S. S. Rajendran
S. S. Rajendran | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran 1 January 1928 Usilampatti, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 24 October 2014 (aged 86) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations | Actor, director, producer, politician |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 8 |
Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (1 January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, film director, film producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema. He is also referred to as Latchiya Nadigar.[1]
Film career
Sri Aandal was to have his debut film as an actor. He received an offer to act in a negative role, and an advance as well. T. R. Sundaram, who oversaw the production, overruled Rajendran's selection because he "appeared like a boy with curly hair and was unsuitable for the villain role."[2] Rajendran was cast in the title role. He was replaced after two weeks of shooting from the film as T. K. Muthusamy of the TKS Brothers drama troupe said Rajendran was still under contract with them, and threatened legal action if the film continued production. The role went to newcomer S. M. Kumaresan.[2]
Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi. He followed with Sorgavasal (1954), Ammaiyappan (1954), Ratha Kanneer (1954), Kula Dheivam (1956), Sivagangai Seemai (1957), Mudhalali (1957), Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (1958), Pillai Kaniyamudhu (1958), Thedi Vandha Selvam (1958), Kalyanikku Kalyanam (1959), President Panchaksharam (1959), Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959), Kumudham (1961), C. N. Annadurai's Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962), M. Karunanidhi's Kaanji Thalaivan (1963), Poompuhar (1964), Poomalai (1965), Avan Pithana? (1966) and Mani Magudam (1966).
SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran in Raja Desingu (1960) and in Kaanji Thalaivan (1963). He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan such as Manohara (1954), Raja Rani (1956), Rangoon Radha (1956), Deivapiravi (1960), Aalayamani (1962), Kunkhumam (1963), Pachai Vilakku (1964), Kai Kodutha Dheivam (1964), Pazhani (1965), Santhi (1965) and Ethiroli (1970).
His drama company SSR Nadaka Mandram staged plays including[3]Or Iravu (C. N. Annadurai), Manimagudam (M. Karunanidhi) and Thenpaandi Veeran (P. Nedumaran). He introduced and gave opportunities to actress Manorama.[4]
Personal life
He had two wives, including actress CC. R. Vijayakumari, and eight children.
Political life
He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party and became the first actor to become an elected member of a legislative assembly in India when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a DMK candidate for the Theni Constituency in the 1962 Madras State legislative assembly election.[5] He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was elected from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election.[6] S. S. Rajendran entered the electoral fray from Periyakulam in the 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a candidate of the AIADMK faction led by J. Jayalalithaa. But he could not win.[7]
Personal interests
Rajendran, being a strict follower of Periyar's policy of rationalism, never acted in films based on Ithihasas and Puranas. He earned the sobriquet "Latchiya Nadigar" (Idealistic Actor) as he never acted in films against his policy.[8][9][10]
Death
Rajendran was admitted into Chennai Meenakshi hospital on 20 October 2014 to treat a lung infection. He died on 24 October 2014.[11][12]
Filmography
Actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Parasakthi | Gnanasekaran | [13] | |
| Panam | Sundaram | |||
| 1954 | Manohara | Rajapriyan | ||
| Sorgavasal | Muthu Manikam | |||
| Ammaiyappan | Muthan | |||
| Ratha Kanneer | Balu | |||
| 1956 | Raja Rani | Babu | ||
| Kuladeivam | Rajaiya | |||
| Rangoon Radha | Nagasundaram | |||
| 1957 | Mudhalali | Vasanthan/Varathan | ||
| 1958 | Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum | Rangan | ||
| Anbu Engey | Somu | |||
| Petra Maganai Vitra Annai | Prince Villalan/Neelan | |||
| Pillai Kaniyamudhu | ||||
| Thirudargal Jakkirathai | ||||
| Thedi Vandha Selvam | ||||
| 1959 | Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal | |||
| Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai | ||||
| Sollu Thambi Sollu | ||||
| Kalyanikku Kalyanam | Sadhasivam | |||
| Sivagangai Seemai | Muthalagu Servai | |||
| Pudhumai Penn | ||||
| President Panchatcharam | Sikhamani | |||
| Naatukoru Nallaval | ||||
| Alli Petra Pillai | ||||
| Thalai Koduthaan Thambi | Indrajith | |||
| Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa | Subramaniyan | |||
| 1960 | Deivapiravi | Ramu | ||
| Sangilithevan | Sangilithevan | |||
| Raja Desingu | General Mohammed Khan | |||
| Petra Manam | ||||
| Thangarathinam | ||||
| 1961 | Manapanthal | Dr. Gunasekaran | ||
| Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Marumagale | ||||
| Kumudham | Kumaran | |||
| Panam Panthiyile | ||||
| 1962 | Sarada | Sambandham | ||
| Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam | ||||
| Senthamarai | ||||
| Muthu Mandapam | ||||
| Aalayamani | Sekar | |||
| Deivathin Deivam | Babu | |||
| 1963 | Vanambadi | Sekhar | ||
| Neengadha Ninaivu | ||||
| Kattu Roja | Baskaran | |||
| Aasai Alaigal | Durai Raj | |||
| Naanum Oru Penn | Bhaskar | |||
| Kunkhumam | Superintendent Raja | |||
| Kaanchi Thalaivan | Commander Paranjothi | |||
| Kaithiyin Kathali | ||||
| 1964 | Pachchai Vilakku | Pasupathy | ||
| Alli | Kannan | |||
| Kai Kodutha Deivam | Ravi | |||
| Vazhi Piranthadu | ||||
| Poompuhar | Kovalan | |||
| Ullasa Payanam | Selvam | |||
| 1965 | Pazhani | Raju | ||
| Santhi | Ramu | |||
| Paditha Manaivi | ||||
| Kaakum Karangal | Dr. Shankar | |||
| Vazhikatti | ||||
| Poomalai | Sundaram | |||
| Maganey Kel | ||||
| Anandhi | Somu | |||
| 1966 | Avan Pithana? | Kumar | ||
| Thedi Vandha Thirumagal | ||||
| Marakka Mudiyuma? | Manikam / Krishnan | |||
| Thaaye Unakkaga | ||||
| Mani Magudam | King Mani Maaran / Puthumai Pithan | |||
| 1969 | Kula Vilakku | Guest Appearance | ||
| 1970 | Ethiroli | Raju | ||
| Vairagyam | ||||
| 1982 | Erattai Manithan | Durai | ||
| 1985 | Anbin Mugavari | |||
| 1996 | Rajali | Shekhar | ||
| 1998 | Dharma | Chief Minister | ||
| 2001 | Rishi | Chief Minister | ||
| 2003 | Dum | DGP | ||
| 2008 | Theekuchi | Raja |
References
- ^ "S.S. Rajendran (1928-2014)". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ^ a b Sri Kantha, Sachi (3 January 2015). "Autobiography of Actor-politician S.S. Rajendran". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ P.R.Vasantha kumars'ilatchia selvam SSR 1987 'sironmani publications'
- ^ Manorama in her lifetime award function said (jan 15 2008): "Those were days when even a fleeting presence on the screen was considered a huge achievement. It was Kannadasan Sir who offered the role. But actually I owe all this to S. S. Rajendran. It was he who invited me to Madras to act in the Kalaignar's (M. Karunanidhi) play Manimagudam. That play was a resounding success and I was recognised as an actress. Later, I faced the camera for the first time in an unfinished film that had Rajendran and Devika in the lead roles. Then came Maalayitta Mangai." recounts the actor.
- ^ "GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADRAS" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "S S Rajendran: A Periyar follower, first Tamil actor to turn to politics". New Indian Express. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- ^ "S.S. Rajendran: Dialogue delivery was his forte". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ "'Latchiya Nadigar' SSR No More". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Autobiography of Actor-politician S.S. Rajendran – Ilankai Tamil Sangam".
- ^ "Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, S. S. Rajendran".
- ^ "Veteran Tamil actor SS Rajendran dead". The Times of India. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "பழம்பெரும் நடிகர் எஸ்.எஸ். ராஜேந்திரன் காலமானார்". Tamil Language. Daily Thanthi. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 327. ISBN 019-563579-5.