Kannan Shankar (17 March 1926 - 5 March 2006) was an Indian film editor, screenwriter and director. He directed more than 80 films in South Indian languages including Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada as well as in Hindi.
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Film career
Shankar started his film career as an editor Assistant at Central Studios, Coimbatore in 1939 and later moved to Pakshiraja Studios. He later became a successful editor at AVM Studios, before moving into film direction. An editor can become an excellent director and thus Shankar got the opportunity to direct first ever film, a Sinhala film Doctor (1956) under AVM banner. He continued to direct few other films especially Bhookailasa (Kannada) and Bhookailas (Telugu) in the year 1958. Shankar decided to move on so he came out of AVM and directed his first outside film Orey Vazhi (1959).
He made several films with M. G. R including Panathottam (1963), Kalangarai Vilakkam (1965), Chandrodayam (1966) and Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968). Shankar was also credited with creating M. G. R in his own production, Adimai Penn (1969). Pallandu Vaazhga (1975), Uzhaikkum Karangal (1976) and Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977) were other films that were released.
He gave blockbuster film Aalayamani (1962) for Sivaji Ganesan and went on to direct in other films like Andavan Kattalai (1964), Anbu Karangal (1965), Miruthanga Chakravarthi (1983), Chiranjeevi (1984), Ezhuthatha Sattangal (1984) and Raja Rishi (1985).
He gave superhits Hindi films like Rajkumar (1964), Sachaai (1969) and Shehzada (1972).
He has also directed Vijayakanth in five films such as Navagraha Nayagi (1985), Nambinar Keduvathillai (1986), Velundu Vinaiyillai (1987), Thambi Thanga Kambi (1988) and Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal (1989).
His continuous making of devotional movies such as Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam (1992), Saranam Saranam Manikanta (1993), Manikantana Mahime (1993) and Vetri Vinayagar (1996).
Death
Shankar died due to heart attack at his residence on 5 March 2006 at the age of 79. He is married to Kamakshi Ammal and has six children. He has daughters Vijayalakshmi, Rukmani and Radha and sons Sivaprasad, Saseetharan and Ganesan. Sivaprasad made his directorial debut with Kalyana Rasi (1991).