Thengai Srinivasan (21 October 1937 – 9 November 1987) was an Indian actor who appeared in Tamil-language films and plays from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was given the prefix Thengai (coconut) after his role as a coconut-seller in the play Kal Manam. Although originally a comedian, he also performed in other genres and enacted several lead and antagonistic roles.
Early life Srinivasan was born to Rajavel Mudaliar (Chennai) and Subammal (Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district) on 21 October 1937. He had two sisters. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Chennai. Srinivasan's father was an artist who staged several plays and it was his influence which stimulated Srinivasan's interest in an acting career.
After school, Srinivasan joined the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai and later started his theatrical career in the Railway Dramatic Club. Srinivasan's first stage appearance was in his father's drama Galatta Kalyanam. Srinivasan was also part of the troupe of K. Kannan and portrayed a coconut vendor in one of his plays Kal Manam. Comedian K. A. Thangavelu upon watching the play, announced he should be called Thengai (coconut) Srinivasan thereafter.
Career Srinivasan's first feature film was the mystery thriller Oru Viral in 1965. The film, which saw him playing a detective, was a financial success. Srinivasan was, however, supposed to make his feature film debut in Iravum Pagalum (1965) that marked the acting debut of Jaishankar, but was dropped after distributors raised concerns about two newcomers being featured in the lead roles. He and Jaishankar nonetheless would become close friends later and Srinivasan was featured in almost 80 per cent of Jaishankar's early films.
For the most part, Srinivasan enacted the role of a comedian or a sidekick. Notable roles in his subsequent career include that of a fake Swami and that of an idealistic industrialist in the cult comedy films Kasethan Kadavulada and Thillu Mullu, respectively. In 2013, Forbes India included his performance in Thillu Mullu, along with that of Rajinikanth in the same film, in its list of the "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Srinivasan also played antagonistic roles; one of which was that of a blackmailing photographer in S. P. Muthuraman's Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu.
He played the lead in Vaali's play Sri Krishna Vijayam, which was later made into a feature film named Kaliyuga Kannan. The makers originally intended to cast Sivaji Ganesan in the role, but Ganesan, being impressed by Srinivasan's performance in the play, suggested that Srinivasan should be retained for the film version. Kaliyuga Kannan went on to become a high commercial success and is considered one of Srinivasan's most notable films. Other films featuring Srinivasan in the lead role were Nandri Karangal, Sri Ramajayam, Porter Ponnusami and Adukku Malli, which was a box office success. In 1987, Srinivasan produced the film Krishnan Vandhaan with Sivaji Ganesan in the lead. The film did not fare well and got him into deep financial trouble.
Death Srinivasan suffered a brain haemorrhage in Bangalore, Karnataka, where he had gone to attend the final rituals of his aunt. Despite intensive treatment, he died on 9 November 1987. His body was brought to his house at Ramasamy Street in Gopalapuram, Chennai. His death was marked by tributes from film fans and industry insiders alike.
Personal life Srinivasan was married to Lakshmi. The couple have two daughters – Geethalakshmi and Rajeshwari – and a son, Shivshankar. Geethalakshmi's son Yogi has acted in films such as Azhagiya Asura (2006) and Sivi (2007), and Shivshankar's daughter Shrutika also appeared in a few Tamil films during the 2000s. Shivshankar's son Adithya Shivpink is also an actor, having starred in films featuring Rajinikanth since 2018.
Filmography This is a partial filmography.
1960s +YearFilmRoleNotes1965Oru ViralCID officer1966Vallavan Oruvan1967Kadhalithal PodhumaRaja Veetu PillaiSingaramSabash ThambiEthirigal Jakkirathai1968Ethir NeechalMuthu ChippiOli VilakkuMoondrezhuthuKannan En Kadhalan1969Naangu KilladigalNirai KudamAkka ThangaiKanne PappaKuzhandai UllamSivandha MannAindhu LakshamNam Naadu Kuppuswamy
1970s +YearFilmRoleNotes1970Maanavan MayandiEn AnnanPaadhukaappuEngal Thangam PidhambarNamma Veetu DeivamPenn DeivamEngirundho VandhaalEnga Mama Fatafat SankarAnadhai AnandhanCID Shankar1971Meendum VazhvenRickshawkaranAnnai VelankanniUttharavindri Ulle Vaa Dr. SwaminathanSumathi En SundariJustice ViswanathanThen KinnamNeerum NeruppumArunodhayam1972Kasethan KadavuladaAppaswamyNaan Yen PirandhenVelli VizhaMappillai AzhaippuJakkammaKarunthel KannayiramPillaiyo PillaiKadhalikka VangaNalla NeramPillaiyo PillaiDheivam1973DeivamsamBaghdad PerazhagiVakkuruthiPattikaattu PonnaiyaAlaigalKomatha En KulamathaKasi YathiraiThedi Vandha LakshmiUlagam Sutrum ValibanMaru PiraviDeivakulanthaigalSchool MasterPookkariKattila ThottilaPonvanduAmman ArulManipayal1974Kaliyuga KannanSambu IyerKai Niraya KaasuPrayaschithamAthaiya MamiyaThaai PiranthalRoshakariDoctorammaNaan AvanillaiEngamma SapathamPanathukkagaVairamSirithu Vazha VendumNetru Indru Naalai DayalanUngal ViruppamAvalum Penn ThaaneIppadiyum Oru Penn1975Pallandu VazhgaIdhayakkaniPattikkaattu Raja'Meyvakku' MeganathanNinaithadhai MudippavanThangathile VairamThiruvarulEnga Pattan SothuAndharangamUravukku Kai KoduppomKarotti KannanMayangukiral Oru MaadhuAayirathil OruthiKabalishwaran1976Ore Thanthai AnnakiliMayor MeenakshiAkkaUzhaikkum KarangalDasavatharamAthirshtam AzhaikkirathuKumara VijayamNee Oru MaharaniKaalangalil Aval VasanthamMuthana MuthallavoMayor MeenakshiBhadrakaliNeedhikku ThalaivananguLalitha1977Aattukara AlameluAasai ManaiviUyarndhavargalIndru Pol Endrum Vaazhga Olimayamana EthirkalamMeenava Nanban Penn Jenmam ChakravarthyMurugan AdimaiAvar Enakke SonthamNavarathinamAadu Puli AttamPalabishegham1978Madhuraiyai Meetta SundharapandiyanVaazha Ninaiththaal VaazhalaamShri Kanchi KamakshiDevoteeThyagamGeneral ChakravarthiVaruvan VadivelanOru Nadigai Natakam ParkiralVaazhkai AlaigalAndaman KadhaliSadhurangamUllathil KuzhanthaiyadiRudhra ThaandavamThanga RanganVattathukkul ChaduramPilot PremnathSakka Podu Podu RajaVanakkatukuriya KathaliyeJustice GopinathBhadrachalamSonnadhu Nee ThanaaPriyaSimultaneously shot in Kannada Kaatrinile Varum Geetham1979Annai Oru Aalayam GopalsamyDharma YuddhamRobertAnbae SangeethaThaayillamal Naan IllaiKavari MaanVasuKalyanaramanKittuPorter PonnusamiThirisoolamNallathoru KudumbamNaan VazhavaippenPattakkathi BhairavanImayamVetrikku OruvanGnana KuzhandhaiSri RamajayamAarilirindhu Aruvathu VaraiNeela MalargalKathavarayan Pillai
1980s +YearFilmRoleNotes1980BillaJ.JAnbukku Naan AdimaiSoolamRishi MoolamRatha PaasamVishwaroopamDharma RajaJambooYamanukku YamanChitraguptaDevi DharisanamAvan Aval AdhuMaria My DarlingVarumayin Niram SivappuRangan1981TheeMeendum KokilaNattuvanarRam LakshmanEllam Inba MayyamBala NagammaSavaalDhairya Lakshmi Kannada filmKadal MeengalGarjanaiKalthoonKazhuguThillu MulluSri RamachandramurthyTik Tik TikLakshmi Narayanan Ellam Inba Mayyam1982Auto RajaAzhagiya KanneRangaKanne RadhaOorukku Oru PillaiPudukavithaiNandri, Meendum VarugaAdhisayappiravigalOorum UravumVasandhathil Or NaalMul Illatha RojaParitchaikku NeramaachuThaai MookaambikaiSakalakala VallavanSundaramRani Theni ThulasilingumNenjangalMoondru Mugam Ramanathan1983SaranalayamThai Veedu NagalingamMiruthanga ChakravarthiIndru Nee Nalai NaanSivappu SooriyanApoorva SahodarigalThanga Magan Villiyanur Matha Inspector Dheenadayalan 1984Nooravathu NaalNalla NaalThiruppamKomberi MookanChiranjeeviAlaya DeepamVaazhkaiKai Kodukkum KaiOsaiNeengal KettavaiEzhuthatha SattangalNinaivugalKuva Kuva VaathugalSarithira Nayagan1985Chain JayapalKaakki SattaiArthamulla AasaigalUdaya Geetham Deivapiravi Aduthathu AlbertThendrale Ennai ThoduAndha Oru NimidamUnnai Thedi VaruvenAnthasthuSri RaghavendrarPadikkadavanPillai NilaChain Jayapal1986Yaaro Ezhuthiya KavithaiNaan Adimai IllaiViduthalaiMandhira PunnagaiOomai VizhigalMel Maruvathoor ArpudhangalKulirkaala MegangalKodai MazhaiAnandha KanneerDharma DevathaiMaaveeran Drama head Guest Appearance1987Paruva RagamRettai Vaal KuruviMuthukkal MoondruKrishnan Vandhaan
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