{{short description|Indian film director and film producer}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = Kalaimamani | name = Rama Narayanan | honorific_suffix = ex-MLA | image = Rama Narayanan.jpg | alt = | caption = Narayanan in 2014 | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1949|04|3}} | birth_place = Karaikudi, Madras Province, Dominion of India<br/>(now Tamil Nadu, India)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Rama-Narayanan-veteran-director-producer-dies-at-65/articleshow/37042754.cms|title=Rama Narayanan, veteran director, producer, dies at 65|work=The Times of India|date=23 June 2014|access-date=1 December 2014|archive-date=24 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624072044/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Rama-Narayanan-veteran-director-producer-dies-at-65/articleshow/37042754.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|06|22|1949|04|03}} | death_place = Singapore | occupation = {{hlist| Film director| Film producer}} | years_active = 1981–2013 | spouse = | parents = | children = 2 }}
'''Rama Narayanan''' (3 April 1949 – 22 June 2014) was an Indian film director and film producer. In the 1980s, he was known as a director who specialized in shooting commercial films in which animals played vital roles,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-31/news-interviews/38162093_1_production-house-rama-narayanan-kanna-laddu-thinna-aasaiya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102222753/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-31/news-interviews/38162093_1_production-house-rama-narayanan-kanna-laddu-thinna-aasaiya |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 November 2013 |title=Powerful year ahead for Rama Narayanan! |date=31 March 2013 |work=The Times of India |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/04/18193548/animal-role-in-ramanarayanan-f.html|title=Tamil Cinema News | Kollywood News | Tamil Film News - Maalaimalar|access-date=31 October 2013|archive-date=4 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604000549/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/04/18193548/animal-role-in-ramanarayanan-f.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while in the 1990s, several of his films were based on Hindu devotional subjects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-08/news-interviews/28293123_1_films-important-character-state-of-the-art-animation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328111151/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-08/news-interviews/28293123_1_films-important-character-state-of-the-art-animation |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 March 2013 |title=I never run after stars: Ramanarayanan |date=8 May 2010 |work=The Times of India |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref>
==Career== Narayanan came to Chennai intending to become a songwriter, but he became a dialogue writer for films. He and his friend M. A. Khaja started to write dialogues together under the pen name Ram-Rahim.<ref name="hindu2006">{{cite web |date=2 July 2006 |title=Tamil Nadu News : A role model for many film directors |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/02/stories/2006070205110200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121213020/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/02/stories/2006070205110200.htm |archive-date=21 November 2007 |access-date=8 September 2013 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="kalki">{{cite magazine |date=28 May 2000 |title=விலங்குகளால் கால்ஷீட் பிரச்னை இல்லை! |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki2000-05-28/kalki2000-05-28.pdf |magazine=Kalki |language=ta |pages=1–3 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
In 1976, Narayanan wrote his first story, screenplay and dialogue for the film ''Aasai Arubadhu Naal''.<ref name="hindu2006"/> He produced his first film ''Meenakshi Kungumam'' in 1977 and directed his first film ''Sumai'' in 1981.<ref name="hindu2006"/><ref name="kalki" /> He also wrote the script for Chiranjeevi's film ''Punnami Naagu''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14937709&cid=2364 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130908145509/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14937709&cid=2364 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 September 2013 |title=Cara Mazaka ready for release |website=Sify |date=7 April 2010 |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref> His 50th film was ''Veeran Veluthambi'', for which M. Karunanidhi wrote the story and dialogue. His 100th film was ''Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa''.<ref name="hindu2006"/>
In the 2010s, he finished the making of a comedy film titled ''Siva Poojaiyil Karadi'' with Shiva and Udhayathara starring, but the film did not have a theatrical release.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Celebs-cheer-for-charity/article11629767.ece|title=Celebs cheer for charity|first=Sudhish|last=Kamath|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 March 2011|via=www.thehindu.com|access-date=3 April 2021|archive-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209190013/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Celebs-cheer-for-charity/article11629767.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
=== As director === {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Film !! Language !! Notes |- |rowspan="3"|1981 || ''Sumai'' || Tamil || | Debut as Director |- | ''Sivappu Malli'' || Tamil || |- | ''Pattam Parakattum'' || Tamil || |- |rowspan="5"|1982 || ''Ilanjodigal'' || Tamil || |- | ''Chinnan Chirusugal'' || Tamil || |- | ''Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai'' || Tamil || |- | ''Kanne Radha'' || Tamil || |- | ''Sivantha Kangal'' || Tamil || |- |rowspan="4"|1983 || ''Soorakottai Singakutti'' || Tamil || |- | ''Idhu Enga Nadu'' || Tamil || |- | ''Manaivi Solle Manthiram'' || Tamil || |- | ''Seerum Singangal'' || Tamil || |- |rowspan="12"|1984 || ''Shabash'' || Tamil || |- | ''Kadamai'' || Tamil || |- | ''Kaval Kaidhigal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Vengayin Maindhan'' || Tamil || |- | ''Manmatha Rajakkal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Sattathai Thiruthungal'' || Tamil || |- | ''Maaman Machan'' || Tamil | |- | ''Vai Pandal'' || Tamil || |- | ''Pei Veedu'' || Tamil || |- | ''Thiruttu Rajakkal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Nandri'' || Tamil | |- | ''Thangamadi Thangam'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="16"|1985 || ''Veeran'' || Tamil || |- | ''Kutravaaligal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Chain Jayapal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Chilipi Yavvanam'' || Telugu || |- | ''Ilamai'' || Tamil | |- | ''Veettukari'' || Tamil | |- | ''Thandanai'' || Tamil | |- | ''Vesham'' || Tamil | |- | ''Dayyala Meda'' || Telugu | |- | ''Sigappu Nila'' || Tamil | |- | ''Urimai'' || Tamil | |- | ''Engal Kural'' || Tamil | |- | ''Inspector Lakshmi'' || Telugu | |- | ''Ragasiyam'' || Tamil | |- | ''Vetrikani'' || Tamil || |- | ''Sivappu Kili'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="7"|1986 || ''Karimedu Karuvayan'' || Tamil | |- |''Jyothi Malar'' || Tamil | |- | ''Kagitha Odam'' || Tamil | |- | ''Choru'' || Tamil | |- | ''Mamiyaargal Jaagrathai'' || Tamil | |- | ''Naga Devatha'' || Telugu || |- | ''Adutha Veedu'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="4"|1987 || ''Nilavai Kayil Pudichen'' || Tamil | |- | ''Megam Karuththirukku'' || Tamil | |- |''Veeran Veluthambi'' || Tamil || |- | ''Nalla Pambu'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="4"|1988 || ''Manaivi Oru Manthiri'' || Tamil | |- | ''Makkal Aanaiyittal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Neruppu Nila'' || Tamil | |- | ''Sahadevan Mahadevan'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="3"|1989 || ''Thangamani Rangamani'' || Tamil | |- | ''Thangamana Purushan'' || Tamil | |- | ''Mananthal Mahadevan'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="6"|1990 || ''Aadi Velli'' || Tamil | |- | ''Sathan Sollai Thattathe'' || Tamil | |- | ''Durga'' || Tamil | |- | ''Vaaliba Vilayattu'' || Tamil || |- | ''Shakthi Parasakthi'' || Tamil | |- | ''Avadellam Pennaley'' || Tamil || |- |rowspan="5"|1991 || ''Thai Poosam'' || Tamil | |- | ''Sendhoora Devi'' || Tamil | |- | ''Eeswari'' || Tamil | |- | ''Aadi Viratham'' || Tamil | |- | ''Bhairavi'' || Kannada || |- |rowspan="7"|1992 || ''Sivashankari'' || Tamil | |- | ''Madha Komadha'' || Tamil | |- | ''Purushan Enakku Arasan'' || Tamil | |- | ''Devar Veettu Ponnu'' || Tamil | |- | ''Sambhavi'' || Kannada || |- | ''Naga Bala'' || Telugu || |- | ''Gauravamma'' || Telugu || |- |rowspan="2"|1993|| ''Sivarathiri'' || Tamil | |- | ''Dakshayini'' || Kannada || |- |rowspan="3"|1994|| ''Vaanga Partner Vaanga'' || Tamil | |- | ''Bhuvaneshwari'' || Kannada || |- | ''Naga Jyoti'' || Oriya || |- ||1996|| ''Thirumbi Paar'' || Tamil | |- ||1997|| ''Nattupura Nayagan'' || Tamil | |- ||1998|| ''Jagadeeshwari'' || Kannada || |- |rowspan="3"|1999|| ''Maaya'' || Tamil | |- | ''Jayasoorya'' || Kannada | |- | ''Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa'' || Tamil |100th Film |- |rowspan="4"|2000 || ''Raja Kaliamman'' || Tamil | |- | ''Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela'' || Tamil | |- | ''Kuberan'' || Tamil | |- | ''Palayathu Amman'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="3"|2001 || ''Nageswari'' || Tamil | |- | ''Viswanathan Ramamoorthy'' || Tamil || |- | ''Kottai Mariamman'' || Tamil | |- | 2002 || ''Shakalaka Baby'' || Tamil | |- |rowspan="2"|2003 || ''Annai Kaligambal'' || Tamil | |- | ''Sri Kalikamba'' || Kannada || |- | 2005 || ''Mannin Maindhan'' || Tamil || |- | rowspan="3"|2010 || ''Kutti Pisasu'' || Tamil | |- | ''Bombat Car'' || Kannada || |- | ''Cara Majaka'' || Telugu || |- | rowspan="2"|2012 || ''Kalpana'' || Kannada || |- | ''Cinta Beruang'' || Malay | |- | 2013 || ''Arya Surya'' || Tamil | |- | 2015 || ''Billa'' || Kannada || |}
=== As producer === * ''Meenakshi Kungumam'' (under Sri Devipriya Films) * ''Velum Mayilum Thunai'' (under Sri Devipriya Films) * ''Oru Vidukadhai Oru Thodarkadhai'' (under Sri Devipriya Films) *''Naagam'' *''Kazhugumalai Kallan'' *''Pudhupatti Ponnuthaayi'' * ''Koundar Veettu Mappillai'' (under Sri Devipriya Films) * ''Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya'' (under Sri Thenandal Films)
=== As writer only === * ''Aasai Arubathu Naal'' (Story/dialogue) (As Ram-Rahim) * ''Durgadevi'' (Story/dialogue) (As Ram-Rahim) * ''Raghupathi Raghavan Rajaram'' (Story/dialogue) (As Ram-Rahim) * ''Manthoppu Kiliye'' (Story/dialogue) (As Ram-Rahim) * ''Theru Vilakku'' (Story/dialogue) (As Ram-Rahim) *''Maruthi'' (story/screenplay/direction supervision) * ''Thenpandi Seemaiyile'' (Story/dialogue) * ''Punnami Naagu'' *''Manaivi Oru Manickam''
== Politics and other posts == Narayanan was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Karaikudi constituency in 1989.
He became the chairman of Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram in late-1996.<ref name="kalki" />
He has also headed the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) for three consecutive elections, before resigning in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 July 2010 |title=Hat trick for Ramanarayanan and team |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/hat-trick-for-ramanarayanan-and-team-news-tamil-kkfqmgbahfe.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707050751/http://www.sify.com/movies/hat-trick-for-ramanarayanan-and-team-news-tamil-kkfqmgbahfe.html |archive-date=7 July 2011 |access-date=8 September 2013 |website=Sify}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 July 2010 |title=Rama Narayanan – Tamil Movie News – Rama Narayanan clinches it yet again! – Rama Narayanan | Parthiban |url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-10-02/rama-narayanan-12-07-10.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102093802/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/jul-10-02/rama-narayanan-12-07-10.html |archive-date=2 November 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013 |publisher=Behindwoods.com}}</ref><ref name="hindu2006" />
== Awards and recognition == He has received the Kalaimamani award of the Government of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="hindu2006" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tamil Cinema News | Kollywood News | Tamil Film News - Maalaimalar |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/04/21182737/rama-narayanan-join-politics-m.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609003522/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/04/21182737/rama-narayanan-join-politics-m.html |archive-date=9 June 2013 |access-date=31 October 2013}}</ref>
== Death == He died on 22 June 2014 at a Singapore hospital due to kidney-related ailments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tamil filmmaker Rama Narayanan dies in Singapore Hospital |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/tamil-filmmaker-rama-narayanan-dies-in-singapore-hospital/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708131708/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/tamil-filmmaker-rama-narayanan-dies-in-singapore-hospital/ |archive-date=8 July 2014 |access-date=22 June 2014 |publisher=news.biharprabha.com |agency=Indo-Asian News Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tamil Nadu News, Chennai News, Tamil Cinema News, Tamil News, Tamil Movie News, Power Shutdown in Chennai, Petrol and Diesel Rate in Chennai - Chennaivision |url=https://chennaivision.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411021444/https://chennaivision.com/ |archive-date=11 April 2021 |access-date=3 April 2021 |website=Tamil Nadu News, Chennai News, Tamil Cinema News, Tamil News, Tamil Movie News, Power Shutdown in Chennai, Petrol and Diesel Rate in Chennai}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=1167163}} * [https://archive.today/20130908145450/http://cinesouth.com/cgi-bin/persondb.cgi?name=ramanarayanan Rama Narayanan] at Cinesouth * [http://www.veethi.com/india-people/rama_narayanan-profile-6054-14.htm Rama Narayanan Profile and Biography] at Veethi {{Rama Narayanan}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narayanan, Rama}} Category:1949 births Category:Kannada film directors Category:2014 deaths Category:Film directors from Chennai Category:20th-century Indian people Category:21st-century Indian people Category:Tamil film producers Category:Film producers from Chennai Category:Telugu film directors Category:Screenwriters from Chennai Category:People from Sivaganga district