{{short description|Indian actor and film director}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person |name = Chitra Lakshmanan |image = |caption = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|01|23}} |birth_place = [[Arani, Tiruvannamalai District|Arani]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India |occupation = [[Film director]], [[Film producer]], [[Actor]], [[Entertainment journalism|Film journalist]] |spouse = Radhika |children = 2 |years_active = 1983-present }}
'''Lakshmanan Ramasamy''' (born 23 January 1948), known professionally as '''Chitra Lakshmanan''', is an Indian journalist, filmmaker and actor. He produced and directed several [[Tamil language]] films starring some of [[Tamil cinema]]'s major stars during the 1980s and 1990s, while appearing in numerous films and television series in supporting roles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/events/chennai/ks-ravikumars-felicitation-ceremony/articleshow/28516123.cms|title=KS RaviKumar's felicitation ceremony|website=photogallery.indiatimes.com}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/WB_vH0vUnq4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140309061307/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_vH0vUnq4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_vH0vUnq4| title = Director Chitra Lakshmanan Special Interview | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He currently operates the [[YouTube]] channel ''Touring Talkies'', which features Tamil cinema related interviews and discussions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-25 |title=8 YouTube Channels That Are Essential Viewing For The South Movie Buff |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/malayalam-features/the-8-youtube-channels-that-are-essential-viewing-for-the-south-movie-buff-dennis-george-chitra-lakshmanan-paruchuri-gopala-krishna/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=[[Film Companion]]}}</ref>
==Career==
Lakshmanan began working in a hardware shop in [[Arani, Tiruvannamalai District|Arani]]. He later joined the magazine ''Vidhi Velli'' as a sub-editor until its closure. He later joined ''Thayin Manikodi'' run by [[Jayakanthan]]. He later joined a [[Singapore]]an Tamil magazine. After its failure, he decided to start his own magazine ''Thirai Kathir'' which became successful. His career in [[entertainment journalism]] helped him to also become a public relations officer.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDnDwFkNO7w | location=Chennai, India | work=You Tube | title= Exclusive - 'பாரதிராஜாவுடன் 50 வருட நட்பு' - Chithra Lakshmanan}}</ref>
He became acquainted with director [[Bharathiraja]] to enter the film industry, and subsequently served as a co-producer on all his films with Lakshmanan's brother, Ramu. In 1983, he produced ''[[Mann Vasanai]]'' under [[Gayathri Films]], which won commercial success as well as the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil|Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film]]. He also served as a press relations officer for Tamil films during the 1980s, and later reprised that role as an actor through ''[[Uttama Villain]]'' (2015).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tamilomovie.com/chitra-lakshmanan-to-share-the-screen-with-kamal-haasan/|title=Chitra Lakshmanan to share the screen with Kamal Haasan – Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Video Songs | Film News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/uttama-villain-a-superb-core-let-down-by-lacklustre-filmmaking/article7164505.ece|title=Uttama Villain: A superb core let down by lacklustre filmmaking|first=Baradwaj|last=Rangan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 May 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> His first directorial venture was ''[[Soora Samhaaram]]'' (1988) with [[Kamal Haasan]] and later he directed ''[[Periya Thambi]]'' (1997) with Prabhu and ''[[Chinna Raja]]'' (1999) with Karthik in the lead role. He turned actor in ''[[Japanil Kalyanaraman]]'' (1985) and began to prioritise acting commitments in the 2000s, winning acclaim for his comedy roles in ''[[Boss Engira Bhaskaran]]'' (Nene Ambhani) (2010) and ''[[Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jyothikasurya.com/what-kamal-hassan-did-for-me-in-uttama-villain-chithra-lakshmanan-uttama-villain-vishwaroopam-2/ |title=What Kamal Hassan Did for Me in Uttama Villain – Chithra Lakshmanan | Uttama Villain, Vishwaroopam 2 | Jyothika Surya |access-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223045616/http://www.jyothikasurya.com/what-kamal-hassan-did-for-me-in-uttama-villain-chithra-lakshmanan-uttama-villain-vishwaroopam-2/ |archive-date=23 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/director-badri-s-next-on-corruption-in-cricket-news-national-odnqa8gaidhsi.html |title=Director Badri's next on corruption in cricket |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814135451/http://www.sify.com/movies/director-badri-s-next-on-corruption-in-cricket-news-national-odnqa8gaidhsi.html |archive-date=14 August 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Throughout his career, Lakshmanan has also taken up posts of responsibility. He served as the Secretary of Tamil Film Producers Council for four years and as an executive committee member in South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, Film Federation of India, and Tamil Film Directors Association for several years. In 2011, he published the book ''80 Years of Tamil Cinema'', an account documenting the history of Tamil cinema.{{citation needed|date= November 2022}}
==Filmography==
===As producer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Film !class=unsortable|Notes |- | 1983 || ''[[Mann Vasanai]]'' || |- | rowspan="2"| 1984 || ''[[Ambigai Neril Vanthaal]]'' || |- | ''[[Vaazhkai (1984 film)|Vaazhkai]]'' || |- | 1985 || ''[[Puthiya Theerppu]]'' || |- | 1987 || ''[[Jallikattu (1987 film)|Jallikattu]]'' || |- | 1989 || ''[[Chinnappadass]]'' || |}
===As director and producer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Film !class=unsortable|Notes |- | 1988 || ''[[Soora Samhaaram]]'' || |- | 1997 || ''[[Periya Thambi]]'' || |- | 1999 || ''[[Chinna Raja]]'' || |}
===As writer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Year !Film !class=unsortable|Notes |- |1997||''Idhuthan Kadhala'' ||dialogues only<br>Tamil dubbed version of Telugu film ''[[Priya O Priya]]'' |- |2008||''Rekha IPS'' ||story only<br>Television series aired in Kalaignar TV |- |}
===As actor=== ;Films {| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;" |- style="background:#B0C4DE;" ! Year ! Film ! Role !class=unsortable| Notes |- | rowspan="2"| 1984 || ''[[Pudhumai Penn (1984 film)|Pudhumai Penn]]'' || || |- | ''[[Dhavani Kanavugal]]'' || || Guest appearance |- | rowspan="2"| 1985 || ''[[Japanil Kalyanaraman]]'' || Guide Munusamy || |- | ''[[Puthiya Theerppu]]'' || Murali || |- | 1986 || ''[[Neethana Antha Kuyil]]'' || || |- | 1987 || ''[[Jallikattu (1987 film)|Jallikattu]]'' || Dharmaraj || |- | 1987 || ''[[Poo Poova Poothirukku]]'' || Narayanan || |- | 1997 || ''[[Periya Thambi]]'' || || |- | rowspan="2"| 1999 ||''[[Chinna Raja]]'' || || |- | ''[[Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum]]'' || Ramalingam || Guest appearance |- | rowspan="2"| 2001 || ''[[Ullam Kollai Poguthae]]'' || Jyothi's father || |- | ''[[Azhagana Naatkal]]'' || || |- | rowspan="2"| 2002 || ''[[Kadhal Virus]]'' || || Guest appearance |- | ''[[Unnai Ninaithu]]'' || Vaidyalingam || |- | rowspan="3"| 2004 || ''[[Bose (film)|Bose]]'' || || |- | ''[[Kangalal Kaidhu Sei]]'' || Subramaniam || |- | ''[[Vasool Raja MBBS]]'' || Dr. Kalidas || |- | rowspan="3"| 2006 || ''[[Unarchigal (2006 film)|Unarchigal]]'' || Balaji's father || Guest appearance |- | ''[[Pachchak Kuthira]]'' || The mayor's personal assistant|| |- | ''[[Kusthi]]'' || || |- | 2007 || ''[[Piragu]]'' || Film Producer || |- | rowspan="2"|2008 || ''[[Vaitheeswaran]]'' || Dhanasekaran's Henchman || |- |''[[Final Cut of Director|Bommalattam]]'' || Makeup man || |- | 2010 || ''[[Boss Engira Bhaskaran]]'' || Shanmugasundaram || |- | 2011 || ''[[Sadhurangam (2011 film)|Sadhurangam]]'' || || |- | 2012 || ''[[Saguni]]'' || Boopathi's sidekick || |- | rowspan="7"| 2013 || ''[[Settai (2013 film)|Settai]]'' || Murugaraj || |- | ''[[Isakki (film)|Isakki]]'' ||Devarajan || |- | ''[[Pattathu Yaanai]]'' || Inspector || |- | ''[[Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru]]'' || Kunchithapadam || |- | ''[[Arya Surya]]'' || || |- | ''[[Ya Ya (film)|Ya Ya]]'' || Kanaka's father || |- | ''[[Naveena Saraswathi Sabatham]]'' || Kovai Kamaraj || |- | rowspan="3"| 2014 || ''[[Ninaithathu Yaaro]]'' || || |- | ''[[Nimirndhu Nil]]'' || Judge Chitra Lakshmanan || |- | ''[[Aranmanai]]'' || Maya's father || |- | rowspan="4"| 2015 || ''[[Janda Pai Kapiraju]]'' || Judge Lakshmanan || Telugu film |- |''[[Nannbenda]]'' || Hotel Manager || |- | ''[[Uttama Villain]]'' || PRO Lakshmanan || |- | ''[[Sakalakala Vallavan (2015 film)|Sakalakala Vallavan]]'' || Shakthi's Uncle || |- |2016 || ''[[Aranmanai 2]]'' || Anitha and Ravi's father || |- | rowspan="4"| 2016 || ''[[Pokkiri Raja (2016 film)|Pokkiri Raja]]'' || Dr. Kothandam || |- | ''[[Vaaliba Raja]]'' || Chithra Lakshmanan || |- | ''[[Muthina Kathirika]]'' || Politician || |- | ''[[Vellikizhamai 13am Thethi]]'' || Raasathi's father || |- | rowspan="2"| 2017 || ''[[Kattappava Kanom]]'' || Jayagopal || |- | ''Ullam Ullavarai'' || || |- | rowspan="3"| 2018 || ''[[Vidhi Madhi Ultaa]]'' || Divya's father || |- | ''[[Nagesh Thiraiyarangam]]'' || Pundek || |- | ''[[Itly]]'' || Bank Manager || |- | 2021 || ''[[Dikkiloona]]'' || L. Gopal, Priya's father || |- | 2022 || ''[[Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal]]'' || Rambo's fake father || |- | 2023 || ''[[Kannai Nambathey]]'' || Divya's father || |- | rowspan="2"| 2024 || ''[[Dear (2024 film)|Dear]]'' || Doctor || |- | ''Vaagai'' || || |- | rowspan="4"| 2025 || ''[[Kuzhanthaigal Munnetra Kazhagam]]'' || || |- | ''[[Otha Votu Muthaiya]]'' || Periyappa || |- | ''Enai Sudum Pani'' || Thangaraj || |- | ''[[Thalaivan Thalaivii]]'' || Senior politician || |- | rowspan="2"| 2026 || ''[[TN 2026]]'' || Film Producer || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ianslive.in/natty-starrer-tn-2026s-teaser-released--20260402195141|title=Natty-starrer TN 2026's teaser released|date=2 April 2026|website=IANS News}}</ref> |- | ''[[Karuppu (film)|Karuppu]]'' || Tamil Legislative Assembly speaker || |- |}
;Television {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Channel |- |2003 - 2009||[[Anandham (TV series)|''Anandham'']]|| || rowspan="4" |[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] |- |2006 - 2008||''[[Ganga Yamuna Saraswati]]''|| |- |2009 - 2012||''[[Idhayam (2009 TV series)|Idhayam]]''||Devarajan |- |2012 - 2013||''[[Sondha Bandham]]''||Damodaran |- |2014 - 2015||''[[Akka (TV series)|Akka]]''|| ||[[Jaya TV]] |- |2018 - 2019||''Chandralekha''||Gemini Ganeshan||[[Sun TV (India)|Sun TV]] |}
===Voice actor=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Actor ! Character ! Notes |- |2017||''[[Puthiya Niyamam|Vasuki]]''||[[S. N. Swamy]]||Swamy||Dubbed version of Malayalam film ''Puthiya Niyamam'' |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1420794}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lakshmanan, Chithra}} [[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]] [[Category:Tamil film directors]] [[Category:Indian male film actors]] [[Category:Tamil male actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:Indian male television actors]] [[Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu]] [[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]] [[Category:Tamil film producers]] [[Category:Film producers from Tamil Nadu]]