Legendary Tamil Producer AVM Saravanan Passes Away at 86, Film Industry Mourns

Veteran film producer AVM Saravanan, long-time steward of AVM Studios and its flagship banner AVM Productions, passed away early Thursday at the age of 86 due to age-related ailments. He breathed his last at 5:30 a.m. at his residence within the studio premises, after several months of declining health.

Born in 1939, Saravanan was the third son of pioneering filmmaker A. V. Meiyappan. He assumed control of AVM Productions in the late 1950s and shepherded the studio through some of its most successful decades — shaping it into one of India’s oldest and most respected film houses.

Under his leadership, AVM gave the world a string of landmark films across Tamil, Telugu and Hindi — including enduring classics like Naanum Oru Penn (1963), Samsaram Adhu Minsaram (1986), Minsara Kanavu (1997), Sivaji: The Boss (2007), Vettaikaran (2009) and Ayan (2009). His vision not only shaped the studio’s success but also helped nurture several generations of talent — many of whom became superstars in Tamil cinema.

The studio has announced that Saravanan’s mortal remains will be laid out for public homage today at the third floor of the AVM Studios campus in Chennai until 3:30 p.m., after which the final rites will be performed at the AVM Electric Crematorium.

As condolences pour in from across the film fraternity, fans and colleagues remember Saravanan as a visionary — a man who combined tradition with innovation and helped shape the trajectory of modern Tamil cinema for more than six decades. His passing marks the end of an era.