S. Ve. Shekher

Sattanathapuram Venkataraman Shekher (born 26 December 1950) is an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter, politician and a Tamil-language playwright. In 2006, he was elected as an MLA for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from Mylapore. He is the founder of Federation of Brahmin associations of South India (FEBAS).

Personal life Shekher was born in a family to Sattanathapuram Venkataraman on 26 December 1950. He completed his diploma in Mechanical Engineering and post diploma in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

Shekher is married to Uma, who is the granddaughter of G. Ramanathan, a renowned Tamil film music director during 1950s. The couple have a daughter named Anuradha and a son named Ashwin who debuted in the Tamil movie Vegam.

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.

Back in 1973, having been inspired by his journey, when part of the Singapore drama team and also part of a popular drama team by the name 'Mylapore Boys' which were in stiff competition with the Crazy troupe, led by Crazy Mohan, went on to start his troupe, Natakhapriya, that has staged about 24 plays. His drama troupe went on to perform around the globe; Europe, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, United States of America and South America. He went on to feature in the Limca book of Records for having produced plays throughout the day, right from the morning, 7:47 A.M until the next morning, 1.49 A.M, which accounted for eight plays altogether, in the month of April, the year 1985. His play Adhirshtakaaran went on to be directed and produced into a film, Krishna Krishna, with him playing the lead himself. Shekhar did not just curtail himself to acting and performing but went on to write as well. He has released 32 books to date that contain his story and dialogue of all his stage plays. These books also include his jokes, his views; and answers to social topics put forth to him by his fans, which caused him to once again be mentioned in the Limca Book of Records. Shekhar went on to receive a doctorate for his Theatrical and Social services by the American Tamil University. Today he stands as one of those legendary playwrights who stand along with the members of drama troupes in the United States of America. After all the hard work he invested in his passion for theater, he went on to bag the 'Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram's Kalai Maamani Award' and the 'Best Drama Troupe' Award. Shekhar also won the Best All India Programme producer award for four consecutive years from the Radio and Television Advertisers and Producers Association – RAPA. He has not been acclaimed to be the 'Best Comedian' by just the Mylapore Academy, but also by celebrities such as Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He was also acclaimed to be the same by Wisdom magazine. Shekhar has also bagged the award of Tamil Nadu's prestigious Kalaivanar Award.

In 2015, S. Ve. Shekher got appointed as one of the members of Central Board of Film Certification.

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. He later joined the Indian National Congress. He was expelled from the Congress party for working against the party's interests. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2013 and quit the party in 2024.

He founded the Federation of Brahmin Associations of South India on 2009.

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.

In May 2018, the High Court of Madras denied him anticipatory bail. 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 in June 2018.

2020 Case for controversial speech On 3 August 2020, a complaint was registered against Shekher of trying to incite communal violence by making provocative statements in his Youtube channel, insulting the Indian national flag by giving it religious association and spreading misinformation against Chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. This caused social condemnations with police complaint to be registered. In September 2020, he was forced to apologize to the court unconditionally to consider for the police to not arrest.

Plays

Number Drama Notes 1 Avan Oru Thani Maram 2 Kannamoochi 3 Thirumbi Vandha Manaivi 4 Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam 5Oru 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 Actor Films YearFilmRoleNotes 1979 Ninaithale Inikkum Radio operator Uncredited role Andamaina Anubhavam Radio operator Telugu film; uncredited role 1980 Varumayin Niram Sivappu Thambu 1981 Aakali Rajyam Thambu Telugu film Sumai Anal Agnihotri Pattam Parakattum Kaathadi Kannan Kudumbam Oru Kadambam Paramasivam 1982 Payanangal Mudivathillai Pichumani Thambathyam Oru Sangeetham Madhoo Simla Special Bujji Babu Manal Kayiru Kittumani Sparisam Appalachari Marumagale Vaazhga Vaathu Varathachari Gopurangal Saivathillai Stanley Sadagopan Adhisayappiravigal Nallamuthu 1983 Uruvangal Maralam A unemployed Dowry Kalyanam Mangupathi Seerum Singangal Aadu Annamalai Subhamuhurtham Subbarayan Brahmacharigal Appalachari Oru Pullanguzhal Aduppudhugiradhu Mohammed Mudhaliar Thoongatha Kannindru Ondru Unni Kosthepu 1984 Oorukku Upadesam Paramu Raman Thiruttu Rajakkal Vengayin Maindhan Beggar Raja Veettu Kannukkutty Yaagapuri Eeyunni Gopalakrishna ha Naanayam Illatha Naanayam Deivasigamani "Sigamani" Maaman Machaan Dr. Mahesh Thanga Koppai Siva Dhinamthorum Deepavali Kuzhandhai Pei Veedu Saatha 1985 Naam Shekher Poove Poochooda Vaa David Pillai Panam Pathum Seiyum Shekhar Chidambara Rahasiyam Chidambaram 1986 Mr. Bharath Ashok Lakshmi Vandhachu Naai Shekhar Soru Parathaman Cinema Cinema Ravi Jigujigu Rail Maruthi Subramanium Sarvam Sakthimayam Kadappa Raju Kodai Mazhai Shekhar Piranthaen Valarnthaen Suresh Adutha Veedu Raju I.A.S. 1987 Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi Ballaraman Enga Veetu Ramayanam Pushpa Purushan 1988 Veedu Manaivi Makkal Sigamani Katha Nayagan Ramani Manaivi Oru Mandhiri Sahadevan Mahadevan Mahadevan 1989 Thangamani Rangamani Thangamani Thangamana Purushan Saravana Manandhal Mahadevan Mahadevan Thaaya Thaarama Balu 1990 Avathellam Pennalae Sivaramakrishnan Vedikkai En Vadikkai Paambuthanni 1991 Veetla Eli Veliyila Puli Rama Pondatti Pondattithan PSBB Rajagopalan 1994 Pondattiye Deivam Murukku Pattabi 1998 Jeans Vellaiappan Kalyana Galatta Velu Guru Paarvai Police Inspector Guest appearance 1999 Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa Ezhumalai 2000 Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela Kadamba 2001 Krishna Krishna Krishna Also director,also lyrics for song "Thalli Vechu",also singer for song "Naan Orakannal" Sigamani Ramamani Sigamani 2002 Kamarasu Dancer Special appearance 2004 Kadhal Dot Com Priya's uncle Arasatchi Lara's father 2005 Jithan Priya's father 2006 Vallavan Suchitra and Bala's father 2007 Vegam also story and screenplay 2009 Enga Raasi Nalla Raasi Sivashankara Baba 2014 Ninaivil Nindraval Nethaji Subash Chandrabose also screenplay 2016 Manal Kayiru 2 Kittumani also story and screenplay 2018 Traffic Ramasamy Judge

Television

Dubbing artist