A veteran filmmaker who directed a super hit film starring Vijaykanth has died as an orphan on the roadside near AVM studios in Chennai sending shock waves in Kollywood. M. Thiyagarajan directed the super hit film 'Managara Kaaval' (1991) starring Vijaykanth which was incidentally the 150th film produced by the legendary AVM Productions.

A native of Aruppukottai, Thiagarajan was an Adyar Film Institute alumni who made his debut in Prabhu's 'Ponnu Paarka Paren' and also directed him in 'Vetri Mel Vetri both of which were average grossers. But due to his tight screenplay he got the change to direct the milestone film ' Managara Kaval '. Kollywood veterans opine that for some reason he did not get any other offers and that depressed him.

Sources also say that Thiagarajan had misunderstandings with his wife and children and separated from them and lived alone for the past fifteen odd years. He is said to have suffered in poverty and had only one meal a day at the government owned Amma canteen.

Director Neelan Kanishka in a facebook post has pointed out the irony that Thiagarajan who directed AVMs important movie died just in front of it and though he dreamed of victory after victory (Vetrimel Vetri) fate had it that he was cremated by the metropolitan city police (Managara Kaval).