Sathyaraj

Infobox actor
name = Sathyaraj


imagesize =
caption =
birthdate = birth date and age|1954|10|3
url =
location = flagicon|India Coimbatore, India
height = 6ft 2in
deathdate =
deathplace =
yearsactive = 1984-present
birthname = Rangaraj
othername =
homepage =
filmfareawards =
spouse = Maheswari

Sathyaraj (Tamil : சத்யராஜ்) (born October 3, 1954) is a lead actor in the Tamil film industry.

Although frequently the protagonist in his current run of films, Sathyaraj is well known for his past roles as a cultured, charming villain. He played a significant part in changing the grammar of villainy in popular Tamil cinema. Until his entry, the traditional Tamil film villain, when portraying villainy, was aggressive in his posture, actions and delivery of dialogue. Sathyaraj introduced a more suave, nonchalant approach to depicting cruel villainy, avoiding indulgence in dramatic gestures and in heaping verbal blitz on an adversary. His casually conveyed sarcasm of enquiring "Yennammaa kannu saukkyammaa?" ("how's it going, darlin'?") in his villain/hero roles (amongst other phrases, such as "Thagadu, thagadu" and "Yenn character-iye purinjika matengiriye" ("You simply don't understand my character, do you?")) endeared him to audiences. He is noted for his smooth baritone and for his witty, ironic and flamboyant dialogue delivery.

Personal life

*Date of birth : 3 October 1954
*Birth place : Coimbatore
*Real Name : Rengaraj
*Father : Dr Subbiah
*Mother : Nathambal, daughter of the chieftain of Pollachi Uthukuli-ZAMIN (Kalingarayar Family)
*Siblings : Kalpana Arjun, Roopa Senapathy
*Wife : Mageswari (married on 1979), Maathampatty Sivakumar's niece
*Daughter : Divya
*Son : Sibiraj

Sathyaraj completed his primary school education in Tamil at St Mary's Convent,Coimbatore. He completed the equivalent of the tenth standard in a suburban high school, Ramnagar, Coimbatore. In primary school, he was a first rank holder. After completing the fifth class, he saw M. G. Ramachandran's "Vaettaikkaaran" and immediately became a fan.

As his enthusiasm for films grew, his interest in his studies diminished. He passed his SSLC (Class 10 boards), scoring first-rank marks in history and geography at his school level. He joined the Government Arts College,Coimbatore and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in botany. Tamil actor/director Manivannan was a co-student in PUC (Class 12 Junior college), and the two began a friendship while there. Though he claims to be an atheist he is a firm believer in numerology, Which is why when his residence door no was allotted 13 (under the new number ing system in year 2000) he immediately changed it to 13A, considering 13 as unlucky.

At this time Sathyaraj's family faced sudden economic difficulties, which forced Sathyaraj, after he had finished his studies, to work in his uncle Mathampatty Sivakumar's money-lending shop.

Career

Entry into films

One day Sathyaraj went to see the shooting of the film "Annakkili", where he met actor Sivakumar. Sathyaraj later revealed his interest in film acting to his family, from whom he faced stiff opposition. He wrote a letter to his mother and put it into a post box opposite his house and left for Chennai.

In Chennai, he met actor Sivakumar and producer Thiruppur Manian and started pestering them to help fulfill his cinematic ambitions. Yet Sivakumar vehemently criticized his interest in acting and advised him to immediately return home. Nevertheless, Sathyaraj remained in Chennai, where he rented an inexpensive room at Usman Road. The producer of "Thaainadu" film, Maathampatty Sivakumar was sending him money every month. "Annakkili" Sivakumar made him join the drama troupe of Komal Swamynathan.

Early career

Sathyaraj's first film was "Kodugal Illaatha Kolangal". Then he worked as production manager for the film "Kannan Oru Kaikkuzhanthai". In addition to his managerial role, he also had a small acting part in the film. On the title credits of this film, his name was shown on screen with the description: "Aluvalaga Nirvaagam (Official Management): S.N. Rangaraj, B.Sc." and later still in the credits as "Sathyaraj" for his minor acting role. It was "Stills" Ravi who first captured him on film. Then cameraman-cum-director N.K. Viswanathan introduced him to T.N. Balu. This enabled him to act in "Sattam Yen Kaiyil". Next, Sathyaraj acted in P. Madhavan's "Yaenippadigal". In "Kuruvikkoodu", Sathyaraj acted in the role of a negative hero.

Sathyaraj's film-acting career began with him playing minor characters who make brief appearances onscreen. His stature as an actor quickly grew from strength to strength, however, as he took up increasingly significant roles in film, playing lead villains opposite popular leading heroes before finally securing starring roles in Tamil films. His debut as a starring hero in films started with the film "Saavi", directed by Karthik. Director Santhana Bharathi, however, claims that he "was the person who introduced Sathyaraj as a hero in [the film] "Kadamai Kanniyam Kattuppadu"." [Ashok Kumar, S.R. 2006. This character artist's first love is direction. "The Hindu", Thursday, Nov 16. Available from: http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/16/stories/2006111614070200.htm. Accessed 11 February 2008.]

Contributions to film screenplay

Sathyaraj generally used to take part in story discussions that are held prior to film making. He went along with director R. Sunderrajan for participating in the discussion of the story that finally led to the birth of the film "Saranaalayam". Then he took part in another story discussion and this story was later filmed as "Nooraavathu Naal"; in this film, Sathyaraj played a character with a tonsured head. This role that he played earned him the reputation as an established actor. He wrote the story for a Telugu film "Tharja Thongaa", co-acted by Suman and Vijayashanti.

Notable films

(2000-Present)

*2008 - "Vambu Sandai"
*2008 - "Thangam"
*2007 - "Onbadhu Roobai Nottu"
*2007 - "Kannamoochi Yenada"
*2007 - "Periyar"
*2007 - "Adavadi"
*2006 - "Kurukshetram"
*2006 - "Suyetchai MLA"
*2006 - "Kovai Brothers"
*2005 - "Vanakkam Thalaiva"
*2005 - "Vetrivel Sakthivel"
*2005 - "Englishkaran"
*2005 - "6'2"
*2005 - "Mannin Maindhan"
*2005 - "Iyer IPS"
*2004 - "Mahanadigan"
*2004 - "Azhagesan"
*2004 - "Jore"
*2004 - "Settai"
*2004 - "Sema Ragalai"
*2004 - "Adidhaadi"
*2003 - "Aalukkoru Aasai"
*2003 - "Sena"
*2003 - "Military"
*2003 - "Ramachandra"
*2002 - "Maaran"
*2002 - "Vivaramaana Aalu"
*2001 - "Aandaan Adimai"
*2001 - "Kunguma Pottu Gounder"
*2001 - "Asathal"
*2001 - "Looty"
*2000 - "Unnai Kan Thedudhey"
*2000 - "Veeranadai"
*2000 - "Puratchikaaran"
*2000 - "Ennamma Kannu"

Nineties

*1999 - "Suyamvaram"
*1999 - "Azhagarsamy"
*1999 - "Ponnu Veetukaaran"
*1999 - "Malabar Police"
*1998 - "Kalyana Galatta"
*1997 - "Vallal"
*1997 - "Pagaivan"
*1997 - "Periya Manushan"
*1996 - "Senadhipathi"
*1995 - "Maaman Magal"
*1995 - "Villadhi Villan"
*1995 - "Engirundho Vandhaan"
*1994 - "Thaaimaaman"
*1994 - "Thozhar Pandiyan"
*1994 - "Vandicholai Sinnarasu"
*1994 - "Veera Padhakkam"
*1994 - "Amaidhipadai"
*1993 - "Walter Vetrivel"
*1993 - "Kattalai"
*1993 - "Airport"
*1993 - "Udanpirappu"
*1992 - "Rickshamama"
*1992 - "Magudam"
*1992 - "Pangaali"
*1992 - "Therkku Theru Machaan"
*1992 - "Thirumadhi Pazhanisamy"
*1991 - "Bramma"
*1991 - "Pudhu Manidhan"
*1990 - "Madurai Veeran Enga Saamy"
*1990 - "Nadigan"
*1990 - "Velai Kidaichiduchu"
*1990 - "Malluvety Minor"
*1990 - "Vaazhkai Sakkaram"
*1990 - "Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga"

Eighties

*1989 - "Vaathiyar Veetu Pillai" - 100th film
*1989 - "Annakili Sonna Kadhai"
*1989 - "Dravidan"
*1989 - "Thaai Naadu"
*1989 - "Pick Pocket"
*1989 - "Sinnappadas"
*1988 - "Pudhiya Vaanam"
*1988 - "Jeeva"
*1988 - "Anna Nagar Mudhal Theru"
*1988 - "Ganam Courtaar Avargaley"
*1988 - "En Bommakutty Ammavukku"
*1987 - "Poo Vizhi Vaasaliley"
*1987 - "Sinna Thambi Periya Thambi"
*1987 - "Jallikattu"
*1987 - "Vedham Pudhithu"
*1987 - "Pookkal Vidum Thoodhu"
*1987 - "Makkal En Pakkam"
*1987 - "Kadamai Ganniyam Kattupaadu"
*1987 - "Aalapirandhavan"
*1986 - "Kadalora Kavidhaigal"
*1986 - "Vidinja Kalyanam"
*1986 - "Rasigan Oru Rasigai"
*1986 - "Dharmam"
*1986 - "Iravu Pookkal"
*1986 - "Mandhira Punnagai"
*1985 - "Thiramai"
*1985 - "Saavi"

As a Villain

*1986 - "Mr. Bharath"
*1986 - "Vikram"
*1985 - "Kaakki Sattai"
*1985 - "Muthal Mariyathai"
*1984 - "Enakkul Oruvan"
*1984 - "Nooraavathu Naal"

As a Producer

*2007 - "Lee"

Awards

*Tamil Nadu Government's Kalaimaamani Award
*M.G.R. Award in recognition of his performance in the film "Nadigan"
*Periyar Award for donning the lead role in the biographical movie Periyar

Trivia

He is of Kongu Vellalar ancestry. He is reported to have performed mimicry by mimicking Sivaji Ganesan's actions in front of Sivaji himself, and thus is told to have won a perfume bottle as a gift from the latter. Sathyaraj maintains a close friendship with Rajinikanth and with Kamal Hassan. Sathyaraj used to be known as an atheist and follower of Periyar Ramasami. However of late he has changed stance and has declared himself to be a believer in Hinduism. He directed the film "Villathi Villain" and acted in the lead role. This was his 125th film for which he wrote the story, screenplay and dialogue.

His favourite actors:
*M.G.R.
*Rajinikanth
*Vijay
*Nagesh
*S. V. Ranga Rao
*Chandra Babu

His favourite actress:
*B. Saroja Devi
*Sujatha

Historical figures whom Sathyaraj admires:
*Buddha
*Karl Marx
*B. R. Ambedkar
*Rajneesh

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0766470|name=Satyaraj