AVM Saravanan, veteran Tamil producer, passes away at 86 in Chennai

Veteran Tamil cinema producer and owner of AVM Studios in Chennai, M. Saravanan, died on Thursday morning (December 4, 2025) due to age-related illness, his family said. He was 86.

Born in 1939, Saravanan, also known as AVM Saravanan, along with his brother, M Balasubramanian, assisted their father, veteran A.V. Meiyappan, in managing AVM studio since the 1950s. He took over the studio in 1979 after his father’s death.

Under his stewardship, AVM continued as a major production house and diversified its work across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and other language films.

Widely considered as one of the most successful Tamil Saravanan produced several notable Tamil cinema hits, including Naanum Oru Penn,  Murattu Kaalai, Sakalakala Vallavan, Uyarndha Ullam, Manithan, Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, Minsara Kanavu, Sivaji: The Boss, Ayan.

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When AVM Productions reentered into Tamil cinema after a long sabbatical post Meiyappan’s death, the brothers bet on actor Rajinikanth, starring him opposite Rati Agnihotri in ‘Murattu Kaalai’ in 1980. It was Rajnikanth’s first film for the banner. Not only it became the highest grossing Tamil film at the time of its release, it was also instrumental in establishing Rajinikanth as both an action hero and superstar.

Incidentally, actor Kamal Haasan, began his career with an AVM-backed film. He debuted as a child actor with ‘Kalathur Kannamma’ in 1960, produced by AVM. The film won the budding actor the President’s Gold medal (National Award for Best Child Actor).

While maintaining the AVM Studios in Chennai as a key shooting hub, Saravanan steered the iconic banner through the times, getting into television serials and newer media formats.

Saravanan also served as Sheriff of Madras in 1986, reflecting his stature beyond cinema.

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In the 2010’s the AVM banner substantially reduced its feature film offering. In 2022, the banner bankrolled its first web series, Tamil Rockerz, for Sony LIV.

The news about Saravanan’s death has sent shockwaves across the film industry. It is to be noted that the producer celebrated his 86th birthday just yesterday. He is survived by his son M.S. Guhan, also a producer, and daughter Usha.

(with inputs from PTI)