Raju Sundaram
Raju Sundaram is an Indian dance choreographer, film actor and director, who works primarily in Tamil, Kannada and mainly Telugu language films. He appeared as an actor in films such as but not limited to: Jeans, 123, I Love You Da and Quick Gun Murugan ; and directed one film, Aegan. He is the son of dancer Mugur Sundar, and the elder brother of choreographers Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad.
Choreographers and artists L. L. Cool Jayanth, Ashok Raja, Dinesh, Sridhar, Shobi Paulraj, Baba Bhaskar, Johny, Noble Paul, Lalitha Shobi, Sathish Krishnan, Viji Sathish, Poppy, Japan Kumar and Shanthi Arvind has worked as dancers and assistants to him. He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in the song pranamam pranamam song" from the telugu film Janatha Garage.
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 and in Aasai. 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 and Kadhalan. After being the lead choreographer for a few Kannada films, his first break came through Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda, 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.Shankar then offered Sundaram an acting opportunity in his romantic comedy Jeans, where Sundaram played a full-length role. His played the lead in the sports drama I Love You Da of which The Hindu stated the film proves "serious acting is simply not his cup of tea". He then went on to feature in the trilingual One Two Three alongside his brothers, with scenes shot in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. 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, Prabhu Deva's Engeyum Kadhal and in the Telugu film, Action 3D.
Filmography
Choreographer
- 1992 Chembaruthi
- 1992 Pandiyan
- 1992 Bol Radha Bol
- 1993 Walter Vetrivel
- 1993 Aagraham
- 1993 Uzhaippali
- 1993 Gentleman
- 1993 Udan Pirappu
- 1993 Kizhakke Varum Paattu
- 1993 Thiruda Thiruda
- 1993 Sendhoorapandi
- 1993 Gandharvam
- 1994 Sethupathi IPS
- 1994 Indhu
- 1994 Jai Hind
- 1994 Duet
- 1994 Rasigan
- 1994 Kadhalan
- 1994 May Madham
- 1994 Karuththamma
- 1994 Criminal
- 1995 Gundaraj
- 1995 Bombay
- 1995 Coolie
- 1995 Karnaa
- 1995 Chinna Vathiyar
- 1995 Aasai
- 1995 Makkal Aatchi
- 1995 Neela Kuyil
- 1995 Ayudha Poojai
- 1995 Barsaat
- 1995 Thotta Chinungi
- 1996 Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya
- 1996 Majhdhaar
- 1996 Love Birds
- 1996 Sengottai
- 1996 Indian
- 1996 Kadhal Desam
- 1996 Subash
- 1996 Mr. Romeo
- 1996 Nethaji
- 1996 Tu Chor Main Sipahi
- 1996 Krishna
- 1997 Sakthi
- 1997 Mrityudata
- 1997 Bhai
- 1997 Nerukku Ner
- 1997 Ratchagan
- 1997 Auzaar
- 1997 Ziddi
- 1998 Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai
- 1998 Jeans
- 1998 Aval Varuvala
- 1998 Harichandra
- 1998 Barood
- 1998 Sollamale
- 1998 Kannedhirey Thondrinal
- 1998 Kadhal Kavithai
- 1999 Thulladha Manamum Thullum
- 1999 En Swasa Kaatre
- 1999 Love You Hamesha
- 1999 Ethirum Pudhirum
- 1999 Poomagal Oorvalam
- 1999 Vaali
- 1999 Anantha Poongatre
- 1999 Nenjinile
- 1999 Kadhalar Dhinam
- 1999 Poovellam Kettuppar
- 1999 Kannodu Kanbathellam
- 1999 Nee Varuvai Ena
- 1999 Jodi
- 1999 Kannupada Poguthaiya
- 1999 Taj Mahal
- 1999 Millennium Stars
- 2000 Dada Sahib
- 2000 Pukar
- 2000 Kannukkul Nilavu
- 2000 Good Luck
- 2000 Sandhitha Velai
- 2000 Kandukondain Kandukondain
- 2000 Kushi
- 2000 Appu
- 2000 Pennin Manathai Thottu
- 2000 Parthen Rasithen
- 2000 Maayi
- 2000 Rhythm
- 2000 Priyamaanavale
- 2000 Snegithiye
- 2001 Albela
- 2001 Aks
- 2001 Daddy
- 2001 Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar
- 2001 Friends
- 2001 Badri
- 2001 Poovellam Un Vasam
- 2001 Vedham
- 2001 Samudhiram
- 2001 12B
- 2001 Shajahan
- 2001 Kadal Pookkal
- 2001 Majunu
- 2002 Punnagai Desam
- 2002 Red
- 2002 Kamarasu
- 2002 Thamizhan
- 2002 123
- 2002 Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai
- 2002 Indra
- 2002 Youth
- 2002 Run
- 2002 Arputham
- 2002 I Love You Da
- 2003 Aasai Aasaiyai
- 2003 Parasuram
- 2003 Paarai
- 2003 Thithikudhe
- 2003 Boys
- 2003 Alai
- 2003 Thirumalai
- 2003 Anjaneya
- 2003 Enakku 20 Unakku 18
- 2003 Soori
- 2003 Tagore
- 2004 Udhaya
- 2004 Ghilli
- 2004 Aethiree
- 2004 Madhurey
- 2004 Chellamae
- 2004 Run
- 2004 Attagasam
- 2004 Donga Dongadi
- 2004 Malliswari
- 2004 Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...
- 2004 Gudumba Shankar
- 2004 Sye
- 2004 Shankar Dada MBBS
- 2004 Hulchul
- 2005 '
- 2005 Thirupaachi
- 2005 Ji
- 2005 Maayavi
- 2005 Chandramukhi
- 2005 Sachein
- 2005 Ullam Ketkumae
- 2005 Anniyan
- 2005 Ponniyin Selvan
- 2005 Oru Naal Oru Kanavu
- 2005 Athadu
- 2005 Ghajini
- 2005 No Entry
- 2005 Dil Jo Bhi Kahey...
- 2005 Majaa
- 2005 Sandakozhi
- 2005 Jai Chiranjeeva
- 2006 Kalvanin Kadhali
- 2006 Kusthi
- 2006 Lakshmi
- 2006 Happy
- 2006 Unakkum Enakkum
- 2006 Varalaru: The History of Godfather
- 2006 Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam
- 2006 Bangaram
- 2006 Stalin
- 2006 Rakhi
- 2007 Pokkiri
- 2007 Godava
- 2007 Unnale Unnale
- 2007 Desamuduru
- 2007 '
- 2007 Thottal Poo Malarum
- 2007 Aarya
- 2007 Marudhamalai
- 2007 Lakshyam
- 2007 Yamadonga
- 2007 Tulasi
- 2008 Dhaam Dhoom
- 2008 Aegan
- 2009 Villu
- 2009 Ayan
- 2009 Ek Niranjan
- 2009 Wanted
- 2010 Aasal
- 2010 Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai
- 2010 Kacheri Arambam
- 2010 Paiyaa
- 2010 Don Seenu
- 2010 Sura
- 2010 Khaleja
- 2010 Enthiran
- 2010 Brindavanam
- 2011 Kaavalan
- 2011 Mappillai
- 2011 Engeyum Kadhal
- 2012 Vettai
- 2012 Billa II
- 2012 Julai
- 2013 Alex Pandian
- 2013 Singam II
- 2013 Chennai Express
- 2013 Pattathu Yaanai
- 2013 Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara
- 2013 All in All Azhagu Raja
- 2013 Endrendrum Punnagai
- 2013 Biriyani
- 2013 Bhai
- 2014 Jilla
- 2014 Bramman
- 2014 Ennamo Nadakkudhu
- 2014 Kochadaiiyaan
- 2014 Anjaan
- 2014 Sigaram Thodu
- 2014 Mukunda
- 2014 Kaaviya Thalaivan
- 2015 Srimanthudu
- 2015 Bajrangi Bhaijaan
- 2015 Anegan
- 2015 Kaaki Sattai
- 2015 Inimey Ippadithaan
- 2015 Kaaval
- 2015 Run Raja Run
- 2015 Jill
- 2015 Puli
- 2015 Inji Iduppazhagi
- 2015 Temper
- 2016 Nannaku Prematho
- 2016 Saagasam Enra Veerachayal
- 2016 Thozha
- 2016 Natpadhigaram 79
- 2016 24
- 2016 Express Raja
- 2016 Enakku Innoru Per Irukku
- 2016 Janatha Garage
- 2016 Remo
- 2016 Rekka
- 2016 Kaashmora
- 2016 Brahmotsavam
- 2017 Bogan
- 2017 Kadamban
- 2017 Kaadhali
- 2017 Winner
- 2017 Kodi Veeran
- 2017 Sakka Podu Podu Raja
- 2018 Mannar Vagera
- 2018 Junga
- 2018 Sandakozhi 2
- 2018 Bharat Ane Nenu
- 2019 Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu
- 2019 Saaho
- 2019 Rustum
- 2019 Maharshi
- 2019 Pailwaan
- 2019 Sanga Thamizhan
- 2019 Seeru
- 2019 Hero
- 2020 Darbar
- 2020 Kalathil Santhippom
- 2020 Raja Vamsam
- 2021 Bommai
- 2021 Maanaadu
Director
Actor
Dancer
Awards
;Won- 1994 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer -Kadhalan
- 1998 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer - Jeans
- 2004 Dinakaran-Medimix Award for Best Choreographer - Ghilli
- 2004 Filmfare Award for Best Dance Choreographer – South - Ghilli
- 2009 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Choreographer - Villu
- 2010 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer - Paiyaa
- 2011 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Choreographer - Engeyum Kadhal
- 2016 National award for Best choreographer-Janatha Garage
- 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