Janagaraj

Janagaraj is an Indian actor who has appeared in over 240 films predominantly in Tamil cinema as a comedian or in supporting roles. He has also starred in a few Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi films. He was one of the top comedians in the Tamil industry during 1980s and 90s.

Early life Janagaraj was born to Vadivelu and Muthulakshmi in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He joined the Auditor General's Office as a Junior Division Clerk in 1976 and worked part-time as a theatre artist and a stage artist due to his desire to act and perform. He was friendly with Delhi Ganesh, another AGS employee, who remained his closest lifelong friend.

Janagaraj joined director Bharathiraja as his unofficial assistant. After seeing his talent during the shooting of Kizhake Pogum Rail, Bharathiraja gave him the chance to act as a side character in the same movie. Later in Puthiya Vaarpugal, Bharathiraja gave Janagaraj another sensational character as a minor boy of the villain (G. Srinivasan). Janagaraj had acted with a trouser and baniyan for that movie.

Janagaraj found his break in 1980 in Bharathiraja's Nizhalgal and was among the most wanted comedians, having shared roles with major film stars like Sivakumar, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ramki, Sivaji Ganesan and with major film directors like Mani Ratnam, K. Balachander and Suresh Krishna.

Film career

Beginning In 1978, he was introduced by director Bharathiraja in Kizhake Pogum Rail and he continued to give chance to him in his films Puthiya Vaarpugal (1979), Kaadhal Oviyam (1982) and Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985).

Janagaraj's career however spun to silver in the 1980s. Starting with Nizhalgal (1980), continuing in Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Palaivana Rojakkal (1986), Muthal Vasantham (1986), Agni Natchathiram (1988), Rajadhi Raja (1989) and Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989). Janagaraj became a popular comedian in Tamil films. He is known for his peculiar voice and face expression. He has also acted in supporting roles in films like Nayakan (1987), Kizhakku Vasal (1990), Annaamalai (1992) and Baashha (1995). He was main sidekick for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth in 80s and early 90s films. Suruli Rajan's untimely death pushed him to forefront for roles that demanded comedy as well as character support.

Later years His latest roles were in King (2002), Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004) and M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi (2004) as supporting roles. He acted a negative role in Aayudham (2005). After a hiatus, Janagaraj made his acting comeback with 96 (2018) and Dha Dha 87 (2019).

Award Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Character Artiste (Male) for – King (2002)

Filmography Tamil films Year Film Role Notes 1978 Kizhake Pogum Rail Panchayat Member 1979 Suvarilladha Chiththirangal Palanisamy Puthiya Vaarpugal Periyavar's son 1980 Kallukkul Eeram Ilamai Kolam Suresh's friend Nizhalgal Moneylender 1981 Enakkaga Kaathiru Palaivana Solai Senthil 1982 Kalyana Kalam Kaadhal Oviyam Pakkathu Veetu Roja 1983 Paayum Puli Chinnasamy Mann Vasanai School Teacher Ilamai Kaalangal Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey Fake doctor Dhooram Adhighamillai 1984 Kuva Kuva Vaathugal Nooravathu Naal John Thambikku Entha Ooru Ramaiya Pudhumai Penn Shanthi Muhurtham Ingeyum Oru Gangai Unga Veetu Pillai Iru Medhaigal Mahesh Vai Sollil Veeranadi Ambigai Neril Vanthaal January 1 1985 Oru Kaidhiyin Diary Velappan Mannukketha Ponnu Chinna Pannai Kanni Rasi Shivaraman Oru Malarin Payanam Anni Anbin Mugavari Ambigai Neril Vanthaal Uyarndha Ullam Mani Muthal Mariyathai Rope-spinner Marudhani Vetrikani Paneer Selvam Sri Raghavendra St. Sudeendrar's disciple Puthiya Theerpu Constable Thiramai Padikkadavan Kabali Sindhu Bhairavi Tambura Musician Aan Paavam Kanagaraj 1986 Vikram Dubash Translator Selvakku Marakka Matten Neethana Antha Kuyil Anandha Kanneer Isai Paadum Thendral Kadalora Kavithaigal Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum Kaalamellam Unn Madiyil Palaivana Rojakkal Majunu Oru Iniya Udhayam Thavudu 1987 Kadhal Parisu Malini's uncle Raja Mariyadhai Hanumanthu Kudumbam Oru Koyil Valayal Satham Vilangu Makkal En Pakkam Ini Oru Sudhanthiram Vairagyam Jallikattu Janagaraj Kaadhal Viduthalai Theertha Karaiyinile Panchayat Nayakan Selvam Pookkal Vidum Thudhu Murugesan Neram Nalla Irukku Vedham Pudhithu Vaidehi's Suitor 1988 Annanagar Mudhal Theru Madhavan Paimara Kappal Poovukkul Boogambam Urimai Geetham Ezhumalai Ullathil Nalla Ullam Michael Raj's father En Bommukutty Ammavukku Lawyer Agni Natchathiram Lakshmipathi Therkathi Kallan Pandian Ganam Courtar Avargale Baski's mentor Manasukkul Mathappu Vasu Jeeva Dilli Soora Samhaaram Jana Unnal Mudiyum Thambi Nallavan Madhu Sathyaa Naidu Kodi Parakuthu Chinna Dhadha Kaliyugam Paravaigal Palavitham Shiva Puthiya Vaanam Pattabi Nethiyadi Mysore Manikam 1989 Poo Manam Oru Thottil Sabatham Nalaya Manithan Sergeant Shekar En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan Lawyer Thaai Naadu Samuel Vaai Kozhuppu Baskar Varusham Padhinaaru Rajamani Moodu Manthiram Rajadhi Raja Sethupathi Paattukku Oru Thalaivan Vicky En Rathathin Rathame Apoorva Sagodharargal Police Inspector Siva Kakka Kadi Varusham 16 Rajamani Manidhan Marivittan Manandhal Mahadevan Vetri Vizha Cameo appearance Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal Jolly Thiruppu Munai Pichandi Ponnu Pakka Poren Balu 1990 Idhaya Thamarai Absence of mind man Panakkaran Sabapathy Pachai Kodi Kandasaamy Arangetra Velai Naidu Seetha Boopathy's father Nila Pennae Aarathi Edungadi Kaaliyapatti Ramasamy Seetha Geetha Vellaiya Thevan Sathan Sollai Thattathe Gopinath Kizhakku Vasal Thayamma's father Anjali Watchman Keladi Kanmani Adaikkalam Nee Sirithaal Deepavali Vaigasi Poranthachu Chinnarasu Urudhi Mozhi Jagan Raja Kaiya Vacha Raghu Pudhiya Sarithiram 1991 Naan Pudicha Mappillai Pichayandi Vetri Padigal Govind Gopura Vasalile Bank clerk Pethaperumal Thanga Thamaraigal Nattai Thirudathey Aatha Un Koyilile Kaliappan Kaaval Nilayam Murali Archana IAS Perumalswamy Pondatti Pondattithan Kathiresan Veetla Ezhi Velila Puli Idhayam Doctor Manasara Vazhthungalen Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Ramasamy Nattukku Oru Nallavan Subhash's father Vaasalile Oru Vennila Gunaa Gunaa's uncle Thoothu Po Chellakkiliye Headmaster Subramani Kurumbukkaran 1992 Rendu Pondatti Kaavalkaaran Muthusamy Naangal Sundaram Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen Nadaswara Vidwan Nadodi Thendral Unakkaga Piranthen Radha's grandfather Annaamalai Panchachalam Vasantha Malargal Kalikaalam Endrum Anbudan Venkatachalam Pattathu Raani Viswanathan Roja Chajoo Maharaj Brahmachari Ganesan's uncle Pandiyan Vinayaga Solaiyamma Balraj's father Meera Comic Inspector 1993 Thangakkili Prathap Rajappa Vedan McDowell Pass Mark Captain Magal Inspector Paulraj Nallathe Nadakkum Rami Parvathi Ennai Paradi Venkatraman Pathini Penn Narayanan Idhaya Nayagan Jana 1994 Veetla Visheshanga Doctor Sree Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru Politician Purushanai Kaikkulla Pottukkanum Pondattiye Deivam Sundaram Uzhiyan Manickam Veera Rupa's father Oru Vasantha Geetham Sevvanthi Thaatboot Thanjavur May Madham Captain Karuththamma Kaliamma's husband Manju Virattu Gnanam 1995 Engirundho Vandhan Manikandan Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari Accountant Ekambaraeshwarar Baashha Gurumurthy Gangai Karai Paattu Puncture shop owner Paattu Padava Rangarajan Thottil Kuzhandhai Muthu Puthiya Aatchi Rajarathnam Indira Accountant Thirumoorthy Uma's father Nandhavana Theru Albert Thedi Vandha Raasa Vishwanath Rajavin Parvaiyile Pannaiyar En Pondatti Nallava 1996 Gopala Gopala Kuzhanthaivel 1997 Vaimaye Vellum Michael Arunachalam Kathavarayan Devathai Keerthi's father also singer for song "Kokkarakko Kozhi" Paththini Vidukathai Vasuki Kabali 1998 Ulavuthurai Duraisamy Udhavikku Varalaamaa Annamalai Kavalai Padathe Sagodhara Harichandra Doctor Kumbakonam Gopalu Lingamurthy 1999 Ullathai Killathe Chakravarthy Annan Thangachi Kodeeswaran Suyamvaram Mithrabuthan Jodi Nachimuthu 2000 Seenu Mani Puratchikkaaran 2001 Piriyadha Varam Vendum Kannatha's neighbour 2002 Dhaya Selvaraj Raajjiyam Governor's PA King Shanmugam's father Solla Marandha Kadhai Mudhaliar I Love You Da Sadasivam 2004 Jai Aayutha Ezhuthu Doctor New Doctor M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi Police officer 2005 Aayudham Naga's uncle 2006 Kalinga 47A Besant Nagar Varai 2007 Mudhal Kanave Jennifer's grandfather Thavam Mani 2008 Pattaya Kelappu Arunachalam 2018 '96 Watchman/Kaaval Theivam 2019 Dha Dha 87 Nayudu 2021 Obama Ungalukkaga 2024 Thatha Thatha Short film released on Shortflix Coins

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