P. Vasu is an Indian director, actor, producer and writer, who has worked in various South Indian and Bollywood film industries. He is known for the films Chinna Thambi (1991), Apthamitra (2004), Chandramukhi 1 (2005), and Chandramukhi 2 (2023).
Wiki/Biography
Vasudevan Peethambaran Nair, better known as P. Vasu, was born on Thursday, 15 September 1955 (age 68 years; in 2023) in Chennai, Madras State, (now, Tamil Nadu), India. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He completed his school education at Wesley Higher Secondary School in Royapettah, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His college education was at Pachaiyappa College in Chetpet, Chennai, which he discontinued to pursue a career in the film industry.
P. Vasu in his youth
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 8″
Hair Color: Salt and pepper
Eye Color: Black
P. Vasu with Raghava Lawrence and producer A Subaskaran
Family & Caste
P. Vasu belongs to a Malayali Hindu family of the Nair community. The family hails from Nedumbal village in Thrissur district, Kerala, and resides in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Parents & Siblings
His father, M Peethambaran Nair, popularly known as Peethambaram, is a veteran makeup artist who has worked with legendary actors like MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan and NTR. He is also a film producer of nearly 25 films in Tamil and Telugu. He died of an age-related illness 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 & Children
His wife’s name is Shanti. He has two children – a son, Shakthi Vasudevan, who is an actor in the Tamil film industry, and a daughter, Abhirami Vasudevan, who is an architect.
P. Vasu with Shanti
Shakthi Vasudevan and family at her sister’s wedding
Other relatives
Veteran cinematographer, MC Sekhar, is his father’s elder brother. He died of an age-related illness at the age of 91 in February 2023.
Uncle P. Vasu MC Sekhar
Her father-in-law, K. Raman, is a veteran makeup artist, who has worked with actors like MN Nambiar.
Father-in-law of P. Vasu
His nephew, Gautham VR, is a Tamil film director, known for the Tamil film 7 Naatkal (2017).
Nephew of P. Vasu
Career
Director
P. Vasu began his film career as an assistant director under film director CV Sridhar in 1978. He directed his first Tamil film, Panneer Pushpangal (1981), with director Santhana Bharathi. Some of the films they directed together were the Tamil film 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 Kannada film Kathanayaka (1986), featuring Vishnuvardhan and Sumalatha Ambarish.
Kathanayaka movie poster
Some of the blockbuster films he directed in the 1990s were 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. It was a commercially successful film.
He received the Filmfare Award for Best Director in Kannada for the film Apthamitra (2004). The film is a remake of the Malayalam film Manichitrathazhu (1993), and it was widely appreciated in the Kannada film industry.
Apthamitra movie poster
In 2005, he directed the Tamil language film Chandramukhi starring Rajinikanth, Prabhu, and Jyothika.
His 50th film as a director was the Tamil action film Paramasivan (2006), which featured Ajith Kumar and Laila. Some of his directorial films are the Tamil film Kuselan (2008), the Kannada film Aptharakshaka (2010), the Kannada film Drishya (2014), and Shivalinga, released both in Kannada in 2016 and Tamil in 2017. In 2023, he directed the film Chandramukhi 2 featuring Raghava Lawrence and Kangana Ranaut.
P. Vasu on the set of Drishya
Actor
P. Vasu made his acting debut in a negative role as R. Kandasamy in the Tamil film Vallarasu (2000). He appeared as political leader and minister RK Santhanam in his first Malayalam film, Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001). In her first Telugu film, Seema Simham (2002), she played a negative character named MP Kaaleeswara Rao. He played a role named J. Raagavendra (Jaa Raa) in the Tamil sci-fi film Dasavathaaram (2008).
He appeared as himself in various Tamil films, such as Kadhal Virus (2002), Chandramukhi (2005), Kuselan (2008), Kathanayakudu (2008), and Sivalinga (2017).
Writer
P. Vasu wrote the script for the Kannada film Karunamayi (1987). He also wrote film stories, Nammoora Raja (1988), Purusha Lakshanam (1993), and Ayushman Bhava (1998).
Publisher
P. Vasu is the producer for the Tamil film Thottal Poo Malarum (2007). Although uncredited, the Tamil films Walter Vetrivel (1993) and Malabar Police (1999) were produced by Vasu’s wife Shanti Vasudevan.
Awards & Honors
- In 1990, he won the Best Screenplay and Dialogue Award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for the film Nadigan.
- In 1991, he won the Best Director Award and Best Film Award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for the film Chinna Thambi.
- In 1991, he won the Best Director Award at the Cinema Express Awards for the film Chinna Thambi.
- In 1992, he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award – Jayalalithaa Award for his contribution to Tamil Cinema.
- In 2004, he was conferred with the Kalaimamani Award, the highest civilian award of the State of Tamil Nadu.
- In 2005, he won Best Director – Kannada at the Filmfare Awards South for the film Apthamitra.
- In 2005, he won the Best Film Award at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for the film, Chandramukhi.
- In 2013, he was honored at the celebration of 100 Years of Indian Cinema for his contribution to Tamil cinema.
P. Vasu was honored at the 100th celebration 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 eager to join the film industry as an actor.
- In an interview, Vasu said that he parted ways with director Santhana Bharathi, as they wanted to continue their style of filmmaking.
P. Vasu with Santhana Bharathi
- P. Vasu became a victim of a celebrity death hoax in 2018 when the news spread through social media. He explained via video message that he is healthy and well.
- Actor and politician, Khushbu Sundar, holds P. Vasu in high esteem, as her mentor.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
