Pandiarajan

Rathnam Pandiarajan is an Indian actor, director and comedian who has played leading roles in many humorous Tamil films and plays supporting and comedy roles.

Personal life Pandiarajan was born to Sulochana in Saidapet, Chennai in a lower-middle-class family. He has two sisters, Maheshwari and Geetha.

In 1986, he married Vasuki, daughter of the director, producer, and poet Avinasi Mani. They have three sons, Prithvi Rajan, Pallava Rajan and Prem Rajan.

Career During his early career, Pandiarajan aspired to become an actor but faced challenges due to his height and appearance. As a result, he decided to start his journey in the film industry as an assistant director. His interest in music led him to earn a diploma as “Isai Selvam” in 1977 from Thamizisai College. While working as an office assistant for writer Thooyavan, he crossed paths with director K. Bhagyaraj and eventually became his associate director. His journey led him in three of his film, Andha 7 Naatkal (1981), Thooral Ninnu Pochu (1982) and Darling, Darling, Darling (1982). His first venture as a director and lead actor Aan Paavam (1985) was a massive success at the box office.

He has co-starred with Sivaji Ganesan in Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu (1986) and Muthukkal Moondru (1987). Actors Seetha, S. J. Suryah, Mayilsamy, Kollangudi Karuppayee and Bengali actress Debashree Roy were introduced by him to Tamil cinema and so was Srikanth Deva as music director.

Pandiarajan is also an accomplished director and has directed several hit films including Subramaniya Swamy (1994), Gopala Gopala (1996), Doubles (2000), and Kai Vandha Kalai (2006).

He played leading roles like Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995), Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996) and Purushan Pondatti (1996) were hits.

He acted in the TV serial Mama Maaple on Sun TV.

He directed his first short film, Magan in 2004. It was selected for screening at the International Children Film Festival held in Hyderabad. The film dealt with the issues of child labour. In 2006, he directed another short film, Iru Thuligal, on polio awareness. Two years later, in 2009, he made one more film on organ donation. Titled Azhagu, acclaimed cinematographer Ravi Varman produced the film and also cranked the camera. His short film in English, Help, was nominated at the ArtDeco Film Festival 2011, at São Paulo in Brazil.

Filmography

Actor Year Film Role Notes 1981 Andha 7 Naatkal Flower seller in the temple Uncredited role 1982 Thooral Ninnu Pochu Mridangam artist in "Yen Soga Kadhaiye" Uncredited role Darling, Darling, Darling New Watchman Uncredited role 1985 Kanni Rasi Person praying Cameo appearanceAlso Director Aan Paavam Chinna Paandi Debut as actor Also director 1986 Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu Kannan 1987 Manaivi Ready Radha Also Director Muthukkal Moondru Pandian Yettiki Potti Balasubramaniam Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan Rajan Vaazhga Valarga Pandian Meendum Mahaan Pandian Aayusu Nooru Doctor Rathnam 1988 Oorai Therinjikitten Pandian / Rajan Katha Nayagan Mani Paatti Sollai Thattathe Selvam Jadikketha Moodi Viswanathan 1989 Kakka Kadi Thalaippu Seithigal Chitti Babu / Sabapathy Vaai Kozhuppu Vasu Ellame En Thangachi Raja Nethiyadi Venu Debut as music director Dilli Babu Dilli Babu Sariyana Jodi Raja Pudhu Mappillai Pandian Also writer Chinna Chinna Aasaigal Vasu 1990 Pachai Kodi Balu Manasukketha Maapillai Pudhu Varisu Pandian 1992 Oor Panchayathu Siva Purushan Enakku Arasan Seenu 1993 Aadhityan Chinna Paandi Poranthalum Ambalaiya Porakka Koodathu Lakshmi 1994 Subramaniya Swamy Velayudham Killadi Mappillai Rajaram Pandianin Rajyathil Pandian 1995 Valli Vara Pora Chinna Paandi Padikkara Vayasula Thaikulame Thaikulame Pandian Neela Kuyil Muthusamy 1996 Summa Irunga Machan Subramani Mappillai Manasu Poopola Manikkam Kaalam Maari Pochu Muthupandi Purushan Pondatti Pandian Gopala Gopala Gopalakrishnan,Usha's grandfather Dual roles1997 Nalla Manusukkaran Chinna Paandi Adrasakkai Adrasakkai Pandian 1998 Kavalai Padathe Sagodhara Janakiraman Kumbakonam Gopalu Gopal 1999 Manaivikku Mariyadhai Pandian Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum Subramani Suyamvaram Pallavan 2000 Doubles Ganesh Kannula Kaasa Kattappa Kannan 2001 Thaalikaatha Kaaliamman Paandi En Iniya Ponnilave Shiva Kabadi Kabadi Pandian Azhagana Naatkal Michael Guest appearance 2002 Andipatti Arasampatti Andipatti 2003 Ramachandra Thirunavukkarasu Vaseegara Photographer Guest appearance Anbu Thollai Singamuthu Military Guest appearance Galatta Ganapathy Ganapathy Vadakku Vaasal Ramakrishna Adhaanda Idhaanda 2004 Engal Anna Cheenu Jairam Sachin Undulkar Aarumugaswamy Arumugam Pethi Solla Thattathea Sombu Jollyman Settai Chinnasamy Giri Devaki's potential bridegroom En Purushan Ethir Veetu Ponnu Pandian Kathavasheshan Kathavarayan Malayalam film Sollattuma Paandi 2005 London Kathir Maayavi A film director Vairavan Ganesan Thiru Thiru Vathiyar 2006 Iyappa Saamy Pandian Perarasu Kandhasamy Kaivantha Kalai Ganesan 2007 Kalakkura Chandru Singampuli 2008 Anjathe Logu Ponmagal Vandhaal Pudhupaandi Nayagan Konjumani 2009 Thoranai Walter Vetrivel 2010 Thairiyam Dancer Guest appearance Kola Kolaya Mundhirika Madan 2011 Kasethan Kadavulada Duraisingam Velayudham Head Constable 2012 Vinmeengal Panchu Gaantham Rajesh Mirattal Babloo's father Mannaru Dancer Special appearance Thiruthani Mohanraj 2013 Kurumbukara Pasanga Sasi's father Kolagalam Venkatesh 2014 Rettai Kadhir Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah Roshan Kumar Vaayai Moodi Pesavum Health Minister Sundaralingam Pani Vizhum Nilavu Ruthramoorthy Aaivu Koodam Martin Leo 2015 Miss Pannidatheenga Appuram Varuthapaduveenga Pavithra's father Kadhal Agadhi Meenakshi's husband 2016 Mapla Singam District Collector Salaiyoram J. G. Ilamai Oonjal Raja Paandi Ner Mugam Police officer 2017 Mupparimanam Himself Cameo appearance Kavan Pillai, Senior News Editor of Zen One TV Aarambamae Attakasam Jeeva's father Tubelight Mouli Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay Anand's father Guru Uchaththula Irukkaru 2018 Street Lights Panjumittai Psychiatrist 2019 Natpe Thunai Sridhar's father Jaikka Povadhu Yaaru M. P Dhanusu Raasi Neyargale Thirumandha 2020 Taana Shakthi's father Naan Sirithal Psychiatrist Veerabadhran Ponmagal Vandhal Karpooram Kanni Raasi Thiruvengadam Kombu Karthick's Uncle 2021 Annaatthe Idithangi Extended Cameo appearance 2022 Riya - The Haunted House Super Senior Heroes Captain Direct release on Sun TV2023 Deiva Machan Paramanandham Partner Scientist Prathap Paatti Sollai Thattathe Pandian Sooragan Chidambaram 2024 Ippadiku Kadhal Harish Nair PT Sir K. Selvaraj 2026 Pookie Kailash's father

As director Feature films Year Film Notes 1985 Kanni Rasi Debut film as director Aan Paavam Debut film as actor 1987 Manaivi Ready 1988 Nethiyadi Also music composer 1994 Subramaniya Swamy 1996 Gopala Gopala 2000 Doubles 2001 Kabadi Kabadi 2006 Kaivantha Kalai His son Prithvi Rajan's debut film as hero

Short films Year Film Notes 2004 Magan

Television