Sedapatti Suryanarayanan Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (1 January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, film director, film producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema. He is also referred to as Latchiya Nadigar.

He was a Rajya Sabha MP of DMK from April 3, 1970 to April 2, 1976

Film career Sri Aandal was to have his debut film as an actor. He received an offer to act in a negative role, and an advance as well. T. R. Sundaram, who oversaw the production, overruled Rajendran's selection because he "appeared like a boy with curly hair and was unsuitable for the villain role." Rajendran was cast in the title role. He was replaced after two weeks of shooting from the film as T. K. Muthusamy of the TKS Brothers drama troupe said Rajendran was still under contract with them, and threatened legal action if the film continued production. The role went to newcomer S. M. Kumaresan.

Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi. He followed with Sorgavasal (1954), Ammaiyappan (1954), Ratha Kanneer (1954), Kula Dheivam (1956), Sivagangai Seemai (1957), Mudhalali (1957), Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (1958), Pillai Kaniyamudhu (1958), Thedi Vandha Selvam (1958), Kalyanikku Kalyanam (1959), President Panchaksharam (1959), Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959), Kumudham (1961), C. N. Annadurai's Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962), M. Karunanidhi's Kaanji Thalaivan (1963), Poompuhar (1964), Poomalai (1965), Avan Pithana? (1966) and Mani Magudam (1966).

SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran in Raja Desingu (1960) and in Kaanji Thalaivan (1963). He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan such as Manohara (1954), Raja Rani (1956), Rangoon Radha (1956), Deivapiravi (1960), Aalayamani (1962), Kunkhumam (1963), Pachai Vilakku (1964), Kai Kodutha Dheivam (1964), Pazhani (1965), Santhi (1965) and Ethiroli (1970).

His drama company SSR Nadaka Mandram staged plays includingP.R.Vasantha kumars'ilatchia selvam SSR 1987 'sironmani publications'Or Iravu (C. N. Annadurai), Manimagudam (M. Karunanidhi) and Thenpaandi Veeran (P. Nedumaran). He introduced and gave opportunities to actress Manorama.Manorama in her lifetime award function said (jan 15 2008): "Those were days when even a fleeting presence on the screen was considered a huge achievement. It was Kannadasan Sir who offered the role. But actually I owe all this to S. S. Rajendran. It was he who invited me to Madras to act in the Kalaignar's (M. Karunanidhi) play Manimagudam. That play was a resounding success and I was recognised as an actress. Later, I faced the camera for the first time in an unfinished film that had Rajendran and Devika in the lead roles. Then came Maalayitta Mangai." recounts the actor. Rajendran, being a strict follower of Periyar's policy of rationalism, never acted in films based on Ithihasas and Puranas. He earned the sobriquet "Latchiya Nadigar" (Idealistic Actor) as he never acted in films against his policy.

Personal life

He had two wives Pankajam. and actress C. R. Vijayakumari, and eight children.

Political life He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party and became the first actor to become an elected member of a legislative assembly in India when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a DMK candidate for the Theni Constituency in the 1962 Madras State legislative assembly election. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was elected from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election..

He stood for the 1984 assembly election in his native town Sedapatti as an independent candidate, but ultimately lost. S. Rajendran entered the electoral fray from Periyakulam in the 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a candidate of the AIADMK faction led by J. Jayalalithaa. But he could not win.

Death Rajendran was admitted into Chennai Meenakshi hospital on 20 October 2014 to treat a lung infection. He died on 24 October 2014.

Filmography

Actor Year Film Role Notes 1952ParasakthiGnanasekaran Panam Sundaram 1954 Manohara Rajapriyan Sorgavasal Muthu Manikam Ammaiyappan Muthan Ratha Kanneer Balu 1956 Raja RaniBabuKuladeivam Rajaiya Rangoon Radha Nagasundaram 1957 Mudhalali Vasanthan/Varathan 1958 Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum Rangan Anbu Engey Somu Petra Maganai Vitra Annai Prince Villalan/Neelan Pillai Kaniyamudhu Thirudargal Jakkirathai Thedi Vandha Selvam 1959 Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai Sollu Thambi Sollu Kalyanikku Kalyanam Sadhasivam Sivagangai Seemai Muthalagu Servai Pudhumai Penn President PanchatcharamSikhamani Naatukoru Nallaval Alli Petra Pillai Thalai Koduthaan Thambi Indrajith Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa Subramaniyan 1960 Deivapiravi Ramu Sangilithevan Sangilithevan Raja Desingu General Mohammed Khan Petra Manam Thangarathinam 1961 Manapanthal Dr. Gunasekaran Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Marumagale Kumudham Kumaran Panam Panthiyile 1962 Sarada Sambandham Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam Senthamarai Muthu Mandapam Aalayamani Sekar Deivathin Deivam Babu 1963 Vanambadi Sekhar Neengadha Ninaivu Kattu Roja Baskaran Aasai Alaigal Durai Raj Naanum Oru Penn Bhaskar Kunkhumam Superintendent RajaKaanchi Thalaivan Commander Paranjothi Kaithiyin Kathali 1964 Pachchai Vilakku Pasupathy AlliKannan Kai Kodutha Deivam Ravi Vazhi Piranthadu Poompuhar Kovalan Ullasa Payanam Selvam 1965 Pazhani Raju Santhi Ramu Paditha ManaiviKaakum Karangal Dr. Shankar Vazhikatti Poomalai Sundaram Maganey Kel Anandhi Somu 1966 Avan Pithana?Kumar Thedi Vandha Thirumagal Marakka Mudiyuma? Manikam / Krishnan Thaaye Unakkaga Mani Magudam King Mani Maaran / Puthumai Pithan 1969 Kula Vilakku Guest Appearance 1970 Ethiroli Raju Vairagyam 1982 Erattai ManithanDurai 1985 Anbin Mugavari 1996 Rajali Shekhar 1998 Dharma Chief Minister 2001 Rishi Chief Minister 2003 Dum DGP 2008 Theekuchi Raja

References

External links Acting, the SSR Way in My Movie Minutes