Suruli Rajan

Suruli Rajan (January 14, 1938 - December 5, 1980) was an Indian actor, comedian, and character artist. An actor of Tamil cinema, he was a recipient of Best Comedian Award from the state government of Tamil Nadu (even though he received it after his death) for the year 1981.

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, singer
Years active1965–1980
SpouseMuthulakshmi Rajan
ChildrenShanmugavel, Kumaravel, Senthilvel
AwardsTamil Nadu Best Comedian Award

Biography

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 his parents one after the other, 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 in search of better opportunities.

In spite of his passion, acting opportunities were few and far between. However, a sudden spate of opportunities in stage plays filled him with heartening optimism. 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 friendship with T.N. Balu earned him memorable roles in blockbusters by T.R.Ramanna like Naan and Moondrezhuthu. Despite his young age Suruli Rajan was offered older roles in many of his early movies. Two other significant roles in his early years were the Madras Tamil spewing cameo in APN's Thirumalai Thenkumari (1970) and that of the devout fisherman in Aathi Parasakthi (1971). With his unique intonation and a flair for the absurd, Surulirajan rose to popularity in the late 70s.

Though at times bordering on the bawdy, he seldom failed to elicit a laugh. Suruli's brilliant portrayal of a niggardly rustic in M.A.Khaja's Maanthoppu Kiliye (1979) fetched him rare plaudits and has earned a place of pride in the annals of the immortal comedy sequences of Tamil cinema. 'It never rains, but pours' they say, and Suruli's capers had become a mandatory inclusion in most movies of the time. He created a record by acting in not 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 in the peak of his career.[1]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1965Enga Veettu PillaiServantCredited as surali
Iravum PagalumDebut
1966Andru Kanda MugamConstable
Kathal Paduthum Padu
1967Uyir Mel Asai
NaanSundaralingam
1968MoondrezhuthuVenkateswara Rao
Thaer ThiruvizhaBoat Passenger
Delhi MapillaiChopra
1969Naangu KilladigalBaba
Anjal Petti 520Ramanujam
Thulabharam (Tamil Film)Modi Masthan
1970Thirumalai ThenkumariMannaru
1971Kankatchi
Veettukku Oru PillaiAyyakannu
1972Kurathi Magan
1973Thirumalai DeivamRangen
Rajapart RangaduraiKonangi/Konangipatti
Rajaraja Cholanpalace Servant
1974Anbu Thangai
ThangappathakkamSoodamani
1975Aayirathil OruthiSivakolunthu
Anbe AaruyireServant
1976Akka
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 KoyilPolice 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
1978Aayiram 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 OruvanUsha Father
1979Annai 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?
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
1980Anbukku 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
1982Aval Yetriya Dheebangal
Hitler Umanath
Iniyavale Vaa
Irattai Manithan
Muraiponnu
Nayakarin Magal
Nirandharam
Oorukku Oru Pillai
Pannaiburathu Pandavargal
Sangili
1983Avaloru Kaviyam
Kashmir Kadhali
Oppandham
Samsaram Enbathu Veenai
1984Pillayar

References

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