Sathyaraj (Tamil: சத்யராஜ்; born Rangaraj Subbaiah 3 October 1954) is an Indian film actor and media personality in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. A Tamil activist and a political influence, he has acted in over 150 films, ranging from action and drama to comedy. In 2007, he played the role of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in the Tamil Nadu government-sponsored film Periyar. As of 2007, he has produced one film, which was Lee, starring his son Sibiraj. He has also directed a movie Villadhi Villain starring himself in three different roles which also starred actress Nagma.^[1] He is considered to be one of the most versatile actors in the Tamil film industry.

Early life and family[link]

Sathyaraj was born as Rangaraj in 3 October 1954 to Subbaiah and Nathambal, with two younger sisters. He claims to be a great fan of M. G. Ramachandran.^[1][2] Sathyaraj completed his primary school education in Tamil at St Mary's Convent, Coimbatore. He completed the equivalent of the tenth standard in Suburban High School, Ramnagar, Coimbatore. Later he joined the Government Arts College, Coimbatore and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany. Actor Manivannan was a co-student in PUC (Class 12 Junior college), and the two began a friendship while there. Sathyaraj is married to Maheswari and the couple have a son and a daughter. His son Sibiraj is an actor. Actor Sathyan is his nephew.

Career[link]

Sathyaraj entered the film industry after witnessing the shooting of the film Annakili, where he met actor Sivakumar and producer Thiruppur Manian. He joined the drama troupe of Komal Swamynathan. Sathyaraj's first film was Kodugal Illaatha Kolangal, where he had an uncredited role. Later 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. He acted in around 75 films from 1978 to the mid 1980s most of which featured him in negative roles.^[1]

His first full-fledged leading role came through the film Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu (1987), produced by Kamal Hassan.^[3] Of late he has been doing supporting roles in Tamil films.

Ideology[link]

Sathyaraj is a devout follower of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy. He frequently expresses his views about God in his movies. Due to this motivation, he also acted in the movie called Periyar in the lead role.

Partial filmography[link]

As actor[link]

As producer[link]

• Lee (2007)

As director[link]

• Villathi Villain (1995)

Awards and Nominations[link]

Won

• Kalaimamani Award^{[citation needed]}
• 1991 - M.G.R Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu
• 1987 - Filmfare Best Actor Award for Vedham Pudhithu
• 2007 - Periyar Award for his role in the film Periyar^[4]
• 2007 - Honorary Doctorate from Sathyabama University^[5]

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Serene ride to success". The Hindu. 2000-08-11. http://www.hindu.com/2000/08/11/stories/09110226.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
2. ^ http://archives.chennaionline.com/interviews/satayaraj.asp
3. ^ Ashok Kumar, S.R. 2006. This character artist's first love is direction. The Hindu, Thursday, Nov 16. Available from: Hindu.com. Accessed 11 February 2008.
4. ^ "TN announces Periyar award for Sathyaraj (News)". mail-archive.com. http://www.mail-archive.com/zestcaste@yahoogroups.com/msg05381.html. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
5. ^ "New feather in their caps". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 13 July 2007. http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/07/13/stories/2007071350630200.htm. 

External links[link]

• Sathyaraj at the Internet Movie Database

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2011)

Radha Ravi
Picture of Radha Ravi taken in 2007
Born	Madras Rajagopal Radhakrishnan Ravi 29 July
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1975 - present

Radha Ravi (Tamil: ராதா ரவி) is a Tamil film and television actor,^[1] who played supporting roles throughout his career. He is the son of yesteryear actor, M. R. Radha and the uncle of Vasu Vikram and halfbrother of Raadhika Sarathkumar. He is a chief member of the South Indian Film Artistes' Association. He is known for his roles as an antagonist in Tamil films and his current role in the television serial Chellamae. He is also known for his controversial criticism of other film personalities.

Career[link]

Radha Ravi was born on 29th July to the well-known actor M.R. Radha and Dhanalakshmiammal. He has one brother M.R.R.Vasu and three sisters Rashya, Rani and Rathikala. Having started his career as a theatre artiste, he still associates himself with plays. A man with diverse interests, it was his father who taught him some of the good principles in life. He played the role of Julius Caesar in a Tamil drama when he was in the ninth standard. During his New College days, both his friends, Jailani and Rafee helped him to pursue his passion for theatre. He performed for actor V.K. Ramasamy troupe, MRR. Vasu troupe, T.K. Chandran troupe and the UAA troupe. In 1980, he started his own troupe Nadikavel Theatres. His first time before the was for a Kannada film, Ragasiya Rathiri, produced by actor Bharathi's father for BNK Pictures in 1975. His first Tamil film was Manmathalelai, after Kamal Haasan recommended his name to K. Balachandar.

Director Ramanarayanan gave his career a boost while T. Rajender was instrumental in casting him as a villain in Uyurullavarai Usha. But it was actor S.S. Chandran who made him speak like his father in that film and made the world sit up and take notice. He later modified himself into one of the versatile character-actors Tamil industry has ever produced. He made notable performances in films like Vaidegi Kaathirunthal, Uyarntha Ullam, Chinna Thambi, Poo Veli, Uzhaipalli, Guru Sishyan, etc. He has acted in about 280 films in all the South Indian languages - four in Telugu, three in Kannada, three in Malayalam and the others in Tamil. He tried his hands in production with films like Thai Maasam Poo Vasam, Idhu Namma Bhoomi, Chinnamuthu and Ilaignar Ani and Ruthrathandavam. Apart from being a renowned actor, he is an eminent leader and a great personality in society. He heads the Lions Club of Chennai and holds the post of secretary in Nadigar Sangam, which he headed efficiently a few years ago. Years of working towards perfection in acting and being at the helm of everything due to his sense of responsibility has instilled tons of creativity and leadership qualities in him. He has worked in all the four South Indian languages and is still going strong with his versatile performance.

Comments[link]

Radha Ravi became known for being vocal about the actions, which he found unfavourable, by other film personalities. In a few occasions, he spoke against the actions of several artistes, including Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar, A. R. Rahman, and even larger film organizations, such as FEFSI. Most of the comments were widely reported in the media and became controversial.

He criticized directors for remaking old films.^{[citation needed]}

He criticized Asin Thottumkal on her visit to Sri Lanka in 2010 for the filming of Ready.^{[citation needed]}

;

In order to oppose the anti-Tamil attitude of the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse and the government, the South Indian Film Artistes' Association (SIFAA) decided to boycott the 2010 IIFA Awards ceremony held in Colombo in the first week of June. It was also decided that no actor or actress would be going to Sri Lanka for any purpose. Some members of SIFAA started demanding that action be taken against Asin immediately. Sathyaraj and Radha Ravi were said to be very vocal in demanding action and said that the actress should appear before the Sangam to seek apology. However, R. Sarathkumar, president of SIFAA, has started speaking in favour of Asin and even said once that "it’s the prerogative of the artiste to go to whichever country they wanted".

More recently, he faced controversy over his criticism against Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman for being involved in more Bollywood productions and composing film scores in foreign studios, rather than in Tamil Nadu. He was also cynical towards Slumdog Millionaire movie plot that portrayed India as a poor country. Though he proved to be one of the Indian celebrities who was highly critical of the Danny Boyle film, he provided the Tamil dubbing voice for the character played by Irrfan Khan.

.

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

Television[link]

• Thiruvilayadal
• Chellamae

References[link]

Ramya Krishnan (^[1] born 15 September 1967) is an actress who performs in Indian cinema. She has acted in over 200 films in five languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.

Early life and background[link]

Ramya Krishnan was born in a Tamil Iyer family, in Chennai.^[1] She had initial training in Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi dance forms and had given many stage performances. She is the niece of veteran Tamil comedian Cho Ramaswamy.

Film Career[link]

Ramya started her acting career at the age of 13 and has an acting career spanning over 28 years. She first played the lead role in Vellai Manasu, a Tamil film opposite Y. Gee. Mahendra. She was studying in 9th standard when she acted in that film.

She is most noted for roles of the Goddess in Tamil and Telugu films, notably Ammoru (Amman in Tamil), Rajakaliamman, Sree Raja Rajaeshwari, Annai Kaligambal, Kutty Pisasu and Madurai Meenatchi. One of her earliest movie roles was in the Kannada film Krishna Rukmini which has been followed with Gadibidi Ganda, Mangalyam Thanthunanaena and Raktha Kanneeru.

Her role in Rajnikanth’s Padayappa, in which she played the villainous Neelambari opposite Rajni won accolades from all over. Padayappa (1999) was also released in Japan, Singapore, London and Paris. After Padayappa she acted in Panchathanthiram opposite Kamal Hassan, Paattali and Paarai with Sarathkumar, Vaanjinathan with Vijaykanth, Budget Pathmanaban and Aayiram Poi Solli with Prabhu, and Asathal with Satyaraj. She appeared in item numbers for the movies Rhythm and Kuthu and in Hindi films such as Khalnayak and Dayavan.

Ramya's first Telugu film was Bhalae Mithrulu. She achieved fame through Kasinadhuni Viswanath’s Suthradharulu, released in 1987. She emerged as one of the leading actresses in the Telugu industry alongside Radha, Banupriya, Vijayashanti, and Soundarya during 80s and 90s. She has been paired with leading actors such as N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Mohan Babu, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, Balakrishna, Jagapati Babu, Rajendra Prasad, Srikanth, Dr Rajasekhar, Junior NTR, and Mahesh Babu. She bagged two prestigious Nandi Awards from the Government of Andhra Pradesh and a National Award from the Indian Government as well. She won the Special Jury award for her performance in Dasari Narayana Rao's film Kante Koothurne Kanu from the Andhra Pradesh state government.^[2]

Her biggest Kannada hits include Gadibidi Ganda and Mangalyam Thanthunanaena with V. Ravichandran and Raktha Kanneeru with Upendra.^[3]

She has also acted in more than 25 Malayalam movies with superstars like Mohanlal, Mammooty, and Jayaram. She had won rave reviews for her role in the Malayalam film ‘Ore Kadal’, released in 2007.^[4]

She has performed in some stage shows in New York, Dallas, San Jose, and Cincinnati. She started a company in the name of her son Ritwik. She is now hosting the entertainment show Zara Masti Zara Dhoom.

She was a judge in a dancing show on Star Vijay: Jodi Number One, season 1, followed by season 5.

Personal life[link]

She married Telugu film director Krishna Vamsi on 12 June 2003 and has since then settled in Hyderabad. She has a son named Ritwik.^[5]

Awards[link]

Filmfare Awards

• Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Padayappa (1999)
• Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam (2009)

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Actress (Special Prize) - Padayappa (1999)

Nandi Awards

• Nandi Award for Best Actress - Kante Koothurne Kanu (1998)
• Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress - Raju Maharaju (2009)

Dubai Amma Awards 2007

• Best Supporting Actress - Malayalam - Ore Kadal (2007)

Amrita Film Awards 2007

• Best Supporting Actress - Malayalam - Ore Kadal (2007)

Sun TV Family Awards

• Best Actress Special Award - Thangam (2009)

Filmography[link]

Telugu[link]

Kannada[link]

• Baa Baaro Rasika (2004) [Sunil Rao, Ashitha]
• Raja Narasimha (200
• Ekangi (2002)
• Sneha (2000)
• Om Shakti (1999)
• Mangalyam Thanthu Nanena (1998)
• Gadibidi Ganda (1993)
• Krishna Rukmini (1988)
• Neelambari
• Andhra Hendathi
• Raktha Kaneeru
• Yare Nee Abhimani

Tamil[link]

Year	Film	Co-stars	Direction	Notes
2009	Kutti Pisasu	Sangeetha
2009	Arumugam	Barath, Priyamani
2003	Kaakha Kaakha			item number
2005	Kuthu	Simbhu		item number
2003	Kurumbu	Naresh		item number
2002	Julie Ganapathi	Jayaram, Saritha
2003	Paarai	R. Sarathkumar, Jayaram, Meena
2002	Jaya	Sreeman, Manorama
2002	Panchathantiram	Kamal Hassan, Simran, Jayaram, Urvashi	K.S.Ravikumar
2002	Baba	Rajnikanth, Manisha Koirala	Suresh Krishna	Guest Appearance
2002	Whistle			Dance
2001	Narasimha	Vijayakanth, Saakshi[disambiguation needed ]
2001	Asathal	Satyaraj
2001	Vaanchinathan	Vijayakanth
2001	Sri Raja Rajeswari	Ramki	Rama Narayanan
2000	Raja Kali Amman	Karan, Kausalya, Vadivelu
2000	Rhythm	Arjun Sarja, Meena	Dance
2000	Budget Padmanabhan	Prabhu, Vivek, Manivannan, Kovai Sarala
1999	Paattali	Sarath Kumar, Devayani, Sujatha	K.S.Ravikumar
1999	Padayappa	Rajnikanth, Sivaji Ganesan, Soundarya	K.S.Ravikumar
1995	Amman	Suresh, Soundarya
1991	Captain Prabhakaran	Vijayakanth, Rupini
1989	Kaadhal Oyvathillai
1987	Per Sollum Pillai	Kamal Hassan
1985	Padikathavan	Rajnikanth, Ambika
1983	Vellai Manasu	Y.G.Magendra

Malayalam[link]

• Ore Kadal (2007)
• Onnaman (2002)
• Kakkakuyil (2001)
• Mahatma (1996)
• Neram Pularumbol (1996)
• Aham (1992)
• Manyanmaar (1992)
• Aryan (1988)
• Orkkappurathu (1988)
• Anuragi (1988)
• Padikkathavan (1985)
• Kathanayika
• Thoovalpakkshikal (1984)
• Rajeevam (1984)
• Naadaswaram (1984)
• Swapnam (1983)
• Pirkilninnu villichu!
• Clock
• Roopam
• Amritham
• Swarangal
• Griham
• Sawparnika
• Padam
• Raagam
• Chandhran Udikkunna Dikkil

Hindi[link]

• Wajood (1998)
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998)
• Shapath (1997)
• Loha (1997)
• Chaahat (1996)
• Banarasi Babu (1996)
• Parampara (1993)
• Khal Nayak (1993)
• Dayavan (1988)

References[link]

http://www.southdreamz.com/2010/09/ramya-krishnan-turns-amman-again.html

External links[link]

• Ramya Krishna at the Internet Movie Database

Ramesh Kanna is a Tamil film actor and acts in supporting roles and comedian roles.

Ramesh Khanna was born in Chennai and third child to the family. Ramesh Khanna arrived in Chennai in the late 1980s to have a career as an actor. He became assistant to directors Pandiarajan ('Aan Pavam'), Vikraman ('Poove Unakkaga', 'Suryavamsam', 'Unnai Ninaithu' and 'Priyamana Thozhi') and K.S.Ravikumar. It was K.S Ravikumar who advised him to act as a comedian.

Khanna has acted in notable roles in films such as Unnai Ninaithu, Friends, Padayappa, Avvai Shanmughi and Villain. He has also appeared in supporting roles in films such as Thulluvadho Ilamai.

Personal life[link]

Ramesh Kanna having Chennai as his origin was born on the 20th of November, His parents are Mr.Narayanan and Shyamala. Khanna has two children and lives near Kodambakkam in Chennai.

Career[link]

This M.A. graduate had starting graduating in acting right at the age of 5 itself.

He had acted as child artiste in many Epic Dramas in the theatres of R.S. Manohar, popularly called as "NADAGA KAAVALAR" (The Protector of Theatre). In this way Ramesh Kanna had cast himself in close to 500+ Stage Dramas between his age of 5 and 10. With this vast experience Ramesh Kanna had staged around 30 Dramas during his adolescence age, where he not cast himself as the Protagonist but wrote the script and dialogues and directed them.

No sooner he completed his college studies; Ramesh Kanna started knocking the tough doors of the Dream Factory. Ramesh Kanna with an aspiration to become a best Director in the industry started of as an Assistant Director. He went on working with many ace directors as Deputy Director and Co-Director for more than 60 Films.

His sincerity, smartness and other qualities were identified by the Ace Director K.S.Ravikumar and took him in his crew as his deputy. His hard work has had its share in the Success stories of the silver jubilee movies like the Super Star Rajinikanth cast Muthu, Padayappa and the Kalai Gnani Kamal Hassan cast Avvai Shanmughi.

Understanding and identifying the creator in Ramesh Kanna his Mentor K.S.Ravikumar, made him write the dialogues for many of his films. Movies like Periya kudumbam that were box office hit and ran for more than 100 days are worth mentioning.

He also worked as co-director in the Telugu film CAPTAIN directed by Kodi Ramakrishna and produced by Super Good Films.

Along with the Gurukula type of training from his mentor K.S.Ravikumar and his inborn creativity, Ramesh Kanna directed the movie Thodarum cast by leading actors like Ajith Kumar & Devayani attained his Directorship.

In 1999 with out much publicity or promotions the film Thodarum ran full houses for 80 days and created a new record.

Even after becoming a director Ramesh Kanna, who cherished the experience of 1000+ stage roles, never left his thirst for acting unquenched, he played at-least some small roles in all his mentor's movies and as well in all movies of another Ace Director Vikraman.

Director Vikraman, made Ramesh Kanna, who excelled in all small roles, a full-time comedian through his movie Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen IN 1998. He had equally commanding role in this film along with Actor Karthik, who cast the lead role in this film. With his decent comedy and natural flair for acting, he was praised by all media and one-and-all starting asking "Who is this new comedian". This film not only ran for a Silver Jubilee but also the only Tamil film to be nominated to participate in the World Film Festival in 1998.

After the grand success of Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen many offers started pouring in for Ramesh Kanna, and his second grand entry was with none other than the Super Star Rajinikanth in Padayappa, Ramesh Kanna rose to the lime lights as the leading comedians. No wonder that Padayappa formed a strong base form his stint as a leading comedian.

Ramesh Kanna's comedy played a vital role in the 100 days movies like Amarkallam & Nee Varuvaiyena. In Appu & Vetri Kodi Kettu Ramesh Kanna's contribution are instrumental.^[1]

.^[2][3]

Notable Filmography[link]

• Unnai Ninaithu
• Padayappa
• Amarkalam
• Jodi
• Rojavanam
• Nee varuvai ena
• Unnai kodu ennai tharuven
• Appu
• Thullovadho ilamai
• Vetri kodi kattu
• Friends

Filmography[link]

• Aadhavan
• Aasai Aasaiyai
• Amarkalam
• Annai
• Aran
• Appu
• Avvai Shanmughi
• Asathal
• Attagasam
• Chinna Raja
• Cheppave chirugali
• Dhaya
• Dasavathaaram
• Dhanam
• Dreams
• Friends
• Gajendra
• Gowravargal
• Gemini
• Girivalam
• I Love You Daa
• Ini Varum Kaalam
• Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam
• Indru Mudhal
• Jaya
• Jodi
• Junior Senior
• Kaadhaludan
• Kalakalappu
• Kondattam
• Kedi
• Koodi Vaazhndhaal Kodi Nanmai
• Mahanadigan
• Manmadhan Ambu
• Mariyadhai
• Muthu
• Muthu Kulikka Vaarigala
• Nageswari
• Nee Varuvai Ena
• Paarai
• Padayappa
• Pammal K. Sambandam
• Pistha
• Panchathanthiram
• Priyamana Thozhi
• Priyasakhi
• Rishi
• Rojavanam
• Saamy
• Sila Nerangalil
• Suryavamsam
• Star
• Thenali
• Thendral
• Thodakkam
• Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven
• Unnai Ninaithu
• Unnai Paartha Naal Mudhal
• Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen
• Vanathai Pola
• Varapogum Sooriyane
• Varalaru - History of Godfather
• Villain
• Vinnukum Mannukum
• Yaathumagi

As director[link]

• Thodarum(Starring Ajith Kumar) (1998)
• Top Tucker (TV Serial) - Podhigai (Starring Comedian Vivek) (1988)

As writer[link]

• Aadhavan (story)
• Muni (dialogues)
• Nam Naadu (dialogues)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ramesh Khanna at the Internet Movie Database