 June 2014) was an Indian film director and film producer. 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 ...

and also helped recommend actor

Sathyaraj Rangaraj Subbiah (born 3 October 1954), known professionally as Sathyaraj, is an Indian actor, film producer, film director and a media personality who appears predominantly in Tamil films. He also appears in works in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam ...

for his first role in ''

Sattam En Kaiyil ''Sattam En Kaiyil'' () is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language action film written, produced and directed by T. N. Balu. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sripriya, while Sathyaraj made his screen debut. It was released on 14 July 1978 and became a suc ...

'' (1978). At the insistence of Kamal Haasan, he directed ''Sankarlal'' (1981) when the film's director T. N. Balu died during the shoot. He began directing films in the 1990s, working on family dramas. In the early 2000s, he worked on several devotional films as a cinematographer and developed his knowledge of CGI and VFX related scenes. Viswanathan went on to direct '' Jaganmohini'' (2009), a remake of the 1978 film of the same name, with

Namitha Namitha Vankawala (born 10 May 1981) is a state executive member of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu. She started her career initially as an actress and model who predominantly works in Tamil and Telugu cinema along with a few films ...

and Nila starring. Despite creating attention prior to release, it opened to mixed reviews, with a critic citing that the film felt "dated".

Death

He died on 25 April 2017 due to cardiac arrest.

Filmography

As director

As cinematographer

*'' Uyarndhavargal'' (1977) *''

'' (1978) *'' Kalyanaraman'' (1979) *''

Rusi Kanda Poonai ''Rusi Kanda Poonai'' () is a 1980 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language Drama (film and television), drama film directed by G. N. Rangarajan. The film stars Saritha, Sudhakar (actor), Sudhakar and M. R. R. Vasu. It was released on 25 December 1 ...

'' (1980) *'' Meendum Kokila'' (1981) *''

Kadal Meengal ''Kadal Meengal'' () is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by G. N. Rangarajan, starring Kamal Haasan, Sujatha, Nagesh and Swapna. It is a remake of the 1980 Malayalam film ''Meen'', and also draws inspiration from the Hindi fi ...

'' (1981) *''

Sankarlal ''Sankarlal'' is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language action film, written, directed and produced by T. N. Balu. It stars Kamal Haasan in dual lead roles as father and son. Balu died half-way during production, and the film was eventually completed wit ...

'' (1981) *''

Ellam Inba Mayyam ''Ellam Inba Mayyam'' () is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language film directed by G. N. Rangarajan and written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Suman, Madhavi and Surekha. It was released on 5 December 1981. Plot ...

'' (1981) *''

Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo ''Karaiyellam Shenbagapoo'' () is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language thriller film directed by G. N. Rangarajan, starring Pratap Pothen and Sripriya. It is based on Sujatha's novel of the same name. The film was released on 14 August 1981. Plot ...

'' (1981) *'' Manaivi Solle Manthiram'' (1983) *''

Engal Kural ''Engal Kural'' () is a 1985 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language crime film, directed by Rama Narayanan and produced by S. S. Chandran. The film stars Arjun Sarja, Arjun, Suresh (actor, born 1963), Suresh, Nalini (actress), Nalini and Jeevith ...

'' (1985) *'' Urimai'' (1985) *'' Chain Jayapal'' (1985) *'' Karimedu Karuvayan'' (1986) *''

Veeran Veluthambi ''Veeran Veluthambi'' is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Rama Narayanan and written by M. Karunanidhi, starring Radha Ravi. It was released on 3 June 1987. Plot Cast Production Vijayakanth Vijayaraj Alagarsw ...

'' (1987) *'' Megam Karuththirukku'' (1987) *''

Sahadevan Mahadevan ''Sahadevan Mahadevan'' is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language comedy film directed by Rama Narayanan, starring Mohan and S. V. Shekhar, with S. S. Chandran, Kovai Sarala, Pallavi, and Madhuri in supporting roles. The film was released on 2 Decembe ...

'' (1988) *'' Enga Ooru Kavalkaran'' (1988) *''

Thangamani Rangamani ''Thangamani Rangamani'' is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language comedy film, directed by Rama Narayanan. Murali and S. Ve. Shekher star, with S. S. Chandran, Kovai Sarala, Pallavi and Devisri in supporting roles. It is an unofficial remake of the 1984 ...

'' (1989) *'' Paandi Nattu Thangam'' (1989) *''

Sendhoora Devi ''Sendhoora Devi'' (also spelled ''Senthura Devi'') is a 1991 Indian Tamil-language children's comedy drama film directed by Rama Narayanan. The film stars Vivek, Kanaka and Shamili, with Senthil, Vennira Aadai Moorthy, Kumarimuthu and Kitty ...

'' (1991) *'' Purushan Enakku Arasan'' (1992) *'' Kaviya Thalaivan'' (1992) *''

Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa ''Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa'' is a 1999 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language comedy film directed by Rama Narayanan. The film stars Prabhu (actor), Prabhu, S. Ve. Shekher, Vadivelu, Roja Selvamani, Roja, Urvashi (actress), Urvashi and Kova ...

'' (1999) *'' Rajakali Amman'' (2000) *'' Kuberan'' (2000) *'' Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela'' (2000) *'' Palayathu Amman'' (2000) *''

Nageswari ''Nageswari'' () is a 2001 Indian Tamil-language devotional film written and directed by Rama Narayanan. The film stars Ramya Krishnan in the title role alongside Karan and Vadivelu, while Vivek plays a supporting role. The film, which ...

'' (2001) *'' Viswanathan Ramamoorthy'' (2001) *'' Kottai Mariamman'' (2001) *''Shakalaka Baby'' (2002) *'' Annai Kaligambal'' (2003) *'' Mannin Maindhan'' (2005)

References

1941 births 2017 deaths Tamil film directors Tamil cinematographers 20th-century Indian photographers 21st-century Indian photographers {{India-film-bio-stub