Chitra Lakshmanan


Lakshmanan Ramasamy, 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. He currently operates the YouTube channel Touring Talkies, which features Tamil cinema related interviews and discussions.

Career

Lakshmanan began working in a hardware shop in 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 Singaporean 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.
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 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. His first directorial venture was Soora Samhaaram with Kamal Haasan and later he directed Periya Thambi with Prabhu and Chinna Raja with Karthik in the lead role. He turned actor in Japanil Kalyanaraman and began to prioritise acting commitments in the 2000s, winning acclaim for his comedy roles in Boss Engira Bhaskaran and Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru.
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.

Filmography

As actor

;Films
YearFilmRoleNotes
1984Pudhumai Penn
1984Dhavani KanavugalGuest appearance
1985Japanil KalyanaramanGuide Munusamy
1985Puthiya TheerppuMurali
1986Neethana Antha Kuyil
1987JallikattuDharmaraj
1987Poo Poova PoothirukkuNarayanan
1997Periya Thambi
1999Chinna Raja
1999Sundari Neeyum Sundaran NaanumRamalingamGuest appearance
2001Ullam Kollai PoguthaeJyothi's father
2001Azhagana Naatkal
2002Kadhal VirusGuest appearance
2002Unnai NinaithuVaidyalingam
2004Bose
2004Kangalal Kaidhu SeiSubramaniam
2004Vasool Raja MBBSDr. Kalidas
2006UnarchigalBalaji's fatherGuest appearance
2006Pachchak KuthiraThe mayor's personal assistant
2006Kusthi
2007PiraguFilm Producer
2008VaitheeswaranDhanasekaran's Henchman
2008BommalattamMakeup man
2010Boss Engira BhaskaranShanmugasundaram
2011Sadhurangam
2012SaguniBoopathi's sidekick
2013SettaiMurugaraj
2013IsakkiDevarajan
2013Pattathu YaanaiInspector
2013Theeya Velai Seiyyanum KumaruKunchithapadam
2013Arya Surya
2013Ya YaKanaka's father
2013Naveena Saraswathi SabathamKovai Kamaraj
2014Ninaithathu Yaaro
2014Nimirndhu NilJudge Chitra Lakshmanan
2014AranmanaiMaya's father
2015Janda Pai KapirajuJudge LakshmananTelugu film
2015NannbendaHotel Manager
2015Uttama VillainPRO Lakshmanan
2015Sakalakala VallavanShakthi's Uncle
2016Aranmanai 2Anitha and Ravi's father
2016Pokkiri RajaDr. Kothandam
2016Vaaliba RajaChithra Lakshmanan
2016Muthina KathirikaPolitician
2016Vellikizhamai 13am ThethiRaasathi's father
2017Kattappava KanomJayagopal
2017Ullam Ullavarai
2018Vidhi Madhi UltaaDivya's father
2018Nagesh ThiraiyarangamPundek
2018ItlyBank Manager
2021DikkiloonaL. Gopal, Priya's father
2022Kaathuvaakula Rendu KaadhalRambo's fake father
2023Kannai NambatheyDivya's father
2024DearDoctor
2024Vaagai
2025Kuzhanthaigal Munnetra Kazhagam
2025Otha Votu MuthaiyaPeriyappa
2025Enai Sudum PaniThangaraj
2025Thalaivan ThalaiviiSenior politician

;Television
YearTitleRoleChannel
2003 - 2009AnandhamSun TV
2006 - 2008Ganga Yamuna SaraswatiSun TV
2009 - 2012IdhayamDevarajanSun TV
2012 - 2013Sondha BandhamDamodaranSun TV
2014 - 2015AkkaJaya TV
2018 - 2019ChandralekhaGemini GaneshanSun TV