Sathyaraj
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| Sathyaraj | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rangaraj October 3, 1954  Coimbatore, India |
| Years active | 1984-present |
| Spouse(s) | Maheswari |
Sathyaraj (Tamil : சத்யராஜ்) (born October 3, 1954) is a lead actor in the Tamil film industry.
Although frequently the protagonist in his current run of films, Sathyaraj is well known for his past roles as a cultured, charming villain. He played a significant part in changing the grammar of villainy in popular Tamil cinema. Until his entry, the traditional Tamil film villain, when portraying villainy, was aggressive in his posture, actions and delivery of dialogue. Sathyaraj introduced a more suave, nonchalant approach to depicting cruel villainy, avoiding indulgence in dramatic gestures and in heaping verbal blitz on an adversary. His casually conveyed sarcasm of enquiring "Yennammaa kannu saukkyammaa?" ("how's it going, darlin'?") in his villain/hero roles (amongst other phrases, such as "Thagadu, thagadu" and "Yenn character-iye purinjika matengiriye" ("You simply don't understand my character, do you?")) endeared him to audiences. He is noted for his smooth baritone and for his witty, ironic and flamboyant dialogue delivery.
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[edit] Personal life
- Date of birth : 3 October 1954
- Birth place : Coimbatore
- Real Name : Rengaraj
- Father : Dr Subbiah
- Mother : Nathambal, daughter of the chieftain of Pollachi Uthukuli-ZAMIN (Kalingarayar Family)
- Siblings : Kalpana Arjun, Roopa Senapathy
- Wife : Mageswari (married on 1979), Maathampatty Sivakumar's niece
- Daughter : Divya
- Son : Sibiraj
Sathyaraj completed his primary school education in Tamil at St Mary's Convent,Coimbatore. He completed the equivalent of the tenth standard in a suburban high school, Ramnagar, Coimbatore. In primary school, he was a first rank holder. After completing the fifth class, he saw M. G. Ramachandran's Vaettaikkaaran and immediately became a fan.
As his enthusiasm for films grew, his interest in his studies diminished. He passed his SSLC (Class 10 boards), scoring first-rank marks in history and geography at his school level. He joined the Government Arts College,Coimbatore and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in botany. Tamil actor/director Manivannan was a co-student in PUC (Class 12 Junior college), and the two began a friendship while there. Though he claims to be an atheist he is a firm believer in numerology, Which is why when his residence door no was allotted 13 (under the new number ing system in year 2000) he immediately changed it to 13A, considering 13 as unlucky.
At this time Sathyaraj's family faced sudden economic difficulties, which forced Sathyaraj, after he had finished his studies, to work in his uncle Mathampatty Sivakumar's money-lending shop.
[edit] Career
[edit] Entry into films
One day Sathyaraj went to see the shooting of the film Annakkili, where he met actor Sivakumar. Sathyaraj later revealed his interest in film acting to his family, from whom he faced stiff opposition. He wrote a letter to his mother and put it into a post box opposite his house and left for Chennai.
In Chennai, he met actor Sivakumar and producer Thiruppur Manian and started pestering them to help fulfill his cinematic ambitions. Yet Sivakumar vehemently criticized his interest in acting and advised him to immediately return home. Nevertheless, Sathyaraj remained in Chennai, where he rented an inexpensive room at Usman Road. The producer of Thaainadu film, Maathampatty Sivakumar was sending him money every month. Annakkili Sivakumar made him join the drama troupe of Komal Swamynathan.
[edit] Early career
Sathyaraj's first film was Kodugal Illaatha Kolangal. Then he worked as production manager for the film Kannan Oru Kaikkuzhanthai. In addition to his managerial role, he also had a small acting part in the film. On the title credits of this film, his name was shown on screen with the description: "Aluvalaga Nirvaagam (Official Management): S.N. Rangaraj, B.Sc." and later still in the credits as "Sathyaraj" for his minor acting role. It was "Stills" Ravi who first captured him on film. Then cameraman-cum-director N.K. Viswanathan introduced him to T.N. Balu. This enabled him to act in Sattam Yen Kaiyil. Next, Sathyaraj acted in P. Madhavan's Yaenippadigal. In Kuruvikkoodu, Sathyaraj acted in the role of a negative hero.
Sathyaraj's film-acting career began with him playing minor characters who make brief appearances onscreen. His stature as an actor quickly grew from strength to strength, however, as he took up increasingly significant roles in film, playing lead villains opposite popular leading heroes before finally securing starring roles in Tamil films. His debut as a starring hero in films started with the film Saavi, directed by Karthik. Director Santhana Bharathi, however, claims that he "was the person who introduced Sathyaraj as a hero in [the film] Kadamai Kanniyam Kattuppadu."[1]
[edit] Contributions to film screenplay
Sathyaraj generally used to take part in story discussions that are held prior to film making. He went along with director R. Sunderrajan for participating in the discussion of the story that finally led to the birth of the film Saranaalayam. Then he took part in another story discussion and this story was later filmed as Nooraavathu Naal; in this film, Sathyaraj played a character with a tonsured head. This role that he played earned him the reputation as an established actor. He wrote the story for a Telugu film Tharja Thongaa, co-acted by Suman and Vijayashanti.
[edit] Movie List
- Sattam En Kaiyil
- Kannan Oru Kaikkuzhandhai
- Mudhal Iravu
- Yaenippadigal
- Karumbuvil
- Kuruvikkoodu
- Saamandhippoo
- Raaman Parasuraaman
- Aani Vaer
- Avasarakkaari
- Hitler Umanath
- Indhuru Kodukkalu (TELUGU)
- Kaadhalithuppaar
- Nambinaal Nambungal
- Moomdru Mugam
- Theerpugal Thiruthappadalaam
- Nadodi Raaja
- Pagadai Panirendu
- Paayum Puli
- Urangaadha Ninaivugal
- Sandhippu
- Seerum Singangal
- Saranaalayam
- Thangaikkor Geetham
- Naan Mahaan Alla
- Punniya Kodi Purushadu (TELUGU)
- Chiranjeevi
- Nooravadhu Naal {1984}( First move where Satyaraj was well appeciated as a Villain)
- Enakkul Oruvan
- Pozhudhu Vidinjachu
- Thambikku Endha Ooru
- Sattathai Thiruthungal
- 24 Mani Neram
- Naalai Unadhu Naal
- Unga Veettu Pillai
- January 1
- Nichayam
- Santhosha Kanavugal
- Chain Jayapal
- Erimalai
- Raman Sriraaman
- Mudhal Mariyadhai {1985}
- Pagal Nilavu
- Kakki Sattai ( Satyaraj became a top villain from this movie)
- Mangamma Sabadham
- Naan Sivappu Manithan
- Needhiyin Nizhal
- Pillai Nila
- Kaaval
- Anbin Mugavari
- Anni
- Sabash Vikram (KANNADA) - Satyaraj's 50th Movie
- Tharjaa Thonga
- Vaeli
- Aagayath Thamaraigal
- Eetti
- Sree Raghavendirar
- Pattuselai
- Arthamulla Aasaigal
- Saavi ( Satyaraj's 60th movie - First movie as a Solo Actor)
- Geethanjali
- Thiramai
- Jappanil Kalyanaraman
- Murattu Karangal
- Raja Nee Vazhga
- Karimaedu Karuvaayan
- Rasigan Oru Rasigai ( Satyaraj's first movie as a hero, bombed at the box office)
- Kadaikkan Paarvai
- Vikram {1986}
- Mister Bharath
- Dharmam ( Satyaraj's second movie as here, bombed at the box office)
- Kadalora Kavidhaigal ( Satyaraj's first Mega Hit movie as a Hero, thanks to director Bharathiraaja)
- Mudhal Vasandham
- Iravu Pookkal
- Vidinjaa Kalyanam
- Paalaivana Rojakkal
- Mandirappunnagai
- Chinnathambi Periyathambi
- Vilangu
- Muthukkal Moondru ( Acted with Sivaji Ganeshan, bombed at the box office)
- Aalappirandhavan {1987}
- Makkal En Pakkam (Super Hit)
- Kadamai Ganniyam kattuppaadu (Again a Big Hit)
- Ini oru Suthandhiram
- Poovizhi Vasalilae ( Another Mega Hit from Fazil)
- Coonie (TELUGU)
- Jallikkattu ( Acted with Sivaji, a BIG HIT)
- Manadhil Urudhi Vendum
- Anjaadha Singam
- Vedham Pudhidhu
- Annanagar Mudhal Theru
- En Bommukutti Ammavukku {1988}
- Ganam Korttaar Avargalae
- Jeeva
- Pudhiya Vaanam
- Thai Naadu
- Pick Pocket
- Chinnappadass {1989}
- Ukki Sungillu (TELUGU) - Annakkili Sonna kadhai in TAMIL
- Vaadhiyaar Veettu Pillai ( Satyaraj's 100th movie - AVERAGE at the Box Office)
- Dravidan
- Vazhkai Chakkaram
- Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaaga {1990}
- Madurai Veeran Enga Saami
- Velai Kidaichuduchu
- Malluvaetti Minar
- Nadigan
- Therku Theru Machaan {1991}
- Pudhu Manidhan
- Magudam
- Brahma {1992}
- Rickshaw Mama
- Pangaali
- Thirumadhi Palanichaami
- Walter Vetrivel {1993}
- Kattalai
- Udan Pirappu
- Airport
- Amaidhippadai {1994}
- Vandicholai Chinraasu
- Thozhar Pandian
- Thai Maaman
- Veerappadhakkam
- Engirundho Vandhaan {1995}
- Villaadhi Villain (125th Movie directed by himself - Opened Big, turned out in an average)
- Maaman Magal
- Siva Shakthi {1996} ( Acted along with Prabhu - bombed at the Box Office)
- Saenadhipathi
- Periya Manushan {1997}
- Pagaivan
- Vazhzhal
- Kalyaana Galatta {1998}
- Ponnuveettukkaaran
- Suyamvaram {1999}
- Malabar Police
- Ennammaa Kannu {2000} - (Turned out to become a HIT)
- Azhagarsaamy
- Puratchikkaaran
- Veeranadai
- Unnai Kann Thaedudhey
- Loottie {2001}
- Asaththal
- Kunguma Pottu Kounder
- Aandaan Adimai
- Vivaramaana Aazhu {2002}
- Maaran
- Ramachandra
- Sound Party
- Military {2003}
- Saena
- Aalukkoru Aasai
- Adithadi {2004}
- Sema Ragalai
- Jore
- Azhagesan
- Maha Nadigan
- Iyer IPS
- Mannin Maindhan
- 6'2"
- Englishkaaran {2005} - ( His first movie that ran for 100 days since new millennium)
- Vetrivel Shakthivel
- Vanakkam Thalaivaa
- Kovai Brothers {2006}
- Suyetchai MLA
- Kurushetram
- Adaavadi {2007}
- Periyaar
- Kannamoochi Yaenada
- Onbadhu Roobai Nottu
- Vambusandai {2008}
[edit] Awards
- Tamil Nadu Government's Kalaimaamani Award
- M.G.R. Award in recognition of his performance in the film Nadigan
- Periyar Award for donning the lead role in the biographical movie Periyar.
- He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate by Sathyabama University, Chennai in 2007 - Dr.Sathyaraj
[edit] Trivia
He is of Kongu Vellalar ancestry. He is reported to have performed mimicry by mimicking Sivaji Ganesan's actions in front of Sivaji himself, and thus is told to have won a perfume bottle as a gift from the latter. Sathyaraj maintains a close friendship with Rajinikanth and with Kamal Hassan. Since 1986, Sathyaraj is a known atheist and follower of Periyar Ramasami. He directed the film Villathi Villain and acted in the lead role. Several of his movies have underlying anti-Brahmin themes or dialogues (see Anti-Brahmanism).This was his 125th film for which he wrote the story, screenplay and dialogue.
His favourite actors:
- M.G.R.
- Sivaji Ganesan
- Vijay
- M.R. Radha
- Nagesh
- S. V. Ranga Rao
- Chandra Babu
- Manivannan
His favourite actress:
Historical figures whom Sathyaraj admires:
[edit] Reference
- ^ Ashok Kumar, S.R. 2006. This character artist's first love is direction. The Hindu, Thursday, Nov 16. Available from: http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/16/stories/2006111614070200.htm. Accessed 11 February 2008.
[edit] External links
- Satyaraj at the Internet Movie Database
