Legendary Tamil producer AVM Saravanan dies at 86 in Chennai. Rajinikanth, Suriya, and other stars pay tribute to his iconic legacy.

One day after turning 86, veteran film producer AVM Saravanan, a legendary figure in Tamil cinema, died in Chennai in the early hours of December 4. Tributes from artists, filmmakers, and fans flooded in when word of his passing spread around the industry. MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, was one among the first dignitaries to visit the famous AVM Studio to express condolences. Other prominent figures from the industry quickly followed.’

The film industry honors

Veteran Actor #Sivakumar and Actor @Suriya_offl pay their homage to Late Legendary Producer #AVMSaravanan pic.twitter.com/3oHkzyNOs7

— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) December 4, 2025

To pay their last respects, actors Suriya and Sivakumar were spotted arriving at the Chennai studio. Online photos of the father and son pair show them clearly upset, with one particularly poignant scene showing Suriya crying while standing next to Saravanan’s lifeless body.

In addition, Rajinikanth paid homage to the producer by folding his hands before meeting with the late producer’s relatives at the studio. “He was a wonderful person,” he subsequently told the journalists. Under the AVM brand, I starred in nine successful movies. He supported me through my challenges and had a great deal of faith in me.

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Vishal, Easwari Rao, Mohan Raja, Parthiban, Kanchana, and other celebrities showed up at AVM Studios to say goodbye during the day.

A legacy that influenced successive generations

One of the oldest and most significant film production companies in India is AVM Studios, which was established in 1945 by AV Meiyappan. Following Meiyappan’s death, his sons Saravanan and M Balasubramanian carried on the family legacy by establishing careers and producing some of the most important films in Tamil cinema.

When the banner introduced Rajinikanth in Murattu Kaalai against Rati Agnihotri in 1980, it was one of Saravanan’s most important choices. The movie’s popularity contributed to Rajinikanth’s quick ascent to fame.

Kamal Haasan’s early years are likewise entwined with Saravanan’s heritage. The 1960 movie Kalathur Kannamma marked Haasan’s debut as a child artist, and he won the President’s Gold Medal, a national award for Best Child Actor.

A number of industry announcements and events have been rescheduled in honor of the producer who cultivated some of Tamil cinema’s best stars and helped build modern Tamil cinema as the film community grieves his departure.