R. Sarathkumar
Born	Sarathkumar Ramanathan (1954-07-14) July 14, 1954 (age 57)[1] New Delhi, Delhi, India
Residence	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Journalist, film actor, politician, body builder
Years active	1988—present
Spouse	Chaya (1984–2000) Raadhika Sarathkumar (2001–present)
Children	Varalaxmi Pooja Rahul

Sarathkumar Ramanathan (born 14 July 1954) is an Indian journalist, film actor, politician, body builder and the current president of the South Indian Film Artistes' Association. He started his career in Tamil cinema playing negative roles, and later played minor roles before establishing himself as a lead actor in the subsequent years. He was first chosen for the lead role in Suriyan. He has won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South. He also began a new political party in Tamil Nadu claiming to carry out the ideals of K. Kamaraj.He is the current MLA of the Tenkasi constituency.

Early life[link]

Sarathkumar was born on 14 July 1954^[1] in New Delhi to M. Ramanathan and Pushpa Leela. He has a sister named Mallika Ramanathan. He graduated with a Bachelor of science in Mathematics from The New College in Chennai.

He served as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha. He also serves as the current president of the South Indian Film Artistes' Association, organizing several industry-based events. Before his entry into films, he began a career as a journalist. He recently continued journalism after starting his own magazine.^[2]

Acting career[link]

Sarathkumar has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films. He received critical acclaim for his roles in Cheran Pandiyan, Pulan Visaranai, Suriyan, Nattamai, Suryavamsam, Natpukaaga and Pazhassi Raja. He forayed into Malayalam cinema by playing a supporting role in Pazhassi Raja (2009), and since then has been performing in more films in Malayalam.^[3] In Kanchana he portrayed as a transgender. He also debuted in Kannada films in Saarathi which became a huge hit. Despite being born in New Delhi, he has not appeared in any Hindi films, although Gambeeram was dubbed in the same language as Narasimha in 2004.^[4]

Awards[link]

Sarathkumar received a Cinema Express Award for Best Villain for his role in Pulanvisaranai in 1988. He received his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor in 1994 for Nattamai. He later received a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award for his performance in Suryavamsam (1997). He received a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor and a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award for Natpukkaga (1998). He received the M.G.R. Award in 1997.

Political career[link]

Sarathkumar joined Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1996. DMK fielded him in the Tirunelveli Loksabha Constituency during 1998 parliamentary elections and he lost to Kadambur Janarthanan of ADMK by a margin 6000 Votes. In 2002, DMK made him a Rajyasabha member. He left DMK before 2006 Assembly elections, owing to differences with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's family members. He joined AIADMK along with his wife Radhika Sarathkumar and campaigned vigorously for that party

On 31 August 2007, Sarathkumar floated a new party named All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi

In the 2011 elections All India Samathva Makkal Katchi had alliance with AIADMK and won both the seats contested by his party.

Legislative career[link]

Elections Contested[link]

Personal life[link]

Sarath Kumar is married to the Radikaa the daughter of the famous actor Late M R Radha. They have four children two of the first marriage of Sarath Kumar. Radikaa is also an actor who has acted in more than 350 films spread over more than 25 years.

Filmography[link]