R Madhavan’s film career is an inspiration to all – A look at the highlights of his career on his 55th birthday.
R. Madhavan was born on 1 June 1970 in North East India where he grew up and completed his education. He won a scholarship as a cultural ambassador to India in Canada where he stayed for a year before returning to India He began his acting career playing various roles in Hindi TV serials, including […]
K.S. Ravikumar turns 67 as he celebrates 35 years as a film director.
After apprenticing under various directors like Bharathiraja, Vikraman and K. Rangaraj, K.S. Ravikumar worked as co-director to Vikraman in the film Pudhu Vassantham produced by RB Choudary (father of actor Jiiva). Choudary noticed Ravikumar’s speed and attention to detail and signed him on to direct his next venture. Titled Puriyaadha Pudhir, this film marked K.S. […]
Exploring the Enigma called Illaiyaraja – Episode 9
As indicated in Episode 8, by the middle of 1980, Illaiyaraja had become a household name and a much sought after music composer. Even those who had gleefully predicted a short career for him had to accept that he was now a major role-player. For the first time, listeners were taking careful note of the […]
Versatile actor Rajesh (75) passes away
Actor Rajesh, the charismatic and versatile actor of more than 150 films, has passed away at the age of 75. He is survived by his daughter Divya and son Deepak. Rajesh was born on 20 December 1949 and began his working life as a school teacher. He made his debut to films through K. Balachander’s […]
Remembering “Aachi” Manorama on her 88th Birth Anniversary
If ever one needed a female role model that was strong, decisive, successful and one capable of overcoming seemingly impossible odds, the first choice would probably be Jayalalitha. Second place would go to Manorama – an actress who constantly reinvented herself to eventually complete 1000 film and 5000 stage plays. Manorama’s real name was Gopishantha. […]
Veteran Comedian, Goundamani, turns 86 today
Subramaniyan Karrupaiya is better known by his screen name, Goundamani. His reputation for quick-witted repartees earned him the name “Counter” Mani, which eventually became Goundamani. Born on 25 May 1939, he turns 86 today. Goundamani’s first screen appearance was in an uncredited role in Krishnan-Panju’s Nagesh 1964 starrer Server Sundaram. He also had uncredited roles […]
Sri Divya turns 32 today.
Actress Sri Divya was born on 01 April 1993 to Telugu-speaking parents in present day Telangana. Although her first Tamil signing was Nagarpuram, delays to that film meant that her first released Tamil film was Ponram’s Varuthapadatha Vaalibar Sangam opposite Sivakarthikeyan. A year later she starred opposite Vishnu Vishal in Suseenthiran’s Jeeva and opposite Vikram […]
Karthi turns 48 today
Karthi is the son of veteran actor Sivakumar and the younger brother of actor Suriya. After graduating as an engineer in Chennai, Karthi found employment locally but was not satisfied, and then accepted a scholarship for higher studies at Binghamton University in New York. On returning to India, Karthi began his film career as an […]
Exploring the Enigma Called Illaiyaraja – Episode 8
With all the access to information about music composers and the music industry in general audiences currently have, it is easy to forget the contributions and achievements of yesteryear music composers. Illaiyaraja falls into this category. In his four years as a music composer, he introduced three new lyricist in Vairamuthu, M.G. Vallaban and his […]
Abbas turns 50 today.
Mirza Abbas Ali – known to Tamil audiences simply as Abbas – was born on 21 May 1979 to a Tamil-speaking Muslim family in Kolkata. After numerous modelling assignments, he audtioned for the role in Kathir’s lavish venture, Kaadhal Dhesam where his co-stars were Vineeth and Tabu. The film was a huge success. His second […]