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Suruli Rajan

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Suruli Rajan
Born
Sankaralingam Ponnaiya Pillai

(1938-01-14)14 January 1938
Died5 December 1980(1980-12-05) (aged 42)
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Actor, Comedian
Years active1965–1980
SpouseMuthulakshmi Rajan
ChildrenShanmugavel, Kumaravel, Senthilvel
AwardsTamil Nadu Best Comedian Award

Suruli Rajan (January 14, 1938 - December 5, 1980) was as an Indian actor and comedian who worked primarily in Tamil cinema. Posthumously, he was awarded with the Best Comedian Award by the state Government of Tamil Nadu in 1981.

Early and personal life

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Rajan was born in 1938 in Periyakulam, situated near Theni in Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Ponnaiya Pillai, worked as an accountant for local farm owners in the surrounding areas of Theni. Rajan was named after the Surulivelar Swamy, the family deity at a temple on top of a hill overlooking Suruli Falls.

Rajan lost both of his parents when he was young, forcing him to discontinue his schooling. He moved to his brother's house in Madurai and worked as an apprentice mechanic in a neighbourhood workshop.[1] Seeking fame in acting, he starred in several amateur stage plays in Madurai before moving to Madras in 1959 with the intention of being part of bigger productions.

After a period of scarce opportunities, he worked with various drama troupes, including those of O. A. K. Thevar, Pisir Ramarao, T.N. Balu and in Karunanidhi's 'Kagithapoo' staged in aid of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party's election fund. It was filmmaker Joseph Thaliath Jr. of The Citadel Film Corporation Pvt. Ltd who brought Suruli Rajan to cinema, first in a brief appearance in Iravum Pagalum in 1965 and soon after in a more noticeable comic role in Kathal Paduthum Padu the year following.

His association with T.N. Balu led to notable roles in successful films directed by T.R. Ramanna, such as "Naan" and "Moondrezhuthu." Despite his youth, Suruli Rajan often portrayed older characters in his early movies. Other roles he played during this period include a brief but memorable appearance as a Madras Tamil-speaking character in APN's "Thirumalai Thenkumari" (1970) and the role of a devout fisherman in "Aathi Parasakthi" (1971). Surulirajan gained popularity in the late '70s due to his distinctive intonation and comedic flair for the absurd.

While occasionally leaning towards suggestive humor, he consistently succeeded in evoking laughter. Suruli's noteworthy portrayal of a miserly rural character in M.A. Khaja's "Maanthoppu Kiliye" (1979) received rare acclaim, securing a distinguished position among the timeless comedic sequences in Tamil cinema. His comedic antics became a ubiquitous presence in many films of that era, earning him a record for appearing in no less than 50 movies in a single year in 1980.

His career was cut short due to his untimely death in 1980 while he was at the peak of his career.[1]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1965 Iravum Pagalum Debut
1966 Andru Kanda Mugam Constable
Kathal Paduthum Padu
1967 Uyir Mel Asai
Naan Sundaralingam
1968 Moondrezhuthu Venkateswara Rao
Thaer Thiruvizha Boat Passenger
Delhi Mapillai Chopra
1969 Naangu Killadigal Baba
Anjal Petti 520 Ramanujam
Thulabharam (Tamil Film) Modi Masthan
1970 Thirumalai Thenkumari Mannaru
1971 Kankatchi
Veettukku Oru Pillai Ayyakannu
1972 Kurathi Magan
1973 Thirumalai Deivam Rangen
Rajapart Rangadurai Konangi/Konangipatti
Rajaraja Cholan Palace Servant
1974 Anbu Thangai
Thangappathakkam Soodamani
1975 Aayirathil Oruthi Sivakolunthu
Anbe Aaruyire Servant
1976 Akka
Badrakali
Inspector Manaivi
Janaki Sabatham
Kumara Vijayam
Madhana Maaligai
Mayor Meenakshi
Mittai Mummi
Nee Indri Naan Illai
Ore Thanthai
Rojavin Raja
Thunive Thunai
Ungalil Oruthi
Uravaadum Nenjam
Vazhvu En Pakkam
1977 Aattukkara Alamelu
Annan Oru Koyil Police Constable
Deepam
Durga Devi
Gasslight Mangamma
Ilaya Thalaimurai
Madhura Geetham
Munnooru Naal
Nee Vazha Vendum
Odi Vilayadu Thatha
Oli Mayamana Ethirkalam
Oruvanukku Oruthi
Palabhishekam
Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri
Perumaikuriyaval
Raasi Nalla Raasi
Sonnathai Seiven
Sonthamadi Nee Enakku
Thoondil Meen
Aarupushpangal Kanthasamy
1978 Aayiram Jenmangal
Shankar Salim Simon Kabali
Aghni Pravesam
Anna Lakshmi
Athaivida Rahasiyam
Aval Thantha Uravu
Bairavi
Chittu Kuruvi
Ival Oru Seethai
Kannamoochi
Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandai
Karate Kamala
Machanai Patheengala
Makkal Kural
Manitharil Ithanai Nirangala
Meenatshi Kunkumam
Mela Thalangal
Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam
Panchamurtham
Pavathin Sambalam
Rajavukku Etha Rani
Rudra Thandavam
Sakkaipodu Podu Raja
Sonnadhu Needhana
Taxi Driver
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
Thirukkalyanam
Thirupura Sundari
Unakkum Vaazhvu Varum
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil
Ennai Pol Oruvan Usha Father
1979 Annai Oru Alayam
Appothey Sonneyney Keetiya
Dharma Yuddham
Ennadi Meenakshi
Kadavul Amaitha Medai
Kamasasthiram
Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana
Lakshmi
Manthoppu Kiliye
Mudal Iravu
Mugathil Mugam Parkalam
Naanoru Kai Paarkiren
Nangooram
Neechal Kulam
Needhikkumun Neeya Naana
Neeya?
Pasi
Oru Vidukathai Oru Thodardathai
Paathai Maarinal
Pagalil Oru Iravu
Pancha Bootham
Poonthalir
Raja Rajeswari
Siri Siri Maamaa
Sithira Chevvanam
Sri Ramajayam
Thayillamal Naanillai
Veettukku Veedu Vasappadi
Yaarukku Yaar Kaval
1980 Anbukku Naan Adimai
Antharangam Oomayanathu
Azhaitthal Varuven
Bambai Mail 109
Deiveega Rahangal
Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam Neelakandam
Edhir Veettu Jannal
Ellam Un Kairasi
Enga Vathiyar
Enga Vathiyar
Geetha Oru Shenbaga Poo
Johnny
Kaadu
Kaali
Kadhal Kadhal Kadhal
Kalam Bathil Sollum
Karadi
Karumbu Vill
Kathal Kiligal
Kumarip Pennin Ulathile
Kuruvik Koodu
Malargindra Paruvathile
Meenakshi
Megathukkum Thagamundu
Murattu Kaalai (1980 film)
Muzhu Nilavu
Naan Potta Saval
Neer Nilam Neruppu
Oli Pirandhadhu
Ore Mutham
Oru Marathu Paravaigal
Panam Penn Pasam
Paruvathin Vasalile
Pennukku Yaar Kaaval
Pollathavan
Ponnagaram
Porkalam
Pudiya Thoranangal
Rishi Moolam
Rusi Kanda Poonai
Saranam Iyyappa
Thani Maram
Theru Vilakku
Ullasa Paravaigal
Valli Mayil
Vandichakkaram
Veli Thandiya Velladu
1981 Meendum Kokila Film Director
Aadugal Nanaigindrana
Anichamalar
Kadavulin Theerpu
Engamma Maharani
Kannadi
Kanni Mahamayi
Kazhugu
Lorry Driver Rajakkannu
Sathya Sundharam
Oru Iravu Oru Paarvai
Pennin Vaazhkkai
Pennmanam Pesugirathu
Ram Lakshman
Sankarlal
Satya Sundaram
Vadagai Veedu
Vasanthakalam
1982 Aval Yetriya Dheebangal
Hitler Umanath
Iniyavale Vaa
Irattai Manithan
Muraiponnu
Nayakarin Magal
Nirandharam
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Pannaiburathu Pandavargal
Sangili
1983 Avaloru Kaviyam
Kashmir Kadhali
Oppandham
Samsaram Enbathu Veenai
1984 Pillayar
Erattai Manithan
Idhey Naa Savaal[2]
1985 Yemaatrathe Yemaaraathe

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tamil Cinema News | Kollywood News | Tamil Film News - Maalaimalar".
  2. ^ "Suruli Rajan | Actor". IMDb. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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