CHENNAI: Renowned film producer RB Choudhary passed away in a fatal car crash near Jodhpur on Tuesday evening. He was 74 and is survived by his sons Jiiva, Ramesh, Suresh and Jeevan and his wife Mahjabeen.
The accident took place at around 3 pm on Tuesday. Having produced 99 films in his career, the veteran producer’s untimely death on Tuesday came across as a shock to many in the industry.
Under his banner Super Good Films, Choudhary had produced several commercial blockbusters across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada film industries. He also introduced over 30 directors in Tamil cinema like KS Ravikumar, Vikraman, Ezhil, Sasi and Ravi Mariya among others.
Choudhary was last seen in his son Jiiva’s Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimayil released this year. He had been quite vocal about being happy and proud of his son’s hit film. They also shared an emotional father-son moment on stage during the success meet. Jiiva is also known for his close emotional bond with his father, and has said in several interviews how much he missed his father when he doesn’t shoot his films in Chennai.
TVK leader Vijay’s biggest blockbusters like Poove Unakkaga (1996), Love Today (1997) and Thullatha Manamum Thullum (1999) were bankrolled by Choudhary’s Super Good Films. The producer was initially planning to make his 100th film with Vijay before the latter took a plunge into politics.
Sarathkumar’s biggest hits like Nattamai (1994), Suriyavamsam (1997) and Simmarasi (1998) among others were made by Super Good Films. Choudhary’s 99th film happens to be actor Vishal’s directorial debut, Magudam, which was about to be completed this week.
More than a successful producer, Choudhary was known for his soft-spoken, humble and witty qualities, who never missed morning walks in parks in and around T Nagar. Several prominent figures of Tamil cinema like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi. Prabhu Deva, Vishal, Raghava Lawrence, Gautham Ram Karthik, Santhanam, and KT Kunjumon took to social media to express their condolences.
The funeral will take place in Chennai at his residence in Mylapore.