S. S. Rajendran Explained

S. S. Rajendran
Birth Name:Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran
Birth Date: January 1928, Usilampatti, Madras Presidency, British India
Death Date:, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation:Actor, Film director, Film producer, Politician

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

Film career

Sri Aandal was to have been the debut film for S. S. Rajendran as an actor. He received an offer to act in a negative role, and an advance as well. However, 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." S. S. Rajendran was cast in the title role, but was relieved after only two weeks of shooting from the film as T. K. Muthusamy of the TKS Brothers drama troupe revealed that Rajendran was still under contract with them, and threatened legal action if the film continued production. Thus the role went to newcomer S. M. Kumaresan.[1] Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi, 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]

Director K. S. Gopalakrishnan was introduced from his film Saradha (a silver jubilee hit) and Saradha Studios was established to commemorate 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.

Personal life

He had 8 children named Elangovan, Rajendrakumar, Kalaivanan, Bhagyalakshmi, Selvaraj, Ravikumar, Kannan & Lakshmi Sitara from his 3 wives including Actress C. R. Vijayakumari.

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.[6] Subsequently, he was elected as a member (MP) of the Rajya Sabha. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was elected from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election. He shared good friendship with M.G.R and M. Karunanidhi.[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

YearFilmRoleNotesclass=unsortable
1952ParasakthiGnanasekaran[13]
PanamSundaram
1954ManoharaRajapriyan
SorgavasalMuthu Manikam
AmmaiyappanMuthan
Ratha KanneerBalu
1956Raja Rani
KuladeivamRajaiya
Rangoon RadhaNagasundaram
1957MudhalaliVasanthan/Varathan
1958Thai Pirandhal Vazhi PirakkumRangan
Anbu EngeySomu
Petra Maganai Vitra AnnaiPrince Villalan/Neelan
Pillai Kaniyamudhu
Thirudargal Jakkirathai
Thedi Vandha Selvam
1959Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal
Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai
Sollu Thambi Sollu
Kalyanikku KalyanamSadhasivam
Sivagangai SeemaiMuthalagu Servai
Pudhumai Penn
President Panchatcharam
Naatukoru Nallaval
Alli Petra Pillai
Thalai Koduthaan ThambiIndrajith
Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa
1960DeivapiraviRamu
SangilithevanSangilithevan
Raja DesinguGeneral Mohammed Khan
Petra Manam
Thangarathinam25th Film
1961ManapanthalDr. Gunasekaran
Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Marumagale
KumudhamKumaran
Panam Panthiyile
1962SaradaSambandham
Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam
Senthamarai
Muthu Mandapam
AalayamaniSekar
Deivathin DeivamBabu
1963VanambadiSekhar
Neengadha Ninaivu
Kattu RojaBaskaran
Aasai AlaigalDurai Raj
Naanum Oru PennBhaskar
KunkhumamSuperintendent Raja
Kaanchi ThalaivanCommander Paranjothi
Kaithiyin Kathali
1964Pachchai Vilakku
Alli
Kai Kodutha DeivamRavi
Vazhi Piranthadu50th Film
PoompuharKovalan
Ullasa PayanamSelvam
1965PazhaniRaju
SanthiRamu
Paditha Manaivi
Kakkum KarangalDr. Shankar
Vazhikatti
PoomalaiSundaram
Maganey Kel
AnandhiSomu
1966Avan Pithana?
Thedi Vandha Thirumagal
Marakka Mudiyuma?Manikam / Krishnan
Thaaye Unakkaga
Mani MagudamKing Mani Maaran/Puthumai Pithan
1969Kula VilakkuGuest Appearance
1970Ethiroli
1982Erattai Manithan75th Film
1985Anbin Mugavari
1996RajaliShekhar
1998DharmaChief Minister
2001RishiChief Minister
2003DumDGP
2008TheekuchiRaja

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sri Kantha . Sachi . Sachi Sri Kantha . 3 January 2015 . Autobiography of Actor-politician S.S. Rajendran . 16 March 2021 . Ilankai Tamil Sangam.
  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. Web site: GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADRAS . Election Commission of India . 25 October 2014.
  7. Web site: S S Rajendran: A Periyar follower, first Tamil actor to turn to politics . 25 October 2014 . New Indian Express . 26 October 2014.
  8. Web site: 'Latchiya Nadigar' SSR No More. https://web.archive.org/web/20141025131107/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/%E2%80%98Latchiya-Nadigar%E2%80%99-SSR-No-More/2014/10/25/article2492415.ece. dead. 25 October 2014.
  9. Web site: Autobiography of Actor-politician S.S. Rajendran – Ilankai Tamil Sangam.
  10. Web site: Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, S. S. Rajendran.
  11. Web site: Veteran Tamil actor SS Rajendran dead . . 24 October 2014 . 25 October 2014.
  12. Web site: பழம்பெரும் நடிகர் எஸ்.எஸ். ராஜேந்திரன் காலமானார் . . . 24 October 2014 . 25 October 2014.
  13. Book: Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema . . Rajadhyaksha . Ashish . Willemen . Paul . 1998 . 1994 . 019-563579-5 . 327.