Film News Anandan

Early life Anandan was born as Mani. His father P. K. Gnanasagaram was a government servant. When he was being admitted in school he told his principal his name was Anandakrishnan, which later became his legal name, and was further shortened to Anandan. After school, he joined Quaide Millath Arts college, then known as Government Arts college. When he was a college student, he had a chance to interact with the drama troupes of Y. G. Parthasarathy and M. G. Ramachandran among others. He used to write the dialogues, do stage management and help in small odd jobs.

Career Anandan was interested in becoming a cameraman and joined as an assistant to C. J. Mohan, who was the cameraman for Kalaivanar. He conducted photography classes for him. Mohan appreciated the photos of Anandan and asked him to buy a Rolliflex camera. After buying one, actor Sivaji Ganesan was the first person whom he had captured on camera. Anandan worked as a news reporter for Film Chamber and his job was to collect details about the actors, producer, director of a film. Devarajan of the magazine Film News once asked Anandan to take pictures for his magazine. When the pictures were published, credit in the magazine was given as "Film News Anandan" and eventually the pen name got prefixed to his name.

Anandan noticed publicity stills of Nadodi Mannan (1958) on film producer R. M. Veerappan's office desk when he happened to visit the office of Em.Gee.Yar Pictures. He then offered to distribute them to the press. Veerappan agreed knowing that Anandan was then a member of the South Indian Film Journalists Association. After a few days, stills of the film were published in many magazines. M. G. Ramachandran, who was the director of Nadodi Mannan, was impressed with Anandan's work and, at Veerappan's suggestion, hired him as the film's public relations officer (PRO). This was Anandan's debut film as a PRO. In March 2016, just a few days before his death, Anandan revealed that his dream was to have a permanent exhibition on cinema.

Personal life Anandan was married to Sivagami. They had two daughters and a son Diamond Babu, who is also a PRO.

Awards Anandan received Y. Venkanna Clowdary's "Kala Peedam" award for his tremendous contribution to Human Progress as a Film Historian. In 1991, the Tamil Nadu State Government awarded him with their highest honour in the title of Kalaimaamani. In 1989, Anandan was honoured as a veteran during the Golden Jubilee of the Film Chamber.

Tamil films database Anandan compiled a wide-scale database of Tamil films which was made into a book titled Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru ("History of Landmark Tamil Films") with the help of the Tamil Nadu State Government and was published on 23 October 2004 by Sivagami Publications.