Raghava Lawrence

Raghava Lawrence or Raghavendra Lawrence (born 9 January, 1976) is an Indian choreographer who has also worked in films as an actor, director, composer and playback singer. After making his debut as a choreographer in 1993, he began looking for acting opportunities. He began his career as an actor in 1998, in a Telugu film. He adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001, and worked for many prominent actors and directors in Tamil cinema throughout his career. He got his breakthrough with Telugu film Style and then Muni. Lawrence is also known for his intricate hip-hop and westernised dance moves and has won four Filmfare Awards and three Nandi Awards for best choreography. In 2015, after the death of former Indian president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Lawrence set up a charity trust in his name and donated ₹10 million.[1][2]

Raghava Lawrence
Raghava Lawrence in 2015
Born (1976-01-09) 9 January 1976
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation
Years active1993-present

Life and career

Lawrence was born in Madras (present-day Chennai), Tamil Nadu. Lawrence had a brain tumor when he was a child and rarely went to school.[3][4] He attributes the curing of his brain tumor to the deity, Raghavendra Swamy,[5] and in an act of devotion, he took the name Raghavendra.[4] He built the Raghavendra Swamy Brindavanam Temple at Thirumullaivayal on the Avadi-Ambattur route, which opened on 1 January 2010.[6]

He was working as a car cleaner for fight master Super Subbarayan.[4] Rajinikanth saw him dancing and helped him to join the Dancers Union.[4][7] Chiranjeevi offered him the job of choreographing the dances for Hitler. Pleased with Lawrence's work, Chiranjeevi asked him to choreograph dances for Master, his next film too.[4]

Lawrence first appeared in a song in Samsara Sangeetham a Tamil film in 1989 directed by T. Rajendran. Then he appeared in Donga Police in 1991, also doing some dances with Prabhu Deva. He was a background dancer in the song Chikku Bukku Chikku Bukku Railey in Gentleman (1993).[4] He also appeared in dance sequences in Muta Mesthri (1993), Rakshana (1993) and Allari Priyudu (1993).[4] Producer T V D Prasad offered him the role of a hero in his venture Speed Dancer (1999).[4] That film was a flop.[3] After that he acted small roles in Tamil like Ajith Kumar's Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven (2000) and Prashanth's Parthen Rasithen (2000).[3] Director K. Balachander invited him to act in his 100th film Parthale Paravasam (2001).[7]

He acted as a first lead role in the Tamil movie Arpudham (2002). As described by review sify , the latest in the line is Lawrence, who like his predecessor Prabhu Deva, is determined to be a hero. Arputham has a decent screenplay and Lawrence is tolerable. Thereafter, Style (2002). He also made a guest appearance with Vijay in the Tamil movie Thirumalai (2003). After a guest appearance in the film Thendral (2004), he directed his first film in Telugu, Mass (2004) starring Akkineni Nagarjuna and Jyothika. The movie was a commercial success.[8][9]

He got his breakthrough with the Muni (2007), a horror thriller film.[10] Thereafter, he directed another film, Don (2007). The film starring Akkineni Nagarjuna and Anushka Shetty in lead roles. Raghava acted in second roles and made the film depending only on style and technical aspects. The movie had an average response.[11] Raghava continues to play in different categories films such as Pandi (2008), Rajadhi Raja (2009) and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam (2010). Pandi was a moderate success,[12] while Rajadhi Raja and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam were released to mixed reviews.[13][14]

He takes the series Muni in Kanchana (2011). Sarath Kumar play in the main role. The movie was commercially successful.[15] In 2012, he directed Telugu movie Rebel starring Prabhas and Tamannaah.[16] He acted in Kanchana 2 (2015). In 2017, he starred in an action Masala film, Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva. Sify described the film as, "Crass, loud and brainless."[17] Then another of genre horror Shivalinga, remake a Kannada language with the same name directed by P. Vasu. Shakthi Vasudevan, son of director, also starred in the important role for two versions. The story is a cop investigating the suspicious death of a Muslim finds out that his own wife has become possessed by the young man's ghost.[18] Raghava Lawrence is back with the fourth movie in the series - Muni 4: Kanchana 3: Kaali (2019), with the new change being three heroines.[19] The film has received a good collections at the box office.[20] In 2020, he directed the Hindi film, Laxmmi Bomb, a remake of Muni 2: Kanchana.[21]

Social service

He did many social service activities in which he has aided many heart surgeries for babies.[22][23][24] He was one of the supporters of the bull-riding sport jallikattu after its ban in 2017. During a protest in Tamil Nadu in January 2017, he provided food, medicine and basic needs to the protesters and promised to support them until the protests were over.[25] He asked for an appointment with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to donate 1 crore as relief fund for the Kerala flood victims.[26][27][28]

Filmography

Director
YearFilmDirectorWriterProducerLanguageNotes
2004MassYesYesNoTeluguDirector Debut
2006StyleYesYesNoTelugu
2007MuniYesYesNoTamil
DonYesYesNoTelugu
2011Muni 2: KanchanaYesYesYesTamil
2012RebelYesYesNoTelugu
2015Kanchana 2YesYesYesTamil
2019Kanchana 3YesYesYesTamil
2020Laxmmi BombYesYesNoHindiRemake of Muni 2: Kanchana

Actor
FilmYearLanguageRoleNotes
Speed Dancer1999TeluguSeenu
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven2000TamilGanapathi
Parthen Rasithen2000TamilDoss
Parthale Paravasam2001TamilAzhagu
Arpudham2002TamilAshok Kumar
Style2002TamilRishaanth
Thendral2004TamilKumar
Style2006TeluguRaghava
Muni2007TamilGanesh
Don2007TeluguRaghava
Pandi2008TamilPandi
Rajadhi Raja2009TamilRaja
Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam2010TamilSingam, Singaram
Muni 2: Kanchana2011TamilRaghava
Muni 3: Kanchana 22015TamilRaghava, Shiva
Motta Siva Ketta Siva2017TamilACP ShivakumarAlso playback singer for song "Motta Paiyan"
Shivalinga2017TamilShivalingeswaran
Muni 4: Kanchana 32019TamilRaghava, Kaali

Dancer
Film Song Year Language Notes
Uzhaippali"Uzhaippali Illatha"1993Tamil
Gentleman"Chikku Bukku Rayile"1993Tamil
Mutha Mestri"Ee Pettakku"1993Telugu
Chinna Madam1994Tamil
Thai Thangai Paasam"Roopu Tera Masthana"1995Tamil
Akka Bagunnava1996Telugu
Hitler"Nadaka Kalisina Navaraatri"1997Telugu
Suryudu"Manasu petti"1998Telugu
Amarkalam"Maha Ganapathi"1999Tamil
Bagunnara?"Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa"2000Telugu
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven"Sollu Thalaiva"2000Tamil
Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi"Lovvuki Age"2000Telugu
Chala Bagundi"Yentabagundi Basu"2000Telugu
Thirunelveli"Yele Azhagamma"2000Tamil
Asura"Maha Ganapathi"2001Kannada
Varushamellam Vasantham"Naan Ready Neenga Readya"2002Tamil
Roja Kootam"Subbamma"2002Tamil
Baba"Maya Maya"2002Tamil
Ninne Istapaddanu"Krishna Zilla"2003Telugu
Satyam"Kuch Kuch"2003Telugu
Naaga"Nayudori Pilla"2003Telugu
Andhrawala"Naire Naire"2003Telugu
Pudhiya Geethai"Annamalai"2003Tamil
Thirumalai"Thaamthakka Dheemthakka"2003Tamil
Mass"Mass"2004Telugu
Pen Singam"Adi Aadi Asaiyum Iduppu"2010Tamil
Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam"Live The Moment"2014Tamil
Khaidi No. 150"Ratthaalu"2017Telugu

Television
  • Masthaana Masthaana Part II (2007)

Discography

As a playback singer
Song(s) Year Film Composer
Motta Motta Paiyyan 2017 Motta Siva Ketta Siva Amresh Ganesh

As a Music Composer
Year Film
2007 Don
2012 Rebel

Awards
Filmfare Awards
Nandi Awards
Edison Awards
  • Manidha Neyam Award – (2015)
  • Extraordinary Performance (Male) – Kanchana 2 – Tamil (2015)
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gollark: I mean, there are comments, but not very good ones, and it's a bit of a mess.
gollark: I wonder if I should be worried about minoteaur now incorporating about 298 lines of frontend JS with ~0 comments.
gollark: Obviously.
gollark: Unfortunately, it's literally impossible to explain to you now.

References
  1. "Lawrence donates 1cr". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  2. "Raghava Lawrence launches Abdul Kalam Trust, donates Rs 1 cr". Hindustan Times. 4 August 2015.
  3. "Raghava Lawrence – Telugu Cinema interview – Telugu film director". Idlebrain.com. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  4. "Rediff on the Net, Movies: India rubber". Rediff.com. 25 April 1998. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  5. TeluguCinema.Com – TC Exclusive: Interview with choreographer-director Lawrence. Telugucinema.com. 11 February 2005
  6. "Rajini's spiritual suggestion". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  7. "Metro Plus Kochi / Music : My First Break – Raghava Lawrence". The Hindu. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  8. "Mass (Dammunte Kasko) - Telugu cinema Review - Nagarjuna, Charmy, Jyothika". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. "Style review. Style Telugu movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  10. "Tamil Movie review Muni Lawrence Raghavendra Rajkiran Vethika saran gemini production picture gallery images". Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  11. "Don Review: Wrong choice of Nagarjuna". Greatandhra. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  12. "Pandi review. Pandi Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  13. "Review : Rajadhi Raja (2009)". Sify.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  14. "Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Tamil Movie Reviews - Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Larencce - Lakshmi Rai - Padmapriya - Sandhya - Behindwoods.com". Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  15. "Kanchana review: High on emotions". greatandhra. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  16. "Rebel (2012) - Rebel Movie - Rebel Telugu Movie Cast & Crew, Release Date, Review, Photos, Videos". FilmiBeat.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  17. "Review : Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva review- Crass, loud and brainless (2017)". Sify.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  18. "Sivalinga Review {2.5/5}: Shivalinga isn't boring or crassy, and is passable, but isn't that too low a bar for a veteran like P Vasu to be settling for?". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  19. "Kanchana 3 movie review: Raghava Lawrence's film is loud, annoying and barely entertaining horror-thriller". Hindustan Times. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  20. https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-kanchana-3-box-office-collection-report-raghava-lawrence-starrer-film-beats-kalank-jersey-95895
  21. https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/raghava-lawrence-on-exiting-laxmmi-bomb-i-have-no-issues-with-akshay-kumar-1530890-2019-05-21
  22. "Raghava Lawrence helped a child in heart surgery". Cinibytes.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  23. "Page 1 of Raghava Lawrence Helped 128th Heart Surgery, Raghava Lawrence Helped 128th Heart Surgery Photos". Movies.sulekha.com.
  24. "Raghava Lawrence helped a child in heart surgery, 128th heart surgery done by Raghava Lawrence — Serials online SunTv VijayTv Polimer RajTv News". Kollyzone.org. 15 March 2016.
  25. "For Jallikattu, AR Rahman To Fast, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar And Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva Say Ban Must End". Ndtv.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  26. Corona Crisis
  27. "Actor-director Raghava Lawrence to donate 1 crore for Kerala". News Minute. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  28. "Kerala floods: Choreographer-turned-actor Raghava Lawrence to donate Rs 1 crore towards relief fund". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
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