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The Indian film industry suffered a major loss with the passing of legendary producer and AVM Studios owner M. Saravanan.
He passed away on Thursday morning (December 4) in Chennai at the age of 86 due to age-related health issues. His passing marks the end of an era, especially for Tamil cinema, where he made an extraordinary impact for more than six decades. Along with his legacy, an inspiring story from the AVM family has also come to light once again.

A legacy of iconic filmsOver the decades, Saravanan played a key role in creating several memorable films that helped shape the industry. His body of work includes classics like 'Naanum Oru Penn' (1963), 'Samsaram Adhu Minsaram' (1986), 'Minsara Kanavu '(1997), 'Sivaji: The Boss' (2007), 'Vettaikaran' (2009),' Ayan' (2009).

Under his guidance, AVM Productions grew into one of India’s most respected and reliable film banners. The studio went on to produce over 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, leaving a remarkable legacy in Indian cinema .

An emotional story that reflects AVM’s deep bonds

In 2023, Saravanan’s granddaughter, Aruna Guhan, a fourth-generation producer at AVM — shared a touching story that highlights the special connection between AVM Studios and Megastar Chiranjeevi . After 1976, the studio had paused film production for several years. During this time, founder A.V. Meiyappan strongly wished to restart making films, but he passed away in 1979 before that dream could come true. Wanting to fulfil his final wish, his sons, including M. Saravanan, were determined to revive the studio’s filmmaking journey.

This led the family to approach Chiranjeevi for the Telugu version of Pournami Nilavu. At that time, the actor had just gotten married and was already fully booked. But when he learned the emotional reason behind AVM’s request, he immediately agreed to be part of the project.

Aruna shared that even without any free dates, Chiranjeevi would finish his regular shoots during the day and then come to work on AVM’s film in the evenings, often shooting late into the night. She said his dedication during that period was something the family would never forget.

Aruna added that it was Chiranjeevi who suggested the title Punnami Naagu, and the team decided to keep it. The film not only released on schedule but also became a major commercial hit, turning into AVM’s highest-grossing Telugu film at that time.


Personal life

M. Saravanan is survived by his son, M.S. Guhan, and his granddaughters, Aruna Guhan and Aparna Guhan. His mortal remains have been placed at AVM Studios until 3:30 pm for the public to pay their final respects.