Legendary writer-director Sornam passes away – M.K. Stalin’s debut movie was directed by him

Legendary screenwriter and literary writer Sornam passed away at the age of 88 at his Kottivakkam residence in Chennai due to age-related issues.   His long association with the three former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu,  MGR, Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha produced many memorable films.

Sornam has written the dialogue for 17 movies starring MGR which was a record in those times and he also directed films with top stars Sivakumar and Kamal Haasan in ‘Thangathile Vairam’, Muthuraman’s ‘Seer Varisai’, Jai Shankar’s ‘Aasai Manaivi’ and ‘Nee Oru Maharani’.

Another significant film that Sornam directed was ‘Ore Ratham’ (1987) written by M. Karunanidhi which marked the acting debut of the current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in a pivotal role.  The film had Navarasa Nayagan Karthik in the lead with Bhagyalakshmi, Madhuri and Seetha as the heroines.

Stalin along with his wife Durga Stalin and son Udhayanidhi Stalin MLA, visited Sornam’s residence and paid rich tributes to him as a literary writer and his achievements in cinema having been under the tutelage of Karunanidhi right from when he was a student.  

Stalin also praised Sornam as one of the pillars of his family-owned newspaper Murasoli and remembered his long time bonding with himself in his speech.