JesusHupp231 at 23:44, 23 September 2024

2024-09-23T23:44:10Z

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{{Short description|Indian film company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Evergreen Movie International
| image =
| logo =
| type = [[Film producer|Film production]]<br />[[Film distribution]]
| genre =
| foundation = 2000
| founder =
| location_city = [[Chennai]]
| location_country = India
| location =
| locations =
| area_served =
| key_people = V. A. Durai
| industry = [[Entertainment industry|Entertainment]]
| products = [[Motion picture]]s<br />([[Tamil language|Tamil]])
| services =
| market cap =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage =
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}

'''Evergreen Movie International''' is an Indian [[film producer|film production]] and [[film distributor|distribution]] company headed by V. A. Durai. The studio collaborated with actor [[Sathyaraj]] and director [[Sakthi Chidambaram]] on multiple ventures in the early 2000s, before running into financial trouble through the making of [[Bala (director)|Bala]]'s ''[[Pithamagan]]'' (2003).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bd9715291|title=V.A. Durai|website=BFI}}{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/pitamagan-imagegallery-movies-jdwmBRbaiaesi.html|title=Pitamagan|website=[[Sify]]}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

== History ==
Durai made his first film ''[[Ennamma Kannu]]'' (2000) directed by [[Sakthi Chidambaram]], and starring [[Sathyaraj]] and [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]]. He later collaborated with Sathyaraj again in ''[[Looty]]'' (2001) and ''[[Vivaramana Aalu]]'' (2002), and with Sakthi Chidambaram in ''[[Lovely (2001 film)|Lovely]]'' (2001). Durai and Evergreen Movie International worked as executive producers for the making of Suresh Krishna's ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' (2002) starring [[Rajinikanth]].

The studio ran into financial trouble during the making of [[Bala (director)|Bala]]'s ''[[Pithamagan]]'' (2003) starring [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]] and [[Suriya]]. Bala went over the agreed budget, and as a result, Durai held back on settling the payments for the lead actors. The film won critical acclaim upon release, also winning Durai the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil|Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/pithamagan/movieawards/65022833.cms|title=Pithamagan Awards: List of Awards won by Tamil movie Pithamagan|newspaper=The Times of India }}</ref> Bala later agreed to pay Durai following the release of his maiden production venture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-01/07-02-06-bala.html|title=Tamil movies : Pithamagan controversy still haunts Bala|website=www.behindwoods.com}}</ref> Bala announced and started projects as a producer including ''[[Maayavi]]'' (2005), ''[[Paramasivan]]'' (2006) and ''[[Naan Kadavul]]'' (2009), before selling the rights to other producers. As a result, Durai pursued a litigation case against Bala.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1410568/|title=Madras High Court|website=indiankanoon.org|access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/mayavi-has-the-last-laugh-tamil-news-13643.html|title=Mayavi has the last laugh – Tamil News|date=10 March 2005|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> As a result of the complications following ''Pithamagan'''s release, Durai produced ''[[Gajendra (2004 film)|Gajendra]]'' under a different production studio named Tamilanai Cine Creation. The film ran into release issues as a result of Vijayakanth's political involvement, with cadres from [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]] threatening to indulge in violence at theatres owing to Vijayakanth's comments against their party leader.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Film-industry-strike-back-at-PMK/articleshow/752733.cms|title=Film industry strike back at PMK | undefined News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=24 June 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/gajendras-producers-holds-meeting-ramadoss-telugu-news-10388|title=Gajendra's producers holds meeting Ramadoss – Telugu News|date=30 August 2004|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> In 2005, Durai planned a film with director P. C. Anbazhagan and actor [[Murali (Tamil actor)|Murali]], but the film did not begin production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/-tamil-news-13513|title=V A Durai's next with Murali – News|date=3 March 2005|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> He later also attempted to cast [[Ajith Kumar]] and [[Jiiva]] in films by [[Tarun Gopi]] and [[Ameer Sultan|Ameer]] respectively, but neither project materialised.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/tharun-gopi-in-demand-tamil-news-33672.html|title=Tharun Gopi in demand – Tamil News|date=20 September 2007|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Jeeva reaching towards the top - Tamil News | website=IndiaGlitz.com | date=16 September 2006 | url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/jeeva-reaching-towards-the-top-tamil-news-25333 | access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref>

In mid-2008, Durai announced a return to films with a project titled ''[[Naai Kutty]]'' (2010) by newcomer S. S. Joe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41759.html|title='Naai Kutty' – Saga of a slum dweller|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925222720/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41759.html|archive-date=25 September 2008|access-date=6 November 2019|website=IndiaGlitz.com|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Prasanna (actor)|Prasanna]] and Nicole signed to play the lead roles while comedian [[Santhanam (actor)|Santhanam]] was approached to play a significant role and [[Sundar C. Babu]] was chosen to compose the music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41759.html|title=Prasanna to play a rustic youth|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925041544/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41718.html|archive-date=25 September 2008|access-date=6 November 2019|website=IndiaGlitz.com|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/23092008-4.shtml|title=Nai Kutti from tomorrow|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804055305/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/23092008-4.shtml|archive-date=4 August 2010|access-date=6 November 2019|publisher=cinesouth.com|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In late-September 2008, a complaint had been lodged by director Ram Shiva alleging that the story had been taken from the Kannada film ''[[Nanda Loves Nanditha]]''. He alleged that Durai tried to buy the rights for remaking the film in Tamil but his efforts were in vain and had decided to plagiarise the script as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41817.html|title=Debutant director Joe opts out of 'Naai Kutty'?|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925151904/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41817.html|archive-date=25 September 2008|access-date=6 November 2019|website=IndiaGlitz.com|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41890.html|title=Complaint against 'Naai Kutty'|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830184010/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/41890.html|archive-date=30 August 2009|access-date=6 November 2019|website=IndiaGlitz.com|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Durai later restarted the project with a new script and Sathaji was chosen to direct the film after Joe opted out. Newcomer Selvin signed on after Prasanna opted out of the role and [[Soori (actor)|Soori]] replaced Santhanam.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/naaikutty-dropped-prasanna-dejected-news-tamil-kkfs7rdgffgsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106110957/https://www.sify.com/movies/naaikutty-dropped-prasanna-dejected-news-tamil-kkfs7rdgffgsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2019|title=Naaikutty dropped, Prasanna dejected|date=21 December 2008|access-date=6 November 2019|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/49674.html|title=Parotta Suri's kuthu dance!|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106165504/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/49674.html|archive-date=6 January 2010|access-date=6 November 2019|website=IndiaGlitz.com|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2009/jul/29/simbu-releases-naikutty-audio-72072.html|title=Simbu releases Naikutty audio|website=The New Indian Express|date=15 May 2012 }}</ref> He made a second attempted comeback through the comedy drama ''Kagitha Kappal'' (2016) starring [[Appukutty]] but the film went unnoticed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/-tamil-news-165034|title=Appukutti's Return Gift to Ajith – News|date=12 August 2016|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref>

V. A. Durai died in October 2023 following long-term illnesses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-03 |title=Film producer VA Durai passes away; film industry mourns the loss |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/film-producer-va-durai-passes-away-film-industry-mourns-the-loss/articleshow/104124940.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width: 82%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Cast
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Synopsis
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Ennamma Kannu]]''
| 2000
| [[Sakthi Chidambaram]]
| [[Sathyaraj]], [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]], [[Ranjith (actor)|Ranjith]]
| Kaasi, a womaniser woos a girl Gayathri she rejects him and is in love with his friend Vishwa. When Vishwa deserts her on the day of the wedding, Kaasi offers refuge to her.
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/film-review-ennamma-kannu/article28028702.ece|title=Film Review: ''Ennamma Kannu''|newspaper=The Hindu|date=23 June 2000|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Looty]]''
| 2001
| [[Sakthi Paramesh|Parameshwar]]
| [[Sathyaraj]], [[Roja Selvamani|Roja]], [[Mumtaj]]
| Rasappa and Geetha who are childless adopt a baby however Geetha suspects the baby as Rasappa's biological son
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/film-review-looty/article27911539.ece|title=Film Review: Looty|newspaper=The Hindu|date=19 January 2001|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Lovely (2001 film)|Lovely]]''
| 2001
| [[Sakthi Chidambaram]]
| [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]], [[Malavika (actress)|Malavika]], [[Monal (actress)|Monal]]
| Chandru and Niveditha who are in love comes up with a plan to impress her father who hates love
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/A2A30C4E41AD8BAAE5256AD1001B70DE?OpenDocument|title=Film Review: Lovely – The Hindu|date=13 August 2012|website=web.archive.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813141822/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/A2A30C4E41AD8BAAE5256AD1001B70DE?OpenDocument|archive-date=13 August 2012}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Vivaramana Aalu]]''
| 2002
| [[K. Selva Bharathy]]
| [[Sathyaraj]], [[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]], [[Mumtaj]]
|
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/vivaramana-aalu-review-tamil-pcluordjhbgda.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228202423/http://www.sify.com/movies/vivaramana-aalu-review-tamil-pcluordjhbgda.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 December 2016|title=Vivaramana Aalu|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Pithamagan]]''
| 2003
| [[Bala (director)|Bala]]
| [[Vikram (actor)|Vikram]], [[Suriya]], [[Laila Mehdin|Laila]], [[Sangeetha (actress)|Sangeetha]]
| A naive but violent grave digger and loud mouthed thief befriend each other
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/pithamagan/article28574643.ece|title=Pithamagan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2003|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Gajendra (2004 film)|Gajendra]]''
| 2004
| [[Suresh Krissna]]
| [[Vijayakanth]], [[Flora (actress)|Flora]], [[Laya (actress)|Laya]]
|
| <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2004/gajendra.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 December 2020 |archive-date=18 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218215051/http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2004/gajendra.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Naai Kutty]]''
| 2009
| Sathaji
| Selvin, Nicole, [[Soori (actor)|Soori]]
|
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/naai-kutty-review-tamil-pclxyFgcbacad.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910045753/http://www.sify.com/movies/naai-kutty-review-tamil-pclxyFgcbacad.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2015|title=Naai Kutty|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |''Kagitha Kappal''
| 2016
| S. Sivaraman
| [[Appukutty]], Dilija, [[M. S. Bhaskar]]
|
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-details/kagitha-kappal/movieshow/61307666.cms|title=Kagitha Kappal Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes|newspaper=The Times of India }}</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Film distributors of India]]
[[Category:Film production companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian film studios]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 2000]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 2000]]

Evergreen Movie International - Revision history

JesusHupp231 at 23:44, 23 September 2024