S. S. Rajendran

Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (January 1928 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, director, producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema.

S. S. Rajendran
எஸ். எஸ். ராஜேந்திரன்
Born
Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran

January 1928 (1928-01)
Died24 October 2014(2014-10-24) (aged 86)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesSSR
Latchiya Nadigar
Occupationfilm actor, director, producer, politician
Years active1951–2014a,

Film career

Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi,[1] directed by the directing duo Krishnan-Panju, with the character Gnanasekharan. He followed with Mudhalali, President Panchatcharam,[2] Pillai Kani Amudhu, Thalai Koduthan Thambi, Thedi Vandha Selvam, C. N. Annadurai's Edhayum Thangum Idhayam, M. Karunanidhi's Avan Pithana, Poompuhar and Modern Theatres Kumudham. SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran in Raja Desingu as Mohamed Khan and in Kaanji Thalaivan as Paranjothi. He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan such as Manohara, Rangoon Radha, Raja Rani, Deivapiravi, Aalayamani, Pachai Vilakku, Pazhani, Kungumam, Santhi and Kai Kodutha Dheivam.

Other notable films were Sorgavasal, Ammaiyappan, Ratha Kanneer, Kula Dheivam, Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum, Kalyanikku Kalyanam, Sivagangai Seemai, also in AVM's Kaakum Karangal, Poomalai and K. Balachander's Ethiroli.

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]

S.S. Rajendran with M.G.R.

Director K. S. Gopalakrishnan was introduced from his film Saradha (a silver jubilee hit) and Saradha Studios was established to commomerate the success of this film by its producer A. L. Srinivasan. Likewise, SSRs film Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum, in which his co-star was Raja Sulochana,[5] was a successful film in 1958.

Political life

He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party and became the first elected member of legislative assembly among actors in India when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a DMK candidate Theni (State Assembly Constituency) in 1962 Madras State legislative assembly election.[6] Subsequently, he was elected as a member (MP) of Rajya Sabha. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and won from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election. Later, he became a critic of M. Karunanidhi and of the DMK's family policies.[7]

Personal interest

Rajendran, being a strict follower of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy'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 issues related with lung infection. He died on 24 October 2014.[1][11]

Filmography

Actor

Year Film Role Notes Ref.
1952 Parasakthi Gnanasekaran [12]
Panam Sundaram
1954 Manohara Rajapriyan
Sorgavasal Muthu Manikam
Ammaiyappan Muthan
Ratha Kanneer Balu
1956 Raja Rani
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
Naatukoru Nallaval
Alli Petra Pillai
Thalai Koduthaan Thambi Indrajith
Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa
1960 Thangam Manasu Thangam
Deivapiravi Ramu
Sangilithevan Sangilithevan
Raja Desingu General Mohammed Khan
Petra Manam
Thangarathinam 25th Film
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 Neengadha Ninaivu
Kattu Roja Baskaran
Naanum Oru Penn Bhaskar
Kungumam Superintendent Raja
Vanambadi Sekhar
Kaanji Thalaivan Commander Paranjothi
Aasai Alaigal Durai Raj
Kaithiyin Kathali
1964 Pachai Vilakku
Alli
Kai Kodutha Dheivam Ravi
Vazhi Piranthadu 50th Film
Poompuhar Kovalan கோவலன்
Ullasa Payanam Selvam
1965 Pazhani Raju
Santhi Ramu
Paditha Manaivi
Kakkum Karangal Dr. Shankar
Vazhikaatti
Poomalai Sundaram
Maganey Kel
Anandhi Somu
1966 Avan Pithana?
Thedi Vandha Thirumagal
Marakka Mudiyumaa? Manikam / Krishnan
Thaaye Unakkaga
Mani Magudam King Mani Maaran/Puthumai Pithan
1969 Kula Vilakku Guest Appearance
1970 Ethiroli
வைராக்கியம்
1982 Erattai Manithan 75th Film
1985 Anbin Mugavari
1996 Rajali Shekhar
1998 Dharma Chief Minister
2000 Micro Thodargal- Mounam Oru Bashai Mini TV Series in Raj TV;
Co-starred with Vennira Aadai Nirmala
2001 Rishi Chief Minister
2003 Dum IGP
2008 Theekuchi

References

  1. "Veteran Tamil actor SS Rajendran dead". The Times of India. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  2. President Panchatcharam was a success at the box office.1959 THE HINDU 2/oct/2011
  3. P.R.Vasantha kumars'ilatchia selvam SSR 1987 'sironmani publications'
  4. 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.
  5. Rajasulochana's most successful film, according to critics and moviegoers, was "Thai Pirandhaal Vazhi Pirakkum". It was remade in Telugu as "Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu" with N. T. Rama Rao playing the lead. The film was directed by her husband, noted writer-director C. S. Rao. (4/sep/2011)memories linger Raja Sulochana,THE HINDU
  6. "GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADRAS" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. "S S Rajendran: A Periyar follower, first Tamil actor to turn to politics". New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  8. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/%E2%80%98Latchiya-Nadigar%E2%80%99-SSR-No-More/2014/10/25/article2492415.ece
  9. http://sangam.org/autobiography-actor-politician-s-s-rajendran/
  10. http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/July10_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_SSR.html
  11. "பழம்பெரும் நடிகர் எஸ்.எஸ். ராஜேந்திரன் காலமானார்". Tamil Language. Daily Thanthi. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  12. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 327. ISBN 019-563579-5.
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