P. Vasu

P. Vasu Biography

P. Vasu is a veteran director, writer, and actor who has been associated with all south Indian languages. In a career spanning three decades, Vasu has directed over 50 films and has been quite successful too. Vasu started his career at the age of 24, with Santhana Bharathi as a co-director before becoming independent director. Panneer Pushpangal in 1981 marked the successful debut of the directorial duo and later they delivered hits like Mella Pesungal, Sahasame Jeevitham, Neethiyin nizhal and Madhumalar. Nadigan, Chinna Thampi and Walter Vetrivel belonging to the era of 1990’s are his first few noted works as an independent director. Vasu is a member of the state award selection committee and jury member of the committee for tax-free movies.

His full name is Vasudevan Peethambaram, born in 1954. His father Peethambaram Nair has worked as a make-up man for superstars of yesterdays like M.G.R. and N.T.R. He was known as one of the leading makeup artists of that period and has served as president of the make-up union, Tamil Nadu for 30 years. He later became a film producer who produced about 25 movies. M.C. Sekhar, famous cinematographer is Vasu’s uncle. His son Shakti Vasu has also entered movies.

At the age of 19, he became assistant director of B. Shridhar. At the age of 24, he co-directed his first movie, Panneer Pushpangal with Santhana Bharathi which became a commercial success. This film marked the successful debut of romantic hero of 1980’s, Suresh. With late 1980’s he became an independent film director and has directed many hit movies in Kannada and Tamil. During middle 1980’s, he has directed several Kannada movies with super star, Dr. Vishnuvardhan like Kathanayaka, Jayasimha, Police Mathu Daada and Jeevana Jyothi.

Many of his movies have been remade to other languages as well. He won a hat-trick at Tamil Nadu state awards - for Best Screenplay and Dialogues in Nadigan in 1990, Best Director for Chinna Thambi in 1991 and Best Screenplay and Story for Walter Vetrivel (1991). He was awarded the Filmfare award for Best Direction in the movie Aaptha Mithra. He is also a recipient of Kalaimaamani Award in 2004.

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Updated: April 03, 2014