Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, better known as Cho Ramaswamy (5 October 1934 – 7 December 2016), was an Indian actor, comedian, editor, political commentator, satirist, playwright, film director and lawyer from Tamil Nadu. He was a popular comedian in the 1960s and 1970s, and had acted with all the top stars in that period.
Early life Srinivasa Ramaswamy was fondly addressed and remembered as Cho. He was born in a family of lawyers
Family The elder son of R. Srinivasa Iyer and Rajammal, Cho had a younger brother, who was also an actor. Cho died on 7 December 2016. He has two children Sriram Ramaswamy and Sindhuja. He did his schooling from P. S. High School. His niece is actress Ramya Krishnan. The name 'Cho' was the name of the character he played in a Tamil play written by Bhageerathan titled Thenmozhiyaal.
Film career
Films Cho made his debut in 1963 with Paar Magale Paar as a comedian. From 1963 to 2005 he acted in 180 Tamil films and directed 5 films. He also wrote and directed 20 plays.
He also wrote and acted in 27 Television serials. He wrote 10 books. Apart from being an actor, he was both the screenplay and story writer of films such as Thenmazhai, Ninaivil Nindraval, Bommalattam, Aayiram Poi and Panam Paththum Seyyum, all of which proved to be box office hits.
Cho played the role of a bike mechanic in the play Petralthan Pillaiya, written by Pattu of the United Amateur Artistes (UAA), which became a huge success. When the play was later adapted into a film by director A. Bhimsingh, Sivaji Ganesan persuaded Cho to play the same role in the film too, leading to Cho's entry into the film world. Cho and Jayalalithaa have worked together in 19 films and also had been part of the same drama troupe.
Frequent collaborations
Cho as an actor has been pitted against other actors across generations. His comic timing against T. S. Balaiah in Manam Oru Kurangu, or with M. R. Radha, or many times with actors like V. K. Ramaswamy, Nagesh, Manorama and Sachu in many films brought out the best in him.
Cho and Manorama were paired together in 20 films, which included Malligaip poo, Annaiyum pithavum, Dharisanam, Anbait thedi, Ninaivil Nindraval, Nirai Kudam, Therottam, Aayiram Poi, Mohammed Bin Tughlaq, Bommalattam, Pugundha Veedu, Vilayaattu Pillai, Kanavan, Rojavin Raja and Velum Mayilum Thunai and were pitted in a non-couple role in Suryagandhi, Delhi Mappilai and Naadagame Ulagam.
Cho acted alongside Nagesh in Thenmazhai, Ninaivil Nindraval, Ulagam Ivvalavudhaan and Bommalattam among others. He was paired opposite Sachu in films like Deva Sankalpam, Galaataa Kalyanam and Delhi Mappilai.
Cho has acted with the MGR–Jayalalitha combo in films like Oli Villaku, Kanavan, Kumari Kottam, Mattukara Velan, Aadimai Penn, Engal Thangam, Thedi Vantha Mapillai, En Annan and Neerum Nerupum. Cho has acted with MGR in many films like Petralthaan Pillaiya, Sangey Muzhangu, Rickshawkaaran and Thalaivan. Cho has acted with Jayalalitha in other films like Bommalaattam, Galaattaak kalyanam, Suryagandhi, Vandhaale Maharaasi and Anbai Thedi.
Cho has acted with Sivakumar in films like Shanmugapriya, Onne Onnu Kanne Kannu, Thaip Paasam, Uravu Solla Oruvan, Aan Pillai Singam, Yaarukkum Vetkamillai, Chinna Kuyil Padudhu, Sattai Illatha Pambaram and Kanna Thorakiran Samy. Among these, Yaarukkum Vetkamillai was directed by Cho in 1976.
Journalism He was the founder and editor of the Tamil magazine Thuglak. Politicians such as J. B. Kripalani, Indira Gandhi, Karunanidhi, Chandra Shekhar, G. K. Moopanar, M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa, Ramakrishna Hegde, N. T. Rama Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and L. K. Advani, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram were targets of his editorial attacks. In his last years, he predicted that Narendra Modi would "win laurels for India" in the future, and also praised Jayalalithaa for her administration of Tamil Nadu.
Cho enjoyed challenging MG Ramachandran (MGR) and his politics, while Karunanidhi stayed his target. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), in his opinion, was populist and lacked ideology.
On 25 January 2017, the Government of India announced a posthumous Padma Bhushan award for his contribution towards Literature & Education – Journalism.
Politics
Cho has been described as a right-wing public intellectual in tributes.
Cho was publicly opposed to Sri Lankan Tamil militants, particularly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at a time when Sri lanka's ethnic crisis was at its peak and almost all political parties in Tamil Nadu highlighted the issue of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
The rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindutva wave made Cho their sympathiser. He started involving in direct politics as a mediator. In 1999, he was instrumental in bringing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) together in an alliance with BJP. He was successful in bringing G. K. Moopanar, of the Tamil Maanila Congress and Karunanidhi together in the 1996 elections, and getting Rajnikanth to publicly support the alliance to defeat Jayalalithaa. In 2001, He facilitated alliance between Jayalalithaa and Moopanar for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Post 2004, he became soft towards Jayalalithaa and spent all his energy in opposing the DMK and promoting BJP. Later on, in 2011, he convinced Vijayakanth to partner with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Cho was an ardent supporter of Narendra Modi. Cho had campaigned extensively for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 Indian general election; Modi described Ramaswamy as "Rajguru", and called himself his "fan".
He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, K. R. Narayanan. In the Rajya Sabha 12 MPs are nominated by the President of India from amongst persons who have special knowledge or practical experience in the fields of literature, science, art or social service. He served as a Rajya Sabha MP from November 1999 to November 2005.Biodata; accessed 28 January 2018.
In her obit, Feminist writer V. Geetha referred to Cho as "the Sangh Parivar's political man in Chennai".
Partial filmography As actor Year Film Role Notes1963 Paar Magaley Paar 1966 Marakka Mudiyumaa? Thenmazhai 1967 Ninaivil Nindraval Manam Oru Kurangu Penn Endraal Penn Naan Yaar Theriyuma Karpooram Aalayam Guest appearance1968 Galatta Kalyanam Vittal Bommalattam Neelagiri Express Kuzhanthaikkaga Delhi Mapillai Chinna Thambi Lakshmi Kalyanam Kannan En Kadhalan Oli Vilakku Kanavan Siritha Mugam 1969 Nirai Kudam Aayiram Poi Muthu Ulagam Ivvalavuthaan Adimai Penn Aindhu Laksham Kanni Penn Magizham Poo Annaiyum Pithavum 1970 En Annan Maattukara Velan Engal Thangam Enga Mama Gnanam Thedi Vandha Mappillai Karpagam Dharisanam Nadu Iravil Vilayattu Pillai Snegithi 1971 Muhammad bin Tughluq Therottam Neerum Neruppum Rickshawkaran Oru Thaai Makkal Kumari Kottam Babu Arunodhayam Soodhattam Yanai Valartha Vanambadi Magan 1972 Thavapudhalavan Unakkum Enakkum Mr.Sampath Puguntha Veedu Thaaikku Oru Pillai Sange Muzhangu Deiva Sankalpam 1973 Vandhale Magarasi Suryakanthi Gauravam Pon Vanndu Vakkuruthi Ganga Gowri Manitharil Maanikkam Kasi Yathirai Ponnunjal Shanmugapriya Vayadi Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Malligai Poo School Master Nalla Mudivu Anbu Sagodharargal 1974 Thanga Pathakkam Orey Saatchi Anbai Thedi Idhayam Parkkirathu Guest appearance Roshakkaari Devi Sri Karmariamman Kalyanamam Kalyanam Onne Onnu Kanne Kannu Pillai Selvam Thai Pasam Magalukkaga 1975 Aan Pillai Singam Sonthankal Vaazhga Andharangam Cinema Paithiyam Guest appearance Unga Veettu Kalyaanam Avandhan Manidhan Thai Veettu Seethanam Uravu Solla Oruvan Yarukkum Vetkamillai Pinchu Manam Melnaattu Marumagal Guest appearance1976 Unmaye Un Vilai Enna Mayor Meenakshi Rojavin Raja Avan Oru Sarithiram Guest appearance Perum Pugazhum 1977 Thanikudithanam Balappareetchai Unnai Sutrum Ulagam Guest appearance1978 Sakka Podu Podu Raja Annapoorani 1979 Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai Nadagame Ulagam Velum Mayilum Thunai 1981 Kadavulin Theerppu1983 Adutha Varisu1984 Naan Mahaan Alla A. R. Chandran/Reddy Saattai Illatha Pambaram 1985 Navgraha Nayagi Puthiya Theerpu 1986 Kanna Thorakkanum Saami1987 Chinna Kuyil PaaduthuKani Nilam Manithan Anand Paruva Ragam 1988 Guru Sishyan1990 Adhisaya Piravi1990 Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga1998 Kadhala Kadhala
Direction Muhammad bin Tughluq (1971) Mr. Sampath (1972) Yarukkum Vetkam Illai (1975) Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna (1976) Sambo Siva Samboo (1977)
Screenplay Thenmazhai (1966) Ninaivil Nindraval (1967) Manam Oru Kurangu (1967) Neelagiri Express (1968) Bommalattam (1968) Aayiram Poi (1969) Nirai Kudam (1969)
Story and dialogues Kani Nilam (1987)
Other works Plays Year Play Role Notes Kalyani debut drama Wait and See directed by KB Why Not directed by KB What For directed by KB Muhammad bin Tughluq Yaarukkum Vetkamillai Saathiram Sonnadhillai Nermai Urangum Neram Iraivan Irandhuvittana? Enru Thaniyum Inda Sudandira Thaagam? Judgement Reserved Quo Vadis Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae? Saraswathiyin Selvan Unmai Urangum Neram Madras by Night
Bibliography Hindu Maha Samudram Vol – I, II, III, IV, V, and VI (Latest) Mahabaratham Pesugirathu Valmiki Ramayanam Verukathagada Bramaniyam Nane Raja
Television Engey Brahmanan? Verukatthakkatha Brahmaneeyam? Sambavami Yuge Yuge Vande Mataram Ivargalai Therindhu Kollungal Washington Il Nallathambi Sarakar Pugunda Veedu Koovam Nadikaraiyinile Adhigaprasangam Yaro Ivar Yaro? Saadhal Ellaiyel Kaadhal Mydear BrahmaDeva India Enge Pogiradhu? Kamarajarai Sandhitthen Puratchi Geethai Sattam Thalai Guniyattum Enge Pogirai? Embak Kana Onru Kandaen Saraswathiyin Selvan Manam Oru Kurangu En Koodathu? Eravil Chennai Uravugal Ellaiyadi Pappa Edarkaga? Thiraiyulagathai Thirumbi Parkiraen Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae? Janatha Nagar Colony
Satire Following Sanjay Gandhi's death in an air crash, Cho released stamps in memory of Capt. Subhash Saxena, the pilot of the aircraft, who also died in the air crash. The postal departments failed to realise that these stamps were not official and mistakenly delivered mail that had them affixed.
Illness and death Cho was hospitalized in January 2015 and was in and out of hospital due to illness. He died of a cardiac arrest at 3:58 AM on 7 December 2016, aged 82, at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, where he was receiving treatment for respiratory problems. He was survived by his wife, Soundaramba Ramaswamy, son Rajivakshan alias Sriram, and daughter Sindhu.Obituary, thehindu.com; accessed 28 January 2018.
His death happened a day after Jayalalithaa had died. Rajinikanth disclosed later that Jayalalithaa had always wished that Cho should live as long as she lived. He quoted: "As it turns out, he was alive till then and even few hours after that."
K. Veeramani, leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam and a self-confessed atheist, in his tributes to Cho, said he was a unique journalist with independent views.
References
External links
Audio of Cho Ramaswamy on Mrs Pratibha Patil, prior to the Indian Presidential elections where Mrs Patil was a candidate (in Tamil), 13 July 2007. Profile, thehindu.com, 2 June 2004. Profile, TribuneIndia.com, 11 July 2004. Profile, Rediff.com; accessed 28 January 2018. Virtual Page, HarmonyIndia.org; accessed 28 January 2018. Profile, tribuneindia.com; accessed 28 January 2018. PM Visit, indianexpress.com; accessed 28 January 2018. CM Visit, thehindu.com; accessed 28 January 2018. Obituary, indiatimes.com; accessed 28 January 2018.