P. Vasu is an Indian director, actor, producer and writer who has worked in various South Indian film industries and Bollywood. He is known for the films “Chinna Thambi” (1991), “Apthamitra” (2004), “Chandramukhi 1” (2005) and “Chandramukhi 2” (2023).
Wiki/Biography
Vasudevan Peethambharam, popularly known as P. Vasu, was born on Thursday, September 15, 1955, in Chennai, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India (age 68; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Virgo. He completed his school education from Wesley High School, Royapetta, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He received his college education from Pachayappa College in Chetpet, Chennai, but later discontinued his studies to join the film industry.
P. Vasu in his youth
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′8″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: black
P. Vasu with Raghava Lawrence and producer A Subaskaran
family and caste
P. Vasu belongs to a Malayan Hindu family of the Nair community. The family hails from Nidubar village in Thrissur district of Kerala and settled in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Parents and siblings
His father M Peethambaran Nair (also known as Peethambaram) is a senior makeup artist who has worked with legendary actors such as MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan and NTR. He is also the filmmaker of nearly 25 Tamil and Telugu films. He died of senile diseases at the age of 89.
Peethambaram, father of P. Vasu
His mother’s name is Kamala. He has two brothers, Vidyasagar and P. Vimal Kumar, and three sisters, Vijayalakshmi, Vasantha and Vanaja. His brother Vimal wrote the story of the Tamil film 7 Naatkal (2017).
wife and children
His wife’s name is Shanti. He has two children: son Shakthi Vasudevan (originally known as Prashanth Vasudevan), an actor in the Tamil film industry, and daughter Abhirami Vasudevan, an architect.
P. Vasu and Shanti
Shakthi Vasudevan and family attend his sister’s wedding
other relatives
Veteran cinematographer MC Sekhar is his father’s brother. He died of age-related illnesses in February 2023 at the age of 91.
P. Vasu’s uncle MC Sekhar
His father-in-law K. Raman is a senior makeup artist who has worked with actors such as MN Nambiar.
P. Vasu’s father-in-law.
His nephew Gautham VR is a Tamil film director, famous for the Tamil film 7 Naatkal (2017).
Nephew of P. Vasu.
Profession
director
P. Vasu started his film career in 1978 as an assistant director under film director CV Sridhar. He co-directed his first Tamil film, Panneer Pushpangal (1981), with director Santhana Bharathi. Their co-directed films include the Tamil films Mella Pesungal (1983), Needhiyin Nizhal (1985) and the Telugu film Sahasame Jeevitham (1984).
P. Vasu with the cast and crew of Panneer Pushpangal
In 1986, Vasu directed his first independent Kannada film, Kathanayaka (1986), starring Vishnuvardhan and Sumalatha Ambarish.
Movie “Katanayaka” poster
Some of the blockbusters he directed in the 1990s include the Tamil films Chinna Thambi (1991), Mannan (1992), Walter Vetrivel (1993) and Sethupathi IPS (1994). He directed the Hindi film Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999), starring Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi and Neha (Shabana Raza). It was a commercially successful film.
He won the Kannada Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film Apthamitra (2004). The film was a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu (1993) and received widespread appreciation in the Kannada film industry.
Poster of the movie “Aptamitra”
In 2005, he directed the Tamil film “Chandramukhi” starring Rajinikanth, Prabhu and Jyothika.
His 50th film as a director was the Tamil action film Paramasivan (2006), starring Ajith Kumar and Laila. His films include the Tamil film Kuselan (2008), the Kannada film Aptharakshaka (2010), the Kannada film Drishya (2014) and Shivalinga (2016). Released in Kannada in 2017 and in Tamil in 2017). In 2023, he directed the film “Chandramukhi 2” starring Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut.
P. Vasu on the sets of Drishya
actor
P. Vasu made his debut in the Tamil film “Vallarasu” (2000) playing the opposite role of R. Kandasamy. He played political leader and minister RK Santhanam in his first Malayalam film Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001). In his first Telugu film Seema Simham (2002), he played a villain named MP Kaaleeswara Rao. He played the role of J. Raagavendra (Jaa Raa) in the science fiction Tamil film Dasavathaaram (2008).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MANKUX9w494
He has played himself in several Tamil films such as Kadar (2002), Chandramoorhi (2005), Kusiran (2008), Katanaya Kudu” (2008) and “Sivalinga” (2017).
writer
P. Vasu wrote the screenplay for the Kannada film Karunamayi (1987). He also wrote the stories for the films Nammoora Raja (1988), Purusha Lakshanam (1993) and Ayushman Bhava (1998).
producer
P. Vasu is the producer of the Tamil film Thottal Poo Malarum (2007). The Tamil films Walter Vetrivel (1993) and Malabar Police (1999), although uncredited, were directed by Vasu’s wife Shanti Vasudevan ( Produced by Shanti Vasudevan.
Awards and Honors
- In 1990, he won the Tamil Nadu Film Award for Best Screenplay and Dialogue for the film “Nadigan”.
- In 1991, he won the Tamil Nadu National Film Award for Best Director and Best Film for the film “Chinna Thambi”.
- In 1991, he won the Film Express Award for Best Director for the movie “Chinna Thambi”.
- In 1992, he received the Jayalalithaa Award, the national film honors award in Tamil Nadu for his contribution to Tamil cinema.
- In 2004, he was awarded the Kalamamani Award, Tamil Nadu’s highest civilian award.
- In 2005, he won the Best Director – Kannada Award at the South Filmfare Awards for the film “Apthamitra”.
- In 2005, he won the Tamil Nadu National Film Award for Best Film for his film “Chandramukhi”.
- In 2013, he was honored for his contribution to Tamil cinema at the 100th anniversary celebrations of Indian cinema.
P. Vasu honored at centenary celebrations of Indian cinema
Facts/Trivia
- During his school days, P. Vasu was a good sportsman and his father wanted him to join the government service. He is keen to join the film industry as an actor.
- Vasu said in an interview that he parted ways with director Santana Bharati as they wanted to pursue their own style of filmmaking.
P. Vasu and Santhana Bharathi
- P. Vasu was a victim of a celebrity death hoax in 2018 when the news spread via social media. He clarified through a video message that he was in good health.
- Actor and politician Khushbu Sundar speaks highly of P. Vasu as her mentor and mentor.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education