Raja Sandow (born P. K. Nagalingam) (1894/5–1943) was an Indian actor, film director and producer. He began his career as an actor in silent films and later became a prominent actor and director in Tamil and Hindi films of the 1930s. He is considered one of the pioneers of early Indian cinema.
Biography and career Raja Sandow was born in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu into a mixed Tamil and Telugu family. He was trained as a gymnast and started his film career as a stunt actor in S.N. Patankar's National Film Company at Bombay. He was given the name "Raja Sandow" because of his physique (after Prussian strongman Eugen Sandow). His first lead role was in Patankar's Bhakta Bodana (1922), for which he was paid Rs. 101 as salary. He became famous by starring in silent films like Veer Bhemsen (1923), and The Telephone Girl (1926). After acting in a few silent films, he also worked as a director in Ranjit Studios for a monthly salary. His first film as director was Sneh Jyoti (1928).
Returning to Tamil Nadu, he directed and acted in a number of silent films for R. Padmanaban's Associate Film Company. Many of his silent films had reformist social themes like Peyum pennum (1930), Nandhanar (1930), Anadhai Penn (1931), Pride of Hindustan (1931) and sathi usha sundari (1931). After talking films were introduced with Alam Ara in 1931, he went back to Bombay and starred in many Hindi and Tamil talkies. He was often paired with the actresses Gohar and Sulochana (Ruby Myers). Between 1932 and 1935, he acted in many socially themed Hindi films like Shyam Sundar (1932), Devaki (1934) and Indira MA (1935). In 1935, he was commissioned to direct his first Tamil film Menaka and returned to Madras. He continued directing and acting in films till his death in 1943. Vasantha Sena(1936), Chalak Chor (1936), Chandra kantha (1936), Vishnuleela (1938), Thiruneelakantar (1939) and Choodamani (1941) were some of the films he directed and starred in during that period. The last film he worked in was Sivakavi (1943). Sandow suffered a heart attack and died at Coimbatore on 25 November 1943. He was survived by his wife Leelabai and one son.
Legacy
Sandow was the first Tamil film director to adopt the practice of using names of actors in film titles. He was the first to introduce intimate kissing scenes and dancers in revealing costumes to the then conservative Tamil film industry. He was also the first director and producer to move Tamil cinema from remaking mythological stories and into making social themed films. He even advertised his films as "Don't miss to see your own picture". Sandow was also the first director to use Tamil literary works for film by directing Anadhai penn in 1931 based on Vai. Mu. Kothainayagi Ammal's novel of the same name.
Writing about Sandow, film historian Theodore Baskaran says:
Film historian Randor Guy has also described him as a tough task master:
The Tamil Nadu Government has instituted an annual award in his name called Raja Sandow memorial Award, given for outstanding services to Tamil Cinema. A postage stamp has been in issued in recognition of his contributions to Indian cinema.
Filmography
Year Film Language Credits 1922 Bhakta Bodana Silent film Actor 1922 Karna Silent film Actor 1922 Suryakumari Silent film Actor 1923 Veer Bhimsen Silent film Actor 1923 Vratrasoor Vadha Silent film Actor 1924 Ra Mandlik Silent film Actor 1924 Bismi Sadi Silent film Actor 1924 Razia Begum Silent film Actor 1924 Sadguni Sushila Silent film Actor 1924 Sati Sone Silent film Actor 1925 Deshna Dushman (The Divine Punishment) Silent film Actor 1925 Deva dasi Silent film Actor 1925 Indrasabha Silent film Actor 1925 Kala Chor(The Black Thief) Silent film Actor 1925 Khandani Khavis(The Noble Scamp) Silent film Actor 1925 Matri Prem(For Mother's Sake) Silent film Actor 1925 Mojili Mumbai (The Slaves of Luxury) Silent film Actor 1925 Panchdanda(Five Divine Wands) Silent film Actor 1925 Raja Yogi Silent film Actor 1925 Suvarna Silent film Actor 1925 Veer Kunal Silent film Actor 1925 Vimala Silent film Actor 1926 Madhav Kam Kundala Silent film Actor 1926 Mena Kumari Silent film Actor 1926 Muntaz Mahal Silent film Actor 1926 Neerajanam Silent film Actor 1926 Prithvi Putra Silent film Actor 1926 Ra Kawat Silent film Actor 1926 Samrat Shiladitya Silent film Actor 1926 Telephone Girl Silent film Actor 1926 Typist Girl Silent film Actor 1927 Bhaneli Bhamini Silent film Actor 1927 Gunsundari Silent film Actor 1927 Sati Madri Silent film Actor 1927 Sindh Ni Sumari Silent film Actor 1927 The Mission Girl Silent film Actor 1927 Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag(Aladdin & the Wonderful Lamp) Silent film Actor 1928 Grihalakshmi Silent film Actor 1928 Naag PadminiSilent film Actor 1928 Sneh Jyoti Silent film Actor, director 1928 Up-to-date Silent film Actor 1928 Vishwamohini Silent film Actor 1929 Young India Silent film Actor 1929 Young India Silent film Actor 1930 Bhimsen The Mighty Silent film Actor 1930 Peyum pennum Silent film Actor, director 1930 Rajlakshmi Silent film Actor 1930 Nandhanar (Elevation of the Downtrodden) Silent film Actor, director 1930 Sri Valli Thirumanam Silent film Actor, director 1930 Anadhai penn Silent film Actor, director 1931 Taranhar (Pride of Hindustan) Silent film Actor, director 1931 Sati Usha Sundari Silent film Director 1931 Rajeshwari Silent film Director 1931 Bhaktavatsala (Dhuruvanin Garvabangam) Silent film Director 1932 Parijaatha pushpaharanam Tamil Director 1932 Shyam sundar Hindi Actor 1933 Pardesi Preetam Hindi Actor 1933 Noor-E-Imaan Hindi Actor 1934 Devaki Hindi Actor 1934 Kashmeera Hindi Actor 1934 Toofani Taruni Hindi Actor 1934 Indira M.A Hindi Actor 1935 Toofani Taruni Hindi Actor 1935 Raat-Ki-Rani Hindi Actor, director 1935 Barrister's wife Hindi Actor 1935 College Kanya Hindi Actor 1935 Desh Dasi Hindi Actor 1935 Menaka Tamil Director 1936 Prabhu Ka Pyara Hindi Actor 1936 Vasantha Sena Tamil Actor, director 1936 Vasantha Sena Tamil Actor, director 1936 Chalak Chor Hindi Actor, director 1936 Chandrakantha Tamil Scriptwriter, director 1936 Dil ka Daku Hindi Actor 1936 Matlabi Duniya Hindi Actor 1937 Toofani Tarzan Hindi Actor 1937 Minor Rajamani Tamil Director 1938 Nandha Kumar Tamil Actor 1938 Vishnuleela Tamil Actor, director 1939 Thiruneelakantar Tamil Actor 1941 Choodamani Telugu Director 1942 Araichimani Tamil Director 1943 Sivakavi Tamil Director (replaced halfway)
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