Raghava Lawrence (born Lawrence Murugaiyan on 29 October 1976) is an Indian actor, choreographer, film director, composer, playback singer, lyricist, film producer and philanthropist known for his works primarily in Tamil cinema. After making his debut as a dance choreographer in 1993, he began looking for acting opportunities. He began his career as an actor in the Telugu film Speed Dancer (1999).
He adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001, and choreographed songs for many prominent actors and directors in Tamil and Telugu cinema throughout his career. He got his breakthrough as an actor with the Telugu film Style (2006) and Tamil horror comedy Muni (2007). As a choreographer, he is known for his simple but intricate hip-hop and westernised dance moves and has won four Filmfare Awards, three Nandi Awards, and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Choreography and one Vijay Awards for social responsibility.
Early life and background Lawrence had a brain tumor when he was a child. He attributes the curing of his tumor to the deity, Raghavendra Swamy,TeluguCinema.Com – TC Exclusive: Interview with choreographer-director Lawrence. Telugucinema.com. 11 February 2005 and in an act of devotion, he took the name Raghava He built the Raghavendra Swamy Brindavanam Temple at Thirumullaivayal on the Avadi-Ambattur route, which opened on 1 January 2010. Raghava also has a younger brother, Elvin.
Career Initial career (1992–2001) He was working as a car cleaner for fight master Super Subbarayan. Rajinikanth saw him dancing and helped him to join the Dancers Union. He made his first appearance in Donga Police (1992) while doing some dances with Prabhu Deva including working as a background dancer in the song "Chikku Bukku Chikku Bukku Raile" in Gentleman (1993). In 1993, he also appeared in dance sequences in Muta Mesthri, Rakshana, and Allari Priyudu. Chiranjeevi offered him the job of choreographing the dances for Hitler (1997). Pleased with Lawrence's work, Chiranjeevi asked him to choreograph dances for Master (1997), his next film too. Producer T V D Prasad offered him the role of a hero in his venture Speed Dancer (1999). That film was a flop. After that he acted small roles in Tamil like Ajith Kumar's Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven (2000) and Prashanth's Parthen Rasithen (2000). Director K. Balachander invited him to act in his 100th film Parthale Paravasam (2001).
Establishing career (2002–2010) He acted as a first lead role in the Tamil with Arpudham (2002). As described in a review by Sify, "the latest in the line is Lawrence, who like his predecessor Prabhu Deva, is determined to be a hero". Arputham has a decent screenplay and Lawrence is tolerable". Thereafter, Style (2002). After making guest appearances in several films including Thirumalai (2003) and Thendral (2004), he directed his first film in Telugu, Mass (2004) starring Nagarjuna and Jyothika. The movie was a commercial success.
He subsequently directed and acted in Style (2006) co-starring with Prabhu Deva and featuring Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi in guest roles. He got his breakthrough with Muni (2007), a horror thriller film. Thereafter, he directed another film, Don (2007). The film starring Nagarjuna and Anushka Shetty. Raghava acted in second roles and made the film depending only on style and technical aspects. The movie had an average response. Raghava continues to play in different categories films such as Pandi (2008), Rajadhi Raja (2009) and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam (2010). Pandi was a moderate success, while Rajadhi Raja was released to negative reviews, and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam was released to mixed reviews.
Later career (2011–present) He takes the series Muni in Kanchana (2011). Sarath Kumar play in the main role. The movie was commercially successful. In 2012, he directed Telugu movie Rebel starring Prabhas and Tamannaah. He acted in Kanchana 2 (2015). In 2017, he starred in an action Masala film, Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva. Sify described the film as, "Crass, loud and brainless." Then another of genre horror Shivalinga, remake a Kannada language with the same name directed by P. Vasu. Shakthi Vasudevan, son of director, also starred in the important role for two versions. The story is a cop investigating the suspicious death of a Muslim finds out that his own wife has become possessed by the young man's ghost. Raghava Lawrence is back with the fourth movie in the series – Muni 4: Kanchana 3: Kaali (2019), with the new change being three heroines. The film has received a good collections at the box office. In 2020, he made his directorial debut in Hindi cinema with film, Laxmii, a remake of Muni 2: Kanchana.
On November 10, 2023, the movie Jigarthanda DoubleX, featuring actors Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah in the lead roles, was released as a prequel to the original film, Jigarthanda.
On 14 April 2024, it was announced that Lawrence will be starring in a film titled Benz, directed by Bakkiyaraj Kannan and written and produced by Lokesh Kanagaraj, which was confirmed as a part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe in October 2024.
Social work In 2015, after the death of former Indian president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Lawrence set up a charity trust in his name and made a donation of .
He did many social service activities in which he has aided many heart surgeries for small children. He was one of the supporters of the bull-riding sport jallikattu after its ban in 2017. During a protest in Tamil Nadu in January 2017, he provided food, medicine and basic needs to the protesters and promised to support them until the protests were over. He asked for an appointment with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to donate 1 crore as relief fund for the Kerala flood victims.
Filmography Film director + List of films as director Year Film Language Notes2004 Mass Telugu 2006Style2007 Muni Tamil Don Telugu Also Music Director2011 Kanchana Tamil Also producer2012 Rebel Telugu 2015 Kanchana 2 Tamil Also producer2019 Kanchana 3 2020 Laxmii Hindi A remake of Kanchana (2011) 2026 Tamil Filming; also producer
Actor + List of acting performances in film Year Film Role(s) Language Notes 1992 Donga Police Lorry driver Telugu Uncredited appearance in the song "Jee Tee Todu Meeda" 1993RakshanaUncredited appearance in the song "Gallumandi Boss";also assistant director 1995 Valli Vara Pora Crowd member Tamil Uncredited appearance in the song "Rootula Juttula" 1999Speed Dancer Seenu Telugu 2000Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Ganapathi TamilParthen Rasithen Doss 2001Parthale Paravasam Azhagu 2002Arpudham Ashok Kumar Style Rishaanth 2004Thendral Kumar Mass Local gangster Telugu Special appearance 2006Style Raghava 2007Muni Ganesh TamilDon Raghava Telugu2008Pandi Pandi Tamil2009Rajadhi Raja Raja 2010Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam Singam & SingaramDual role 2011Kanchana Raghava 2015Kanchana 2 Raghava & Shiva Dual role 2017Motta Siva Ketta Siva ACP Shivakumar Also playback singer for song "Motta Paiyan"Shivalinga Shivalingeswaran 2019Kanchana 3 Raghava & Kaali Dual role2023Rudhran Rudhran Chandramukhi 2Pandian & Sengottaiyan VettaiyanDual roleJigarthanda DoubleXAlliyus "Alliyan" Caesarrowspan="6" Filming Filming Filming KingstarPost-production Filming Filming
Dancer Note: this is a list of films that Raghava Lawrence only appeared as a dancer. + List of dancing performances in film Year Film Song Language Notes1992Donga PoliceTeluguPandian"Adi Jumba"Tamil1993 Mutha Mestri "Ee Pettakku" Telugu Allari Priyudu "Rose Rose Roja Puvva" Uzhaippali "Uzhaippali Illatha" Tamil Gentleman "Chikku Bukku Rayile" 1994Chinna Madam "Kora Kizhangukku Kodi" Tamil 1995Thai Thangai Paasam "Roopu Tera Masthana" 1996Akka Bagunnava "Aalesha Deko Pyaree" Telugu 1997Hitler "Nadaka Kalisina Navaraatri" 1998Prema Pallaki "Kannepilla Pongulu " Suryudu "Manasu Mamatha" 1999Amarkkalam "Maha Ganapathi" Tamil 2000Thirunelveli "Yele Azhagamma" Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi "Lovvuki Age" Telugu Hands Up "Jaana Jaana" Chala Bagundi "Yentabagundi Basu" Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven "Sollu Thalaiva" Tamil Bagunnara? "Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa" Telugu 2001Asura "Maha Ganapathi" Kannada 2002Varushamellam Vasantham "Naan Ready Neenga Readya" Tamil Roja Kootam "Subbamma" Baba "Maya Maya" 2003Ninne Istapaddanu "Krishna Zilla" Telugu Satyam "Kuch Kuch" Naaga "Nayudori Pilla" Pudhiya Geethai "Annamalai" Tamil Thirumalai "Thaamthakka Dheemthakka" 2010Pen Singam "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Iduppu" 2014Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam "Live The Moment"
Television Masthaana Masthaana Part II (2007)
Discography As a playback singer + List of films as a playback singer Song(s) Year Film Composer"Thala Suttuthe Maamu"2007MuniBharadwaj"Motta Motta Paiyyan" 2017Motta Siva Ketta SivaAmresh Ganesh"Lo Lo Lo Local"
As a music composer + List of films as music composer Year Film LanguageNotes2007DonTeluguSongs only; score composed by S. Chinna2012Rebel
As lyricist Year Film Song Notes2011Kanchana "Nillu Nillu"
Accolades Award Category Film Year Result Filmfare Awards SouthBest Choreography Annayya2000Paarthale Paravasam2001Indra2002Style2006Nandi AwardsBest ChoreographerAnnayya2000Indra2002Style2006Tamil Nadu State Film AwardsBest ChoreographerKannupada Poguthaiya1999Kanchana2011Vijay AwardsSocial Responsibility2010
Notes
References
External links
Lawrence Charitable Trust