Chennai

Veteran film producer and AVM Studios owner M Saravanan passed away in Chennai on Thursday due to age-related ailments. He was 86.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin paid tribute at AVM Studios, remembering Saravanan for his "tranquility and simplicity" and his long-standing contributions to cinema. Under his leadership, AVM Productions continued as a major banner across Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and other language films, producing over 150 movies and supporting stars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, MGR, and Sivaji Ganesan.

Saravanan, who took over the studio after his father A V Meiyappan’s death in 1979, was instrumental in shaping commercial Tamil cinema and expanding AVM into television and new media. He also served as Sheriff of Madras in 1986.

READ MORE: When neighbours saved my family and firmed my faith in inclusive India

He is survived by his son, M S Guhan. Industry figures, including TN politicians and film personalities, have paid tributes, describing his passing as the fall of a “banyan tree” for Indian cinema.