Muthuraman Radhakrishnan (4 July 1929 – 16 October 1981) was an Indian actor who predominantly worked in Tamil cinema. He was a leading actor during the 1960s and 1970s and was known as Navarasa Thilagam (Pride of emotions) for his versatile acting and language proficiency. He had paired with all the leading heroines of his time performing in main and character roles.
Early life Muthuraman was born on 4 July 1929 to Radhakrishnan Onthiriyar and Rathnavathi in Orathanadu Taluk -Okkanadu melayur, a town in the erstwhile Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu in a Kallar (Thevar) family and a family that had no stage or acting links. He was the son of an advocate and his uncle was a police officer. However, in his youth he was attracted to films and the fine arts. He joined the field much later in life, as he first became a government employee due to family pressure.
Film career
Muthuraman was a stage actor in his early days. He joined veteran actor S.S. Rajendran's SSR Nataka Mandram and then Seva Stage and acted in numerous dramas, including Manimagudam, Muthumandapam and Bharathiyar's poetic dramas.
He went to play many roles in about 100 movies in the sixties and seventies. Although he was a player in an era dominated by stalwarts such as M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan, he made a name and place for himself as a popular actor. He was paired with most heroines of the time, including Chandrakanta, Rajasree, Devika, L. Vijayalakshmi, Lakshmi, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Vijaya Nirmala, Vanisri, Sujatha, Bharathi, Srividya, Sridevi, Jayalalithaa, Sripriya, but his most constant heroine with whom he was paired for a record of 19 times was K. R. Vijaya.
He starred in many successful films, in co-hero roles in movies such as Kaadhalikka Neramillai (1964), Ooty Varai Uravu (1967), and supporting roles in movies such as Server Sundaram (1964) and Moondru Deivangal (1971). Muthuraman also established a production company, Muthukarthik Pictures.
Family Muthuraman was married to Sulochana. The couple had four children, the youngest of whom, Karthik, became a popular Tamil film actor.
Death In October 1981, Muthuraman arrived at Ooty to attend the shooting for Ayiram Muthangal. When he was jogging as part of a routine exercise, he collapsed on the road and became unconscious. Actor Sivakumar who had stayed in the same place, was told that Muthuraman was lying unconscious on the street thereafter Muthuraman was rushed to the hospital by actor Sivakumar. The doctor declared Muthuraman dead on arrival. He was 52 years old at the time of his death.
Filmography
1950s Year Title Role Notes1956 Rangoon Radha LawyerUncredited1957 KarpukkarasiMinister of Karpagatheevu1959 Thanga Padhumai Sithabramai Patient Mala Oru Mangala Vilakku Naalu Veli Nilam Ulagam Sirikkirathu Kumar Sahodhari Ravi
1960s Year Title Role Notes 1960 Mahalakshmi Padikkadha MedhaiSridhar Ondrupattal Undu Vazhvu Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar 1961 Arasilankumari Pulikesi 1962 Nenjil Or Aalayam Venu Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam Padithal Mattum Podhuma Moorthy Azhagu Nila Policekaran Magal Chinnaiah Sumaithaangi 1963 Kadavulai Kanden Vanambadi Mohan Mani Osai Paar Magaley Paar Shekar Kunkhumam Das Karpagam Rajangam Annai Illam Shanmugam Ninaipadharku Neramillai Selvam 1964 Karnan Arjuna Kadhalikka Neramillai Vasu / Chidambaram Nalvaravu Nanum Manidhandhaan Deiva Thirumagal Kalai Kovil Kannan Amma Enge Server Sundaram Raghavan 1965 Pazhani Muthu Poojaikku Vandha Malar Ravi / Chandhru Vaazhkai Padagu Gopal Panchavarna Kili Kannan Thiruvilaiyadal Shenbaga Pandiyan Thayin Karunai Naanal Inspector Baskaran 1966 Chitthi Balu Kodimalar Ramu Namma Veettu Lakshmi Marakka Mudiyuma? Mahakavi KalidasKing Boja Thaaye UnakkagaJohnson Major Chandrakanth Srikanth 1967 Manam Oru Kurangu Murugesa Bama Vijayam Raman Nenjirukkum VaraiSiva Anubavam Pudhumai Deiva Cheyal Seetha Anubavi Raja Anubavi Janakiraman ThiruvarutchelvarApputhi Adigal Rajathi Muhurtha Naal Saravana Naan Kumar / Chinna Raja Ooty Varai Uravu Sundaram 1968 Devi Poovum Pottum Ther Thiruvizha Muthu / Ram Teacheramma Shankar Kannan En Kadhalan Sundaram Uyira Maanama Edhir Neechal Nair 1969 Suba Dhinam Kaaval Dheivam Saiyathu Bai Guest appearance Kanne Pappa Bhaskar Gurudhakshaneiy Nirai Kudam Sambath Thulabharam Avare En Deivam Sivandha Mann Anand
1970s Year Title Role Notes 1970 Penn DeivamMuthuraman Thabalkaran ThangaiThiyagarajan En Annan Murali Veettuku Veedu Balu Maanavan Ravi Raman Ethanai Ramanadi Muthu Navagraham Siva Kannan Varuvan Anadhai Anandhan Engirundho VandhaalChandran Guest appearance Sorgam Kannan Namma Veettu Deivam Nilave Nee Satchi 1971 Iru Thuruvam Durai Pudhiya Vazhkai Raju ThangaikkaagaSekhar Arunodhayam Arun Uyir Avalukendru Or Manam Gopal Veguli Penn Captain Muthu Savaale Samali Marimuthu Guest appearance Irulum Oliyum Ramu Sudarum Sooravaliyum Moondru Deivangal Muthu Annai Velankanni Land Lord Aathi Parasakthi Punnagai Rajan Oru Thai Makkal Ravi Soodhattam 1972 Rani Yaar KuzhanthaiMajor Madhu Dhikku Theriyadha KaattilVijaya's Husband Mr. Sampath Sampath Kurathi MaganGuest Appearance Kasethan Kadavulada Ramu Kanimuthu Paappa Dr. Ravi Delhi To MadrasSekar Dharmam EngeyBoopathy Deiva Sankalpam Guest appearance Kannamma Vazhaiyadi Vazhai Bathilukku Bathil Deivam Mani Itho Enthan Deivam DhakamSekhar 1973 Petha Manam Pithu Ramu Maru PiraviElango Nalla Mudivu Rajaraja Cholan Prince Vimaladhithan Shanmugapriya Nyayam Ketkirom PonnunjalMinor Manickam SonthamManickam Suryagandhi Mohan Thirumalai Deivam King Tondaimann Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Guest appearance Deiva Kuzhandhaigal Karaikkal Ammaiyar Paramathathan Nathayil Muthu Madhu School Master Guest appearance Radha Malligai Poo 1974 Thirumangalyam Pathu Madha Bandham Dheerga SumangaliSundaram Vani Rani Dr. Ravi Kadavul Mama Roshakkari Penn Ondru Kanden Anbu ThangaiRamu Engal Kula Dheivam Engamma SapathamSundaram Thai Pirandhal Avalum Penn Thaane Muthu 1975 Kasthuri Vijayam Anbu Roja Piriya Vidai Avandhan Manidhan Chandran Ellorum Nallavare Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu Kumar Uravu Solla OruvanMohan Ezhaikkum Kaalam Varum Aan Pillai Singam Vaazhnthu Kaattugiren Ramanathan Amudha Vaira NenjamShankar Oru Kudumbathin Kadhai1976Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna?ArumainayagamMuthana MuthallavoKula GauravamInspector ManaiviChitra PournamiKumarSeervarisaiNalla PenmaniKaalangalil Aval VasanthamRaviPerum PugazhumKanavan ManaiviShankarVazhvu En PakkamRaju1977Thalia SalangaiyaPunniyam SeithavalPunitha AnthoniyarBalaparitchaiPenn JenmamNee Vazha VendumMurugan Adimai ThiefMazhai MegamDeviyin ThirumanamAalukkoru Aasai1978Sri Kanchi KamakshiAdishankaraPer Solla Oru PillaiAnna PooraniKaatrinile Varum Geetham MohanAval Thantha UravuAchchaniVayasu Ponnu1979Neeya?RaviSpecial appearanceRaja Rajeswari
1980s Year Title Role Notes1980Inaintha ThuruvangalGuruRaghuPanam Penn PaasamLast film; also producer1982Pokkiri RajaVenkatachalam Posthumous film
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