Chennai, Aug 17 (NationPress) One of the most talented directors in Tamil cinema, Vasantabalan, has shared an emotional birthday message for the legendary director Shankar. He revealed that his critically acclaimed film, Veyil, which earned a National Award, was made possible solely due to Shankar's influence.

On Sunday, through his social media channels, Vasantabalan, renowned for his remarkable works such as Veyil and Angaadi Theru, expressed, "Wishing you a delightful birthday, Shankar sir. It was only because of you that Veyil came to life."

Elaborating on the Tamil word Veyil, meaning the Sun, he added, "It is under the shadows of Veyil (the sun) that I still find solace today. Your immense love for me continually uplifts and supports me. It's a blessing that the journey we began in 1992 is still ongoing. My day brightens when I hear your affectionately calling me 'Balu.' Love you, sir."

For those unfamiliar, Vasantabalan started his film career as an assistant director to Shankar, who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Sunday. He collaborated with Shankar on four of his major hits – Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, and Jeans – before making his directorial debut with Album. This film was praised for its engaging content but did not grant Vasantabalan the recognition he deserved.

His second film, Veyil, starring Bharath, Pasupathy, Bhavana, Priyanka Nair, and Sriya Reddy, became a superhit, propelling Vasantabalan to prominence.

The film, celebrated for its touching story of two brothers, won the National Award in 2006 for Best Regional Feature Film (Tamil). Additionally, Veyil was the first Tamil film showcased at Cannes, under the 'Tous les Cinemas du Monde' category, and its acclaim led to a Bangladeshi Bengali remake titled Antor Jala.

Numerous other distinguished directors, actors, and production houses from Tamil cinema have also extended their birthday wishes to the esteemed director.