Sadagopan (better known as Chitralaya Gopu) is an Indian screenwriter and director who works in the

Tamil cinema Tamil cinema, also known as Kollywood is a part of Indian Cinema; primarily engaged in production of motion pictures in the Tamil language. Based out of the Kodambakkam neighbourhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it is popularly called ''Kollywood' ...

. He has written nearly 60 films, and directed 27 of them. He scripted dramatic films such as ''

Moondru Dheivangal ''Moondru Deivangal'' () is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by Dada Mirasi and written by Chitralaya Gopu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman and Nagesh. The film had musical score by M. S. Viswanathan. It is a remake o ...

'' and ''

Shanti Nilayam ''Shanti Nilayam'' () is a 1969 Indian Tamil-language film, produced and directed by G. S. Mani. It stars Gemini Ganesan and Kanchana, with Nagesh, Vijaya Lalitha, Pandari Bai, K. Balaji and V. S. Raghavan in supporting roles. The film won the ...

'' and comedies such as ''

Kadhalikka Neramillai ''Kadhalikka Neramillai'' () is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by C. V. Sridhar, who also conceived and co-wrote its script with Chitralaya Gopu. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of Balaia ...

'', ''

Galatta Kalyanam ''Galatta Kalyanam'' () is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by C. V. Rajendran and written by Gopu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. It is based on Gopu and Sridhar's play of the same name. The film, ...

'', '' Patti Sollai Thattathe'' and ''

Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa ''Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa'' () is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film, directed by N. S. Chakravarthi in his debut, produced by Sridhar and written by Gopu. The film features an ensemble cast including Ravichandran, Nagesh, Then ...

''.

Career

C. V. Sridhar Chitthamoor Vijayaraghavalu Sridhar (22 July 1933 – 20 October 2008) was an Indian screenwriter and film director. He has directed nearly 60 films in Tamil language, Tamil, Hindi language, Hindi and Telugu language, Telugu Languages. Ea ...

and Sadagopan were childhood friends since their schooldays in St. Joseph's High School,

Chengalpattu Chengalpattu, previously known as Chingleput, is a city and the headquarters of Chengalpattu district of the state Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located near to the industrial and IT hub. It is the headquarters of the district and is away fro ...

. Both were playwrights; Sridhar wrote stage plays and played the hero while Sadagopan wrote the humorous parts and played the comedian. Later, when Sridhar had the opportunity to direct a film, he asked Sadagopan to join him and produce the comedy track. The film '' Kalyana Parisu'' (1959) was a hit and Sridhar started his own production house,

Chitralaya Chithralaya () also spelt Chitralaya, is an Indian film production company founded in the early 1960s. It produced films in Tamil and Hindi, most of them directed by C. V. Sridhar. The company was founded by Sridhar, screenwriter Gopu (who later ...

. Sadagopan became popularly known as 'Chitralaya' Gopu. He received the Kalaimamani Award from Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa in 1992. He directed and acted in television forays, such as ''Washingtonil Thirumanam'', which was shot in the U.S.

Personal life

Gopu is married to Kamala, a novelist. They have four sons.

Partial filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gopu, Chitralaya Tamil film directors Tamil screenwriters Place of birth missing (living people) 20th-century Indian film directors 1931 births Living people Screenwriters from Kanchipuram district Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu Film directors from Tamil Nadu 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights