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Chithralaya Gopu

{{short description|Indian screenwriter and director (born 1931)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Chitralaya Gopu

| image = Chitralaya Gopu 2015.JPG

| alt =

| caption = Gopu at the play "Chocolate Krishna" in 2015

| birth_name = Sadagopan

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1931|7|02}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article413724.ece |title=Happy 80th birthday, Chitralaya Gopu! |date=2 July 2011 |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=9 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223183851/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article413724.ece |archive-date=23 December 2014}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| othername =

| occupation = Writer, director

| yearsactive = 1959–1990

| spouse = Kamala

| children = 4

| domesticpartner =

| website =

}}

Sadagopan (better known as Chitralaya Gopu) is an Indian screenwriter and director who works in the Tamil cinema. He has written nearly 60 films, and directed 27 of them.{{Cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/happy-80th-birthday-chitralaya-gopu/164294-60-120.html |title=Happy 80th birthday, Chitralaya Gopu! |date=4 July 2011 |website=IBN Live |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141209142349/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/happy-80th-birthday-chitralaya-gopu/164294-60-120.html |archive-date=9 December 2014 |access-date=9 December 2014}} He scripted dramatic films such as Moondru Dheivangal and Shanti Nilayam and comedies such as Kadhalikka Neramillai, Galatta Kalyanam, Patti Sollai Thattathe and Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-relaxed-mood-Chitralaya-Gopu/article16815321.ece |title=In relaxed mood – 'Chitralaya' Gopu |last=Kumar |first=S. R. Ashok |date=2010-02-18 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2020-02-06 |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206082228/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-relaxed-mood-Chitralaya-Gopu/article16815321.ece |url-status=live }}

Career

C. V. Sridhar and Sadagopan were childhood friends since their schooldays in St. Joseph's High School, Chengalpattu.{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/film-director-sridhar-dead/article1361013.ece |title=Veteran film director Sridhar dead |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=21 October 2008 |work=The Hindu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316051717/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/21/stories/2008102154260400.htm |archive-date=16 March 2014}} Both were playwrights; Sridhar wrote stage plays and played the hero while Sadagopan wrote the humorous parts and played the comedian.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Looking-back-with-a-smile/article15938930.ece |title=Looking back with a smile |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=10 July 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=6 February 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316061749/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/looking-back-with-a-smile/article659092.ece |archive-date=16 March 2014}} Later, when Sridhar had the opportunity to direct a film, he asked Sadagopan to join him and produce the comedy track.{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/20/stories/2005112014160200.htm |title='Chithralaya' Gopu, proprietor of Mannar & Co, Oho Productions |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S.R. |date=20 November 2005 |access-date=6 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316060216/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/20/stories/2005112014160200.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=16 March 2014}}{{Cite news |url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2010/11/24/stories/2010112450090100.htm |title=Memories of Madras: Heaven on earth |last=Parthasarathy |first=Anusha |date=24 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316053322/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2010/11/24/stories/2010112450090100.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=16 March 2014}} The film Kalyana Parisu (1959) was a hit and Sridhar started his own production house, Chitralaya.{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200810210329.htm |title=Sridhar – The man with the midas touch |date=21 October 2008 |work=The Hindu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316051219/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200810210329.htm |archive-date=16 March 2014 |agency=PTI}} Sadagopan became popularly known as 'Chitralaya' Gopu.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/columns/2019/mar/03/thamizh-talkies-when-the-pen-isnt-thought-to-be-mighty-10355.html |title=Thamizh Talkies: When the pen isn't thought to be mighty |last=Narayanan |first=Sujatha |date=3 March 2019 |website=Cinema Express |access-date=6 February 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206112234/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/columns/2019/mar/03/thamizh-talkies-when-the-pen-isnt-thought-to-be-mighty-10355.html |url-status=live }}

He received the Kalaimamani Award from Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa in 1992.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

He directed and acted in television forays, such as Washingtonil Thirumanam, which was shot in the U.S.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

Personal life

Gopu is married to Kamala, a novelist. They have four sons.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/fathima-babuditrected-thaarama-tallyaa-was-impressive/article8253010.ece |title=An account of family ties |last=Balasubramanian |first=V. |date=18 February 2016 |work=The Hindu |access-date=21 January 2019 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817060931/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/fathima-babuditrected-thaarama-tallyaa-was-impressive/article8253010.ece |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Gopu-is-Gold-29-06-12.html |title=Gopu Is Gold |last=Rekhs |date=29 June 2012 |website=Behindwoods |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200206112346/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Gopu-is-Gold-29-06-12.html |archive-date=6 February 2020 |access-date=6 February 2020}}

Partial filmography

{{BLP unreferenced section|date= December 2022}}

class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:160px;"| Film

! colspan="2" style="width:195px;"| Credited as

! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:250px;" class="unsortable"| Notes

style="width:65px;" | Director

! width=65 | Writer

1959Kalyana Parisustyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1962Nenjil Or Aalayamstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1964Kadhalikka Neramillaistyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1964Kalai Kovilstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1966Pyar Kiye Jaastyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}Remake of Kadhalikka Neramillai
1966Kodimalarstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1967Nenjirukkum Varaistyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1967Ooty Varai Uravustyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1967Anubavam Pudhumaistyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1968Galatta Kalyanamstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1969Shanti Nilayamstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1970Veettuku Veedustyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1971Moondru Deivangalstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1971Sumathi En Sundaristyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1971Uttharavindri Ulle Vaastyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1972Kasethan Kadavuladastyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1974Athaiya Mamiyastyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1974Penn Ondru Kandenstyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1974Galate Samsarastyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1977Kalamadi Kalamstyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1977Rasi Nalla Rasistyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1979Alankaristyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1979Asaikku Vayasillaistyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1979Dhairyalakshmistyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1984Raja Veettu Kannukkuttystyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1985Thanga Mama 3Dstyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1985Vellai Manasustyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1985Thendrale Ennai Thodustyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1988Vasanthistyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1988Paatti Sollai Thattathestyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1989Dilli Babustyle="text-align:center;"| {{y}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}
1990Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkagastyle="text-align:center;"| {{n}}style="text-align:center;"| {{y}}Last film

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|id=1367024}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopu, Chitralaya}}

Category:Tamil film directors

Category:Tamil screenwriters

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:1931 births

Category:Living people

Category:Screenwriters from Kanchipuram district

Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu

Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu

Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights