Sivaji Productions
{{Short description|Indian film distribution and production company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sivaji Productions
| logo = Logo_of_Sivaji_Productions.png
| type = Film production
Film distribution
| foundation = 1956
| defunct = 2010
| location_city = Chennai, India
| key_people = Ramkumar Ganesan
Prabhu
| num_employees =
| industry = Entertainment, Software
| products = Motion pictures (Tamil)
Motion pictures (Hindi)
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| homepage =
}}
Sivaji Productions was an Indian film production and distribution company based in Chennai. Established in 1956, it was involved mainly in Tamil and Hindi-language films until 2010.
History
Sivaji Productions company is owned by Prabhu and his brother Ramkumar Ganesan. It is named after their father, the thespian Sivaji Ganesan. Notable films released under their banner includes Puthiya Paravai, Vietnam Veedu, Thanga Pathakkam, Thirisoolam, Aruvadai Naal, Vetri Vizha, Mannan, Chandramukhi and Aasal.
Sivaji Productions was started in 1956 by Dr. Sivaji Ganesan and his brother Sri V.C. Shanmugam. It was first started as a distribution company and distributed many of Dr. Sivaji's movies.{{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |title=Sivaji Ganesan: Profile of an Icon |publisher=Wisdom Tree |year=2015 |isbn=9788183281096 |pages=39–40 |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran |orig-date=2008}} In 1958, Sivaji Productions co-produced its first film Amardeepam which was a Hindi remake of Amardeep. Its first solo production was Puthiya Paravai in 1964 with Dr. Sivaji in the lead role.
Since then, Sivaji Productions has produced about 18 films till date.
After Sri V.C. Shanmugam's death in 1986, Dr. Sivaji's son Mr. G.Ramkumar took over Sivaji Productions.
Sivaji Productions has also ventured into the production of television serials. It has produced two serials, Kokila engey Pogirral in Tamil and Seethama Maeyamma in Telugu and is currently producing a Tamil serial called Thavam for Kalaingar TV.
During the success meet of the P. Vasu-directed Mannan (1992), Rajinikanth announced that he would act in Sivaji Productions' 50th film. However, following their 49th film Rajakumaran, Sivaji Productions went on hiatus for 12 years. In September 2004, Rajinikanth was impressed with Vasu's Kannada film Apthamitra (2004) and wanted to remake it in Tamil with Sivaji Productions producing. The remake, titled Chandramukhi, became Sivaji Productions' 50th film.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |date=4 October 2004 |title=Rajnikanth's new film! |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/rajni/20041004.htm |access-date=11 March 2021 |website=Rediff |language=en}} The film received positive reviews from critics and became a successful venture at the box-office.{{Cite news |last=Kamath |first=Sudhish |author-link=Sudhish Kamath |date=15 April 2005 |title=Return of the king |url=http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2005/04/15/stories/2005041511660200.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=27 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927061028/http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2005/04/15/stories/2005041511660200.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=27 September 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=22 April 2005 |title=The Superstar strikes in style |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/04/22/stories/2005042202620200.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=27 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927014733/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/04/22/stories/2005042202620200.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=27 September 2014}}
Their next project was initially announced with Gautham Vasudev Menon as director.{{Cite web |last=Moviebuzz |year=2008 |title=Ajith & Gautham come together in Surangani |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14766479 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927135655/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14766479 |archive-date=27 September 2008 |access-date=25 September 2008 |website=Sify}} However, the film's production failed to take off, with repeated dates being announced by the directors for the film's first schedule throughout 2009. Subsequently, Menon was removed from the project by the producers due to the film's inactivity, with directors Dharani, Vishnuvardhan and Saran leading the race to take over.{{Cite web |last=Moviebuzz |year=2008 |title=Breaking News- Gautham parts way with Ajit |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14793682 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207123740/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14793682 |archive-date=7 December 2008 |access-date=10 November 2008 |website=Sify}}
In January 2009, the film was reannounced as Asal by Prabhu and the story was subsequently changed with Saran being signed up as the film's director.{{Cite web |last=Moviebuzz |year=2009 |title=Ajith's Asal |url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14879557 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411102302/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14879557 |archive-date=11 April 2009 |access-date=8 April 2009 |website=Sify}} The film received negative reviews from critics and became a failure at box-office.[http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/05/south-tamil-movie-review-asal.htm Review: Asal is for Ajith fans – Rediff.com Movies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315214506/http://movies.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/05/south-tamil-movie-review-asal.htm |date=2016-03-15 }}. Movies.rediff.com (5 February 2010). Retrieved on 21 February 2014.
Filmography
;Films
;Television
- Kokila Enge Pogiraal (Sun TV)
- Thavam (Kalaignar TV)