Latha Rajinikanth | |
---|---|
Born | Latha Rangachari 2 March 1958 (age 66) |
Other names | Latha Rao Gaikwad |
Occupations | |
Spouse | |
Children | Aishwarya Rajinikanth Soundarya Rajinikanth |
Relatives | Ravi Raghavendra (brother) Y. G. Mahendran (brother-in-law) Anirudh Ravichander (nephew) |
Latha Rajinikanth (born Latha Rangachari; 2 March 1958) is an Indian film producer and playback singer. [1] She is the wife of actor Rajinikanth. [2]
Latha was born in Chennai, India in a Tamil Brahmin Iyengar family. [3] [4] She graduated with degree in English literature from Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai. [5]
During the 1980s, Latha worked as a playback singer in Tamil cinema. She sang a few songs in films such as Tik Tik Tik (1981) Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984). She also contributed to Rajini 25 (1999), a musical album that commemorated Rajinikanth's 25 years of his career.
In 1991, Latha founded The Ashram, a school in Velachery, Chennai, which she currently heads. [6]
Latha is the sister-in-law of Tamil playwright and film actor Y Gee Mahendran. She is also related to former film actress Vyjayanthimala. [7] Latha's brother Ravi Raghavendra is also an actor who is the father of music director Anirudh Ravichander. She married Rajinikanth, whom she met during an exclusive interview, on 26 February 1981 at Tirupati. The couple has two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya. She has four grandchildren. [8] [9]
An FIR had been filed in Bangalore against Latha for allegedly forging documents to obtain a court order, restraining media from publishing news about her dispute with a commissioned producer over selling of rights of Kochadaiiyaan on 15 June 2015. [10]
Latha operates a shop on CP Ramaswamy Road. Operating from a building owned by Chennai Corporation, Latha has for the past 25 years run a travel agency called "Travel Exchange India". The city Corporation recently increased the rent from ₹ 3,702 (equivalent to ₹5,200orUS$62 in 2023) to ₹21,160 (equivalent to ₹30,000orUS$360 in 2023) per month. Latha filed a petition in the Madras High Court challenging the decision of the Greater Chennai Corporation. [11] The Madras HC dismissed the petition filed on Latha Rajinikanth's behalf and ordered the corporation to take ownership of the property in a month if the due rental was not received. [12] [13]
A school run by Latha Rajinikanth in Chennai was locked up by the landlord of the building in August 2017, who claimed he had not received two rent payments of ₹20 million (equivalent to ₹28 millionorUS$340,000 in 2023). The owner said in 2002 he leased out the school ground to be used. He said that over a year ago he had filed a case against the management of the school because they had not paid the rent amounting to ₹100 million (equivalent to ₹140 millionorUS$1.7 million in 2023). [14] In December 2020, the Madras High Court has ordered Latha to vacate the school by 30 April. [15]
Year | Title |
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1986 | Maaveeran |
1993 | Valli |
Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 170 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. He is widely regarded to be one of the most successful and popular actors in the history of Indian cinema. Known for his uniquely styled mannerism and one liners in films, he has a huge fan base internationally and has a cult following. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Bhushan in 2000, Padma Vibhushan in 2016, India's third and second highest civilian honours, and the highest award in the field of cinema Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the 67th National Film Awards ceremony (2019) for his contributions to Indian cinema. He has won many film awards including seven Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, a Nandi Award and one Filmfare Award.
Meena Durairaj, known professionally as Meena, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in South Indian films as well as Hindi cinema. She is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. Meena has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films She is one of the most sought after actresses in the South Indian film industry. In addition to acting, Meena is also a playback singer, TV judge, and occasional dubbing artist. She has received numerous accolades, including two Filmfare Awards South, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, two Nandi Award for Best Actress and Cinema Express Awards. In 1998, she was honoured with the Kalaimamani Award by Government of Tamil Nadu.
Muthu (transl. Pearl) is a 1995 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar, and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions. The film stars Rajinikanth and Meena, with Sarath Babu, Radha Ravi, Senthil, Vadivelu, Jayabharathi, Subhashri and Ponnambalam all acting in supporting roles. It is a remake of the Malayalam film Thenmavin Kombath (1994). The film revolves around a zamindar and his worker falling in love with the same woman who, unknown to the zamindar, loves the worker exclusively.
Valli is a 1993 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Natraj, written and produced by Latha Rajinikanth and Rajinikanth, who also stars in extended guest lead role. It stars Priya Raman and Hariraj as the main leads and newcomer Sanjay as the main antagonist. The film's music was scored by Ilaiyaraaja. Rajinikanth scripted the film, wrote the dialogues and appeared in an extended guest role. The film was a box office disaster.
Mannan (transl. Monarch) is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by P. Vasu. The film stars Rajinikanth, Vijayashanti and Khushbu. It is a remake of the 1986 Kannada film Anuraga Aralithu.
Anbulla Rajinikanth is a 1984 Indian Tamil-language children's drama film directed by K. Natraj in his debut. The film stars Rajinikanth as himself, Meena, and Ambika. It was released on 2 August 1984, and received positive reviews, with praise for Meena's performance and Rajinikanth's acting. Despite this, the film was a box-office bomb.
Rajinikanth is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer and screenwriter who has appeared predominantly in Tamil cinema. He began his film career by playing antagonistic and supporting roles before graduating to a lead actor. After starring in numerous commercially successful films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he has continued to hold a matinée idol status in the popular culture of Tamil Nadu. Writing for Slate, Grady Hendrix called him the "biggest movie star you've probably never heard of." Rajinikanth has also worked in other Indian film industries such as Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Soundarya Rajinikanth is an Indian graphic designer, film producer and film director who primarily works in the Tamil cinema. She is the founder and owner of Ocher Picture Productions. Soundarya began her career in films as a graphic designer. For those starring her father Rajinikanth, she designed the title sequences. She became a film producer with Goa (2010). She made her debut as a film director with the film Kochadaiyaan (2014).
Kuselan is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language dramedy film directed by P. Vasu. An official remake of the Malayalam film Kadha Parayumbol (2007), it was produced by Pushpa Kandaswamy, Aswani Dutt and G. P. Vijayakumar in two languages. Kuselan stars Rajinikanth in an extended guest appearance with Pasupathy and Meena. It also stars Vadivelu and Livingston in supporting roles. The film was simultaneously made in Telugu as Kathanayakudu.
R. V. Udayakumar is an Indian film director, lyricist and actor who worked predominantly in the Tamil film industry throughout the 1990s, making films including Yejaman and Chinna Gounder. He has also directed some Telugu films.
Vijayalakshmi Feroz is an Indian actress and reality show winner who has predominantly appeared in Tamil language films. As the daughter of film director Agathiyan, Vijayalakshmi made her acting debut as a timid girl in Venkat Prabhu's Chennai 600028 (2007), before portraying another timid character in Mysskin's drama film, Anjathe (2009). After appearing in a few further lead roles, she moved on to become a film producer and an actress in television serials. She also participated in the reality show Survivor Tamil in 2021 and later emerged as the winner.
Aishwarya Rajinikanth is an Indian film director and playback singer who works in Tamil cinema. She is the elder daughter of actor Rajinikanth and playback singer Latha Rajinikanth and also the former wife of actor Dhanush. She made her feature film directorial debut with 3 (2012).
Kochadaiiyaan: The Legend is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language period action film written by K. S. Ravikumar and directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth. It is India's first photorealistic motion capture film, featuring characters whose designs were based on the appearance and likeness of their respective actors. The film stars Rajinikanth with Deepika Padukone and Shobana in the lead, Meanwhile R. Sarathkumar, Aadhi Pinisetty, Jackie Shroff, Nassar and Rukmini Vijayakumar had also voiced their respective characters. The narrative follows the quest of an 8th-century warrior who seeks revenge after witnessing the unlawful punishment administered to his father, a good-hearted warrior in his kingdom, by the jealous ruler.
Rajkumar Sethupathy is an Indian actor who acts predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in 50 movies in both Malayalam and Tamil films. He started his film career in the Tamil film Soolam, directed by M. Bhaskar, then with Mammotty in Thrishna, a 1981 Malayalam film. He was one of the leading actors from 1982-1988.
K. Natraj is an Indian actor and director who primarily worked in Tamil-language films and serials.
Kochadaiiyaan is the soundtrack album composed by A. R. Rahman to the motion capture animated Tamil film of the same name directed by Soundarya R. Ashwin. The original version as well as the dubbed Telugu version of the soundtrack was released on 9 March 2014. The Hindi version was released online on Eros Now on 13 March 2014. Upon its release, the soundtrack became the first Tamil film music album to trend on Twitter and top the iTunes India charts.
Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography is a 2012 biography of the Indian actor Rajinikanth, written by Naman Ramachandran. It is the second biography of the actor, following The Name is Rajinikanth (2008) by Gayathri Sreekanth.
Kabali is a 2016 Indian Tamil-language action drama film directed by Pa. Ranjith and produced by Kalaipuli S. Thanu under V Creations. The film stars Rajinikanth, alongside Winston Chao, Radhika Apte, Sai Dhanshika, Kishore, Dinesh Ravi, Kalaiyarasan, John Vijay, Rosyam Nor, Nassar and Mime Gopi. In the film, Kabali, an aged gangster released from prison, sets out to exact revenge on his rivals while searching for his wife Kumudhavalli and daughter Yogitha who were presumed dead.
Darbar ( transl. Court) is a 2020 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by AR Murugadoss, and produced by Allirajah Subaskaran under the banner Lyca Productions. The film stars Rajinikanth, Suniel Shetty, Nayanthara and Nivetha Thomas. It follows Aaditya Arunasalam (Rajinikanth), the commissioner of Mumbai Police, who sets out to curb the city's rampant drug-trafficking and prostitution. When he uncovers a deep controversy linked to an international drug lord, however, he tries to fulfill his secret agenda.
The 2014 Tamil film Lingaa, despite being one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of the year, was considered a box-office bomb due to the high production and distribution costs involved. The distributors faced huge losses and asked for their money back, with few of them submitted petitions to go on a hunger strike to protest against the losses incurred. Many of them claimed that the film had incurred only 30 percent of the down payment after 25 days of its release. Rajinikanth later refunded one-third of the ₹33 crore (US$4.0 million) loss reportedly incurred by distributors and exhibitors. He decided to pay them ₹10 crore (US$1.2 million) 'on a humanitarian basis', who demanded a full refund and had threatened a "begging protest" in front of the actor's residence.