T. Rajendar

Vijay Thesingu Rajendar, also known as T. R., is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, musician, cinematographer, film distributor and politician who works primarily in the Tamil film industry.

Since 2018, he has been focusing primarily on singing film songs.

Personal life T. Rajendar is married to former actress Usha Rajendar. They have two sons, Silambarasan and Kuralarasan, and one daughter, Ilakiya. His wife has served as the producer for some of his films, such as Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), starring Silambarasan. He lives in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Film career Rajendar started off in the Tamil film industry making successful films which included him as an actor, playback singer, dancer and scriptwriter. He gained popularity through his one-of-a-kind style of acting. He normally serves as, but not limited to director, actor, songwriter, art director, production manager and playback singer. During the 1980s, all his movies were blockbusters, running for years and the songs were also well appreciated. He is known for introducing new faces in his movies, and many of the actresses who debuted in his movies have been successful in South Cinema, including Amala, Nalini, Jyothi, Jeevitha and Mumtaj.

After some years, Rajendar's films started to decline in popularity because his films became too predictable, tending to follow the same storyline and oratory style of repetitious dialogues with little if any meaning. For example, his films always contain a sentimental scene involving the hero's younger sister in distress, coupled with the same rhyming rhetoric and gestures. Originally he wanted to start a 24-hour TV channel but could not, due to problems arising while securing a license. The channel, apart from broadcasting his movies and speeches, tends to echo sentiments towards the plight of Tamils (especially women) in Sri Lanka. He previously owned a magazine called Usha.

Rajendar also distributes films under his home banner "Simbu cine arts". His latest film distribution, as of mid-2011 is his son Silambarasan's film Vaanam, which will be distributed in the Chennai and Madurai region.

Political career Rajendar founded the Thayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam party in 1991 after he had been expelled from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. In 1996, after Vaiko's departure from the DMK and the formation of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rajendar's TMK merged with the DMK. Rajendar left the DMK again in 2004, to form the All India Latchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Before expulsion, he was the propaganda secretary of DMK and was elected from Park Town constituency in the 1996 Assembly polls. He further supported the AIADMK in the 2006 Assembly elections. After those 2006 elections, the DMK came back to power and he was made vice-chairman of the Small Savings Scheme. He subsequently quit the post.

Filmography Year Title Credited as NotesRef. Director Writer Producer Cinematographer 1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Vasantha Azhaippugal 1981 Rail Payanangalil 1982 Nenjil Oru Raagam Raagam Thedum Pallavi 1983 Uyirullavarai Usha Thangaikkor Geetham 1984 Uravai Kaatha Kili 1985 Unakkaga Oru Roja 1986 Mythili Ennai Kaathali 1987 Oru Thayin Sabhatham Pookkal Vidum Thudhu 1988 En Thangai Kalyani 1989 Samsara Sangeetham 1991 Shanti Enathu Shanti 1992 Enga Veetu Velan 1993 Sabash Babu Pettredutha Pillai 1994 Oru Vasantha Geetham 1995 Thai Thangai Paasam 1999 Monisha En Monalisa 2001 Sonnal Thaan Kathala 2002 Kadhal Azhivathillai 2007 Veerasamy 2016 Idhu Namma Aalu

As an actor Year Title Role Notes Ref.1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Hindi-singing student Cameo appearance Vasantha Azhaippugal Kandar 1981 Rail Payanangalil Train passenger Cameo appearance in song "Vasantham Paadi Vara" 1982 Nenjil Oru Raagam Geetha's brother Raagam Thedum Pallavi Actor, Foreign director (voice) Cameo appearance 1983 Uyirullavarai Usha Chain Jayapal Thangaikkor Geetham Soolakaruppan Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil 1984 Uravai Kaatha Kili Bhaskar, Chinnathambi Dual roles 1986 Mythili Ennai Kaathali Manickam 1987 Oru Thayin Sabhatham Rajkumar 1988 En Thangai Kalyani Velu 1989 Samsara Sangeetham Kaalidasan 1991 Santhi Enathu Santhi Santhi's lover 1993 Sabash Babu Veluchamy Guest appearance 2017Kavan Mayilvaganan Vizhithiru Himself Guest appearance in song "Papparappa"

As lyricist Year Film SongsComposer Ref. 1981 Kilinjalgal All songsHimself 1982 Sattam Sirikkiradhu 1985 Engal Kural 1986 Pookkalai Parikkatheergal 1987 Muthukkal Moondru Cooliekkaran Poo Poova Poothirukku Ivargal Varungala Thoongal Aayusu Nooru 1989Enga Veettu Deivam 1996 En Aasai Thangachi 1996 Pombala Siricha Pochu 2002 Sri Bannari Amman 2021 Maaligai "Omkara" Mahesh Mahadev 2022Astakarmma"Thatlam Thatlam"L .V. Muthu Ganesh

As distributor Vaanam (2011) Vaalu (2015) Kadamaiyai Sei (2022)

Television Super Kudumbam - Sun TV Arattai Arangam - Sun TV Nyayam Endrum Solven - Vijay TV

Discography As composer Year Film 1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Vasantha Azhaipugal 1981 Rail Payanangalil Kilinjalgal 1982 Nenjil Oru Raagam Sattam Sirikkiradhu Raagam Thedum Pallavi 1983 Uyirullavarai Usha Thangaikkor Geetham 1984 Uravai Kaatha Kili 1985 Unakkaga Oru Roja Engal Kural 1986 Pookkalai Parikkatheergal Mythili Ennai Kaathali 1987 Muthukkal Moondru Oru Thayin Sabhatham Cooliekkaran Poo Poova Poothirukku Ivargal Varungala Thoongal Pookkal Vidum Thudhu Aayusu Nooru 2015 "Papparappa" Vizhithiru Sathyan Mahalingam "Summa Polama" Chikkiku Chikkikkichu Vijay Benjamin 2016 "Maaman Waiting" Idhu Namma Aalu Kuralarasan "Raangu" Theri G. V. Prakash Kumar "Damakutalaan" Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga C. Sathya 2017 "Happy New Year" Kavan Hiphop Tamizha 2018 "Monkistha Kinkistha" Koothan Balz_G 2022"Thatlam Thatlam"AstakarmmaL .V. Muthu Ganesh2023"Adhirudha"Mark AntonyG. V. Prakash Kumar"Goli Soda" Paatti Sollai Thattathe Vijay Shankar 2024"Jiloma"The BoysArun Gautham2025"Kaalaiyile Koovudhu"VettuDharma Teja"Chikang Gokang"Leg PieceBjorn Surrao "Chikitu" Coolie Anirudh Ravichander "Dandanakka Life'U"AaromaleySiddhu Kumar