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{{short description|Indian screenwriter and director (born 1931)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chitralaya Gopu
| image = Chitralaya Gopu 2015.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Gopu at the play "Chocolate Krishna" in 2015
| birth_name = Sadagopan
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1931|7|02}}<ref name="death1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article413724.ece |title=Happy 80th birthday, Chitralaya Gopu! |date=2 July 2011 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=9 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223183851/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article413724.ece |archive-date=23 December 2014}}</ref>
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| othername =
| occupation = Writer, director
| yearsactive = 1959–1990
| spouse = Kamala
| children = 4
| domesticpartner =
| website =
}}

'''Sadagopan''' (better known as '''Chitralaya Gopu''') is an Indian screenwriter and director who works in [[Tamil cinema]]. He has written nearly 60 films, and directed 27 of them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/happy-80th-birthday-chitralaya-gopu/164294-60-120.html |title=Happy 80th birthday, Chitralaya Gopu! |date=4 July 2011 |website=[[IBN Live]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141209142349/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/happy-80th-birthday-chitralaya-gopu/164294-60-120.html |archive-date=9 December 2014 |access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> He scripted dramatic films such as ''[[Moondru Dheivangal]]'' and ''[[Shanti Nilayam]]'' and comedies such as ''[[Kadhalikka Neramillai]]'', ''[[Galatta Kalyanam]]'', ''[[Patti Sollai Thattathe]]'' and ''[[Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-relaxed-mood-Chitralaya-Gopu/article16815321.ece |title=In relaxed mood – 'Chitralaya' Gopu |last=Kumar |first=S. R. Ashok |date=2010-02-18 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2020-02-06 |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206082228/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/In-relaxed-mood-Chitralaya-Gopu/article16815321.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career ==
[[C. V. Sridhar]] and Sadagopan were childhood friends since their schooldays in St. Joseph's High School, [[Chengalpattu]].<ref name="Sridhar">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/film-director-sridhar-dead/article1361013.ece |title=Veteran film director Sridhar dead |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=21 October 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316051717/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/21/stories/2008102154260400.htm |archive-date=16 March 2014}}</ref> Both were playwrights; Sridhar wrote stage plays and played the hero while Sadagopan wrote the humorous parts and played the comedian.<ref name="Reminiscence">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Looking-back-with-a-smile/article15938930.ece |title=Looking back with a smile |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=10 July 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=6 February 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316061749/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/looking-back-with-a-smile/article659092.ece |archive-date=16 March 2014}}</ref> Later, when Sridhar had the opportunity to direct a film, he asked Sadagopan to join him and produce the comedy track.<ref name="Chithralaya">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/20/stories/2005112014160200.htm |title='Chithralaya' Gopu, proprietor of Mannar & Co, Oho Productions |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S.R. |date=20 November 2005 |access-date=6 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316060216/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/20/stories/2005112014160200.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=16 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="Heaven">{{Cite news |url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2010/11/24/stories/2010112450090100.htm |title=Memories of Madras: Heaven on earth |last=Parthasarathy |first=Anusha |date=24 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316053322/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2010/11/24/stories/2010112450090100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=16 March 2014}}</ref> The film ''[[Kalyana Parisu]]'' (1959) was a hit and Sridhar started his own production house, [[Chitralaya]].<ref name="Sridhar" /><ref name="Cult">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200810210329.htm |title=Sridhar – The man with the midas touch |date=21 October 2008 |work=The Hindu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316051219/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200810210329.htm |archive-date=16 March 2014 |agency=PTI}}</ref> Sadagopan became popularly known as 'Chitralaya' Gopu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/columns/2019/mar/03/thamizh-talkies-when-the-pen-isnt-thought-to-be-mighty-10355.html |title=Thamizh Talkies: When the pen isn't thought to be mighty |last=Narayanan |first=Sujatha |date=3 March 2019 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |access-date=6 February 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206112234/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/columns/2019/mar/03/thamizh-talkies-when-the-pen-isnt-thought-to-be-mighty-10355.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

He received the Kalaimamani Award from Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa in 1992.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

He directed and acted in television forays, such as ''Washingtonil Thirumanam'', which was shot in the U.S.{{citation needed|date= December 2022}}

== Personal life ==
Gopu is married to Kamala, a novelist.<ref name="Reminiscence" /> They have four sons.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/fathima-babuditrected-thaarama-tallyaa-was-impressive/article8253010.ece |title=An account of family ties |last=Balasubramanian |first=V. |date=18 February 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=21 January 2019 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817060931/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/fathima-babuditrected-thaarama-tallyaa-was-impressive/article8253010.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Gopu-is-Gold-29-06-12.html |title=Gopu Is Gold |last=Rekhs |date=29 June 2012 |website=Behindwoods |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200206112346/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Gopu-is-Gold-29-06-12.html |archive-date=6 February 2020 |access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref>

== Partial filmography ==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date= December 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:160px;"| Film
! colspan="2" style="width:195px;"| Credited as
! rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:250px;" class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
! style="width:65px;" | Director
! width=65 | Writer
|-
| 1959 || ''[[Kalyana Parisu]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1962 || ''[[Nenjil Or Aalayam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Kadhalikka Neramillai]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Kalai Kovil]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Pyar Kiye Jaa]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Remake of ''[[Kadhalikka Neramillai]]''
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Kodimalar]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Nenjirukkum Varai (1967 film)|Nenjirukkum Varai]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Ooty Varai Uravu]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Anubavam Pudhumai]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Galatta Kalyanam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Shanti Nilayam]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Veettuku Veedu]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Moondru Deivangal]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Sumathi En Sundari]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Kasethan Kadavulada]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Athaiya Mamiya]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Penn Ondru Kanden]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Galate Samsara]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1977 || ''Kalamadi Kalam'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1977 || ''Rasi Nalla Rasi'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1979 || ''Alankari'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Aasaikku Vayasillai]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1979 || ''Dhairyalakshmi'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Raja Veettu Kannukkutty]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Thanga Mama 3D]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1985 || ''Vellai Manasu'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Thendrale Ennai Thodu]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Vasanthi (1988 film)|Vasanthi]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Paatti Sollai Thattathe]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1989 || ''Dilli Babu'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} ||
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga]]'' || style="text-align:center;"| {{n}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{y}} || Last film<ref name="Reminiscence" />
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=1367024}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopu, Chitralaya}}
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil screenwriters]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Kanchipuram district]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Film directors from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]

Chithralaya Gopu - Revision history

Flash255 at 15:22, 28 March 2026