Ilavarasu is an Indian actor and cinematographer who works in the Tamil film industry. He started his career as a cinematographer and worked for 13 films, winning a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for one of them. He later became known as an actor after appearing in pivotal roles in Bharathiraja's and Cheran's films. He starred in over 160 Tamil films, playing supporting, comedic, and antagonistic roles.
Early life He was born on 28 August 1964 in Melur, a town in Madurai district, present-day Tamil Nadu. His father P. Malaichamy served as a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during 1967-76 on behalf of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Malaichamy was also one of the DMK members jailed during the 1975-77 Indian Emergency under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
Career Ilavarasu's debut film was to have been the unproduced Tamil film Top Tucker, and instead became Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985). He later worked in Bharathiraja's 1987 film Vedham Pudhithu.
He worked as an assistant to B. Kannan for the films Knock-Out (1992), Nadodi Thendral (1992), Captain Magal (1993), Karuthamma (1994) and Pasumpon (1995). He was credited as one of the main cinematographers for the latter four films although he worked as an assistant cinematographer. He made his debut as an independent cinematographer in 1996 with the film Panchalankurichi, starring Prabhu and Madhubala. The following year, he worked on another Prabhu movie titled Periya Thambi, directed by Chitra Lakshmanan. His breakthrough came with a significant role in Cheran's Porkkaalam (1997), which propelled him into the spotlight as a recognized actor. In 1998, Ilavarasu served as the cinematographer for two films, Ninaithen Vandhai and Iniyavale. While initially offered villainous characters, he later shifted his focus to character roles. The actor has shared screen with many actors in his career. Ilavarasu has played many versatile characters and has entertained the fans with his humour sense. He has also played villain roles in a few films. A few memorable roles of him include Bagavathi (2002), Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (2006), Kalavani (2010), Lingaa (2014), Kanaa (2018) and NGK (2019).
In addition to his film career, Ilavarasu has also ventured into television, appearing in the 2022 series Anandha Ragam on Sun TV.
Filmography As an actor Tamil films Year Title Role Notes 1985 Muthal Mariyathai Photographer Idaya Kovil Shankar's friend Oru Kaidhiyin Diary Crowd member Uncredited role 1986 Kadalora Kavithaigal Chinnappa Das' friend 1987 Vedham Pudhithu Balu Thevar's nephew 1988 Kodi Parakuthu Police constable 1990 Sandhana Kaatru Uncredited role 1994 Ravanan 1995 Pasumpon Angusamy 1997 Porkkaalam Rasu 2000 Vetri Kodi Kattu Sabhash 2001 Kutty Pazhaniappan Poovellam Un Vasam Pandi Pandavar Bhoomi Carpenter Thavasi Kaarmegam Shahjahan Police Inspector 2002 Red Pandi Gemini Police Commissioner Shree Pasupathy Karmegham Saguni Sundara Travels Parotta Master Kasi Maaran Irulandi University Bagavathi Singamuthu Uncredited role Ramanaa Style Pandithurai 2003 Anbe Sivam Police Inspector Pallavan Pallavan and Manohar's father Kadhal Sadugudu Well Done Pudhiya Geethai Shekar Saamy Sivakasi Pattasu Raman Jayam Eera Nilam Chellakannu Boys Kumar's father Thiruda Thirudi Anjaneya Eshwarapandiyan Naam Unnai Charanadaindhen Teja's father Bheeshmar Aadhi Ragasiyamai Sindhamal Sitharamal 2004 Varnajalam Police Constable Autograph Narayanan Teacher Kuthu Arunachalam Kavithai Jana Jana's brother-in-law Sound Party Madhurey Anitha's father Kangalal Kaidhu Sei John Vaseegaran's servant Uncredited role Giri Ramalingam Neranja Manasu Poochi Attahasam Chatrapathi Deputy Commissioner Maha Nadigan Aai Traffic Police Officer Subbarayan Jaisurya ACP Meesai Madhavan Kadalas Gomathi Nayagam Kutraleeswaran 2005 Ayodhya Vaiyapuri Ji Varadharajan's henchman Kadhal FM Astrologer Gurudeva Police Officer Sevvel Oru Naal Oru Kanavu Rajamani Majaa Chanakya Police inspector Thavamai Thavamirundhu Azhagarsamy 2006 Kalabha Kadhalan Thambi Shankarayan Kusthi Abi's father Oru Kadhal Seiveer Aadhi Sudesi Cook Don Chera Perumal Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei Mangunipaandiyan Sengathu Yedhukku Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam Muthukrishnan 2007 Agaram MLA Thirumagan Thavasi Koodal Nagar Chennai 600028 Manohar Periyaar Sivaji Guest appearance Thullal Security guard Cheena Thaana 001 Tamizharasu's father's friend Nam Naadu Albert Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam Terrorist 2008 Pirivom Santhippom Visalakshi's neighbor Vaazhthugal Thirunavukkarasu Thangam Vambu Sandai Arai En 305-il Kadavul Wellesley Prabhu Kuruvi Elango Pandi Periyamaayan Kathavarayan Police inspector Dhanam Dhanam's friend Silambattam Police Panchamirtham Kasi 2009 Kadhalna Summa Illai 1977 Manikkam Mayandi Kudumbathar Mayandi and Virumandi's elder cousin Engal Aasan Muthu Pokkisham Kanthaswamy Constable Madurai Sambavam Ninaithale Inikkum Sethuraman Solla Solla Inikkum Arumugam Arumugam's father 2010 Rettaisuzhi Sura Samuthira Raja's sidekick Goripalayam Moovendhan Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam Dagalandi Maanja Velu Sivagnanam Milaga Vaazhaithoppu Maari Kalavani Ramasamy 2011 Ilaignan Seedan Madhava Kounder Bhavani Shanmugam Muthukku Muthaaga Thavasi Pillaiyar Theru Kadaisi Veedu Ganesan's uncle Mudhal Idam Ponnusamy Puli Vesham Thamarai's father Sadhurangam Analaar Aduthathu Velayudham Poor man 7 Aum Arivu Aravind's uncle Marudhavelu Marudhavelu's father 2012 Kondaan Koduthaan Chellaiya Kalakalappu Anjuvatti Alagesan (Amitabh Mama) Manam Kothi Paravai Raamaiya Billa II Selvaraj Etho Seithai Ennai Veeru's aide 2013 Thillu Mullu Pasupathy's Uncle Mathapoo Karthik's brother-in-law Ya Ya Varadharajan Jannal Oram Police Inspector Chandhamama Santhanakrishnan's father 2014 Veeram Azhagappan Sathuranga Vettai Chettiyar Pappali Pattaya Kelappanum Pandiya Velpandiyan's father Pagadai Pagadai S. Kotteswaran Lingaa Saami Pillai 2015 Killadi Inspector Britto En Vazhi Thani Vazhi Police Officer Rajathandhiram Sethu Madhavan Vethu Vettu Machaikaalai's father Idam Porul Yaeval Unreleased 36 Vayadhinile Vegetable merchant Papanasam Constable Shanmugam Maanga Nambirajan Jippaa Jimikki Lorry driver Aaranyam Kumaresan 2016 Navarasa Thilagam Paneerselvam Vetrivel Navaneetham Ko 2 Home Minister Uchathula Shiva Ondipuli Kallattam Pazhani Meen Kuzhambum Mann Paanaiyum Annamalai's friend Chennai 600028 II Manohar 2017 Kanavu Variyam Ezhil's father Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Parvathy's brother Aayirathil Iruvar Vanarajan 2018 Kadaikutty Singam Manikkam Kannakkol Azhagumagan Azhagu Aan Devathai Solvilanguperumal Jarugandi Samuel Kanaa Thangarasu 2019 Natpuna Ennanu Theriyuma Ramanan NGK MLA Pandiyan Kalavani 2 Ramasamy Sixer Aadhi's father Magamuni Muthuraj Thambi Jeevanand 2021 Kalathil Santhippom Ashok's father Oru Kudaikul Appathava Aattaya Pottutanga Doctor Padmini and Navneeth's father Jai Bhim Gunasekaran 2022 Naai Sekar Pooja's father Anbulla Ghilli Bhargavi's father Etharkkum Thunindhavan Aadhini's father Maaran Aravindan Visithiran Nenjuku Needhi Sub-Inspector Malaichami Viruman Thenmozhi's father Sardar Politician DSP Murugapandi 2023 Vaathi Education Minister Viduthalai Part 1 Ila. Ilavarasu Rudhran Police Inspector Raavana Kottam Chitravel Parking House Owner Jigarthanda DoubleX Minister Kaarmegham Kuiko ShanmughamThee Ivan Senathipathy 2024 Yaavarum Vallavare Baskar Dear Rangarajan Romeo Arivazhagan and Janani's father PT Sir Rathinam Maya Puthagam Sambasivam Raayan Meghalai's father P2 Meiyazhagan Ekambaram Viduthalai Part 2 PWD Minister Ilavarasu Thiru.Manickam Sumathi's uncle 2025 Mr. Housekeeping Chokkalingam Poorveegam Baby and Baby Muthaiya Nizharkudai Police Inspector Chennai City Gangsters Minister Sengundran Flashback Only the Hindi dubbed version was released. Padaiyaanda Maaveeraa Inspector Muthuramalingam Idli Kadai Ramarajan 2026 Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil Ilavarasu Thaai Kizhavi Gold Kumar Vengeance CM Velu TN 2026 Treasurer
Other language films Year Title Role Language Notes 2012 Ozhimuri Vaidyan Malayalam 2013 Pattam Pole Karthik's uncle 2017 Mayaanadhi Police Inspector Ilavarasu 2022 Jana Gana Mana Anbumani 2024 Max Ravanan Kannada 2025 Thudarum Ilavarasu Malayalam Kalamkaval Nandhakumar
Television Year Title Role ChannelNotes2022 Anandha Ragam Shanmugavel Sun TV Extended Guest Appearance 2025-present Nadu Center Kaali's father JioHotstar
As cinematographer YearFilmNotes 1996 Panchalankurichi 1997 Periya Thambi 1998 Ninaithen Vandhai Iniyavale 1999 Manam Virumbuthe Unnai Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Cinematographer 2000 Veeranadai Sabhash Eazhaiyin Sirippil 2001 Love Marriage 2009 Ajantha Multilingual film 2010 Sura Uncredited; assistant cinematographer
As dubbing artist YearFilmActorNotes 1994 Karuththamma Ponvannan 1996 Panchalankurichi Mahanadi Shankar
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