Suruli Rajan (January 14, 1938 - December 5, 1980) was as an Indian actor and comedian who worked primarily in Tamil cinema. In 1981, he was posthumously given the Best Comedian Award by the state Government of Tamil Nadu.
Early and personal life
Rajan was born in 1938 in Periyakulam, situated near Theni in Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Ponnaiya Pillai, worked as an accountant for local farm owners in the surrounding areas of Theni. Rajan was named after the Surulivelar Swamy, the family deity at a temple on top of a hill overlooking Suruli Falls.
Rajan lost both his parents at a young age, forcing him to discontinue his schooling. He moved to his brother's house in Madurai and worked as an apprentice mechanic in a neighbourhood workshop. Seeking fame in acting, he starred in several amateur stage plays in Madurai before moving to Madras in 1959 with the intention of being part of bigger productions.
After a period of scarce opportunities, he worked with various drama troupes, including those of O. A. K. Thevar, Pisir Ramarao, T.N. Balu and in Karunanidhi's 'Kagithapoo' staged in aid of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party's election fund. It was filmmaker Joseph Thaliath Jr. of The Citadel Film Corporation Pvt. Ltd who brought Suruli Rajan to cinema, first in a brief appearance in Iravum Pagalum in 1965 and soon after in a more noticeable comic role in Kathal Paduthum Padu the year following.
His association with T.N. Balu led to notable roles in successful films directed by T.R. Ramanna, such as Naan and Moondrezhuthu. Despite his youth, Suruli Rajan often portrayed older characters in his early movies. Other roles he played during this period include a brief but memorable appearance as a Madras Tamil-speaking character in APN's "Thirumalai Thenkumari" (1970) and the role of a devout fisherman in Aathi Parasakthi (1971). Surulirajan gained popularity in the late '70s due to his distinctive intonation and comedic flair for the absurd.
While occasionally leaning towards suggestive humor, he consistently succeeded in evoking laughter. Suruli's noteworthy portrayal of a miserly rural character in M.A. Khaja's Manthoppu Kiliye (1979) received rare acclaim, securing a distinguished position among the timeless comedic sequences in Tamil cinema. His comedic antics became a ubiquitous presence in many films of that era, earning him a record for appearing in no less than 50 movies in a single year in 1980.
His career was cut short due to his untimely death in 1980 while he was at the peak of his career.
Filmography Year Film RoleNotes1965 Iravum Pagalum Debut 1966 Andru Kanda Mugam Constable Kathal Paduthum Padu Ponnambalam 1967 Uyir Mel Aasai Naan Sundaralingam 1968 Moondrezhuthu Venkateswara Rao Thaer Thiruvizha Boat Passenger Delhi Mapillai Chopra 1969 Naangu Killadigal Baba Anjal Petti 520 Ramanujam Thulabharam Modi Masthan 1970 Thirumalai Thenkumari Mannaru 1971 Kankatchi Veettukku Oru Pillai Ayyakannu 1972 Kurathi Magan 1973 Thirumalai Deivam Rangen Rajapart Rangadurai Konangi/Konangipatti Rajaraja Cholan Palace Servant 1974 Anbu Thangai Thangappathakkam Soodamani 1975 Aayirathil Oruthi Sivakolunthu Anbe Aaruyire Servant 1976 Akka Badrakali Inspector Manaivi Janaki Sabatham Kumara Vijayam Madhana Maaligai Mayor Meenakshi Mittai Mummi Nee Indri Naan Illai Ore Thanthai Rojavin Raja Thunive Thunai Ungalil Oruthi Uravaadum Nenjam Vazhvu En Pakkam 1977Aattukara Alamelu Annan Oru Koyil Police ConstableDeepam Durga Devi Gasslight Mangamma Ilaya Thalaimurai Madhura Geetham Munnooru Naal Nee Vazha Vendum Odi Vilayadu Thatha Olimayamana Ethirkalam Oruvanukku Oruthi Palabhishekam Bhuvana Oru Kelvi Kuri Perumaikuriyaval Raasi Nalla Raasi Sonnathai Seiven Sonthamadi Nee Enakku Thoondil Meen Aarupushpangal Kanthasamy 1978 Aayiram Jenmangal Shankar Salim Simon Kabali Aghni Pravesam Anna Lakshmi Athaivida Rahasiyam Aval Thantha Uravu Bairavi Chittu Kuruvi Ival Oru Seethai Kannamoochi Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandai Karate Kamala Machanai Patheengala Makkal Kural Manitharil Ithanai Nirangala Meenatshi Kunkumam Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam Panchamurtham Pavathin Sambalam Rajavukku Etha Rani Rudra Thandavam Sakka Podu Podu Raja Sonnadhu Needhana Taxi Driver Thai Meethu Sathiyam Thirukkalyanam Thirupura Sundari Unakkum Vaazhvu Varum En Kelvikku Enna Bathil Ennai Pol Oruvan Usha's Father Mela Thalangal 1979 Annai Oru Alayam Mannar Appothey Sonneyney Keetiya Dharma Yuddham Ennadi Meenakshi Kadavul Amaitha Medai Kamasasthiram Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana Lakshmi Manthoppu Kiliye Mudal Iravu Mugathil Mugam Parkalam Naanoru Kai Paarkiren Nangooram Neechal Kulam Needhikkumun Neeya Naana Neeya? Pasi Oru Vidukathai Oru Thodardathai Paathai Maarinal Pagalil Oru Iravu Pancha Bootham Poonthalir Raja Rajeswari Siri Siri Maamaa Sithira Chevvanam Sri Ramajayam Thayillamal Naanillai Veettukku Veedu Vasappadi Yaarukku Yaar Kaval 1980 Anbukku Naan Adimai Antharangam Oomayanathu Azhaitthal Varuven Bambai Mail 109 Deiveega Rahangal Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam NeelakandamEdhir Veettu Jannal Ellam Un Kairasi Enga Vathiyar Enga Vathiyar Geetha Oru Shenbaga Poo Johnny Kaadu Kaali Kadhal Kadhal Kadhal Kalam Bathil Sollum Karadi Karumbu Vill Kathal Kiligal Kumarip Pennin Ulathile Kuruvik Koodu Malargindra Paruvathile Meenakshi Megathukkum Thagamundu Murattu Kaalai Muzhu Nilavu Naan Potta Saval Neer Nilam Neruppu Oli Pirandhadhu Ore Mutham Oru Marathu Paravaigal Panam Penn Pasam Paruvathin Vasalile Pennukku Yaar Kaaval Pollathavan Ponnagaram Porkalam Pudiya Thoranangal Rishi Moolam Rusi Kanda Poonai Samanthipoo Saranam Iyyappa Thani Maram Theru Vilakku Ullasa Paravaigal Valli Mayil Vandichakkaram Veli Thandiya Velladu 1981Meendum Kokila Film Director Aadugal Nanaigindrana Anichamalar Kadavulin Theerpu Engamma Maharani Kannadi Kanni Mahamayi Kazhugu Lorry Driver Rajakkannu Sathya Sundharam Oru Iravu Oru Paarvai Pennin Vaazhkkai Pennmanam Pesugirathu Ram Lakshman Sankarlal Satya Sundaram Vadagai Veedu Vasanthakalam 1982 Aval Yetriya Dheebangal Hitler Umanath Iniyavale Vaa Irattai Manithan Muraiponnu Nayakarin Magal Nirandharam Oorukku Oru Pillai Pannaiburathu Pandavargal Sangili 1983 Avaloru Kaviyam Kashmir Kadhali Oppandham Samsaram Enbathu Veenai 1984 Pillayar Erattai Manithan Idhey Naa Savaal 1985Yemaatrathe Yemaaraathe
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