{{Short description|Indian actor and academic}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = N.Viswanathan | image = | caption = | birth_name = Narayanswamy Viswanathan | birth_date = 18 July 1929 | birth_place = Vellore, Madras Presidency, British India<br/>(now Tamil Nadu, India) | death_date = 17 November 2010 (aged 81) | death_place = Kolkata, West Bengal, India | height = | other_names = | years_active = 1951–2010 | spouse = Paramita | children = Ashoke Viswanathan | parents = | website = }} '''Narayanswamy Viswanathan''' (18 July 1929 – 17 November 2010), popularly known as '''Calcutta Viswanathan''' in the Tamil film industry, was an Indian actor and academic. A Tamilian by birth, he moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata) at a young age and taught English at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta for more than 40 years. Viswanathan was also a well-known public speaker.<ref>{{cite news|title=Professor Viswanathan passes away|author=Special Correspondent|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111856201200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123113801/http://hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111856201200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 November 2010|access-date=13 May 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=18 November 2010}}</ref> He made his acting debut in Mrinal Sen's ''Punascha'' and continued to act in Bengali films.<ref name=times>{{cite news|title=Noted professor, acclaimed actor|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-18/kolkata/28262445_1_professor-actor-debates|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104011804/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-18/kolkata/28262445_1_professor-actor-debates|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|date=18 November 2010|access-date=13 May 2013}}</ref> In a career that spanned 40 years, Viswanathan appeared in nearly 100 films in Bengali, Tamil and English. He was a member several theatre groups and also formed the "Calcutta Players", an acting troupe.<ref name=times/>
==Biography== ===Early life=== Born into a Tamil family in Vellore, Viswanathan moved to Kolkata, West Bengal at an early age. He was educated at St. Xavier's College, Kolkata and joined the same college as a professor in English.<ref name=express>{{cite news|title=Actor N Viswanathan dies at 81|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/actor-n-viswanathan-dies-at-81/712886/|access-date=13 May 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=18 November 2010}}</ref> He had great command over English and Bengali languages, and was particularly well known for his British accent.<ref name=rediff>{{cite web|title=Veteran actor N Viswanathan dead|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/actor-n-viswanathan-dead/20101118.htm|work=Rediff.com|access-date=17 May 2013}}</ref> Viswanthan was also a public speaker who participated in numerous debates and won accolades for India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chaki|first=Rohini|title=In the spell of words|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080103/jsp/opinion/story_8734816.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630094226/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080103/jsp/opinion/story_8734816.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2013|access-date=17 May 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph (Calcutta)|date=3 January 2008}}</ref> He also has a short stint with Doordarshan, Kolkata.<ref name=rediff/>
===Entry into films=== While teaching at the college, he was offered a role in ''Punascha'' (1961), a Bengali film directed by Mrinal Sen. The film received a certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature Film in Bengali.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Viswanathan then got a chance to act in another Bengali film titled ''Kanchenjungha'' (1962), directed by Satyajit Ray. The film had the distinction of being the first original screenplay and first colour film of Ray.<ref>{{Harvnb|Robinson|2003|p=142}}</ref> Viswanathan received critical acclaim for his role in both the films. He became a favourite of Ray for his "urban [and] sophisticated image".<ref name=rediff/>
After the release of these two films, Viswanathan got numerous offers in Bengali, Tamil and English languages. He entered the Tamil film industry in the 1970s and acted in films such as ''Lalitha'', ''Mogam Muppadhu Varusham'' and ''Moondru Mudichu'', alongside prominent actors. Other Tamil films released during the period include ''Kavari Maan'' and Balu Mahendra's ''Moodu Pani'', where he was cast in a prominent role.
Viswanathan was well known for his "pipe-smoking", a style which he adopted in most of the films.<ref name=rediff/>
===Theatre group=== Viswanathan was also a member of Utpal Dutt's "People's Little Theatre" (PLT), and later formed his own group named "Calcutta Players".<ref name=rediff/>
===Death=== Viswanathan had prolonged illness for a long time before his death.<ref name=express/> He died at the age of 81 at his "Sarat Bose" residence in Kolkata on 17 November 2010.<ref name=express/> He is survived by his wife Paramita, a son and a grand daughter. His son Ashoke Viswanathan is a film maker.<ref name=express/>
==Partial filmography== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * ''Ratnadeep'' (1951) * ''Punascha'' (1961) * ''Kanchenjungha'' (1962) as Mr. Banerjee * ''Barnali'' (1963) * ''Subhashchandra''(1966) * ''Parichay'' (1972) * ''Je Jekhane Dariye'' (1974) * ''Moondru Mudichu'' (1976) * ''Lalitha'' (1976) * ''Mogam Muppadhu Varusham'' (1976) * ''Kavarimaan'' (1979) * ''Dour'' (1979) * ''Moodu Pani'' (1980) * ''Kann Sivanthaal Mann Sivakkum'' (1983) * ''Vellai Roja'' (1983) * ''Enakkul Oruvan'' (1984) * ''Nilavu Suduvathillai'' (1984) * ''Padikkadha Pannaiyar'' (1985) * ''The Peacock Spring'' (1996) * ''Aparajita'' (1998) * ''Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap'' (1999) * ''Baba'' (2002) * ''Andhakaer Shabdo'' (2006) * ''Byaticromi'' (2006) {{div col end}}
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== {{Refbegin}} * {{Cite book |last1 = Robinson |given1 = A |year = 2003 |title = Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye: The Biography of a Master Film-Maker |publisher = I. B. Tauris |isbn = 1-86064-965-3 }} {{Refend}} Mr. N. Viswanathan was an English news reader also in Calcutta Doordarshan TV channel and used to host Bournvita Quiz contest in radio.
==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=0899801|name=N.Viswanathan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Viswanathan.N}} Category:1929 births Category:2010 deaths Category:Academic staff of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata Category:Indian male film actors Category:Indian male stage actors Category:People from Vellore Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema Category:Male actors in Bengali cinema