Shanmugasundaram, known by his stage name A.V.M. Rajan, (26 July 1935) is an Indian preacher, former actor and producer who was active in Tamil cinema. He was one of the top actors in the industry during the 1960s and 1970s.
A.V.M. Rajan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shanmugasundaram 26 July 1935 |
| Other name | A.V.M Rajan |
| Occupations | Preacher, actor, film producer |
| Years active | 1963-1987 |
| Spouses |
Meenakshi (m. 1957) |
| Children | 6, including Mahalakshmi |
Early life
editBorn in Pudukottai, Shanmugasundaram was very eager to join cinema though he held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Madras University.[1] His higher secondary was at Christian Sweden Mission High School. His parents wanted to see him as a police officer. He came to Madras to write the examination, but didn't fit for the exam. He was not confident as he couldn't straighten his left hand fractured at the age of 14. Instead, while working at Raj Bhavan Guindy Chennai, he tried his luck in cinema knocking on the doors of every film company to earn a better income. At long last, his relentless efforts yielded result by getting him the opportunity to enter cinema through the film Aayiram Kalathu Payir in which he was introduced as "Raja B.A.".[2]
Personal life
editHe fell in love with actress Pushpalatha, who starred opposite to him in that film and married her. AVM Rajan has two daughters, the elder daughter Mahalakshmi was an actress between the 80s–90s. On 19 January 1984,[3] through a personal encounter with God, Rajan converted and there after became a full-time Christian preacher since 1988[4] and since then has stopped acting in movies and dramas. His wife Pushpalatha is a Catholic by birth. She hails from Coimbatore. She died in 2025. Following Rajan's conversion, his family too is serving full-time Ministry.[5]
Career
editHe earned his ‘initials’ after debuting in the film Naanum Oru Penn (1963), which was produced by AVM Productions.[6]
A plethora of offers followed. Rajan soon became a busy artiste donning the role of the hero in many films making a mark with his handsome looks. He carved a niche for himself in the field through his individualistic performance and style. He shared screen space with leading heroes like M. G. R., Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Jaishankar, R. Muthuraman and Ravichandran. His performance in the films notables such as Enga Veettu Penn (1965), Namma Veettu Lakshmi (1966), Manam Oru Kurangu (1967), Karpooram (1967), Jeevanamsam (1968), Thunaivan (1969), Mannippu (1969), Annaiyum Pithavum (1969), Dharisanam (1970), Engal Thangam (1970), Anadhai Anandhan (1970), Irulum Oliyum (1971) and ...Aval! (1972) were successes.
In the middle of his career, he acted in most of the devotional films such as Agathiyar (1972), Deivam (1972), Thirumalai Deivam (1973), Thiruvarul (1975) and Murugan Adimai (1977). Later, he co-starring with Rajinikanth in the films Thai Meethu Sathiyam (1978), Billa (1980) and Thee (1981). He was also a film producer such as Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981), Oorum Uravum (1982) and Nandri (1984). He was seen in the final apperance in the film, Veeran Veluthambi (1987).
Filmography
editAs actor
editTamil
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Aayiram Kalathu Payir | Ratnam | |
| Naanum Oru Penn | Balu | ||
| Paar Magaley Paar | Sundaram | ||
| Thulasi Maadam | Gopal | ||
| 1964 | Alli | Babu | |
| Chitrangi | Jeyveeran | ||
| Pachchai Vilakku | Mani | ||
| Andavan Kattalai | Ramu | ||
| 1965 | Ennathan Mudivu | Kumaran | Got the title Nadippu Sudar |
| Veera Abhimanyu | Abhimanyu | ||
| Enga Veettu Penn | Chandran | ||
| 1966 | Kodimalar | Thambi Durai | |
| Thattungal Thirakkappadum | Doctor | ||
| Namma Veettu Lakshmi | Chandru | ||
| Major Chandrakanth | Rajinikanth | ||
| 1967 | Manam Oru Kurangu | Gopinath | |
| Pandhayam | Somu | ||
| Karpooram | Manikkam | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor | |
| 1968 | Poovum Pottum | Prakash | |
| Galatta Kalyanam | Mohan | ||
| Thillana Mohanambal | Thangarathnam | ||
| Jeevanamsam | Balu | ||
| Chakkaram | Jambu | ||
| Thulabharam | Ramu | ||
| 1969 | Thunaivan | Velayudham | |
| Annaiyum Pithavum | Bhaskar | ||
| Mannippu | Advocate Kumar | ||
| Chellapen | |||
| Magizhampoo | Pasupathy | ||
| Paal Kudam | |||
| 1970 | Yaen? | Ramu | |
| Dharisanam | Pandian / Chandramohan | Dual role | |
| Engal Thangam | Moorthy | ||
| Anadhai Anandhan | Selvam | ||
| Noorandu Kalam Vazhga | Rajan | ||
| 1971 | Deivam Pesuma | Dr Sundaram | |
| Irulum Oliyum | Thyagarajan (Thyagu) | ||
| Pattondru Ketten | |||
| Thirumagal | Raju | ||
| 1972 | Agathiyar | Lord Shiva | |
| Thangadurai | Rangen | ||
| Thaikku Oru Pillai | Thiyagaraj | ||
| Shakthi Leelai | Prohithar | ||
| Deiva Sankalpam | Ravi | ||
| Bathilukku Bathil | Kumaran | ||
| ...Aval! | Prakash | ||
| Puguntha Veedu | Bhaskar | ||
| Dheivam | Kadhirvelu | ||
| 1973 | Prarthanai | ||
| Deivamsam | Raju | ||
| Manipayal | Arun | ||
| Engal Thaai | Ragunath | ||
| Nee Ullavarai | |||
| Amman Arul | |||
| Anbu Sagodharargal | Durairaj | ||
| Nyayam Ketkirom | |||
| Veettu Mappillai | |||
| Thirumalai Deivam | Narathan | ||
| Veettukku Vandha Marumagal | |||
| Pasa Deepam | Rajarathna | ||
| Pennai Nambungal | Ramu | ||
| Manidharil Manikkam | Boopathy | ||
| 1974 | Sivagamiyin Selvan | Wing Commander Raghu | |
| Doctoramma | Raja | ||
| Ore Satchi | Madhavan | ||
| Magalukkaga | Muruga | ||
| Murugan Kaattiya Vazhi | Muniyandi | ||
| Pathu Madha Bandham | Chandran | ||
| 1975 | Enakkoru Magan Pirappan | ||
| Thiruvarul | Kumara Devan | ||
| 1976 | Rojavin Raja | Gopal | |
| Thayilla Kuzhandhai | |||
| 1977 | Murugan Adimai | Shiva | |
| Navarathinam | Raja | ||
| Unnai Suttrum Ulagam | Film director | ||
| 1978 | Thai Meethu Sathiyam | Babu's Father | |
| 1980 | Billa | Inspector Varma | |
| 1981 | Thee | Ramaiah | |
| 1982 | Oorum Uravum | Chandrasekhar | |
| 1984 | Nandri | DIG | |
| 1987 | Veeran Veluthambi | IG |
Other languages
edit| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Main Bhi Ladki Hoon | Balram | Hindi | Remake of Naanum Oru Penn |
| 1972 | Kandavarundo | Malayalam | ||
| 1975 | Annadammula Anubandham | Venu Gopal Rao | Telugu |
As producer
edit- Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981)
- Oorum Uravum (1982)
- Nandri (1984)
References
edit- ↑ "Tamil Supporting Actor Avm Rajan – Nettv4u".
- ↑ Matrimony, Kalyanamalai – KM. "Kalyanamalai Magazine – Serial story, Thiraichuvai – Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, AVM. Rajan". www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com.
- ↑ "Tamil Movie Actor | Bro. A V M Rajan | Heavenly Testimony | English - Malayalam | TPM - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ↑ "TAMIL CHRISTIAN- Bro - A V M RAJAN - 24 09 2017-SUNDAY". YouTube. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021.
- ↑ "Dinakaran". Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
- ↑ "About AVM Rajan's name". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 April 2014.