S. S. Rajendran

Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, director, producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema.

In this Indian name, the name Sedapatti Suryanarayana is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Rajendran.

S. S. Rajendran
எஸ். எஸ். ராஜேந்திரன்
Born
Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran

January 1928 (1928-01)
Usilampatti, Madras Presidency, British India
Died24 October 2014(2014-10-24) (aged 86)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesSSR
Latchiya Nadigar
Occupationfilm actor, director, producer, politician
Years active1951–2014
Spouse(s)S.S.R Pankajam, C. R. Vijayakumari,
ChildrenElangovan, Rajendra Kumar, Kalaivanan, Selvaraj, Ravi, Marudhu Pandian, Lakshmi Sitara

Film career

Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi,[1] directed by the directing duo Krishnan-Panju, with the character Gnanasekharan. He followed with Mudhalali, President Panchatcharam,[2] Pillai Kani Amudhu, Thalai Koduthan Thambi, Thedi Vandha Selvam, C. N. Annadurai's Edhayum Thangum Idhayam, M. Karunanidhi's Avan Pithana, Poompuhar and Modern Theatres Kumudham. SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran in Raja Desingu as Mohamed Khan and in Kaanji Thalaivan as Paranjothi. He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan such as Manohara, Rangoon Radha, Raja Rani, Deivapiravi, Aalayamani, Pachai Vilakku, Pazhani, Kungumam, Santhi and Kai Kodutha Dheivam.

Other notable films were Sorgavasal, Ammaiyappan, Ratha Kanneer, Kula Dheivam, Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum, Kalyanikku Kalyanam, Sivagangai Seemai, also in AVM's Kaakum Karangal, Poomalai and K. Balachander's Ethiroli.

His drama company SSR Nadaka Mandram staged plays including[3]Or Iravu (C. N. Annadurai), Manimagudam (M. Karunanidhi) and Thenpaandi Veeran (P. Nedumaran). He introduced and gave opportunities to actress Manorama.[4]

S.S. Rajendran with M.G.R.

Director K. S. Gopalakrishnan was introduced from his film Saradha (a silver jubilee hit) and Saradha Studios was established to commomerate the success of this film by its producer A. L. Srinivasan. Likewise, SSRs film Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum, in which his co-star was Raja Sulochana,[5] was a successful film in 1958.

Political life

He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party and became the first elected member of legislative assembly among actors in India when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a DMK candidate Theni (State Assembly Constituency) in 1962 Madras State legislative assembly election.[6] Subsequently, he was elected as a member (MP) of Rajya Sabha. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and won from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election. Later, he became a critic of M. Karunanidhi and of the DMK's family policies.[7]

Personal interest

Rajendran, being a strict follower of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy's policy of rationalism, never acted in films based on Ithihasas and Puranas. He earned the sobriquet "Ilatchiya Nadigar" (Idealistic Actor) as he never acted in films against his policy.[8][9][10]

Death

Rajendran was admitted into Chennai Meenakshi hospital on 20 October 2014 to treat issues related with lung infection. He died on 24 October 2014.[1][11]

Filmography

Actor
Year Film Role Director Notes Ref.
1952 Parasakthi Gnanasekaran Krishnan–Panju [12]
Panam Sundaram N. S. Krishnan
1954 Manohara Rajapriyan L. V. Prasad
Sorgavasal Muthu Manikam A. Kasilingam
Ammaiyappan Muthan A. Bhim Singh
Ratha Kanneer Balu Krishnan-Panju
1956 Raja Rani A. Bhim Singh In This Film he has got the title 'Latchiya Nadigar'
Kuladeivam Rajaiya Krishnan-Panju
Rangoon Radha Nagasundaram A. Kasilingam
1957 Mudhalali Vasanthan/Varathan Muktha V. Srinivasan
1958 Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum Rangan A. K. Velan
Anbu Engey Somu D. Yoganand
Petra Maganai Vitra Annai Prince Villalan/Neelan V. Ramanathan
Pillai Kaniyamudhu M. A. Thirumugam
Thirudargal Jakkirathai B. N. Rao
Thedi Vandha Selvam P. Neelakantan
1959 Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal Krishnan-Panju
Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai D. S. Rajagopalan
Sollu Thambi Sollu T. V. Sundaram
Kalyanikku Kalyanam Sadhasivam A. S. A. Sami
Sivagangai Seemai Muthalagu Servai K. Shankar
Pudhumai Penn M. Thiruvengadam
President Panchatcharam A. Bhim Singh
Naatukoru Nallaval K. Dasaratha Ramaiah
Alli Petra Pillai K. Somu
Thalai Koduthaan Thambi Indrajith T. R. Sundaram
Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa V. Srinivasan
1960 Thangam Manasu Thangam R. M. Krishnaswamy
Deivapiravi Ramu Krishnan-Panju
Sangilithevan Sangilithevan B. R. Panthulu
Raja Desingu General Mohammed Khan T. R. Raghunath
Petra Manam A. Bhim Singh
Thangarathinam M. A. Thirumugam
1961 Manapanthal Dr. Gunasekaran V. N. Reddy
Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Marumagale K. B. Tilak
Kumudham Kumaran Adurthi Subba Rao
Panam Panthiyile Krishna Rao
1962 Sarada Sambandham K. S. Gopalakrishnan
Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam P. Neelakantan
Senthamarai A. Bhim Singh
Muthu Mandapam A. S. A. Sami
Aalayamani Sekar K. Shankar
Deivathin Deivam Babu K. S. Gopalakrishnan
1963 Neengadha Ninaivu T. R. Raghunath
Kattu Roja Baskaran Adurthi Subba Rao
Naanum Oru Penn Bhaskar A. C. Tirulokchandar
Kungumam Superintendent Raja Krishnan-Panju
Vanambadi Sekhar G. R. Nathan
Kaanji Thalaivan Commander Paranjothi A. Kasilingam
Aasai Alaigal Durai Raj A. S. A. Sami
Kaithiyin Kathali A. K. Velan
1964 Pachai Vilakku A. Bhim Singh
Alli S. S. Rajendran 50th Film
Kai Kodutha Dheivam Ravi K. S. Gopalakrishnan
Vazhi Piranthadu A. S. A. Sami
Poompuhar Kovalan கோவலன் P. Neelakantan
Ullasa Payanam Selvam Satyam
1965 Pazhani Raju A. Bhim Singh
Santhi Ramu A. Bhim Singh
Paditha Manaivi Krishnaswamy
Kakkum Karangal Dr. Shankar A. C. Tirulokchandar
Vazhikaatti K. Perumal
Poomalai Sundaram P. Neelakantan
Maganey Kel V. Srinivasan
Anandhi Somu P. Neelakantan
1966 Avan Pithana? P. Neelakantan
Thedi Vandha Thirumagal Sathyam
Marakka Mudiyumaa? Manikam / Krishnan Murasoli Maran
Thaaye Unakkaga P. Pullaiah
Mani Magudam King Mani Maaran/Puthumai Pithan S. S. Rajendran
1969 Kula Vilakku K. S. Gopalakrishnan Guest Appearance
1970 Ethiroli K. Balachander
1982 Erattai Manithan K. Shankar 75th Film
1985 Anbin Mugavari Manivannan
1996 Rajali Shekhar Velu Prabhakaran
1998 Dharma Chief Minister K. R.
2000 Micro Thodargal- Mounam Oru Bashai Sundar K Vijayan Mini TV Series in Raj TV; Co-starred with Vennira Aadai Nirmala
2001 Rishi Chief Minister Sundar C.
2003 Dum IGP A. Venkatesh
2008 Theekuchi A. L. Raja

References
  1. "Veteran Tamil actor SS Rajendran dead". The Times of India. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  2. President Panchatcharam was a success at the box office.1959 THE HINDU 2/oct/2011
  3. P.R.Vasantha kumars'ilatchia selvam SSR 1987 'sironmani publications'
  4. Manorama in her lifetime award function said (jan 15 2008): "Those were days when even a fleeting presence on the screen was considered a huge achievement. It was Kannadasan Sir who offered the role. But actually I owe all this to S. S. Rajendran. It was he who invited me to Madras to act in the Kalaignar's (M. Karunanidhi) play Manimagudam. That play was a resounding success and I was recognised as an actress. Later, I faced the camera for the first time in an unfinished film that had Rajendran and Devika in the lead roles. Then came Maalayitta Mangai." recounts the actor.
  5. Rajasulochana's most successful film, according to critics and moviegoers, was "Thai Pirandhaal Vazhi Pirakkum". It was remade in Telugu as "Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu" with N. T. Rama Rao playing the lead. The film was directed by her husband, noted writer-director C. S. Rao. (4/sep/2011)memories linger Raja Sulochana,THE HINDU
  6. "GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MADRAS" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  7. "S S Rajendran: A Periyar follower, first Tamil actor to turn to politics". New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  8. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/%E2%80%98Latchiya-Nadigar%E2%80%99-SSR-No-More/2014/10/25/article2492415.ece
  9. http://sangam.org/autobiography-actor-politician-s-s-rajendran/
  10. http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/July10_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_SSR.html
  11. "பழம்பெரும் நடிகர் எஸ்.எஸ். ராஜேந்திரன் காலமானார்". Tamil Language. Daily Thanthi. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  12. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 327. ISBN 019-563579-5.
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