Srikanth (actor, born 1940)

Srikanth
Srikanth
Born	Raja Venkatraman; 19 March 1940; Erode, British Raj
Died	12 October 2021 (aged 81); Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1965–2009
Children	1

Srikanth (19 March 1940 – 12 October 2021) was an Indian actor who has performed in around 200 Tamil films since his debut in 1965. He is also referred to as Venniradai Srikanth.^[1] He has played the lead hero in around 50 films between 1965 and 1979 and has also played supporting roles in films with actors Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman, Ravichandran and Jaishankar in the lead roles. In the late seventies to early nineties, he appeared as a villain opposite actors including Sivakumar, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

Film career (1965–2009)

Srikanth was employed in the American Consulate before his career in the film industry.

Jayalalithaa

.

Later in 1965, Srikanth acted in

Thanga Pathakkam, Anbai Thedi, Rojavin Raja, Avan Oru Sarithiram, Ilaya Thalaimurai

and Raja Rishi.

After success of the film

Selva Magal in 1967, directors started approaching him for even villain roles and some of his successful films in villainous roles since 1968 include Thanga Gopuram, Gnana Oli, Gomatha Engal Kulamatha, Vairam, Vasantha Maligai, Anbu Thangai and Vani Rani. Despite the success in films, he and Sowcar Janaki

were part of drama troupes giving live performances in the evening or on weekends.

He was part of many comedy films throughout his career like Ethir Neechal, Bama Vijayam, Yaarukku Mappilai Yaro,

Kasi Yathirai, Kai Naraya Kaasu, Athaiya Mamiya and Ilaya Thalaimurai

. He played the false son of P. Bhanumathi in the film Edupa Kai Pillai in 1975.

In 1972, Srikanth played a villain in Aval, directed by

Thanga Pathakkam, Srikanth was cast as Jagan, the rebellious son of S. P. Choudhry, played by Sivaji Ganesan

. The movie was adapted from a stage-play in which Sivaji Ganesan had previously starred as S. P. Choudhry. In the original stage-play, Jagan kills his father. In Thanga Pathakkam S. P. Choudhry instead kills his son Jagan. His role in Thanga Pathakkam is considered among his best performances. The film boosted his popularity as a villain, after acclaimed acting alongside Sivaji Ganesan.

But, at the peak of his career as the villain, Srikanth surprised critics and audience alike by returning to romantic image in the 1974 film Raja Nagam, with the song "Devam Vedhamum" gaining immense popularity.

In the 1974 Tamil film

Karunai Ullam

.

Srikanth has performed alongside other actors including Gemini Ganesan, Jaishankar and R. Muthuraman during his career. He also worked with his juniors Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar and Rajinikanth after 1977, with himself as the main villain like in films Pennai Solli Kutrram Illai, Sadhurangam, Bairavi, Sattam En Kayil, Neeya, Uyaranthvangal, etc. Srikanth has worked under the directions of A. C. Thirulogachander, K. Balachander, Muktha Srinivasan, C. V. Sridhar and A. Bhimsingh.

Srikanth was part of

Jayalalithaa's film career right from her first Tamil film, Vennira Aadai in 1965 to her last Tamil film Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal in 1980. He played her brother in the 100th film of Jayalalithaa – Thirumangalyam. He played her step-son in Thanga Gopuram. He also played supporting roles in films with Jayalalithaa in lead roles including Jesus, Vairam, Anbu Thangai, Anbai Thedi and Kanavan Manaivi

.His role in Mounam Sammadham (1989) was appreciated.

He acted in dramas in 1970s to 1980s with Sowcar Janaki, Muthuraman, Lakshmi and later even in 1990s with next generation. He also starred in a weekly television series called Mangai opposite K. R. Vijaya in 1998 and later he did serial Akshaya, which was broadcast on Sun TV.

Personal life

He died on 12 October 2021 at the age of 81.[7]^[8]^[9]

Selected filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1965	Vennira Aadai	Dr. Chandru
1965	Naanal	Murali
1967	Selva Magal	Mohan
	Aalayam	Raja	Guest appearance
	Bama Vijayam	Suresh
1968	Ethirneechal	Kittu
1969	Poova? Thalaiya?	Nagamma's son
1969	Mahesh		Guest Appearance
1970	Navagraham	Eshwaran
1970	Vietnam Veedu	Sridhar
1971	Nootrukku Nooru	Inspector Raja
	Thanga Gopuram	Raja
	Annai Velankanni	Dr.Antony
	Praptham	Ramu / Thiyagarajan
1972	Kadhalikka Vanga	Rajesh
	Kasethan Kadavulada	Mali
	Gnana Oli	Baskar
	Deivam	Swaminathan
	Vasantha Maligai	Latha's Elder Brother
	Aval	Sadanandh
1973	Kattila Thottila	Advocate.Raja
	Ponvandu	Picchandi	Guest appearance
	Komatha En Kulamatha	Arun
	Rajapart Rangadurai	Baskar
	Jesus	Goat Rider	Malayalam film
	Kasi Yathirai	Ramu
	Kuzhandaigal
	Engal Thai
	School Master
1974	Vani Rani	Gopal
	Rajanagam	Rajan
	Athaiya Mamiya	Sarathy
	Dikkatra Parvathi	Karuppan
	Devi Sri Karumariyamman
	Anbai Thedi	Suresh
	Paruva Kaalam	Gangadharan
	Vellikizhamai Viratham	Manager Ashok
	Anbu Thangai	Sriram
	Kai Niraya Kaasu	Baskar
	Vairam	Victor
	Thanga Pathakkam	Jagan
	Thagam
	Thirumangalyam	Chandru & James
	Sivakamiyin Selvan	Ravi
1975	Vaazhnthu Kaattugiren	Baskar
	Aayirathil Oruthi	Sathish
	Anaya Vilakku
	Eduppar Kai Pillai	Madhan
	Karotti Kannan
	Yarukku Mappillai Yaaro
1976	Vazhvu En Pakkam	Kannan
	Maharasi Vazhga	Villain
	Rojavin Raja	Thiyagu
	Oru Kodiyil Iru Malargal
	Kanavan Manaivi	Ravi
	Payanam	Babu
	Perum Pugazhum
	Annakili
	Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal	Prabhu
1977	Palabishegam	Muthiyah
	Avan Oru Sarithiram	Muthu
	Odi Vilaiyaadu Thatha
	Pennai Solli Kutramillai
	Uyarnthavargal
	Ilaya Thalaimurai	Vasu
1978	Vattathukkul Chaduram	Karthik
	Agni Pravesam
	Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam
	Per Solla Oru Pillai
	Savalige Savaal		Kannada film
	Bairavi	Rajalingam
	Chittu Kuruvi
	Sadhurangam	Ram Kumar
	Shri Kanchi Kamakshi
	Oru Nadigal Nadagam Parkiral	Ranga
	Sattam En Kaiyil	Advocate
	Iraivan Kodutha Varam	Ramu
	Karunai Ullam
	Tripura Sundari
1979	Neeya?	Stephan
	Lakshmi	Minor
	Kandhar Alangaram	Subramaniyam
	Inikkum Ilamai
	Maria My Darling
1980	Engal Vathiyaar
	Muzhu Nilavu
	Nathiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal	Doctor
	Orey Muththam
1981	Enga Ooru Kannagi
1981	Rusi
1983	Oppantham	Kanthan
1984	Thambikku Entha Ooru
	Kuzhandai Yesu
	Antha Uravokku Satchi
1985	Navagraha Nayagi	The King
	Annai Bhoomi	Vijayakumar
	Puthiya Theerpu
1987	Sirai Paravai
	Poo Mazhai Pozhiyuthu	Doctor
	Mupperum Deviyar
1988	Solla Thudikuthu Manasu
1988	Malare Kurinji Malare
1989	Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu
1989	Dharmam Vellum
1991	Anbu Sangili	Devanesan
1992	David Uncle	Anthony
1996	Karuppu Roja	King
2000	Bharathi	Brahmin
2003	Kaadhal Kondein	Divya's Father
2009	Kudiyarasu	Ram

Television

Year	Title	Channel
1998	Mangai	Sun TV
1998	Askhaya
1998–1999	Kudumbam

References

ISSN 0971-751X. Archived
from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.

^ "Veteran actor Srikanth passes away". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

^ Malathi Rangarajan (18 November 2010). "Arts : Vignettes from a veteran". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.

^ "Life & Style / Metroplus : All the world's a stage". The Hindu. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.

^ Rangarajan, Malathi (18 November 2010). "Vignettes from a veteran". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.

^ "21st National awards for films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.

^ "Veteran Tamil actor Srikanth no more". Press Trust of India. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

^ "Actor Srikanth, Jayalalithaa's first hero, dies in Chennai". The Times of India. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

^ "Tamil actor Srikanth dies at 82, Rajinikanth mourns his demise: 'I am deeply saddened'". Indian Express. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

External links

Srikanth at
IMDb

Authority control databases: National

United States

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Srikanth_(actor,_born_1940)&oldid=1211628255"

[1] ISSN 0971-751X. Archived
from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.

[2] "Veteran actor Srikanth passes away". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

[3] Malathi Rangarajan (18 November 2010). "Arts : Vignettes from a veteran". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 April 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.

[4] "Life & Style / Metroplus : All the world's a stage". The Hindu. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.

[5] Rangarajan, Malathi (18 November 2010). "Vignettes from a veteran". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.

[6] "21st National awards for films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.

[7] "Veteran Tamil actor Srikanth no more". Press Trust of India. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

[8] "Actor Srikanth, Jayalalithaa's first hero, dies in Chennai". The Times of India. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

[9] "Tamil actor Srikanth dies at 82, Rajinikanth mourns his demise: 'I am deeply saddened'". Indian Express. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 13 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.

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