Himanshuucharan at 09:20, 27 October 2024

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{{Short description|Indian film company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = GV Films
| image =
| logo =
| type = [[Film producer|Film production]]<br />[[Film distribution]]
| genre =
| foundation = 1989
| founder = [[G. Venkateswaran]]
| location_city = [[Chennai]]
| location_country = [[India]]
| location =
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| area_served =
| key_people =
| industry = [[Entertainment industry|Entertainment]]
| products = [[Motion picture]]s<br />([[Tamil language|Tamil]])
| services =
| market cap =
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}}

'''GV Films''' is an Indian [[film producer|film production]] and [[film distributor|distribution]] company headed by [[Ishari K. Ganesh]]. The firm had been a leading production studio in the Tamil film industry in the 1990s and had been founded by [[G. Venkateswaran]] as Sujatha Films in 1986.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://epdf.pub/celluloid-deities-the-visual-culture-of-cinema-and-politics-in-south-india.html|title=Celluloid Deities: The Visual Culture of Cinema and Politics in South India – PDF Free Download|website=epdf.pub}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19900531-glamour-of-arc-lights-and-lure-of-quick-money-draw-professionals-into-cinema-812644-1990-05-31|title=Glamour and quick money draw professionals from other fields to Tamil cinema|first1=Kavitha|last1=Shetty|date=31 May 1990 |website=India Today}}</ref>

== History ==
===Film industry===
Sujatha Films was set up in 1986 by [[G. Venkateswaran]], a chartered accountant, as a film production and distribution company. Operating as a family production house, Venkateswaran's brother [[Mani Ratnam]] also often assisted on the production work of films that he directed for the studio.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_d9XHAUFB8C&q=mani+ratnam+%22sujatha+productions%22+conversations&pg=PT225|title=Conversations with Mani Ratnam|first=Baradwaj|last=Rangan|date=10 December 2013|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9788184756906|via=Google Books}}</ref> Sujatha Films became GV Films as it became the first publicly listed company from the Indian media industry in 1989.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Corporate-film-producer-GV-commits-suicide/articleshow/45300347.cms|title=Corporate film producer GV commits suicide |website=The Times of India|date=4 May 2003 }}</ref>

The early films by the studio saw frequent collaborations with Mani Ratnam and [[Visu]], as well as with composer [[A. R. Rahman]]. Films including ''[[Anjali (1990 film)|Anjali]]'' and ''[[Thalapathi]]'' were among the studio's most notable films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationxpress.com/vfx/mayavi-a-stereoscopic-series-on-jaya-tv/|title=Mayavi, a stereoscopic series on Jaya TV|date=1 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cscsarchive.org:80/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/3210182951D02B8765256940004B7B49?OpenDocument |title=Trendy heroes - the Economic Times |website=cscsarchive.org:80 |access-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014050914/http://cscsarchive.org:80/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/3210182951D02B8765256940004B7B49?OpenDocument |archive-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

GV Films produced [[Suhasini Maniratnam]]'s first film ''[[Indira (film)|Indira]]'' (1995) featuring [[Anu Hasan]] and [[Arvind Swamy]] in the lead roles. The film did not perform well at the box office, prompting GV Films to stop production and prioritise distribution ventures.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/apr/22tamil.htm|title=Priyanka Chopra goes unnoticed|first=Shobha|last=Warrier|website=www.rediff.com|date=22 April 2002|accessdate=23 January 2023}}</ref> However, some distribution ventures including ''[[Aalavandhan]]'' (2001) and ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' (2002) were also expensive failures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/03gv.htm|title=Film producer GV commits suicide|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/tamil-coin-crunch-leads-to-suicide-1117886347/|title=Tamil coin crunch leads to suicide|first1=Bryan|last1=Pearson|date=18 May 2003}}</ref>

GV Films made a return to production in the early 2000s, first working on the making of ''[[Thamizhan]]'' (2002) directed by debutant [[Majith]]. The film featured [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] and [[Priyanka Chopra]] in her first acting role. Further films that the studio worked on included [[Vasanth]]'s ''[[Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke!]]'' (2002) and [[K. Bhagyaraj]]'s ''[[Chokka Thangam]]'' (2003) with [[Vijayakanth]]. All three films did not perform well commercially.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2002/oct/23bhag.htm|title=rediff.com: Movies: The K Bhagyaraj interview|website=m.rediff.com}}</ref> Subsequently, Venkateswaran came under pressure from film financiers. In April 2003, Venkateswaran committed suicide at his residence in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/20030519-kollywood-producer-venkateswaran-suicide-raises-fears-of-box-office-losses-empty-theatres-792887-2003-05-19|title=Kollywood producer Venkateswaran suicide raises fears of box-office losses, empty theatres|first1=Arun |last1=Ram|date=19 May 2003|website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/a-private-affair/articleshow/1929636.cms?from=mdr|title=A private affair|first=D.|last=Govardan|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>

Following Venkateswaran's death, the studio continued to produce media content under the same name. Notably, actress [[Manisha Koirala]] was briefly a board member as the studio attempted to make a comeback through Hindi film content and 3D television serials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k5/nov/nov165.htm|title=Manisha Koirala joins the board of GV Films|date=15 November 2005|website=Indian Television Dot Com}}</ref> The studio launched a big budget Hindi film directed by [[Mahesh Manjrekar]] starring [[Sanjay Dutt]] in late 2005, though it was later stalled.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Newlaunches/2005/10gvfilms.asp |title=GV Films signs up Sanjay Dutt, Devgan, Manjrekar |date=12 October 2005 |website=Chennai Online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217010019/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Newlaunches/2005/10gvfilms.asp |archive-date=17 February 2007}}</ref> [[Kasthuri Shankar]] also worked with the studio and assisted on the oversight of the production of ''[[Urchagam]]'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/friday-flashback-kasthuri-shankar-shares-a-throwback-picture-with-sherin-shringar-says-she-was-the-latters-boss-once/articleshow/75202608.cms|title=Flashback friday: Kasthuri Shankar shares a throwback picture with Sherin Shringar; says she was the latter's 'boss' once|website=The Times of India}}</ref> The studio returned to prioritising distribution ventures and instead chose to make small budget films such as ''[[Kaivantha Kalai]]'' (2006) and ''[[Thirudi (2006 film)|Thirudi]]'' (2006).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gvfilms.in/reports/Annual-Reports/Annual-Report-2007.pdf|title=Annual report |date=2007 |website= www.gvfilms.in|access-date=2020-08-24}}</ref> In 2015, GV Films held a ceremony in Mumbai to mark 25 years since its founding.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/mumbai/Mallika-Sherawat-attends-GV-Films-Limited-GVFLs-silver-anniversary-bash-in-Mumbai/articleshow/48316378.cms|title=Mallika Sherawat attends GV Films Limited (GVFL)'s silver anniversary bash in Mumbai|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

===Other ventures===
In 1993, GV Films worked on bringing [[Michael Jackson]] to India for two live concerts to be held in Bombay and Madras on 8 and 10 December in aid of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. The event was later cancelled prompting the studio to suffer heavy losses and begin litigation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/gv-films-sues-michael-jackson-196101901051_1.html|title=Gv Films Sues Michael Jackson|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=19 October 1996|via=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/senas-history-reversed/202474|title=Sena's HIStory Reversed | Outlook India Magazine|website=magazine.outlookindia.com/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/with-mj-gone-will-his-event-managers-survive/50097|title=With MJ gone will his event managers survive?|date=1 July 2009|website=mid-day}}</ref>

In 2000, GV Films paid $43.6 million to acquire about 8,000 international titles from a seller's offshore investment company Pinewood Films. This included the masters for non-exclusive internet, DVD and theatrical rights. The deal was considered the biggest catalogue buyout by an Indian company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/indias-gv-films-pact-8000-135904|title=India's GV Films pact for 8,000 titles | Hollywood Reporter|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=10 May 2007}}</ref> During the same period, GV Films entered into a joint venture with UK internet portal Asian Online.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/indias-gv-asian-online-form-webcasting-venture/401467.article|title=India's GV, Asian Online form webcasting venture|first=Bhuvan|last=Lall|date=2000-02-21|website=Screen}}</ref>

As of 2020, the group of companies is headed by [[Ishari K. Ganesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zaubacorp.com/company/G-V-FILMS-LIMITED/L92490MH1989PLC238780|title=G.V. FILMS LIMITED – Company, directors and contact details | Zauba Corp|website=www.zaubacorp.com}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film production===
;as Sujatha Films
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width: 82%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Cast
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Synopsis
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Mouna Ragam]]''
| 1986
| Tamil
| [[Mani Ratnam]]
| [[Mohan (actor)|Mohan]], [[Revathi]], [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Agni Natchathiram]]''
| 1988
| Tamil
| [[Mani Ratnam]]
| [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]], [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]], [[Amala Akkineni|Amala]]
|
|
|}

;as GV Films
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width: 82%; text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Cast
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Synopsis
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{tooltip|Ref.|References}}
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Vedikkai En Vadikkai]]''
| 1990
| Tamil
| [[Visu]]
| [[Visu]], [[S. Ve. Sekhar]], [[Ravi Raghavendra]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Anjali (1990 film)|Anjali]]''
| 1990
| Tamil
| [[Mani Ratnam]]
| [[Shamili]], [[Raghuvaran]], [[Revathi]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Thalapathi]]''
| 1991
| Tamil
| [[Mani Ratnam]]
| [[Rajinikanth]], [[Mammootty]], [[Arvind Swamy]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Neenga Nalla Irukkanum]]''
| 1992
| Tamil
| [[Visu]]
| [[Nizhalgal Ravi]], [[Bhanupriya]], [[Visu]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[May Maadham]]''
| 1994
| Tamil
| Venus Balu
| [[Vineeth]], [[Sonali Kulkarni]], [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Indira (film)|Indira]]''
| 1995
| Tamil
| [[Suhasini Maniratnam|Suhasini]]
| [[Anu Hasan]], [[Arvind Swamy]], [[Nassar (actor)|Nassar]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Thamizhan]]''
| 2002
| Tamil
| [[Majith]]
| [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]], [[Priyanka Chopra]], [[Ashish Vidyarthi]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Yai! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke!]]''
| 2002
| Tamil
| [[Vasanth]]
| [[Shaam (actor)|Shaam]], [[Sneha (actress)|Sneha]], [[Rajiv Krishna]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Chokka Thangam]]''
| 2003
| Tamil
| [[K. Bhagyaraj]]
| [[Vijayakanth]], [[Soundarya]], [[Prakash Raj]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Ullam Ketkumae]]''
| 2005
| Tamil
| [[Jeeva (director)|Jeeva]]
| [[Shaam (actor)|Shaam]], [[Arya (actor)|Arya]], [[Laila Mehdin|Laila]], [[Asin]], [[Pooja Umashankar|Pooja]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Matichya Chuli]]''
| 2006
| Marathi
| [[Atul Kale]]-Sudesh Manjrekar
| [[Sudhir Joshi]], [[Vandana Gupte]], [[Ankush Choudhary]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Kaivantha Kalai]]''
| 2006
| Tamil
| [[Pandiarajan]]
| [[Prithvi Rajan]], Sruthi, [[Pandiarajan]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Thirudi (2006 film)|Thirudi]]''
| 2006
| Tamil
| K. Shankar
| Kathir, [[Dhanya Mary Varghese]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[Urchagam]]''
| 2007
| Tamil
| [[Ravichandran (Tamil film director)|Ravichandran]]
| [[Nandha (actor)|Nandha]], [[Sherin]], [[Dinesh Lamba]]
|
|
|-
! scope="row" |''[[TN 07 AL 4777]]''
| 2009
| Tamil
| A. Lakshmikanthan
| [[Pasupathy]], [[Ajmal Ameer|Ajmal]], [[Simran (actress)|Simran]]
|
|
|}

===Film distribution===
In addition to the production of films since 2010, GV Films has also been involved in distributing films of other production houses across certain regions.
*''[[Aalavandhan]]'' (2001)
*''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' (2002)
*''[[Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu]]'' (2006)
*''[[Vallavan]]'' (2006)
*''[[Thaamirabharani]]'' (2007)
*''[[Sivaji (film)|Sivaji]]'' (2007)

===Television===
*''[[Mayavi (TV series)|Mayavi]]'' (Jaya TV)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Mani Ratnam}}

[[Category:Film distributors of India]]
[[Category:Film production companies based in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian film studios]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1989]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1989]]

GV Films - Revision history

Himanshuucharan at 09:20, 27 October 2024