Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar

Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar Biography

Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar, popularly known as AVM was a producer, director and philanthropist who established AVM Productions in Vadapalani, Chennai. His production company AVM Productions is the only production company in Tamil film industry to run successfully for 5 decades and three generations. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Tamil cinema and his place is along the greats of south Indian cinema - S. S. Vasan and L. V. Prasad.

AVM was born in Karaikudi on 28 July 1907 to Avichi Chettiar and Lakshmi Achi. His father owned a department store called AV & Sons which sold gramophone records. He moved to Chennai at a younger age where he started Saraswathi Stores in 1932 with the help of his friends, which sold gramophone records. Later they began to manufacture gramophones apart from selling. He got immense support from K.P. Varadachari and his lawyer friend Thoothukudi Govindachari Raghavachari. As its end result, he entered film field and became a director. Saraswathi Sound Productions was established. His debut as a producer with the Tamil film Alli Arjuna was a failure. Most of his initial ventures were flops. Yet with early 1940’s, he got struck with a string of hits.

After the commercial hit of 1947 film Nam Iruvar, he moved to production field and established AVM productions. Alli Arjuna, Bhookailash, Sabapathy, Sri Valli and Nam Iruvar are some early hits. Apart from Tamil movies, he entered into Hindi film world producing Bahaar in 1951 with Vyjayanthimala in lead role. Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, Bhabhi, Miss Mary, Chhaya and Bhai bhai are other commercial success movies. As a film producer, he made 167 films till his death and this list includes numerous historical and milestone movies of Tamil cinema. Vazhkai, Bahar, Parasakthi, Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke, Bhookailash, Kalathur Kannamma, Server Sundaram and Major Chandrakanth are the noted movies of AVM productions.

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Updated: January 17, 2014