Ramarajan


Ramarajan is an Indian Tamil film Actor, Writer and Director who specialised in acting and directing films on village-based subjects. He is also known as Makkal Nayagan. Many of his films were successful. He was called the rural box office emperor in the late 1980s. He is known for his colourful gaudy costumes and excessive makeup. His pairings with Rekha and Gauthami in Tamil cinema were his biggest hits. He has worked in more than 40 films and has directed more than 10 films.

Career

Ramarajan hails from a small town Melur situated near Madurai. He grew up from a Cinema entrance ticket validator and plantain seller to a cinema producer. Known for his films with rustic simplicity, he had disappeared from filmdom following a string of failures. His films were so popular and made big at box-offices that they were equally competent to Superstar Rajinikanth and Kamalhassan's films. Considered as the man of the rural audiences, he was nicknamed Vasool Chakravathi. Many of his films based on village-based subjects were a big hit in B and C centres. He is known for his dark shirts and colourful costumes. His film Karagattakaran was a block buster which ran for 365 days in Madurai and in Chennai.
In the late 1990s, Ramarajan's career began to falter with several of his films failing at the box office or becoming stalled. His Anbe Vaa and Annan had a delayed release, while films such as Sathya Thaai with Suvaluxmi, Thambikku Thaai Manasu with Sanghavi and Kannuppada Povvudhu were cancelled midway through shoot. Another project Madurai Thangam which was launched in 2006 was also shelved.
He took a plunge in politics and managed to become an MP. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Tiruchendur constituency on the AIADMK ticket in 1998. His film and political career both failed for a certain period. His last low budget film Medhai got released on 2012 which largely went unnoticed and failed.

Political career

He was elected to 12th Lok Sabha as an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Thoothukudi
Lok Sabha constituency in 1998.

Personal life

Ramarajan fell in love with actress Nalini and they got married in 1987. However, they divorced citing differences in their relationship and got divorced in 2000. They have twin children, daughter Aruna, and son Arun born in 1988. His Daughter Aruna is married to Ramesh Subramanian on 6 May 2013. His Son Arun is married to Pavithra on 25 April 2014.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNote
1977Meenakshi KungumamUncredited
1979Anbe SangeethaUncredited
1980Theru VilakkuUncredited
1981Pattam ParakattumUncredited
1983Soorakottai SingakuttiUncredited
1984Sattathai Thiruthungal
1984Vengayin MaindhanUncredited Villager in climax
1985Mannukketha PonnuAlso director
1985MarudhaniAlso director
1985Hello Yaar PesurathuAlso director
1986Marakka MaattenAlso director
1986Solai PushpangalAlso director
1986Namma Ooru Nalla OoruRamuDebut as Hero
1987Enga Ooru PattukaranSeethan
1987Evargal Indiyargal
1987Ondru Engal JathiyeAlso director
1987Neram Nalla Irukku
1987Gramatthu Minnal
1988Shenbagamae ShenbagamaeThangaraasu
1988Ennai Vittu Pogaathe
1988Raasave Unnai Nambi
1988Rayilukku Neramachu
1988Paarthal Pasu
1988Melam Kottu Thali Kattu
1988Enga Ooru Kavalkaran
1988Namma Ooru Nayagan
1989Pongi Varum Kaveri
1989Enne Petha Raasa
1989Enga Ooru Mappillai
1989KaragattakaranMuththaiyaa
1989Raaja RaajathanRaja
1989Anbu Kattalai
1989Thangamana Raasa
1989Manasukketha Maharasa
1990Paattukku Naan Adimai
1990Thangathin Thangam
1990Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu
1990Puthu Paatu
1991Naadu Adhai Naadu
1991Annan Kattiya Vazhi
1991Mill ThozhilaliBalu
1991Oorellam Un Pattu
1991Nenjamundu Nermaiundu
1992Ponnuketha Purushan
1992Villu PattukaranKalimuthu
1995Thedi Vandha Raasa
1996Amman Kovil VaasalileAlso director
1996Namma Ooru RaasaAlso director
1997Gopura DeepamAlso writer & director
1997Vivasaayi MaganAlso writer & director
1997Themmangu Paattukaaran
1999Poomaname Vaa
1999AnnanVelan
2001Ponnana Neram
2001Seerivarum KaalaiKaalayanAlso writer & director
2012Medhai