R. Sundarrajan

For the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly member, see R. Sundarrajan (politician).

R. Sundarrajan
R. Sundarrajan in 2015
Born	(1950-01-09) 9 January 1950 (age 74) Dharapuram, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India (present-day Tiruppur)
Occupation(s)	Actor, director, writer
Years active	1982–present
Spouse	Rajeshwari ​ (m. 1974)​ Durga ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	3 (1 deceased)

R. Sundarrajan is an Indian film director, actor, comedian and writer for Tamil language films. Active primarily in the 1980s and the 1990s as a filmmaker, he appeared more often as an actor thereafter.^[1][2][3] Sundarajan is known for his silver jubilee films such as Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982), Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), Rajadhi Raja (1989) and Thirumathi Palanisamy (1992). During his career as a director, he frequently collaborated with veteran actor Mohan.

He had directed over 25 films in his illustrious career and most of them became profitable ventures in the box office.^[4] he worked as a co-director for Suyamvaram (1999) which had a team of 14 directors. He has shared screenspace with prominent actors including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Vijay and Suriya.

Career

He has served as an actor, filmmaker and a renowned director. He is very well appreciated and a name of honor in Tamil film industry.^[5] He began his career as an actor in 1981, but he subsequently made his directorial debut a year after making his acting debut, with Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982). He collaborated with actor Mohan for his maiden directorial venture,Payanangal Mudivathillai and the film became a sleeper hit and ran for over 175 days in the box office.^[6][7] He furthered his collaboration with Mohan through films including Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru (1983), Saranalayam (1983), Naan Paadum Paadal (1984), Kunguma Chimil (1985) and Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986). Apart from Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru, the other films were well received at the box office and became commercially successful.^[8][9]

Balu Anand served as Sundarrajan's assistant director for 35 years and there is a backstory of how Balu Anand became an assistant director of Sundarrajan. During the 1970s, Balu Anand who hailed from Coimbatore sought assistance by walking into R. Sundarrajan's office with the intention to secure a job for his livelihood. Sundarrajan initially hesitated to include Balu Anand with him as an assistant, but Balu Anand's determination literally impressed Sundarrajan. Balu Anand told Sundarrajan "Give me five rupees and I can eat for a day, give me a job in films and I can feed myself for a lifetime".^[10]

He made his maiden collaboration with Vijayakanth through Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), which eventually became a turning point in Vijayakanth's acting career.^[11] R. Sundarrajan convinced Vijayakanth to act in romantic film in a soft role and Vijayakanth agreed to play a "soft role" at a time when he starred in many action films and was branded an action hero.^[12] It was through R. Sundarrajan, Vijayakanth changed his mind to commit to such a film genre, although it was not Vijayakanth's comfort zone. R. Sundarrajan then collaborated with his long-time assistant director Balu Anand to write screenplay for Balu Anand's debut directorial venture Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri (1985), which starred Captain Vijayakanth in the main lead role.^[13]

He also join hands with Vijayakanth for his directorial venture Amman Kovil Kizhakale (1986) and the film also became a box office success. Vijayakanth also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performances in Amman Kovil kizhakale and R. Sundarrajan once again brought out the soft lighter version of Vijayakanth through the film.^[6] He was also one of the 14 directors who helped to direct the film Suyamvaram (1999), which was shot and filmed within 23 hours and 58 minutes. Suyamvaram set the Guinness World Record for casting the most stars in a film and also for being the quickest ever feature-length film made in the world.

He is also known for his humorous dialogue deliveries in films. One of his notable hilarious comedy scenes came in Surya Vamsam (1997), where he gives an empty paper to a trespasser and asks him to throw it as it is empty by saying there is nothing written on it.^[4][14] His handshake scene with Vadivelu in the film Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996), where Vadivelu was reportedly saying "kaiya kudu sagala" became a viral internet meme template and has been frequently used in social media platforms by users.^[15]

Sundarrajan's last movie as director came in 2013 with Chithirayil Nilachoru.^[16] He also regularly attends meetings of T. Nagar Humour Club which was launched in 2008.^[17]

Personal life

Sundarrajan is married to his first wife Rajeshwari in 1974 and later married Durga. He has three sons: Ashok, Karthik and Deepak. Karthik died in 2004 in a road accident.^[18][19] Deepak made his directorial debut in 2021 with Annabelle Sethupathi.^[20] Ashok acted in his father's directorial Chithirayil Nilachoru.^[21]

Filmography

As director

Year	Film	Notes
1982	Payanangal Mudivathillai	Ilayaraja
1982	Antha Rathirikku Satchi Illai
1983	Saranalayam
1983	Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru
1984	Naan Paadum Paadal	Ilayaraja
1984	Vaidehi Kathirunthal	Ilayaraja
1985	Sugamana Raagangal
1985	Kunguma Chimil	Ilayaraja
1986	Amman Kovil Kizhakale	Ilayaraja
1986	Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu	MSV & Ilayaraja
1986	Thazhuvatha Kaigal
1988	Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye
1988	En Jeevan Paduthu	Ilayaraja
1989	Rajadhi Raja	Ilayaraja
1990	Thalattu Padava	Ilayaraja
1990	Enkitta Mothathe
1991	Sami Potta Mudichu
1991	Oyilattam
1992	Thirumathi Palanisamy	Ilayaraja
1994	En Aasai Machan	Deva
1995	Gandhi Pirantha Mann	Deva
1995	Seethanam	Deva
1997	Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen	Deva
1999	Suyamvaram	Multiple
2013	Chithirayil Nilachoru	Ilayaraja

As actor

Films

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1981	Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile
1991	Sami Potta Mudichu		Also Director
1991	Oyilaattam	Aarumuga Udayar	Also Director
1992	Therku Theru Machan	Paramasivan
1992	Bharathan	Gangadharan's man
1992	Pattathu Raani	Guest appearance
1992	Pondatti Rajyam
1992	Thirumathi Palanisamy	Kunju Gounder	Also Director
1993	Suriyan Chandiran
1993	Madhumathi
1993	Rajadhi Raja Raja Kulothunga Raja Marthanda Raja Gambeera Kathavaraya Krishna Kamarajan
1993	Kattalai	Natarajan
1993	Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam	Sandhya's father
1993	Sakkarai Devan	Appu
1993	Udan Pirappu
1993	Poranthalum Ambalaiya Porakka Koodathu	Veerapaandi
1993	Rajadurai
1993	Enga Muthalali	Narayana Reddy
1993	Purusha Lakshanam	Rajgopal
1994	Amaidhi Padai
1994	Subramaniya Swamy	Rathnasamy
1994	Rasa Magan	Appachi
1994	Namma Annachi
1994	En Aasai Machan		Also Director
1994	May Madham	All in All
1994	Sathyavan	Anjaneya
1994	Karuththamma	School Teacher
1994	Veera Padhakkam
1995	Engirundho Vandhan	Sundaram
1995	Karuppu Nila	Sundaram
1995	Ellame En Rasathan
1995	Thirumoorthy	Geetha's brother
1995	Chellakannu	Nagarajan
1995	Anbu Magan
1995	Marumagan	Muniyandi
1995	Gandhi Pirantha Mann		Also Director
1995	Raasaiyya	Kili's cousin
1995	Mr. Madras	Aruna's son
1995	Thaikulame Thaikulame
1995	Makkal Aatchi
1995	Seethanam	Govindan	Also Director
1996	Amman Kovil Vaasalile
1996	Kaalam Maari Pochu	Murugesan
1996	Veetukkulle Thiruvizha
1996	Enakkoru Magan Pirappan	Ranganayaki's husband
1997	Dharma Chakkaram	Kannukku Pillai
1997	Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen	Govinda	Also Director
1997	Gopura Deepam
1997	Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga	Principal Venkatraman
1997	Mannava	Eashwar's father
1997	Suryavamsam	Sadhasivam
1997	Periya Idathu Mappillai	Gopalakrishnan's father
1997	Kalyana Vaibhogam	Ganesan
1997	Janakiraman	Janakiraman's uncle
1998	Marumalarchi	Mesthiri, Rasu Padayachi's uncle
1998	Kondattam	Bhaskaran
1998	Ini Ellam Sugame	Mani
1998	Santhosham
1998	Veera Thalattu
1998	Ninaithen Vandhai	Savithri's uncle
1998	Ponnu Velayira Bhoomi	Arumugam
1998	Natpukkaga	Kannukku Pillai
1998	Kalyana Galatta
1998	En Aasai Rasave
1998	Senthooram	Sadayappan
1998	Ponmaanai Thedi	Chinna Paiyan
1999	Mannavaru Chinnavaru	Minor Rajamani
1999	Chinna Durai
1999	Annan	Sundari’s father
1999	Periyanna
1999	Suyamvaram		One of the 14 Directors
1999	Simmarasi
1999	Minsara Kanna	Inspector Shiva Kumar
1999	Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa
1999	Paattali	Kaalaiyan
2000	Vallarasu	Raheem's brother
2000	Simmasanam	Kannamma's father
2000	Unnai Kann Theduthey
2001	En Purushan Kuzhandhai Maadhiri	Maheswari's father
2001	Sigamani Ramamani	Neelakandan, Sigamani's father
2001	Viswanathan Ramamoorthy	Ramamoorthy's father
2001	Kabadi Kabadi	Arumugam
2002	Unnai Ninaithu	Chittoor Chinnamani
2002	Namma Veetu Kalyanam
2002	Game
2003	Anbu Thollai	Devarajan
2003	Priyamaana Thozhi	Ashok's father
2003	Vani Mahal
2004	Enakku 20 Unakku 18	Train Passenger (Guest Appearance)
2005	Kaatrullavarai	Kannukku Pillai
2005	Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy	Elangovan's father-in-law
2006	Thirupathi	Thirupathi's father
2007	Ennai Paar Yogam Varum	Anandaraman
2008	Thodakkam		[22]
2008	Kuselan	Srinivasan
2008	Kathanayakudu		Telugu film
2008	Dasavathaaram	Member of Legislative Assembly
2009	Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadhali
2010	Ambasamudram Ambani
2010	Kaadhal Solla Vandhen	Nanu Prabhu's father
2010	Aattanayagann	Lingam
2011	En Ullam Unnai Theduthey
2012	Kandathum Kanathathum
2013	Chandhamama	Chief Editor
2013	Chithirayil Nilachoru	Sundaram	Also Director
2014	Poojai	Temple Trustee
2014	Lingaa	Sambandham
2015	Naanum Rowdydhaan	Ghilli's advisor
2015	Oru Naal Iravil	Film director
2017	Saaya
2018	Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa
2018	Tamizh Padam 2	Bharath
2018	Pattinapakkam
2019	Pettikadai
2019	Perazhagi ISO
2020	Ooratchi Ondriyam
2021	Calls	Security Alagar
2021	Boom Boom Kaalai
2021	Michaelpatty Raja	Raja's father
2021	Namma Oorukku Ennadhan Achu
2021	Chinna Pannai Periya Pannai
2022	Paruva Kadhal
2023	Unnaal Ennaal
2023	80s Buildup	Kathir’s grandfather
2023	Moothakudi
2024	Vaa Pagandaya

Television

Year	Title	Role	Channel
2018–2019	Kalyanamam Kalyanam	Kamali's grandfather	Star Vijay
2018–2020	Kalyana Veedu	Kathiresan	Sun TV
2023–Present	Siragadikka Aasai	Annamalai	Star Vijay

As writer only

Year	Film	Notes
1986	Poove Ilam Poove
1986	Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri
1987	Idhu Oru Thodar Kathai

As lyricist

Year	Film	Songs	Notes
1995	Gandhi Pirandhha Mann	"Aalamarathula", "Gandhi Endru", "Ottagathil Nee", "Thalaiva Naan"
1995	Seethanam	all songs
1997	Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen	all songs

As singer

Year	Film	Songs	Composer	Notes
1998	Senthooram	"Adi Unna Kaanama"	Ilayaraja

References

1. "Successive hits - Who gave the most in Tamil cinema? | R Sundarrajan". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
2. "From Visu to Samuthirakani: Kollywood's director turned actors". The News Minute. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
3. S, Bala (21 August 2023). "ஆர் சுந்தர்ராஜன் இத்தனை படங்கள் இயக்கியுள்ளாரா? அதில் ஒன்று ரஜினி படம்..!". Tamil Minutes (in Tamil). Retrieved 8 November 2023.
4. "#UnforgettableOnes: Multi-hyphenate R Sundarrajan". The Times of India. 9 February 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
5. "R. Sundarrajan". Nettv4u. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
6. Jayabalan, Suriyakumar. "R.Sundarrajan: விடாமுயற்சியால் வெள்ளிவிழா படங்களை கொடுத்த நாயகன்". Tamil Hindustan Times (in Tamil). Retrieved 15 January 2024.
7. மலர், மாலை (1 June 2016). "டைரக்டராக ஆர்.சுந்தர்ராஜன் அறிமுகம்". www.maalaimalar.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 15 January 2024.
8. "மைக் மோகனை வைத்து ஆர் சுந்தர்ராஜன் ஹிட் அடித்த 5 படங்கள்.. வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட பயணங்கள் முடிவதில்லை". March 2023.
9. "Tamil Film Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu Completes 37 Years Of Its Release". News18. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
10. Shenoy, Sonali (4 June 2016). "Hunger for good cinema was Balu's script for success". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
11. Ramanujam, Srinivasa (31 May 2018). "The Ilayaraaja interview: the maestro narrates how his songs inspired the story of Vaidehi Kaathirunthaal". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
12. கண்ணன், சுரேஷ் (4 May 2023). "வைதேகி காத்திருந்தாள்: ஆக்ஷன் ஹீரோ விஜயகாந்த் 'வெள்ளைச்சாமி'யான கதை - ஒரு நாஸ்டால்ஜியா பார்வை!". Vikatan (in Tamil). Retrieved 15 January 2024.
13. Exclusive Interview with Film Director And Actor Balu Ananth, 19 September 2015, retrieved 15 January 2024
14. Sundarrajan Comedy, 7 September 2018, retrieved 15 January 2024
15. "HBDVadivelu: Netizens soar social media with his memes". indiaherald.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
16. "Shocking rumour about R. Sundarrajan clarified". IndiaGlitz. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
17. Swaminathan, T. S. Atul (21 July 2017). "The roots go deeper". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
18. "Film director's son killed in accident". The Hindu. 6 March 2004. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
19. "Director's son dies in a road accident". Cinesouth. 6 March 2004. Archived from the original on 8 March 2004. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
20. "Entertainment for everyone: 'Annabelle Sethupathi' director Deepak Sundarrajan's vision for future films". The New Indian Express. 23 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
21. "Chithirayil Nilachoru Movie Review". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
22. "Screams for speed -- Thodakkam". The Hindu. 8 February 2008. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023.

External links

• R. Sundarrajan at IMDb