Eminent film writer ‘Vietnam Veedu’ Sundaram passes away

06 August, Chennai

Popular film writer and director ‘Vietnam Veedu’ Sundaram died at his residence here early this morning after a brief illness.

He was 73. He is survived by two daughters, son-in-laws and grand children.

Known for his successful plays, Sundaram became famous with ‘Kannan Vandhan’, which was later made as a film ‘Gowravam’, inwhich the legendary Sivaji Ganesan acted.

Sundaram earned the sobriquet ‘Vietnam Veedu’ for his classydialogue and script in the film ‘Vietnam Veedu’, in which alsoSivaji played the lead role.

He has also appeared as a character actor in several Tamil films and TV serials.
Other than Sivaji Ganesan, Sundaram has also worked with leading actors including M G Ramachandran, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Karthik.

Well known for his family themes, his stories have been made into films in other languages also.

Several prominent film personalities, including Khushbu Sundar, Surya, Manobala, Y Gee Mahendra and Sivakumar visited his house and paid their last respects to the mortal remains of Sundaram at his residence in T Nagar.
”’I lost my elder brother.Sundaram started his career as a service boy in United Amateur Artistes (UAA) run by YG Parthasarathy in 1956. That kindled his interest in drama and cinema”, Mahendrasaid. ”I consider him as my elder brother.

He had a long associationwith our drama troupe. He wrote eight plays for us. Kannan Vandhanwas one among them, which was later made as Gowravam. I had the fortune of re-enacting Gowravam as a stage play recently”, he said.

”He also did many television serials for me. He was part of our family. I am at loss over his demise’, he added.