M Saravanan, veteran film producer and the doyen of the iconic AVM Studios in Chennai, passed away at the age of 86 on Thursday (December 4) due to age-related illness. The news about the producer’s death has come as a shock to the members of the film fraternity, fans, and Tamil political leaders.
Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the AVM Studios in Chennai and paid his homage to the producer. In a tribute posted on his official X handle, Stalin said that the news of the death of AVM Saravanan deeply saddened him.
“As integral as AVM Studios has been in Tamil cinema’s journey is the contribution of Thiru. Saravanan to the identity of the film studio. He also garnered a lot of goodwill for his father, the late legendary founder of AVM Studios, AV Meiyappan,” said the Chief Minister. “From Anna’s Oar Iravu to Kalaignar’s Parasakthi and Murasoli Maaran’s Kuladeivam, AVM Studios has also played a vital role in the Dravidian movement’s journey in cinema. He became like family to us, and as someone who grew close to our family.”
“When I visited the AVM Heritage Museum in May 2023, he affectionately shared those memories with me,” said Stalin, before expressing his condolences to the producer’s family and friends from the film fraternity.
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Actor and producer Vishal wrote on X, “I remember meeting you as a kid, as an assistant director, as an actor, as a producer, ever since I entered AVM studios, which was a learning ground for me to be what I am today in the film industry. “
“So many memories, and every producer used to look up to you for your sincerity and your dedication personified for not just your films but also for the film industry. I always wanted you and your production house to continue making great films, but today we stand to lose another great film personality in the Indian film industry. Your memories will always linger in our minds, and your films will always be a learning ground for aspiring filmmakers,” he added.
Superstar Rajinikanth, who starred in innumerable films produced by AVM Studios, paid his last respects to Saravanan at the film studio. Speaking to the press, the actor said that Saravanan was a gentleman with a “heart as white as the clothes he wore.”
“He loved cinema wholeheartedly. If you spoke with him for 10 minutes, he would utter the name ‘Appachi’ ten times and remember his father so fondly. He had so much affection for me, and he was my well-wisher. He stood by me whenever I went through a tough time. I have acted in nine films of AVM Studios, and all of them were hits, and Saravanan Sir was the main reason for that.
“Be it Murattu Kaalai, a big-budget film we did in the ‘80s, or the magnum opus Sivaji: The Boss in the 2000s. In fact, we wanted to do a film in the 2020s as well, but that never happened. His loss deeply saddens me, and I pray that his soul rest in peace. I convey my heartfelt condolences to his family,” said the superstar.
Meanwhile, actors Suriya, Sivakumar, Mohan Raman, Saravanan (Raatchasan), TV Varadharajan, Cell Murugan, Y Gee Mahendra, Easwari Rao, R Parthipan, Vikram Prabhu, Chinni Jayanth and Karunaas paid their homage to Saravanan’s mortal remains. Directors VC Guhanathan, Raja (Shankar Guru), Vasanth Sai, K Bhagyaraj, SP Muthuraman, P Vasu, and producers Murali Raman, Vision Time Ramamurthy, Viswanatha Reddy, KT Kunjumon, Swaroop Reddy, Dhananjayan, Murali Ramasamy, and Soundara Pandian also paid their tributes.
Published – December 04, 2025 11:22 am IST
