S. Ve. Shekher

Sattanathapuram Venkataraman Shekhar (born 26 December 1950) better known as 'S. Ve. Shekhar' is a Tamil playwright and film actor. In 2006, he was elected as an MLA from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate from Mylapore.[1] He is the founder of Federation of Brahmin associations of South India (FEBAS).[2] He is presently one of the spokesperson for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).[3]

S. Ve. Shekar
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office 2006–2011
Preceded by	K. N. Lakshmanan
Succeeded by	R. Rajalakshmi
Constituency	Mylapore
Personal details
Born	Sattanathapuram Venkataraman Sekher (1950-12-26) 26 December 1950
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Other political affiliations	AIADMK, Indian National Congress
Children	Anuradha Ashwin

Personal life

Shekher was born in Iyer family to Sattanathapuram Venkataraman on 26 December 1950. He completed his diploma in Mechanical Engineering and post diploma in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.[4]

Shekher is married to Uma (Grand daughter of G. Ramanathan) - Renowned Tamil film Music director during 50's. The couple have a daughter named Anuradha and a son named Ashwin who debuted in the Tamil movie Vegam.

Politics

In 2006, he made an entry into politics by contesting and winning the Legislative Assembly Elections as an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate from Mylapore. He was expelled from AIADMK on 30 July 2009.[5] He later joined the Indian National Congress.[6][7] Shekher was also expelled from the party for working against the party's interests.[8] He later joined the BJP.

He later founded the Federation of Brahmin Associations of South India on 2009.[2]

Accusations on journalists which led to protests

S Ve Shekher shared a post on facebook on April 2018 which allegedly accused all women journalists in Tamil Nadu of sleeping around with the top bosses to get their jobs, when a female journalist complained against Bariwarilal purohit for patting her cheek at a press conference. The cyber-crime wing of the police filed a case under 'section 4' of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment on the basis of a complaint from the journalists association.[9][10]

A large number of journalists protested outside the BJP office, urging that the party to take action against Shekher. Later, a small number of journalists went to Shekhar's house and proceeded to protest, some were also arrested for throwing stones at his house. Various political leaders and journalists condemned his statements.[11][12][13]

On May 2018, the High Court of Madras denied him anticipatory bail.[14] The police had, however, stayed away from detaining Shekher, and even after the high court had refused the bail. He has been spotted in different functions with police security. He was later granted bail on June 2018.[15][16]

Speech on AIADMK's name

Shekher on August 2020 said that if AIADMK needs to survive in politics then the image of Anna must be removed from the party flag and the image of MGR should be kept instead. He told the AIADMK party to remove the name "Anna" from the party and keep it as "Amma" instead. The speech caused a huge stir among the AIADMK party members who condemned his statements. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami responded by saying that Shekher will speak anything he wants and he would hide away if any court cases comes up against him.[17][18][19]

Career

Shekher's stage career began in 1974 when he acted in his first stage play. He entered Kollywood as a still photographer for the film Mogham. Then, was spotted by director K. Balachander who provided him a role in the film Ninaithale Inikkum and later gave him a full-fledged role in his movie Varumayin Niram Sivappu.[20] After performing movie roles in around 96 Tamil films, Shekher moved into television, appearing in Vanna Kolangal and Nam Kudumbam. Vannakolangal created a sensation as it was re-telecast eight times in Doordarshan.[20]

Shekhar was a member and later a team leader of the popular drama troupe Mylapore Boys, who performed over 50 plays and over 100 drama skits from 1978 to 1988. Shekhar later became the president and the chairman of the troupe (by then renamed Mylapore Nataka Arangam). Most of his later plays and television dramas include characters from his troupe and from his former plays. Shekhar and his Mylapore Boys provided stiff competition for another popular drama troupe in Madras, The Crazy Troupe, led by Crazy Mohan. They have also worked together, with Crazy Mohan writing three plays for Shekher's troupe, Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam, One More Exorcist and Oru Sondha Veedu Vaadagai Veedagiradhu, and the cult comedy Katha Nayagan (1988 film) starring Pandiarajan and Shekher.

An expert in broadcast, sound effects and theatrics, he won the Best All India Programme Producer Award for four years in a row from RAPA (Radio & Television Advertisers & Producers Association).[20] As a photographer, his colour transparencies have adorned the covers of popular Tamil magazines. Encouraged by the success of a Singapore drama tour in 1973, he formed his drama troupe, Natakhapriya, which has so far staged 24 plays, with over 6,200 shows.[20] His troupe frequently tours the United States, Europe, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

Starting eight full-length plays at one go, from 7:47 A.M. to 1:49 A.M. of the following day, Shekher performed a record of sorts in April 1985. While this is acknowledged an unsurpassed feat of a stage artist in the Limca Book of Records, Shekher credits this to his audience and fellow artists. The Mylapore Academy adjudged him "The Best Comedian" for three years in a row. Wisdom Magazine chose him as the 1990s Best Comedian, the Jaycees honoured him as the Outstanding Youth. Awards galore, the state's prestigious Kalaivanar Award, Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram's Kalai Maamani Award and Best Drama Troupe Award are other awards he has won. The play Adhirshtakaaran was made into a film, Krishna Krishna, with Shekher in the lead.

Taking his technical proviso along with histrionics, he produced recently a television show, S. Ve. Shekher meets S. Ve. Shekher, where he is both the interviewer and interviewee. Some of the shows written by Sabhas and other agencies are Drama Superstar, Comedy King, Sirippalai Chirpi, Nathaka Vasool Chakravarthy, Nagaichuvai Nayagan, Nagaichuvai Thenral, Nagaichuvai Ilavarasan.

In 2015 S. Ve. Shekar got appointed as one of the members of Central Board of Film Certification.[21][22]

Plays

Number	Drama	Notes
1	Avan Oru Thani Maram
2	Kannamoochi
3	Thirumbi Vandha Manaivi
4	Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam
5	Oru Sonda Veedu Vadagai Veedagirathu/Tenant Commandments
6	One More Excorcist
7	Mahabharathathil Mangaathaa
8	Sathal Illayel Kaadhal
9	Kaadhula Poo
10	Kaattula Mazhai
11	1000 Udhai Vaangiya Aboorva Sigamani
12	Vaal Paiyan
13	Ellame Thamashthan
14	Ellarum Vaanga
15	Athirshtakkaaran
16	Yaamirukka Bhayam Yean?
17	Periya Thambi
18	Chinna Maapley Periya Maapley/Honeymoon in Hyderabad
19	Eppavum Nee Raja
20	Thathu Pillai
21	Alwaah
22	Periyappa
23	Kuzhandhaisaamy
24	Mega Vasool
25	Jodi Porutham	As actor and is directed by T. V. Varadarajan, presented by United Visuals troupe.
26	Idhu Ambalainga Samacharam
27	Inimay Nangathan
28	Sirippu Ungal Choice
29	Taxi Taxi
30	Vanna Kolangal
31	Modhi Vilaiyadu Paapa

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1979	Ninaithale Inikkum	Radio operator	Guest appearance
1980	Varumayin Niram Sivappu	Thambu
1980	Dhinamthorum Deepavali
1981	Sumai
1981	Kudumbam Oru Kadambam	Paramasivam
1982	Manal Kayiru	Kittumani
1982	Simla Special	Babu
1982	Payanangal Mudivathillai
1982	Gopurangal Saivathillai	Stanley
1982	Adhisayappiravigal
1983	Dowry Kalyanam	Manggupathi
1983	Uruvangal Maralam
1984	Raja Veettu Kannukkutty
1984	Oorukku Upadesam	Raman
1985	Poove Poochooda Vaa	David
1985	Chidambara Rahasiyam	Chidambaram
1986	Mr. Bharath	Ashok
1986	Piranthaen Valarnthaen
1986	Lakshmi Vandhachu
1986	Cinema Cinema
1986	Kodai Mazhai
1986	Sarvam Sakthimayam	Raju
1987	Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
1987	Enga Veettu Ramayanam	Ganesan
1988	Kathanayagan
1988	Sahadevan Mahadevan	Mahadevan	25th film
1988	Veedu Manaivi Makkal
1989	Thangamani Rangamani	Thangamani
1989	Thangamana Purushan
1989	Manandhal Mahadevan
1990	Avathellam Pennalae
1990	Vedikkai En Vadikkai	Saarangabaani
1991	Veetla Eli Veliyila Puli
1991	Pondatti Pondattithan	Rajagopal
1994	Pondattiye Deivam	Pattabi
1998	Jeans	Vellaiappan
1998	Kalyana Galatta
1998	Guru Paarvai		Guest appearance
1999	Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa	Ezhumalai
2000	Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela	Kadamba
2001	Krishna Krishna	Krishna	Also director
2001	Sigamani Ramamani
2001	Rishi
2002	Kamarasu		Special appearance
2004	Kadhal Dot Com
2004	Arasatchi	Lara's father
2005	Jithan
2006	Vallavan	Suchitra and Bala's father
2007	Vegam		also story and screenplay
2009	Enga Raasi Nalla Raasi	Sivashankar
2014	Ninaivil Nindraval
2016	Manal Kayiru 2	Kittumani	50th film, also story and screenplay
2018	Traffic Ramasamy	Judge

References

1. "Public (Election) Department || MLAs- TN Legislative Assembly 2006". www.elections.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
2. "7% quota for Brahmins urged". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
3. "Cartel Leading TN BJP, Alleges Senior Leader". Kumar Chellappan. The Pioneer. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
4. "Exclusive biography of #SVShekhar and on his life". FilmiBeat. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
5. "AIADMK expels two of its MLAs". The Hindu. 30 July 2009.
6. "Actor-politician S Ve Shekher joins Congress". The Hindu. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
7. "S Ve Shekher: Playing politics his own way". The Times of India. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
8. "S.Ve. Shekher, Karate Thiagarajan expelled from Congress". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 14 April 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 August 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
9. TNN (22 April 2018). "Cops register case against S Ve Shekher, no arrest yet | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
10. Vasudevan, Lokpria (12 June 2018). "Court summons to Tamil Nadu BJP leader for defamatory post against women journalists". India Today. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
11. Rao, Manasa (18 April 2018). "S Ve Shekher booked for FB post, case against journos who pelted stones at his house". The News Minute. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
12. "Offensive comments on women journalists: Strict action sought against TN BJP leader". The Week. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
13. Staff, Scroll. "After TN governor pats journalist on cheek, BJP leader shares offensive post about women reporters". Scroll.in. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
14. S, Mohamed Imranullah (10 May 2018). "Madras High Court denies anticipatory bail to S.Ve. Shekher". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
15. "S Ve Shekhar granted bail in Facebook case". Deccan Chronicle. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
16. "S.Ve. Shekher obtains bail". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 21 June 2018. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 August 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
17. "எஸ்.வி.சேகர் ஏதாவது பேசுவார் வழக்கு வந்தால் ஒளிந்து கொள்வார் : முதல்வர் பழனிசாமி | SV Sehgar will say something and hide if the case comes up | News7 Tamil". ns7.tv (in Tamil). Retrieved 6 August 2020.
18. "எஸ்வி சேகர் ஓடி ஒளியிர கேஸ், தலைவர்லாம் இல்ல- முதல்வர்". Samayam Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 6 August 2020.
19. Veerakumar (6 August 2020). "எஸ்வி சேகர் எந்த கட்சி? வழக்கு வந்தால் ஓடி ஒளிந்து கொள்பவர்தானே.. விட்டு விளாசிய எடப்பாடி பழனிச்சாமி". tamil.oneindia.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 6 August 2020.
20. T. Saravanan (15 May 2013). "Jest for fun". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
21. http://www.kollyinsider.com/2015/01/s-ve-shekher-in-new-9-member-team-of.html
22. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-telangana/actordirector-jeevitha-inducted-into-censor-board/article6804048.ece

External links

• Official web site of S Ve Shekher

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