Sedapatti Suryanarayana Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, director, producer and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema.
Film career
Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film ''
Parasakthi'',
[ directed by the directing duo ]Krishnan–Panju
R. Krishnan (1909–1997) and S. Panju (1915–1984), collectively referred to as Krishnan–Panju, were Indian film directors. The duo directed more than 50 films in South Indian languages and in Hindi.
Early life
R. Krishnan was born on 18 ...
, with the character Gnanasekharan. He followed with '' Mudhalali'', ''President Panchatcharam'', ''Pillai Kani Amudhu'', ''Thalai Koduthan Thambi'', ''Thedi Vandha Selvam'', C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (15 September 1909 – 3 February 1969), popularly known as Anna also known as Arignar Anna or Perarignar Anna (''Anna, the scholar'' or ''Elder Brother''), was an Indian Tamil politician who served as the f ...
's ''Edhayum Thangum Idhayam'', M. Karunanidhi's ''Avan Pithana'', ''Poompuhar
Puhar (also known as Poompuhar) is a town in the Mayiladuthurai district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri Poompattinam, which is described in Sangam literature like Silappa ...
'' and Modern Theatres ''Kumudham''. SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 24 December 1987), also popularly known as M.G.R., was an Indian politician, actor, philanthropist, and filmmaker who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987 ...
in '' Raja Desingu'' as Mohamed Khan and in '' Kaanji Thalaivan'' as Paranjothi. He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan
Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy, better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001) was an Indian actor and producer. He was active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Sivaji Gan ...
such as '' Manohara'', '' Rangoon Radha'', '' Raja Rani'', '' Deivapiravi'', ''Aalayamani
''Aalayamani'' () is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Shankar and produced by P. S. Veerappa. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, S. S. Rajendran, B. Saroja Devi and C. R. Vijayakumari. It was released on 23 November 1962, ...
'', '' Pachai Vilakku'', '' Pazhani'', '' Kungumam'', '' Santhi'' and '' Kai Kodutha Dheivam''.
Other notable films were ''Sorgavasal
''Sorgavasal'' () is a 1954 Indian Tamil film, directed by A. Kasilingam and produced by M. Somasundaram and M. K. Kaliapa. The film starred K. R. Ramasamy, Padmini, S. S. Rajendran and Anjali Devi in lead roles. The film had a musical sco ...
'', '' Ammaiyappan'', ''Ratha Kanneer
''Ratha Kanneer'' () is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju, and written by Tiruvarur K. Thangaraj. Based on Thangaraj's play of the same name, the film stars M. R. Radha, Sriranjani and S. S. Rajendran, wi ...
'', '' Kula Dheivam'', '' Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum'', '' Kalyanikku Kalyanam'', '' Sivagangai Seemai'', also in AVM's '' Kaakum Karangal'', '' Poomalai'' and K. Balachander's '' Ethiroli''.
His drama company ''SSR Nadaka Mandram'' staged plays including''Or Iravu'' (C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (15 September 1909 – 3 February 1969), popularly known as Anna also known as Arignar Anna or Perarignar Anna (''Anna, the scholar'' or ''Elder Brother''), was an Indian Tamil politician who served as the f ...
), ''Manimagudam'' ( M. Karunanidhi) and ''Thenpaandi Veeran'' (P. Nedumaran
Pazha Nedumaran ''Krishnan Pillai Pazhaniyappan'' ( ta, :ta:பழ. நெடுமாறன், பழ. நெடுமாறன்/கிருஷ்ணன் பிள்ளை பழநியப்பன்) is a Tamil politician from the s ...
). He introduced and gave opportunities to actress Manorama.
Director K. S. Gopalakrishnan was introduced from his film ''Saradha'' (a silver jubilee hit) and ''Saradha Studios'' was established to commemorate the success of this film by its producer A. L. Srinivasan. Likewise, SSRs film ''Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum'', in which his co-star was Raja Sulochana
Chittajallu Rajeevalochana (15 August 1935 – 5 March 2013), better known as Rajasulochana, was an Indian classical dancer and actress. She has acted in more than 300 Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi language films.
Early life
She w ...
, was a successful film in 1958.
Personal life
He had 8 children named Elangovan, Rajendrakumar, Kalaivanan, Bhagyalakshmi, Selvaraj, Ravikumar, Kannan & Lakshmi Sitara
Political life
He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (; DMK) is a political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu where it is currently the ruling party having a comfortable majority without coalition support and the union territory of Puducherry where it is curre ...
(DMK) party and became the first elected member of a legislative assembly among actors in India when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a strength of 234 members of whom are democratically elected using the First-past-the-post system. The presiding officer of the Assembl ...
as a DMK candidate Theni
Theni is a valley town situated in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu at the foothills of Western Ghats. It is the headquarters of the Theni district, located in a distance of 70km from Madurai. It is known for the large-scale trading of garlic, c ...
(State Assembly Constituency) in 1962 Madras State legislative assembly election. Subsequently, he was elected as a member (MP) of Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha, wikisource:Constitution of India/Part V#Article 80, constitutionally the Council of States, is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. , it has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legisl ...
. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (; AIADMK) is an Indian regional political party with great influence in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry. It is a Dravidian party founded by the former chief ...
(AIADMK) and was elected from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election.He shared good friendship with ,M.G.R and Kalaingar
Personal interests
Rajendran, being a strict follower of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), revered as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He is known as the 'F ...
'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.
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
References
External links
Acting, the SSR Way in My Movie Minutes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajendran, S. S.
1928 births
2014 deaths
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians
Male actors in Tamil cinema
Tamil Nadu politicians
People from Madurai district
Periyarists
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians