Under the Banyan Tree - 11 (DMK Chief)

Kalanidhi's brother Dayanidhi found his calling in politics and is none the worse, being a minister in both UPA I and II. Then there is Udayanidhi Stalin, the 33-year-old son of Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for whom movies have always been a passion. Says Udayanidhi: "Growing up in a family of scriptwriters, producers and directors, I naturally developed an interest in this industry. Besides my grandfather was a screenplay and script writer, my father and uncles have produced and acted in films. Cinema runs in our blood".

Two of the biggest Tamil productions slated for the near future are from Udayanidhi's Red Giant Movies banner-Manmadhan Ambu, starring Kamal Hassan, and Boss Engira Baskaran with Arya in the lead. He launched his production house in 2008 by releasing the Vijay-starrer Kuruvi. Today, Udayanidhi runs one of the leading production and distribution companies in Kollywood, which has churned out some of the biggest recent hits in the industry-among them, Madarasapattinam and Goutham Vasudev Menon's Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya. "Udayanidhi really made the project big. He showed personal interest in every aspect of the film and promoted it well," says director Vijay. Udayanidhi now has set the bar higher and wants to be an actor. He has signed a film which is to go on sets in December this year. "It's a romantic comedy and I have all the nervousness and inhibitions of a newcomer but I want to give it a try," says Udayanidhi. His wife Kiruthiga has also directed two documentaries on aids awareness, both produced by her husband. "She's very independent and wants to try on her own. I've heard some of her scripts. If all works out well she might be a director soon," he says. She runs a fashion magazine called Inbox1305.

Arulnidhi (left ) with his grandfather at the music launch of his movie Vamsam.

Udayanidhi's success in the industry has now prompted his cousin and the son of Union Chemicals and fertilisers minister M.K. Azhagiri's son Durai Dayanidhi Azhagiri to follow the family script. His production house Cloud Nine movies has had two blockbusters in recent times-Vaaranam Ayiram, and Paiyya. His next is Nan Mahan Alla and Ram Gopal Varma's Rakta Charitra. Durai Dayanidhi also owns the Royal Cable Vision, a multiple system operator in the Madurai region which hit the headlines for the first time when it blocked out Sun TV and its associate channels in the entire Madurai region when Karunanidhi's relationship with the Marans was strained. Like so many others in the family, Durai is also bitten by the acting bug.

Another family entrant in the industry is Karunanidhi's nephew Amirtham's son Gunanithi. He has already produced two movies and is now on to his third production. He is also the CEO of Kalaignar TV, which was launched after the first family's fallout with the Marans. The Kalaignar TV network, like the Sun Network also has a bouquet of around five channels. The Sun Network and the Kalaignar TV network now work together, after the family patched up.

The advantage that the family's home productions enjoy is the synergy the TV channels provide. Promos of the movies are aired frequently and rave reviews carried on the Sun group's channels.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/110515/under-the-banyan-tree.html?page=1