05 January,2026 01:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rajinikanth and AVM Saravanan
A few days after turning 86, renowned Tamil producer Saravanan Surya Mani, better known as AVM Saravanan or just M Saravanan, passed away on December 4, 2025. On Sunday, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan were present during the installation of his portrait at Chennai's AV Meiyappan Higher Secondary School. When discussing the veteran, Rajinikanth became emotional.
Rajinikanth broke down in tears as he talked about his lengthy history with Saravanan and AVM Studios at the Virugambakkam ceremony."I have done 11 films with him. Saravanan was someone who delivered many successes while sitting right there in his office. Beyond cinema, he was very close to me personally," he said.
Rajinikanth also disclosed the guidance he still adheres to from the seasoned producer. He advised me to be occupied as I grew older following Sivaji (2007). He suggested that I make at least one movie annually. I still follow that advice," he remarked.
"Time tends to take away people we like, respect, and love quickly," the actor remarked with sadness. He further went on to add, "You feel orphaned when such people depart, regardless of how wealthy, well-known, or well-connected you are. May Saravanan Sir's soul rest in peace. He was a great man."
Kamal Haasan was also emotional and spoke highly of Saravanan, he shared, "If I am called a Sakalakala Vallavan (master of many arts), then he (AVM Saravanan) too was a Sakalakala Vallavan. I feel great pride in being closely associated with the AVM family. I thank them for giving me that honour."
Like Rajinikanth, he acknowledged that the lessons he learned at the AVM institution still help him now. "The AVM Higher Secondary School was not constructed at that time. I would have studied here if it had been. He never yelled at me when I made mistakes, but he encouraged and praised me when I performed well. That was AVM Saravanan", he said.
Saravanan and AVM Studios are responsible for Rajinikanth and Kamal's success. In 1980, the producer and his brother M Balasubramanian placed a wager on Rajinikanth and starred him with Rati Agnihotri in Murattu Kaalai, the banner's debut movie. The movie was crucial in making Rajinikanth a superstar. As a young actor in the 1960 movie Kalathur Kannamma, Kamal also started his career with the studios. He received the President's Gold Medal (National Award for Best Child Actor) for the movie.
