Pushpa Kandaswamy

Pushpa Kandaswamy is an Indian film producer, popular amongst the audience for her work in movies like Roja (1992), Muthu (1995), Saamy (2003), Sri Raja Maheshwari (2001), etc. Mostly known for her pre-dominant involvement in Kollywood movies, dramas, and TV shows in the Tamil language, she was one of the key figures in establishing Kavithalaaya productions.

Born and brought up in Chennai by her parents K Balachander and Rajam Balachander, Pushpa is the granddaughter of Dhandapani Balachander and Saraswati Balachander. She has two siblings named Kailasam Balachander and Prasanna Balachander. Some of the recent movies produced by her include Muriyadi and Sindhu Bhairavi.

Pushpa Kandaswamy had 3+ decades of experience in movie and TV Series production. Kavithalaya was launched in 1981 with the biggest movie, Netrikan featuring “Rajinikanth,” “Saritha,” “Menaka,” Sarath Babu, “Vijayashanti,” and Lakshmi Narayan. She got trained by her father in the production side, and Pushpa’s experience helped in developing the production banner, and she works with Kandaswamy Bharathan for uplifting Kavithalaya. Besides producing films and TV serials, Pushpa tried her hand at OTT too. After the demise of K Balachander, Pushpa published a book about him. Actor “Vivek” was the one who wrote an introductory note about the legendary KB in the book.

Rail Sneham on DD is the first production venture of Kavithalaya in TV. During the initial stages of her TV production, Pushpa produced many serials for Sun TV, including Kaiyalavu Manasu, Kadhal Pagadai, Marmadesam – Ragasiyam, Marmadesam - Vidathu Karuppu, Premi, Ramani vs. Ramani – 1, and Kasalavu Nesam. Oonjal and Idhu Oru Kaadhal Kadhai were her production ventures for Vijay TV. Pushpa's most of TV productions are for Raj TV. They are Kasalavu Nesam, Marmadesam - Sorna Regai, K. B. in Chinnathirai, Marmadesam - Iyanthira Paravai, Marmadesam - Edhuvum Nadakkum, Irandaam Chanakyan, Ramani vs. Ramani – 2, Guhan, Nilavai Pidippom, and Devathai. After Rail Sneham, she produced a serial for DD, Kadavulukku Kobam Vanthathu. “Anni” on Jaya TV featuring Malavika Avinash, Subhalekha Sudhakar, “M Bhanumathi,” and “Prem” was super hit serial at that time. This serial was directed by “Samuthirakani.” Besides this, she produced Ethir Neechal for Jaya TV. Naan Ava Illeengo and Thenmozhiyaal are the series that Pushpa’s Kavithalaya produced for Kalaignar TV. In 2009, she produced Sollathan Ninaikkiren for Zee Tamil.

In 2018, she produced Harmony with A.R.Rahman, a show about “A R Rahman,” whom KB introduced in his production venture Roja for Mani Ratnam. The show premiered on Amazon Prime. In 2020, she produced another OTT content for Amazon, Time Enna Boss with Bharath Srinivasan, Priya Bhavani Shankar, “Karunakaran,” and Robo Shankar.

K Balachander Family Tree (Infographic Family Tree)