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

Early life

Born in Pudukottai, Shanmugasundaram was very eager to join cinema though he held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Madras University. 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 take the examination, but he was not deemed 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 efforts yielded result by getting him the opportunity to enter cinema through the film Aayiram Kalathu Payir in which he was introduced as "Raja B.A.".

Personal life

He fell in love with actress Pushpalatha, who starred opposite to him in that film and married her. They have two daughters, the elder one, Mahalakshmi, was an actress between the 1980s and the early 1990s. On 19 January 1984, through a personal encounter with God, Rajan converted and thereafter became a full-time Christian preacher in 1988 and has since then stopped acting in movies and dramas. His wife Pushpalatha, who died in 2025, was a Catholic by birth and hailed from Coimbatore. Following Rajan's conversion, his family too is serving full-time Ministry.

Career

He earned his ‘initials’ after debuting in the film Naanum Oru Penn (1963), which was produced by AVM Productions.

A plethora of offers followed. Rajan soon became a busy artiste donning the role of the hero in many films making a mark with his handsome looks. He carved a niche for himself in the field through his individualistic performance and style. He shared screen space with leading heroes like M. G. R., Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Jaishankar, R. Muthuraman and Ravichandran. His performance in the films notables such as Enga Veettu Penn (1965), Namma Veettu Lakshmi (1966), Manam Oru Kurangu (1967), Karpooram (1967), Jeevanamsam (1968), Thunaivan (1969), Mannippu (1969), Annaiyum Pithavum (1969), Dharisanam (1970), Engal Thangam (1970), Anadhai Anandhan (1970), Irulum Oliyum (1971) and ...Aval! (1972) were successes.

Mid career, he acted in most of the devotional films such as Agathiyar (1972), Deivam (1972), Thirumalai Deivam (1973), Thiruvarul (1975) and Murugan Adimai (1977). Later, he co-starring with Rajinikanth in the films Thai Meethu Sathiyam (1978), Billa (1980) and Thee (1981). He was also a film producer such as Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981), Oorum Uravum (1982) and Nandri (1984). His final appearance was in the film Veeran Veluthambi (1987).

Filmography

As actor

Tamil Year Film Role Notes1963 Aayiram Kalathu Payir Ratnam Naanum Oru Penn Balu Paar Magaley Paar Sundaram Thulasi Maadam Gopal 1964 Alli Babu Chitrangi Jeyveeran Pachchai Vilakku Mani Andavan Kattalai Ramu 1965 Ennathan Mudivu Kumaran Got the title Nadippu Sudar Veera Abhimanyu Abhimanyu Enga Veettu Penn Chandran 1966 Kodimalar Thambi Durai Thattungal Thirakkappadum Doctor Namma Veettu Lakshmi Chandru Major Chandrakanth Rajinikanth 1967 Manam Oru Kurangu Gopinath Pandhayam Somu Karpooram Manikkam Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor 1968 Poovum Pottum Prakash Galatta Kalyanam Mohan Thillana Mohanambal Thangarathnam Jeevanamsam Balu Chakkaram Jambu Thulabharam Ramu 1969 Thunaivan Velayudham Annaiyum Pithavum Bhaskar Mannippu Advocate Kumar Chellapen MagizhampooPasupathy Paal Kudam 1970 Yaen? Ramu Dharisanam Pandian / Chandramohan Dual role Engal Thangam Moorthy Anadhai AnandhanSelvam Noorandu Kalam VazhgaRajan1971 Deivam Pesuma Dr Sundaram Irulum Oliyum Thyagarajan (Thyagu) Pattondru Ketten Thirumagal Raju 1972 Agathiyar Lord Shiva Thangadurai Rangen Thaikku Oru Pillai Thiyagaraj Shakthi Leelai Prohithar Deiva Sankalpam Ravi Bathilukku Bathil Kumaran ...Aval! Prakash Puguntha Veedu Bhaskar Dheivam Kadhirvelu 1973 Prarthanai Deivamsam Raju Manipayal Arun Engal ThaaiRagunath Nee Ullavarai Amman Arul Anbu Sagodharargal Durairaj Nyayam Ketkirom Veettu Mappillai Thirumalai Deivam Narathan Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Pasa Deepam Rajarathna Pennai Nambungal Ramu Manidharil Manikkam Boopathy 1974 Sivagamiyin Selvan Wing Commander Raghu Doctoramma Raja Ore Satchi Madhavan Magalukkaga Muruga Murugan Kaattiya Vazhi Muniyandi Pathu Madha Bandham Chandran 1975 Enakkoru Magan Pirappan Thiruvarul Kumara Devan1976 Rojavin RajaGopal Thayilla Kuzhandhai 1977 Murugan Adimai Shiva NavarathinamRaja Unnai Suttrum Ulagam Film director1978 Thai Meethu SathiyamBabu's Father1980 BillaInspector Varma1981 TheeRamaiah1982 Oorum UravumChandrasekhar1984 NandriDIG1987 Veeran VeluthambiIG

Other languages Year Film Role Language Notes1964 Main Bhi Ladki Hoon Balram Hindi Remake of Naanum Oru Penn1972 Kandavarundo Malayalam 1975 Annadammula Anubandham Venu Gopal Rao Telugu

As producer Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981) Oorum Uravum (1982) Nandri (1984)

References

External links