R.C Sakthi, seasoned and popular Tamil director, who launched Kamal Haasan in a lead role, passed away at 75 in a private hospital in Chennai on Monday. 
 
Sakthi started his career as a theatre artist, later he moved to Chennai and joined as assistant director for “Porsilai”. He made friends with Thangappan, the dance master of the film, who urged Sakthi when he planned to produce ‘Annai Velankanni’ and he insisted that Sakthi should be part of the project.
 
Two years later, he launched actor—filmmaker Kamal Haasan as a hero in his Tamil directorial debut “Unarchigal”, a controversial film about sexually transmitted diseases.
 
He went on to direct some critically acclaimed films such as “Manidharil Ithanai Nirangala”, “Dharma Yuddham” and “Amma Pillai”.
 
In a recent interview Kamal Haasan said, “He was part of my family, I lost a good friend. Our relationship started as friendship and later turned into family relationship. I think no one can find a friend like him, I just pray that everyone should get a friend like him”.
 
His last directorial venture was “Pathini Penna" fetching two State awards for best film and best dialogue writer. In his long and impressive career, he had directed 17 films.
 
Sakthi is survived by two daughters and a son.