A.V.M. Rajan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Shanmugasundaram (1935-07-26)26 July 1935 (age 90) |
| Other names | A.V.M Rajan |
| Occupation(s) | Preacher, actor, film producer |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 6, includingMahalakshmi |
Shanmugasundaram, known by his stage nameA.V.M. Rajan, (26 July 1935) is an Indian preacher and former actor who was active inTamil cinema. He was one of the top actors in the industry during the 1960s and 1970s.
Born inPudukottai, Shanmugasundaram was very eager to join cinema though he held a bachelor's degree in mathematics fromMadras University.[1] 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 write the examination, but didn't 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 relentless efforts yielded result by getting him the opportunity to enter cinema through the filmAayiram Kaalathu Payiru in which he was introduced as "Raja B.A.". Soon after, he was signed to act in the AVM's filmNaanum Oru Penn also.[2]
Rajan acted in a movie produced by AVM Productions calledNaanum Oru Penn, a film that starredS.S.Rajendran in the lead role. Hence he became 'A.V.M.' Rajan. Tamil actressPushpalatha appeared in the same picture, and they became a couple and later married. They subsequently acted as a pair in many films, includingKarppooram (1967) which he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. AVM Rajan has two daughters, the elder daughterMahalakshmi was an actress between the 80s–90s. On 19 January 1984,[3] through a personal encounter with God, Rajan converted and there after became a full-time Christian preacher since 1988[4] and since then has stopped acting in movies and dramas. His wifePushpalatha is a Catholic by birth. She hails from Coimbatore. She died in 2025. Following Rajan's conversion, his family too is serving full-time Ministry.[5]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | First signed film, but his scenes were deleted | |
| 1963 | Naanum Oru Penn | Balu | |
| Aayiram Kalathu Payir | Ratnam | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | 25th Film | |
| Chellapen | Pushpalatha replacedSowcar Janaki although the filming took place to some extent | ||
| Magizhampoo | Pasupathy | ||
| Paal Kudam | |||
| 1970 | Engal Thangam | Moorthy | |
| Dharisanam | Pandian/ Chandramohan | Dual role | |
| Anadhai Anandhan | Selvam | ||
| Noorandu Kalam Vazhga | Rajan | ||
| Yaen? | Ramu | ||
| 1971 | Irulum Oliyum | Thyagarajan (Thyagu) | |
| Pattondru Ketten | |||
| Deivam Pesuma | Dr Sundaram | ||
| 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 | Deivamsam | Raju | |
| Manipayal | Arun | ||
| Engal Thaai | Ragunath | ||
| Nee Ullavarai | 50th Film | ||
| Amman Arul | |||
| Anbu Sagodharargal | Durairaj | ||
| Veettu Mappillai | |||
| Thirumalai Deivam | Narathan | ||
| Veettukku Vandha Marumagal | |||
| Pasa Deepam | Rajarathna | ||
| Pennai Nambungal | Ramu | ||
| Manidharil Manikkam | Boopathy | ||
| Nyayam Ketkirom | |||
| Prarthanai | |||
| 1974 | Sivagamiyin Selvan | Wing Commander Raghu | |
| Doctoramma | Raja | ||
| Ore Satchi | Madhavan | ||
| Magalukkaga | Muruga | 75th Film, | |
| Murugan Kaattiya Vazhi | Muniyandi | ||
| Pathu Madha Bandham | Chandran | ||
| 1975 | Enakkoru Magan Pirappan | ||
| Thiruvarul | Kumara Devan | ||
| 1976 | Rojavin Raja | Gopal | |
| Thayilla Kuzhandhai | |||
| 1977 | Murugan Adimai | Shiva | |
| Navarathinam | Raja | ||
| Unnai Suttrum Ulagam | Film director | ||
| 1978 | Thai Meethu Sathiyam | Babu's Father | |
| 1980 | Billa | Inspector Varma | |
| 1981 | Thee | Ramaiah | |
| 1982 | Oorum Uravum | Chandrasekhar | |
| 1984 | Nandri | DIG | |
| 1987 | Veeran Veluthambi | IG |
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Main Bhi Ladki Hoon | Hindi | Remake ofNaanum Oru Penn | |
| 1972 | Kandavarundo | Malayalam | ||
| 1975 | Annadammula Anubandham | Venu Gopal Rao | Telugu |