R. B. Choudary

R. B. Choudary, born Ratanlal Bhagatram Choudary, was one of the most prolific and influential film producers in South Indian cinema. As the founder of Super Good Films, he produced 99 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi over nearly four decades, and he became known above all as the producer who gave first chances to young directors. Dozens of filmmakers, among them Vikraman, K. S. Ravikumar, Lingusamy, Sasi, Ezhil, Balasekaran and Perarasu, directed their first features for him.

Choudary came from a Rajasthani family belonging to the Seervi community and grew up in Madras, now Chennai, where Wikipedia records his birth in 1949. Before entering cinema he worked in the steel export and jewellery trades, and he also exported Malayalam films to overseas markets such as Dubai. That experience of the film trade led him into production. He began in Malayalam cinema in the late 1980s, producing a handful of films under the "Super" banner.

In 1989 he moved into Tamil cinema in partnership with R. Mohan, the industrialist behind the Good Knight brand of mosquito mats. When the two later went their separate ways, Choudary kept the "Good" from Good Knight and renamed his company Super Good Films. Its Telugu and Hindi productions were later released under the Mega Super Good Films name.

His Tamil breakthrough came in 1990 with Pudhu Vasantham, the debut of director Vikraman, which Choudary agreed to make after a short narration. The modestly budgeted film became a hit and won both the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. The same year he launched K. S. Ravikumar with Puriyaadha Pudhir. Through the 1990s Super Good Films became one of the most consistent banners in Tamil cinema, with films such as Cheran Pandiyan, Gokulam, Nattamai, Poove Unakkaga, Love Today, Suryavamsam, Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen, Nee Varuvai Ena and Thullatha Manamum Thullum. Poove Unakkaga in 1996 gave actor Vijay his first major breakthrough, and Choudary went on to produce several more Vijay films, including Love Today, Thullatha Manamum Thullum, Shahjahan, Thirupaachi and Jilla.

In Telugu cinema his Raja, starring Venkatesh, won the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Film in 1999. His Hindi work included Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai. In 2001 Aanandham, the debut of director Lingusamy, brought him another Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film. Super Good Films' 50th production, Aasai Aasaiyai in 2003, launched his youngest son Jiiva as a lead actor, and the Vijay and Mohanlal film Jilla in 2014 was the banner's 85th. In his later years he co-produced the Chiranjeevi film Godfather in 2022 and produced Maareesan in 2025, starring Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil.

Within the industry Choudary was known for running a disciplined operation. Colleagues described him as a producer who kept budgets tight, paid artists and technicians on time, listened to scripts for long hours and was quick to decide. He was also remembered for spotting new talent in front of the camera, and for his efforts against film piracy. Over his career his films won multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Film, three Filmfare Best Film awards and several Cinema Express awards.

Choudary married Mahjabeen, and the couple had four sons: Suresh, who runs Super Good Films; Jeevan, who manages the family steel business; Jithan Ramesh, an actor and producer; and Jiiva, a leading Tamil actor. He remained closely tied to his community and served as president of the Sri Seervi Samaj Mahasabha in Tamil Nadu.

On 5 May 2026, Choudary was travelling by car in Rajasthan with his nephew, heading to a family wedding, when the driver swerved to avoid cattle crossing the highway near Joontha village in Beawar district. The car struck a roadside wall. The driver and his nephew were injured and taken to hospital, while Choudary died at the scene. Media widely reported his age as 76.

His body was flown to Chennai and kept at his home in Mylapore, where Vijay, Rajinikanth, Mammootty, Suriya, Dhanush, Vikram, Karthi, Vishal and many others came to pay their respects before his cremation in Chennai. Rajinikanth called him a top-notch producer and a wonderful human being who gave opportunities to countless young directors, and Chiranjeevi said his contribution to Indian cinema was beyond words. Vikraman recalled that Choudary's dream was to make 100 films under his banner. His 99th production, Magudam, the directorial debut of actor Vishal, was released in August 2026, after his death.

R. B. Choudary is remembered as a producer who treated filmmaking as a business with a conscience, and whose belief in first-time directors helped shape the modern Tamil film industry.