V.S. Raghavan

V S Raghavan (18 February 1925 – 24 January 2015) was an Indian actor, who has acted both in Tamil films as well as television. He started his career as a dramatist and stage actor and went on to act as a character actor in films, starting with ''Vairamali'' (1954) and over 1000 films in all. He has also acted in numerous television series.Memories of Madras: The golden age of theatre
''The Hindu'', 8 December 2010. He died on 24 January 2015.

Early life and education

Born in Vembakkam village, near Singaperumal Koil near Chengleput, where he spent early part of his childhood, later for three years he lived in Mylapore neighbourhood of Chennai, and studied at the P S High School. Subsequently, he studied at St Columbus Higher Secondary School, Chengalpattu, followed by two years in Madras Christian College, Chennai. However, as he finished his school the death of his father prompted his mother to shift from native village to move to Vellala Street in Purasawalkam, Chennai where his elder sister lived.

Career

V S Raghavan started his career in 1942, as a sub-editor for ''Malathi'' magazine run by humourist Thumilan (N Ramaswamy), and after it closed he joined a printing press. At the press a group of fellow employees used to do amateur stage plays, which led him to act in some plays including some Hindi plays. Earlier, he had acted in YMIA Fine Arts' theatre group's play ''Vairamalai'', written by Thottakara Viswanathan, staged at the YMCA, and when the production adapted the stage play into a film, he played the same role in it, thus made his film début in 1954. In the same year, he made his debut as a dramatist and started the Indian National Artists (INA) with four other friends like Malli, Vadiraj, Nataraj and K Balachander. The INA staged plays at reputed Sabhas in Chennai.

Veteran director K Balachander who has won several accolades for memorable films was part of his troupe where he acted and wrote scripts.
The INA closed down a decade later and Raghavan entered the cinema world and acted in supporting roles. He has acted in around 1000 films and has also featured in many MGR films. He is also very well known for his role in the TV serial ''Anni'' created by K Balachander.

Partial filmography

* ''Vaira Malai'' (1954)
* ''Kaalam Maaripochu'' (1955)
* ''Kalyanam Seydhukko'' (1955)
* '' Samaya Sanjeevi'' (1957) - Also Director
* ''Sarangadhara'' (1957)
* ''Manaiviey Manidhanin Manikkam'' (1959)
* '' Kaathirundha Kangal'' (1962)
* ''Nenjil Or Aalayam'' (1962)
* ''Sumaithaangi'' (1962)
* '' Káthirunda Kangal'' (1962)
* ''Vanambadi'' (1962)
* ''Kalai Kovil'' (1964)
* '' Bommai'' (1964)
* ''Kadhalikka Neramillai'' (1964)
* '' Karnan'' (1964)
* ''Nadu Iravil''(1965)
* ''Chitthi'' (1966)
* ''Ramu (1966 film)'' (1966)
* ''Gowri Kalyanam'' (1966)
* ''Pesum Dheivam'' (1967)
* ''Anubavam Pudhumai'' (1967)
* ''Ethirigal Jakkirathai'' (1967)
* ''Kadhalithal Podhuma'' (1967)
* '' Nenjirukkum Varai'' (1967)
* '' Ninaivil Nindraval'' (1967)
* ''Pattanathil Bhootham'' (1967)
* ''Kallum Kanniyagum'' (1968)
* ''Neelagiri Express'' (1968)
* ''Oli Vilakku'' (1968)
* ''Galatta Kalyanam'' (1968)
* '' Lakshmi Kalyanam'' (1968)
* ''Machan'' (1968)
* ''Uyarndha Manidhan'' (1968)
* '' Ethir Neechal'' (1968)
* ''Iru Kodugal'' (1969)
* '' Aayiram Poi'' (1969)
* ''Ethiroli'' (1970)
* ''Penn Deivam'' (1970)
* ''Welcome Back Gandhi'' (1970)
* '' Vilaiyaattu Pillai'' (1970)
* ''Engal Thangam'' (1970)
* ''Maanavan'' (1970)
* ''Balan'' (1970)
* ''Panama Paasama''
* ''Savale Samali''
* ''Uyir'' (1971)
* ''Punnagai'' (1971)
* ''Arunodhayam'' (1971)
* ''Avalukendru Or Manam'' (1971)
* '' Savaale Samali'' (1971)
* ''Moondru Dheivangal'' (1971)
* ''Iru Thuruvam'' (1971)
* ''Nootrukku Nooru'' (1971)
* ''Needhikku Thalaivanangu'' (1972)
* ''Raman Thediya Seethai (1972 film)'' (1972)
* ''Sange Muzhangu'' (1972)
* ''Vazhaiyadi Vazhai'' (1972)
* '' Nawab Naarkali'' (1972)
* ''Kurathi Magan'' (1972)
* ''Neethikku Thalai Vanangu''
* ''Urimaikural'' (1974)
* '' En Magan'' (1974)
* ''Gumasthavin Magal'' (1974)
* ''Sirithu Vazha Vendum'' (1974)
* ''Athaiya Mamiya'' (1974)
* ''Sivagamiyin Selvan'' (1974)
* ''Gumasthavin Magal'' (1974)
* ''Ellorum Nallavare'' (1975)
* ''Pallandu Vazhga'' (1975)
* ''Ninaithadhai Mudippavan'' (1975)
* ''Idhayakkani'' (1975)
* '' Naalai Namadhe'' (1975)
* '' Dasavatharam'' (1976)
* '' Mayor Meenakshi'' (1976)
* ''Uzhaikkum Karangal'' (1976)
* '' Sri Krishna Leela'' (1977)
* ''Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan'' (1978)
* ''Varuvan Vadivelan'' (1978)
* '' Vaazhkai Alaigal'' (1978)
* '' Aayiram Jenmangal'' (1978)
* '' Kalyanaraman'' (1979)
* ''Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren'' (1979)
* '' Devi Dharisanam'' (1980)
* ''Gnana Kuzhandhai'' (1979)
* ''Rishi Moolam'' (1980)
* ''Sathya Sundharam'' (1981)
* ''Kalthoon'' (1981)
* '' Sangili (film)'' (1982)
* '' Thyagi'' (1982)
* '' Hitler Umanath'' (1982)
* ''Krodham'' (1982)
* ''Deviyin Thiruvilaiyadal'' (1982)
* ''Rusi'' (1984)
* ''Sumai Thaangi''
* ''Simma Soppanam'' (1984)
* ''Thambikku Entha Ooru'' (1984)
* ''Kai Kodukkum Kai'' (1984)
* ''Nalla Thambi'' (1985)
* '' Santhosha Kanavukal'' (1985)
* ''Navagraha Nayagi'' (1985)
* ''Padikkadha Pannaiyar'' (1985)
* ''Poi Mugangal'' (1985)
* '' Naan Sigappu Manithan'' (1985)
* ''Sri Raghavendrar'' (1985)
* '' Naam Iruvar'' (1985)
* ''Naanum Oru Thozhilali'' (1986)
* '' Veerapandiyan'' (1987)
* ''Unnal Mudiyum Thambi'' (1988)
* ''Sattathin Marupakkam'' (1989)
* ''Avasara Police 100'' (1990)
* ''Idhuthanda Sattam'' (1992)
* ''Hey Ram'' (2000)
* ''Love Channel'' (2001)
* ''Poovellam Un Vasam'' (2001)
* ''Kanna Nalama'' (2004)
* ''Kamaraj (film), Kamaraj'' (2004)
* ''Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi'' (2006) - Palace Astrologer
* ''Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul'' (2008) (cameo)
* ''Kudiyarasu'' (2009) - Raghavan
* ''Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam'' (2010) (cameo)
* ''Kola Kolaya Mundhirika'' (2010)
* ''Magizhchi'' (2010)
* ''Thamizh Padam'' (2010)
* ''Nagaram Marupakkam'' (2010)
* ''Kalakalappu'' (2012) - Maya's Grandfather
* ''Saguni'' (2012) - Kamalakannan's Grandfather
* ''All in All Azhagu Raja'' (2013)
* ''Anna Nee En Deivam'' (2013)
* ''Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara'' (2013) - Prayer Song
* ''Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum'' (2014)
* ''Indru Netru Naalai'' (2015)
* ''Kaathadi'' (2018)

TV serials

* Anni (TV series), ''Anni'' (2003-2005) as Ramanathan's father
* ''Penn'' (2006) as Ranganayaki's father
* ''Rekha IPS'' (2008 - 2009)
* ''Bhairavi Aavigalukku Priyamanaval'' (2012) - 3 Episode
* Valli (2012 TV series), ''Valli'' - Swaminathan (Subbu grandfather; Episode 16-449) 2012-14

Short films

* Alaivarisai (2013)

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raghavan, V. S.
Male actors in Tamil cinema
1925 births
2015 deaths
Male actors from Tamil Nadu
Indian male television actors
Indian male stage actors
Tamil male actors
Madras Christian College alumni