Potpourri of titbits about cinema - Producer A. L. Srinivasan

ALS had held many responsible and high positions in various associations connected with the film industry. He had held the post of the president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce for 13 years. Among the films produced by ALS, ‘Thirudaathae’, ‘Ambikapathy’, ‘Lakshmi Kalyanam’, ‘Kandan Karunai’ and ‘Cinema Paiththiyam’ are still remembered and enjoyed by people with the same zest. ALS can be credited with introducing many highly talented persons to the film industry through his films which totaled 35 in number, comprising films in the five Indian languages – Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada.

ALS, who was a pillar of the film industry, was afflicted by diabetes and he met his end on 30-7-1977 following a heart attack. I was not lucky enough to get opportunities to mingle with this great movie-man, but, I got opportunities to meet his son Kannappan and befriend him. Kannappan was producing a program on his uncle, the great poet ‘Kavignar’ Kannadasan for Madras Doordarshan. Kannappan asked me to say a few words about ‘Kavignar’ in this program. He produced a few films also that included ‘Kanavugal, Karpanaigal’ and ‘Ellaam Aiyappan’. ALS had two children – Kannappan, Visalakshi. The big tragedy was that ALS’ wife Azhagammai Aachi died on 21-5-1981, Visalakshi died on 22-1-2002 and Kannappan on 17-1-2007. Kannappan’s wife Jayanthi is helping people a lot and is remaining in touch with all the artistes, right from those of yesteryears to the new entrants of today. She, being a postgraduate and the daughter of ex-IAS officer V. S. Subbiah, is managing the ALS Productions while looking after her other organizations too that include outdoor units company. ALS’ grand-daughters Lavanya, Yamini, Aishwarya and grandson Saththappa Srinivasan are helping Jayanthi in her responsibilities and also in sustaining their grandfather’s name and fame.