The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Film institute alumni honour their teacher

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Monday, Sep 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Film institute alumni honour their teacher

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M. Karunakaran

Tribute: Veteran teacher A. Venkatachalam (third from right), being felicitated by alumni of M.G.R. Film and Television Institute in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: Distinguished alumni of the M.G.R. Film and Television Institute gathered here on Sunday to honour their sound engineering lecturer A. Venkatachalam as part of Teachers Day celebrations.

As a sound artist, he enjoys the distinction of working for Vahini Studios and recording the first feature film of Kannada actor Rajkumar.

At the event, cinematographer Rajiv Menon, from the 1981 batch, recalled how A.V. (as he is popularly referred to) taught sound like an applied science. “He was the one to always encourage students and though I was not a student of sound, I greatly benefited from some of his classes,” he said.

Film-maker Aabavanan, who was the first to introduce DTS technology in Tamil films, said some of the best sound recording artists in the film industry today were once trained by A.V. He said even director Ram Gopal Verma had come to the Institute to get trained by A.V.

Regional Director of the Central Board of Film Certification (‘Censor’ Board) Babu Ramasamy said A.V. gave students a direction in life and helped them flower as artists.

Another alumni Shankar, who worked with Doordarshan, thanked A.V. for teaching him how to maintain electronic equipment. “I have never had to spend money to repair my camera in the past 17 years!” he recalled with a smile. Wildlife filmmaker Alphonse Roy and wildlife sound artist Nandakumar paid rich tributes to the lecturer.

Mr.Venkatachalam said he was deeply moved by the love and affection his students showered on him. He urged the award-winning alumni of the Institute to return to their alma mater and share their knowledge and expertise with the new students. He received a shield and a medal from his students at the event. Professor R.C.A.Srinivasan was the chief guest.

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