A. V. M. Rajan

Last updated

A.V.M. Rajan
Born
Shanmugasundaram

(1935-07-26) 26 July 1935 (age 88)
Other namesA.V.M Rajan
Occupation(s)Preacher, actor, film producer
SpousesMeenakshi (m.1957)
Pushpalatha
(m.1964-present)
ChildrenRajan Rathnavel
Rajan Amuthan
Saraswathi (Sachu Venkat)
Ganesh Rajan
Sis.Rachel
(Formerly Mahalakshmi)
Dr. Catherine
(Formerly Abhirami)

Shanmugasundaram, known by his stage name A.V.M. Rajan, (26 July 1935) is an Indian preacher and former actor who was active in Tamil cinema during the 1960s and 1970s.

Contents

Early life

Born in Pudukottai, Shanmugasundaram was very eager to join cinema though he held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Madras University. [1] His higher secondary was at Christian Sweden Mission High School. His parents wanted to see him as a police officer. He came to Madras to write the examination, but didn't fit for the exam. He was not confident as he couldn't straighten his left hand fractured at the age of 14. Instead, while working at Raj Bhavan Guindy Chennai, he tried his luck in cinema knocking on the doors of every film company to earn a better income. At long last, his relentless efforts yielded result by getting him the opportunity to enter cinema through the film Aayiram Kaalathu Payiru in which he was introduced as "Raja B.A.". Soon after, he was signed to act in the AVM's film Naanum Oru Penn also. [2]

Rajan acted in a movie produced by AVM Productions called Naanum Oru Penn, a film that starred S.S.Rajendran in the lead role. Hence he became 'A.V.M.' Rajan. Tamil actress Pushpalatha appeared in the same picture, and they became a couple and later married. They subsequently acted as a pair in many films, including Karppooram (1967) which he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. AVM Rajan has two daughters, the elder daughter Mahalakshmi was an actress between the 80s–90s. On 19 January 1984, [3] through a personal encounter with God, Rajan converted and there after became a full-time Christian preacher since 1988 [4] and since then has stopped acting in movies and dramas. His wife Pushpalatha is a Catholic by birth. She hails from Coimbatore. Following Rajan's conversion, his family too is serving full-time Ministry. [5]

Filmography

Actor
YearFilmRoleLanguageDirectorCo-starsNotes
1959 Sivagangai Seemai Tamil K. Shankar S. S. Rajendran His first signed movie but his scenes were chopped off.
1963 Naanum Oru Penn BaluTamil A. C. Tirulokchandar S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, Pushpalatha
Aayiram Kalathu Payir RatnamTamilT.S. DurairajT.S. Durairaj, Balaji, Devika First Movie but Naanum Oru Penn got released first
Paar Magale Paar SundaramTamil A. Bhimsingh Sivaji Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, Pushpalatha
Thulasi Maadam GopalTamilK. B. SrinivasanGemini Chandrakantha, S. N. Lakshmi, Sharadha, M. S. Sundari Bai
1964 Alli BabuTamil S. S. Rajendran S. S. Rajendran, R. Vijayakumari, Sowcar Janaki, Pushpalatha
Chitrangi JeyveeranTamilR. S. Mani Pushpalatha
Pachchai Vilakku ManiTamil A. Bhim Singh Sivaji Ganesan, S. S. Rajendran, Pushpalatha
Andavan Kattalai RamuTamil K. Shankar Sivaji Ganesan, Devika, Pushpalatha
Main Bhi Ladki Hoon Hindi A. C. Tirulokchandar Dharmendra, Pushpalatha Remake of Naanum Oru Penn
1965 Ennathan Mudivu KumaranTamil K.S. Gopalakrishnan T.S Balaiah, V.S. Ragavan, Anjali Devi In This Film He has got the title 'Nadippu Sudar'
Veera Abhimanyu AbhimanyuTamil V. Madhusudhana Rao Gemini Ganesan, Kanchana, Anjali Devi
Enga Veetu Penn ChandranTamil Tapi Chanakya Jaishankar, Vijaya Nirmala
1966 Kodimalar Thambi DuraiTamil C. V. Sridhar R. Muthuraman, C. R. Vijayakumari, Kanchana
Thattungal Thirakkappadum DoctorTamil J. P. Chandrababu R. S. Manohar, Savithri, J. P. Chandrababu, K. R. Vijaya, Cho Ramaswamy
Namma Veettu Lakshmi ChandruTamil B.R. Panthulu R. Muthuraman, Vanisri
Major Chandrakanth RajinikanthTamil K. Balachander Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, R. Muthuraman, Jayalalitha Remake of Hindi film Oonche Log
1967 Manam Oru Kurangu GopinathTamil A. T. Krishnaswamy R. Muthuraman, K.R. Vijaya, Cho
Pandhayam SomuTamilA. Kasilingam Gemini Ganesan, Vijaya Nirmala Remade into Hindi as Sachaai
Karpooram TamilC. N. Shanmugam Pushpalatha, Manorama, T.S Balaiah, S.A. Asokan, Sri Kanth
1968 Poovum Pottum PrakashTamilDada Mirasi S. V. Ranga Rao, P. Bhanumathi, R. Muthuraman, Pandari Bai, Bharathi, Nagesh
Galatta Kalyanam MohanTamil C. V. Rajendran Sivaji Ganesan, Nagesh, Cho Ramaswamy, Jayalalitha
Thillana Mohanambal ThangarathnamTamil A. P. Nagarajan Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini
Jeevanamsam BaluTamilMalliyam Rajagopal Jaishankar, Lakshmi, C. R. Vijayakumari, Pushpalatha, Sowkar Janaki, Nagesh
Chakkaram JambuTamilA. Kasilingam Gemini Ganesan, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Sowkar Janaki, Nagesh
1969 Thulaabaram RamuTamil A. Vincent Kanchana, Sharada, Muthuraman Remake of Malayalam film Thulabharam
Thunaivan VelayudhamTamil M. A. Thirumugam Sowkar Janaki, Nagesh
Annaiyum Pithavum BhaskarTamil AVM Brothers Vanisri, Lakshmi, Nagesh, Sivakumar
Mannippu Advocate KumarTamil25th Film
Chellapen Tamil K. Krishnamurthy Pushpalatha, Manorama, Cho Sowkar Janaki was initially signed for the movie. Shooting had progressed to some extent, after which she was replaced by Pushpalatha
Magizhampoo PasupathyTamil V T Arasu Pushpalatha
Paal Kudam Tamil Pattu Pushpalatha, Lakshmi
1970 Engal Thangam MoorthyTamil Krishnan–Panju M. G. Ramachandran, Pushpalatha
Dharisanam Pandian/ ChandramohanTamil V. T. Arasu Pushpalatha, Srikanth, Cho, Manorama Double Role
Anadhai Anandhan SelvamTamil Krishnan–Panju Jayalalithaa, R. S. Manohar, Anjali Devi, Master Sekhar Hindi Version of Chanda Aur Bijli
Noorandu Kaalam Vazhga RajanTamil K. Sampath Kanchana, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, L. Vijayalakshmi
Yaen? RamuTamil T. R. Ramanna Ravichandran, Lakshmi, Vennira Aadai Nirmala
1971 Irulum Oliyum Thyagarajan (Thyagu)Tamil Puttanna Kanagal Vanisri, R. Muthuraman
Pattondru KettenTamilS. Raghavan Rajshree, Nagesh,
Deivam Pesuma Dr SundaramTamil Chinni-Sampath8 Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Sandhya Rani
Thirumagal RajuTamil A. S. A. Sami Gemini Ganesan, Sivakumar, Lakshmi
1972 Agathiyar Lord Shiva Tamil A. P. Nagarajan Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam, Sivakumar, Lakshmi, C. R. Vijayakumari, Kumari Padmini, 'Baby' Sridevi
Kandavarundo MalayalamMallikarjuna Rao Sadhana, Vincent
Thangadurai RangenTamilA. Kasilingam Sowcar Janaki, Master Sekhar
Thaikku Oru Pillai ThiyagarajTamilPattu Jaishankar, Savitri, Vennira Aadai Nirmala
Shakthi Leelai ProhitharTamil T. R. Ramanna Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, K. R. Vijaya, Sivakumar, B. Saroja Devi, Ushanandini, Manjula
Deiva Sankalpam RaviTamilP. R. Somu C. R. Vijayakumari, Cho
Bathilukku Bathil KumaranTamilC. P. Jambulingam Muthuraman, C. R. Vijayakumari, Vennira Aadai Nirmala
Aval Tamil A. C. Tirulokchandar Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Shashikumar, Srikanth
Puguntha Veedu BhaskarTamilPattu Ravichandran, Savitri, Lakshmi, Chandrakala
Akka Thamudu Telugu Krishnan–Panju Jayalalithaa, R. Muthuraman, Anjali Devi, Master Sekhar Dubbed movie of Anadhai Anandhan
Dheivam KadhirveluTamil M. A. Thirumugam Gemini Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman, Sivakumar
1973 Manipayal ArunTamil A. Jagannathan Jayanthi, Master Sekhar
Engal Thaai RagunathTamilMalliyam Rajagopal Savitri, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Srikanth
Nee Ullavarai TamilC. V. Ramana Kumari Padmini, Pandari Bai 50th Film
Amman Arul TamilPattu Jaishankar, Manjula
Anbu Sagodharargal DurairajTamil Lakshmi Deepak S. V. Ranga Rao, Jaishankar, Jamuna, Devika, Sivakumar, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Prameela Remake of Telugu movie Pandanti Kapuram
Dheiva Vamsam Tamil K. Vijayan Chandrakala
Veettu Mappillai TamilA. K. Subramaniam Savitri, Prameela
Thirumalai Deivam NarathanTamil A. P. Nagarajan Gemini Ganesan, K. B. Sundarambal, R. Muthuraman, Sivakumar, Lakshmi, Srividya
Veettukku Vandha Marumagal TamilR. Vittal Ravichandran, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Latha
Pasa Deepam RajarathnaTamilPattu Manjula, Sowcar Janaki
Pennai Nambungal RamuTamilB. V. Srinivasan Jayanthi, Sivakumar, Jayachitra
Manidharil Manikkam BoopathyTamil C. V. Rajendran Sivaji Ganesan, Prameela
Nyayam KetkiromTamilC. V. Rajendran Vennira Aadai Nirmala, R. Muthuraman, Kanchana, Cho, Manorama, VK Ramasamy,
Prarthanai TamilKousikan Sowkar Janaki, Vennira Aadai Nirmala
1974 Sivagamiyin Selvan Wing Commander RaghuTamil C. V. Rajendran Sivaji Ganesan, Vanisri, Latha
Doctoramma RajaTamilSornam Manjula
Ore Satchi MadhavanTamil K. Vijayan P. R. Varalakshmi, Major Sundarrajan, M. N. Rajam
Magalukkaga MurugaTamil M. Krishnan Jaya

75th Film,
Remake of Telugu film Drohi

Murugan Kaattiya Vazhi MuniyandiTamil P. Madhavan Nagesh, Srikanth, Vijayakumar, Vidhubala, Sripriya, Vijaya Chandrika
Pathu Madha Bandham ChandranTamil Krishnan–Panju P. Bhanumathi, B. Saroja Devi, R. Muthuraman, Ravichandran, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Rajasree
1975 Annadammula Anubandham Venu Gopal RaoTeluguS. D. Lal N. T. Rama Rao, Murali Mohan, Latha, Kanchana, Pushpalatha
Enakkoru Magan Pirappan Tamil M. Krishnan Shubha, Vidhubala
Thiruvarul Kumara DevanTamilR. Thyagarajan Jaya, Major Sundarrajan
1976 Rojavin Raja GopalTamil K. Vijayan Sivaji Ganesan, Vanisri
Thayilla Kuzanthai Tamil R.Thiyagarajan Vijayakumar jayachitra Asokan
1977 Murugan Adimai Tamil R.Thyagarajan R.Muthuraman, K.R. Vijaya
Navarathinam RajaTamil A. P. Nagarajan M. G. Ramachandran, Pushpalatha
Unnai Suttrum Ulagam Tamil Kamal Haasan, Jayalalithaa
1978 Thai Meethu Sathiyam Babu's FatherTamil Rajnikanth, Ambareesh, Mohan Babu
1980 Billa Inspector VarmaTamil R. Krishnamurthy Rajinikanth
1981 Thee RamaiahTamil Rajinikanth
1982 Oorum Uravum ChandrasekharTamil Major Sunderarajan, PushpaRajan Sivaji Ganesan, KR Vijaya, Nizhalgal Ravi, Major Sunderarajan
1984 Nandri IGPTamil AVM Rajan Karthik, Nalini, Mahalakshmi (Daughter of AVM Rajan), Arjun Sarja
1987 Veeran Veluthambi IG of PoliceTamilRama Narayanan Vijayakanth, Radha Ravi
Producer

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References

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