WilmerLassetter at 13:33, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T13:33:05Z

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{{Short description|Indian actor and academic}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = N.Viswanathan
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Narayanswamy Viswanathan
| birth_date = 18 July 1929
| birth_place = [[Vellore]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(now [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_date = 17 November 2010 (aged 81)
| death_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], India
| height =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 1951–2010
| spouse = Paramita
| children = [[Ashoke Viswanathan]]
| parents =
| website =
}}
'''Narayanswamy Viswanathan''' (18 July 1929 – 17 November 2010), popularly known as '''Calcutta Viswanathan''' in the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]], was an Indian actor and academic. A [[Tamilian]] by birth, he moved to [[Calcutta]] (now Kolkata) at a young age and taught English at [[St. Xavier's College, Calcutta]] for more than 40 years. Viswanathan was also a well-known public speaker.<ref>{{cite news|title=Professor Viswanathan passes away|author=Special Correspondent|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111856201200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123113801/http://hindu.com/2010/11/18/stories/2010111856201200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 November 2010|access-date=13 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 November 2010}}</ref> He made his acting debut in [[Mrinal Sen]]'s ''[[Punascha]]'' and continued to act in [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali films]].<ref name=times>{{cite news|title=Noted professor, acclaimed actor|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-18/kolkata/28262445_1_professor-actor-debates|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104011804/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-18/kolkata/28262445_1_professor-actor-debates|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 November 2010|access-date=13 May 2013}}</ref> In a career that spanned 40 years, Viswanathan appeared in nearly 100 films in [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and English. He was a member several theatre groups and also formed the "Calcutta Players", an acting troupe.<ref name=times/>

==Biography==
===Early life===
Born into a [[Tamil people|Tamil family]] in [[Vellore]], Viswanathan moved to [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]] at an early age. He was educated at [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata]] and joined the same college as a professor in English.<ref name=express>{{cite news|title=Actor N Viswanathan dies at 81|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/actor-n-viswanathan-dies-at-81/712886/|access-date=13 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=18 November 2010}}</ref> He had great command over English and Bengali languages, and was particularly well known for his [[British accent]].<ref name=rediff>{{cite web|title=Veteran actor N Viswanathan dead|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/actor-n-viswanathan-dead/20101118.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=17 May 2013}}</ref> Viswanthan was also a public speaker who participated in numerous debates and won accolades for India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chaki|first=Rohini|title=In the spell of words|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080103/jsp/opinion/story_8734816.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630094226/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080103/jsp/opinion/story_8734816.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2013|access-date=17 May 2013|newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)]]|date=3 January 2008}}</ref> He also has a short stint with [[Doordarshan]], Kolkata.<ref name=rediff/>

===Entry into films===
While teaching at the college, he was offered a role in ''[[Punascha]]'' (1961), a Bengali film directed by [[Mrinal Sen]]. The film received a [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali|certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature Film in Bengali]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=17 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Viswanathan then got a chance to act in another Bengali film titled ''[[Kanchenjungha]]'' (1962), directed by [[Satyajit Ray]]. The film had the distinction of being the first original screenplay and first colour film of Ray.<ref>{{Harvnb|Robinson|2003|p=142}}</ref> Viswanathan received critical acclaim for his role in both the films. He became a favourite of Ray for his "urban [and] sophisticated image".<ref name=rediff/>

After the release of these two films, Viswanathan got numerous offers in Bengali, Tamil and [[Indian English|English]] languages. He entered the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]] in the 1970s and acted in films such as ''[[Lalitha (film)|Lalitha]]'', ''[[Mogam Muppadhu Varusham]]'' and ''[[Moondru Mudichu]]'', alongside prominent actors. Other Tamil films released during the period include ''[[Kavari Maan]]'' and [[Balu Mahendra]]'s ''[[Moodu Pani]]'', where he was cast in a prominent role.

Viswanathan was well known for his "pipe-smoking", a style which he adopted in most of the films.<ref name=rediff/>

===Theatre group===
Viswanathan was also a member of [[Utpal Dutt]]'s "People's Little Theatre" (PLT), and later formed his own group named "Calcutta Players".<ref name=rediff/>

===Death===
Viswanathan had prolonged illness for a long time before his death.<ref name=express/> He died at the age of 81 at his "Sarat Bose" residence in [[Kolkata]] on 17 November 2010.<ref name=express/> He is survived by his wife Paramita, a son and a grand daughter. His son [[Ashoke Viswanathan]] is a film maker.<ref name=express/>

==Partial filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* ''[[Ratna Deepam|Ratnadeep]]'' (1951)
* ''[[Punascha]]'' (1961)
* ''[[Kanchenjungha (film)|Kanchenjungha]]'' (1962) as Mr. Banerjee
* ''[[Barnali (film)|Barnali]]'' (1963)
* ''[[Subhashchandra]]''(1966)
* ''[[Parichay (film)|Parichay]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Je Jekhane Dariye]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Moondru Mudichu]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Lalitha (film)|Lalitha]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Mogam Muppadhu Varusham]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Kavari Maan|Kavarimaan]]'' (1979)
* ''Dour'' (1979)
* ''[[Moodu Pani]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Kann Sivanthaal Mann Sivakkum]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Vellai Roja]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Enakkul Oruvan (1984 film)|Enakkul Oruvan]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Nilavu Suduvathillai]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Padikkadha Pannaiyar]]'' (1985)
* ''[[The Peacock Spring]]'' (1996)
* ''Aparajita'' (1998)
* ''[[Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' (2002)
* ''Andhakaer Shabdo'' (2006)
* ''Byaticromi'' (2006)
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
|last1 = Robinson
|given1 = A
|year = 2003
|title = Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye: The Biography of a Master Film-Maker
|publisher = I. B. Tauris
|isbn = 1-86064-965-3
}}
{{Refend}}
Mr. N. Viswanathan was an English news reader also in Calcutta Doordarshan TV channel and used to host Bournvita Quiz contest in radio.

==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=0899801|name=N.Viswanathan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viswanathan.N}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Academic staff of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:People from Vellore]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Bengali cinema]]

N. Viswanathan - Revision history

WilmerLassetter at 13:33, 27 January 2026