Raju Sundaram

Raju Sundaram (born 6 September 1968) is an Indian dance choreographer, actor and film director, who works primarily in Tamil, Telugu films also appeared in Kannada and Malayalam films. He appeared as an actor in films like Jeans, 123 (2002), I Love You Da (2002), Quick Gun Murugun (2009); and directed one film, Aegan (2008).

He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in the song "Pranamam Pranamam" song from the film Janatha Garage (2016) and "Everest Anchuna" song from the film Maharshi (2019).

Personal life Sundaram is the son of dancer Mugur Sundar, and the elder brother of choreographers Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad.

Career Sundaram began his career assisting as a choreographer for his father Mugur Sundar's projects, before going on to lead troupes. He was a dancer in "Rukkumani Rukkumani" from Mani Ratnam's Roja (1992) and in Aasai (1995). He also regularly featured in cameo appearances in songs featuring his brother Prabhu Deva, with the pair making appearances in Shankar's early films Gentleman (1993) and Kaadhalan (1994). After being the lead choreographer for a few Kannada films, his first break came through Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda (1993), where he was given the chance to design dances for three songs. He then went on to become a choreographer of Tamil directors Mani Ratnam and Shankar, and worked on Amitabh Bachchan's album, Aby Baby (1996).

Shankar then offered Sundaram an acting opportunity in his romantic comedy Jeans (1998), where Sundaram played a full-length role. He played the lead in the sports drama I Love You Da (2002) alongside his former girlfriend and actress Simran. The Hindu stated the film proves "serious acting is simply not his cup of tea". After working on an unreleased film titled Colombus, he then went on to feature in the trilingual One Two Three (2003) alongside Jyothika and his brothers. The film opened to mixed reviews and did not perform well at the box office. He has since primarily operated as a choreographer, making a few exceptions by starring in comic roles in Jeeva's Unnale Unnale (2007), Prabhu Deva's Engeyum Kadhal (2011) and in the Telugu film, Action 3D (2013).

Filmography Choreographer

Director + List of film directing credits Year Title Language 2008 Aegan Tamil

Actor

Dancer + List of film dancing credits Year Film Song Language Notes 1991 Assembly Rowdy "Turpu Kondallo" Telugu Idhayam "Ohh Party Nalla" Tamil 1992 Donga Police "Devudanno Dandam Pedatha" Telugu Roja "Rukumani Rukumani" Tamil Suriyan "Thoongu Moonchi" 1993 Enga Thambi "Ithu Maanodum" Gentleman "Chikku Bukku" 1994Captain"Oyyari Buggameedu"Telugu Lockup Death "Current Banthu" Kannada Police War "Teenage Papa" Telugu Jai Hind "Bodhai Yeri Pochu" Tamil Kaadhalan "Kadhalikkum Pennin" 1995 Mounam "Dhammaro Abbaya Raro" Telugu Aasai "Meenamma","Shockkadikuthu Sona" Tamil 1997 Ullaasam "Valibam Vaazha Sollum" 1998 Sollamale "Allamma Samba" 1999 Kadhal Kavithai "Aalana Naal Mudhala" Circle Inspector "Urmila Urmila" Kannada Kya Soorat Hai "Kya Soorat Hai" Hindi Music Video, song from Bombay Vikings band En Swasa Kaatre "Jumbalaka" Tamil Ethirum Pudhirum "Thottu Thottu" Anantha Poongatre "Meenatchi Meenatchi" Poovellam Kettuppar "O Senorita" 2000 Sandhitha Velai "Muniyamma" Pennin Manathai Thottu "Saltkotta" Maayi "Thennagam Aalum" Rhythm "Ayyayyo Pathikichu" Chamundi "Usarvalli Kshnakondu" Kannada 2001Aks"Banda Bindas"HindiPoovellam Un Vaasam"Yukta Mookhey"Tamil 2002 Vicky "Chokku Smilea" 2003 Alai "Alai Adikuthu" 2005 Ullam Ketkumae "Mazhai Mazhai" Anniyan "O Sukumari" Modati Cinema "Ninnyna Nadyna" Telugu 2009 Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam "Evade Subramanyam" 2010 Pa. Ra. Palanisamy "Netru Varai Unakku" Tamil 2012 Vettai "Dhum Dhum" 2013 Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara "En Veettula" Endrendrum Punnagai "Ennatha Solla" 2014 Ennamo Nadakkudhu "Money Money" 2016 Thozha "Door Number One" Natpadhigaram 79 "Sollu Sollu Chellamma" Devi "Chal Maar" Abhinetri Telugu Tutak Tutak Tutiya Hindi Remo "Tamilselvi" Tamil Kaashmora "Dhikku Dhikku Sir" 2017 Bogan "Damaalu Dumeelu" 2019 Sangathamizhan "Oh My God" 2021 Tughlaq Durbar "Arasiyal Kedi"

Awards Won 1994 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer -Kaadhalan 1997 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Director – Many movies 1998 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer – Jeans 1998 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Director – Many movies 1999 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Master – Many movies 1999 Cinema Express Award for Best Dance Master – Many movies 2000 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Master – Many movies 2004 Dinakaran-Medimix Award for Best Choreographer – Ghilli 2004 Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South – Ghilli 2009 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Choreographer – Villu 2010 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer – Paiyaa 2010 Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South - Brindavanam 2011 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Choreographer – Engeyum Kadhal 2013 Edison Award for Best Choreographer – Biriyani 2016 National Film Award for Best Choreography-Janatha Garage (for "Pranaamam") 2019 National Film Award for Best Choreography-Maharshi (for "Everest Anchuna") 2007 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Unnale Unnale 2010 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Enthiran 2011 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Engeyum Kadhal 2014 South Indian International Movie Award for Best Dance Choreographer – Anjaan 2014 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Kaaviya Thalaivan

Legacy Choreographers and artists L. L. Cool Jayanth, Ravi Dev, Ashok Raja, Dinesh, Sridhar, Shobi Paulraj, Baba Bhaskar, Kalyan, Johny, Noble Paul, Prem Rakshith, Jani, Lalitha Shobi, Sathish Krishnan, Viji Sathish, Poppy, Japan Kumar, Sindhuja, Nanditha Jennifer, Raja, Shanthi Arvind, Anusha Swamy, Boopathy & Vasanthi had worked as dancers and assistants to him.