S. S. Rajendran
Indian actor and politician (1928–2014)
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Sedapatti Suryanarayanan Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (1 January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, film director, film producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema. He is also referred to as Latchiya Nadigar.[1]
S. S. Rajendran | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 9 June 1980 – 15 November 1984 | |
| Chief Minister | M. G. Ramachandran |
| Political Party | AIADMK |
| Preceded by | K. Kandasamy |
| Succeeded by | M. G. Ramachandran |
| Constituency | Andipatti |
| In office 29 March 1962 – 28 February 1967 | |
| Chief Minister | M. Karunanidhi |
| Political Party | DMK |
| Preceded by | N. M. Velappan and N. R. Thiagarajan |
| Succeeded by | P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan |
| Constituency | Theni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sedapatti Suryanarayanan Rajendran 1 January 1928 Usilampatti, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 24 October 2014 (aged 86) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 8 |
| Parent(s) | Father : Suryanarayanan Devar Mother : Aadhilakshmi |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer, politician |
Film career
Sri Aandal was to have his debut film as an actor. He received an offer to act in a negative role, and an advance as well. 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."[2] Rajendran was cast in the title role. He was replaced after two weeks of shooting from the film as T. K. Muthusamy of the TKS Brothers drama troupe said Rajendran was still under contract with them, and threatened legal action if the film continued production. The role went to newcomer S. M. Kumaresan.[2]
Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi. He followed with Sorgavasal (1954), Ammaiyappan (1954), Ratha Kanneer (1954), Kula Dheivam (1956), Sivagangai Seemai (1957), Mudhalali (1957), Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (1958), Pillai Kaniyamudhu (1958), Thedi Vandha Selvam (1958), Kalyanikku Kalyanam (1959), President Panchaksharam (1959), Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959), Kumudham (1961), C. N. Annadurai's Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962), M. Karunanidhi's Kaanji Thalaivan (1963), Poompuhar (1964), Poomalai (1965), Avan Pithana? (1966) and Mani Magudam (1966).
SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran in Raja Desingu (1960) and in Kaanji Thalaivan (1963). He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan such as Manohara (1954), Raja Rani (1956), Rangoon Radha (1956), Deivapiravi (1960), Aalayamani (1962), Kunkhumam (1963), Pachai Vilakku (1964), Kai Kodutha Dheivam (1964), Pazhani (1965), Santhi (1965) and Ethiroli (1970).
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]
Personal life
He had two wives, including actress CC. R. Vijayakumari, and eight children.
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.[5] He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was elected from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election.[6].
He stood for the 1984 assembly election in his native town Sedapatti as an independant candidate, but ultimately lost. [7] S. Rajendran entered the electoral fray from Periyakulam in the 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a candidate of the AIADMK faction led by J. Jayalalithaa. But he could not win.[8]