Poornam Vishwanathan

Poornam Vishwanathan Biography

Poornam Vishwanathan is a film actor and stage actor of Tamil language. He was a Tamil News reader with All India Radio too, who is credited to announce the historic moment of Indian Independence in 1947 to East Asia. He is known for portraying father kind of roles and among his Tamil movies, his noted works include - Varusham 16, Moondram Pirai, Aasai, Thillu Mullu, Keladi Kanmani, Mahanadi and Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu.

He is equally popular in Malayalam movies too. With the portrayal of Ranjini’s father in Malayalam blockbuster, Chitram (1989), he rose to fame and still Malayalam audience remembers this artist for this memorable role. Apart from Chitram, he has also appeared in two more Mohanlal films – Aryan and Pingami. He passed away in 2008 aged 87, survived by three children. As a film actor and theatre artist, he has given outstanding contributions to the industry.

He was born in the year 1921 and started his career as a stage actor at the age of 18. Later he moved to Delhi and worked under the Tamil troupe of renowned critic Subbudu. He worked as an announcer in All India Radio since 1945 and he became the first Indian to make that historical external broadcast of announcing Indian Independence on August 15, 1947, from All India Radio to East Asia (in Tamil). He recollects that he read the news controlling all emotions, but cried of joy soon after completing his task. It was on 5.30 am of August 15.

He reprised the role of Utpal Dutt in the Tamil version of Golmaal, titled Thillu Mullu. He has been one of the favourite voices of Tamil mimicry artists all time. He also acted Kamal Hassan’s Mahanadi which he dubbed his voice also. Poornam was the theater troupe with whom he was associated with.

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Updated: March 31, 2014