R. Sundarrajan

R. Sundarrajan is an Indian film director, actor, comedian and writer for Tamil language films. Active primarily in the 1980s and the 1990s as a filmmaker, he appeared more often as an actor thereafter. Sundarajan is known for his silver jubilee films such as Payanangal Mudivathillai, Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), Rajadhi Raja (1989) and Thirumathi Palanisamy (1992). He directed over 25 films in his career and most of them became profitable ventures in the box office.

Career He has served as an actor, filmmaker and a director. He is very well appreciated and a name of honor in Tamil film industry. He began his career as an actor in 1981, but he subsequently made his directorial debut a year after making his acting debut, with Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982). He collaborated with actor Mohan for his maiden directorial venture, Payanangal Mudivathillai and the film became a sleeper hit and ran for over 175 days in the box office. He furthered his collaboration with Mohan through films including Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru (1983), Saranalayam (1983), Naan Paadum Paadal (1984), Kunguma Chimil (1985) and Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986). Apart from Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru, the other films were well received at the box office and became commercially successful.

Balu Anand served as Sundarrajan's assistant director for 35 years and there is a backstory of how Balu Anand became an assistant director of Sundarrajan. During the 1970s, Balu Anand who hailed from Coimbatore sought assistance by walking into R. Sundarrajan's office with the intention to secure a job for his livelihood. Sundarrajan initially hesitated to include Balu Anand with him as an assistant, but Balu Anand's determination literally impressed Sundarrajan. Balu Anand told Sundarrajan "Give me five rupees and I can eat for a day, give me a job in films and I can feed myself for a lifetime".

He made his maiden collaboration with Vijayakanth through Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), which eventually became a turning point in Vijayakanth's acting career. R. Sundarrajan convinced Vijayakanth to act in romantic film in a soft role and Vijayakanth agreed to play a "soft role" at a time when he starred in many action films and was branded an action hero. It was through R. Sundarrajan, Vijayakanth changed his mind to commit to such a film genre, although it was not Vijayakanth's comfort zone. R. Sundarrajan then collaborated with his long-time assistant director Balu Anand to write screenplay for Balu Anand's debut directorial venture Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri (1985), which starred Vijayakanth in the main lead role.

He also join hands with Vijayakanth for his directorial venture Amman Kovil Kizhakale (1986) and the film also became a box office success. Vijayakanth also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil for his performances in Amman Kovil kizhakale and R. Sundarrajan once again brought out the soft lighter version of Vijayakanth through the film. He is also known for his humorous dialogue deliveries in films. One of his notable hilarious comedy scenes came in Seethanam (1995), where he gives an empty paper to a trespasser and asks him to throw it as it is empty by saying there is nothing written on it.

He was also one of the 14 directors who helped to direct the film Suyamvaram (1999), which was shot and filmed within 24 hours. Suyamvaram set the Guinness World Record for casting the most stars in a film and also for being the quickest ever feature-length film made in the world. R. Sundarrajan has shared screenspace with prominent actors including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Sarath Kumar, Prabhu, Pandiarajan, Murali, Vijay, Ajith Kumar and Suriya.

Sundarrajan's last movie as director came in 2013 with Chithirayil Nilachoru. He also regularly attends meetings of T. Nagar Humour Club which was launched in 2008.

Personal life Sundarrajan is married to his wife Rajeshwari in 1974. He has three sons: Ashok, Karthik and Deepak. Karthik died in 2004 in a road accident. Deepak made his directorial debut in 2021 with Annabelle Sethupathi. Ashok acted in his father's directorial Chithirayil Nilachoru.

Filmography As director

YearFilmNotes 1982 Payanangal Mudivathillai Antha Rathirikku Satchi Illai 1983 Saranalayam Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru 1984 Naan Paadum Paadal Vaidehi Kathirunthal 1985 Sugamana Raagangal Kunguma Chimil 1986 Amman Kovil Kizhakale Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu Thazhuvatha Kaigal 1988 Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye En Jeevan Paduthu 1989 Rajadhi Raja 1990 Thalattu Padava Engitta Mothathay 1991 Sami Potta Mudichu 1991 Oyilattam 1992 Thirumathi Palanisamy 1994 En Aasai Machan 1995 Gandhi Pirantha Mann Seethanam 1997 Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen 1999 Suyamvaram 2013 Chithirayil Nilachoru

As actor Films Year Film Role Notes 1981 Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile 1991 Sami Potta Mudichu Also Director Oyilattam Aarumuga Udayar Also Director 1992 Therku Theru Machan Paramasivan Bharathan Gangadharan's man Pattathu Raani Guest appearance Pondatti Rajyam Thirumathi Palanisamy Kunju Gounder Also Director 1993 Suriyan Chandiran Madhumathi Rajadhi Raja Raja Kulothunga Raja Marthanda Raja Gambeera Kathavaraya Krishna Kamarajan Kattalai Natarajan Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam Sandhya's father Sakkarai Devan Appu Udan Pirappu Poranthalum Ambalaiya Porakka Koodathu Veerapaandi Rajadurai Enga Muthalali Narayana Reddy Purusha Lakshanam Rajgopal 1994 Amaidhi Padai Subramaniya Swamy Rathnasamy Rasa Magan Appachi Namma Annachi En Aasai Machan Also Director May Madham All in All Sathyavan Anjaneya Karuththamma Soosai Uncredited role Veera Padhakkam 1995 Engirundho Vandhan Sundaram Karuppu Nila Sundaram Ellame En Rasathan Thirumoorthy Geetha's brother Chellakannu Nagarajan Anbu Magan Marumagan Muniyandi Gandhi Pirantha Mann Also Director Raasaiyya Kili's cousin Mr. Madras Aruna's son Thaikulame Thaikulame Makkal Aatchi Seethanam Govindan Also Director 1996 Amman Kovil Vaasalile Kaalam Maari Pochu Murugesan Veetukkulle Thiruvizha Enakkoru Magan Pirappan Ranganayaki's husband 1997 Dharma Chakkaram Kannukku Pillai Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen Govinda Also Director Gopura Deepam Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga Principal Venkatraman Mannava Eashwar's father Suryavamsam Sadhasivam Periya Idathu Mappillai Gopalakrishnan's father Kalyana Vaibhogam Ganesan Janakiraman Janakiraman's uncle 1998 Marumalarchi Rasu Padayachi's uncle Kondattam Bhaskaran Ini Ellam Sugame Mani Santhosham Veera Thalattu Ninaithen Vandhai Savithri's uncle Ponnu Velayira Bhoomi Arumugam Natpukkaga Kannukku Pillai Kalyana Galatta En Aasai Rasave Senthooram Sadayappan Ponmaanai Thedi Chinna Paiyan 1999 Mannavaru Chinnavaru Minor Rajamani Chinna Durai Annan Sundari's father Periyanna Simmarasi Minsara Kanna Inspector Shiva Kumar Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa Paattali Kaalaiyan 2000 Vallarasu Raheem's brother Simmasanam Kannamma's father Unnai Kann Theduthey 2001 En Purushan Kuzhandhai Maadhiri Maheswari's father Sigamani Ramamani Neelakandan, Sigamani's father Viswanathan Ramamoorthy Ramamoorthy's father Kabadi Kabadi Arumugam 2002 Unnai Ninaithu Chittoor Chinnamani Namma Veetu Kalyanam Game 2003 Anbu Thollai DevarajanPriyamaana Thozhi Ashok's father Vani Mahal Enakku 20 Unakku 18 Train Passenger (Guest Appearance) 2005 Kaatrullavarai Kannukku Pillai Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy Elangovan's father-in-law 2006 Thirupathi Thirupathi's father 2007 Ennai Paar Yogam Varum Anandaraman 2008 Thodakkam Kuselan Srinivasan Kathanayakudu Telugu film Dasavathaaram Member of Legislative Assembly 2009 Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadhali 2010 Ambasamudram Ambani Kaadhal Solla Vandhen Nanu Prabhu's father Aattanayagann Lingam 2011 En Ullam Unnai Theduthey 2012 Kandathum Kanathathum 2013 Chandhamama Chief Editor Chithirayil Nilachoru Sundaram Also Director 2014 Poojai Temple Trustee Lingaa Sambandham 2015 Naanum Rowdydhaan Ghilli's advisor Oru Naal Iravil Film director 2017 Saaya 2018 Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa Tamizh Padam 2 Bharath Pattinapakkam 2019 Pettikadai Perazhagi ISO 2020 Ooratchi Ondriyam 2021 Calls Security Alagar Boom Boom Kaalai Michaelpatty Raja Raja's father Namma Oorukku Ennadhan Achu Chinna Pannai Periya Pannai 2022 Paruva Kadhal 2023 Unnaal Ennaal 80s Buildup Kathir's grandfather Moothakudi 2024 Vaa Pagandaya Vidinja Enakku Kalyanam 2025 Madha Gaja Raja Inspector Srinivasan Kudumbasthan Palanichamy Yaman Kattalai Others Kasinathan 2026 Sathyavan Savithiri

Television

As writer only YearFilmNotes1985 Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri 1986 Poove Ilam Poove 1987 Idhu Oru Thodar Kathai

As lyricist

As singer