R. Vittal is a close associate of veteran director S.P. Muthuraman and has worked as an editor in most of his films. He has edited movies of many popular stars, including 'Ulaganayagan' Kamal Haasan, 'Superstar' Rajinikanth, Vikram, the late actors Jai Shankar and Shivaji Ganesan, and others. The talented yesteryear technician R. Vittal passed away on 26th July. Reports have stated that the editor succumbed to health-related ailments. It is said that he was suffering from cancer and that he has been getting treatment for it. Yesterday, he suffered a heart attack and was taken to a private hospital where he breathed his last, according to reports.
Editor R. Vittal has worked in over 100 films as an editor and has also made his mark in the Telugu and Hindi film industries, apart from Tamil. Apart from editing, he had also directed four films. He made his debut as a filmmaker with the film Veetukku Vandha Marumagal in 1973. He then directed Unnaithan Thambi in 1974 and Thottathellam Ponnagum in 1975. His last film as a director was Mudichooda Mannan in 1978, which had the late actors Jaishankar, Sarath Babu, M.N. Nambiar, and Sri Devi in important roles.
R. Vittal has also edited many films of the iconic actors ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth and ‘Ulaganayagan’ Kamal Haasan back to back in the 1980s, like Pokkiri Raja, Puthukavithai, Enkeyo Ketta Kural, Sakalakala Vaallavan, etc. Some of his notable works that are remembered even now are Aadu Puli Aattam, Padikkadavan (1985), Jappanil Kalyanaraman, Murattukaalai, Nallavanuku Nallavan, Naan Mahaan Alla, Paayum Puli, Server Sundaram, Vikram (1986), Raja Chinna Roja, etc. He has also produced a hand-full of films. The demise of the talented editor R. Vittal has come as a shock to the Tamil film industry. Members of the film fraternity have also expressed their condolences on the actor's demise.