T. Rajendar

T. Rajendar
Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
10 May 1996 – 14 May 2001
Preceded byU. Baluraman
Succeeded byS. G. Vinayakamurthi
ConstituencyPark Town
Personal details
BornVijay Thesingu Rajender
PartyLatchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (from 2004)
Other political
affiliations
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (until 1991 and 1995-2004) Thayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam (1991-1995)
SpouseUsha Rajendar
Children3 including Silambarasan and Kuralarasan
OccupationActor, Film director, Film producer, Musician, Cinematographer and Film distributor [1]

Vijay Thesingu Rajendar, also known as T. R., is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, musician, cinematographer, film distributor and politician who works primarily in the Tamil film industry.[2] Rajendar is known for being able to speak in rhyming sentences spontaneously and incessant rapping.[3][4]

Since 2018, he has been focusing primarily on singing film songs.

Personal life

T. Rajendar is married to former actress Usha Rajendar.[5] They have two sons, Silambarasan and Kuralarasan, and one daughter, Ilakiya.[6] His wife has served as the producer for some of his films, such as Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), starring Silambarasan.[7] He lives in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Film career

Rajendar started off in the Tamil film industry making successful films which included him as an actor, playback singer, dancer and scriptwriter. He gained popularity through his one-of-a-kind style of acting. He normally serves as, but not limited to director, actor, songwriter, art director, production manager and playback singer. During the 1980s, all his movies were blockbusters, running for years and the songs were also well appreciated.[2] He is known for introducing new faces in his movies, and many of the actresses who debuted in his movies have been successful in South Cinema, including Amala, Nalini, Jyothi, Jeevitha and Mumtaj.

After some years, Rajendar's films started to decline in popularity because his films became too predictable, tending to follow the same storyline and oratory style of repetitious dialogues with little if any meaning.[8] For example, his films always contain a sentimental scene involving the hero's younger sister in distress, coupled with the same rhyming rhetoric and gestures.[8]

Rajendar recently started his own web TV channel called 'Kural TV' (Voice TV).[9] Originally he wanted to start a 24-hour TV channel but could not, due to problems arising while securing a license. The channel, apart from broadcasting his movies and speeches, tends to echo sentiments towards the plight of Tamils (especially women) in Sri Lanka. He previously owned a magazine called Usha.[10]

Rajendar also distributes films under his home banner "Simbu cine arts". His latest film distribution, as of mid-2011 is his son Silambarasan's film Vaanam, which will be distributed in the Chennai and Madurai region.[11]

Political career

Rajendar founded the Thayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam party in 1991 after he had been expelled from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.[12] In 1996, after Vaiko's departure from the DMK and the formation of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rajendar's TMK merged with the DMK. Rajendar left the DMK again in 2004, to form the All India Latchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.[13][14][15] Before expulsion, he was the propaganda secretary of DMK and was elected from Park Town constituency in the 1996 Assembly polls.[16] He further supported the AIADMK in the 2006 Assembly elections. After those 2006 elections, the DMK came back to power and he was made vice-chairman of the Small Savings Scheme. He subsequently quit the post.[2][17]

Filmography

Year Title Credited as Notes Ref.
Director Writer Producer Cinematographer
1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Uncredited
Vasantha Azhaippugal
1981 Rail Payanangalil
1982 Nenjil Oru Raagam
Raagam Thedum Pallavi
1983 Uyirullavarai Usha
Thangaikkor Geetham
1984 Uravai Kaatha Kili
1985 Unakkaga Oru Roja
1986 Mythili Ennai Kaathali
1987 Oru Thayin Sabhatham Screenplay
Pookkal Vidum Thudhu Screenplay
1988 En Thangai Kalyani
1989 Samsara Sangeetham
1991 Shanti Enathu Shanti
1992 Enga Veetu Velan
1993 Sabash Babu Screenplay [18]
Pettredutha Pillai
1994 Oru Vasantha Geetham
1995 Thai Thangai Paasam
1999 Monisha En Monalisa
2001 Sonnal Thaan Kathala
2002 Kadhal Azhivathillai
2007 Veerasamy
2016 Idhu Namma Aalu

As an actor

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1980 Oru Thalai Ragam Hindi-singing student Cameo appearance [19]
Vasantha Azhaippugal Kandar
1981 Rail Payanangalil Train passenger Cameo appearance in song "Vasantham Paadi Vara" [20]
1982 Nenjil Oru Raagam Geetha's brother
Raagam Thedum Pallavi Actor,
Foreign director (voice)
Cameo appearance
1983 Uyirullavarai Usha Chain Jayapal
Thangaikkor Geetham Soolakaruppan Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
1984 Uravai Kaatha Kili Bhaskar, Chinnathambi Dual roles
1986 Mythili Ennai Kaathali Manickam
1987 Oru Thayin Sabhatham Rajkumar
1988 En Thangai Kalyani Velu
1989 Samsara Sangeetham Kaalidasan
1991 Santhi Enathu Santhi Santhi's lover
1993 Sabash Babu Veluchamy Guest appearance [18]
1994 Oru Vasantha Geetham Advocate
1995 Thai Thangai Paasam Velu
1999 Monisha En Monalisa Kaadhaldasan
2001 Sonnal Thaan Kathala T. R.
2002 Kadhal Virus Himself Guest appearance
Kadhal Azhivathillai Vakkeel Dada
2006 Vallavan Himself Guest appearance in song "Yammadi Aathadi"
2007 Veerasamy Veerasamy
2013 Arya Surya Himself Guest appearance in song "Thagadu Thagadu" [21]
2017 Kavan Mayilvaganan
Vizhithiru Himself Guest appearance in song "Papparappa"

As lyricist

Year Film Songs Composer Ref.
1981 Kilinjalgal All songs Himself
1982 Sattam Sirikkiradhu
1985 Engal Kural
1986 Pookkalai Parikkatheergal
1987 Muthukkal Moondru
Cooliekkaran
Poo Poova Poothirukku
Ivargal Varungala Thoongal
Aayusu Nooru [22]
1989 Enga Veettu Deivam
1996 En Aasai Thangachi [23]
1996 Pombala Siricha Pochu
2002 Sri Bannari Amman
2021 Maaligai "Omkara" Mahesh Mahadev [24]
2022 Astakarmma "Thatlam Thatlam" L .V. Muthu Ganesh

As distributor

Television

  • Super Kudumbam - Sun TV
  • Arattai Arangam - Sun TV
  • Nyayam Endrum Solven - Vijay TV[25]

Discography

As composer

Year Film Ref.
1980 Oru Thalai Ragam
Vasantha Azhaipugal
1981 Rail Payanangalil
Kilinjalgal
1982 Nenjil Oru Raagam
Sattam Sirikkiradhu
Raagam Thedum Pallavi
1983 Uyirullavarai Usha
Thangaikkor Geetham
1984 Uravai Kaatha Kili
1985 Unakkaga Oru Roja
Engal Kural
1986 Pookkalai Parikkatheergal [26]
Mythili Ennai Kaathali
1987 Muthukkal Moondru
Oru Thayin Sabhatham
Cooliekkaran
Poo Poova Poothirukku
Ivargal Varungala Thoongal
Pookkal Vidum Thudhu
Aayusu Nooru [27]
1988 En Thangai Kalyani
1989 Samsara Sangeetham
1991 Shanti Enathu Shanti
1992 Enga Veetu Velan
1993 Pettredutha Pillai
Sabash Babu
1994 Oru Vasantha Geetham
1995 Thai Thangai Paasam
1996 En Aasai Thangachi [28]
Pombala Siricha Pochu
1999 Monisha En Monalisa
2001 Sonnal Thaan Kathala
2002 Kadhal Azhivathillai
Sri Bannari Amman
2007 Veerasamy

As playback singer

Year Song Film Composer Notes
1983 "Thatti Paarthen" Thangaikkor Geetham T. Rajendar
1984 "Adangoppan Mavane" Uravai Kaatha Kili
1986 "En Aasai Mythiliye"
"Ada Ponnana"
Mythili Ennai Kaathali
1994 "Pogaathe Pogaathe" Oru Vasantha Geetham
1999 "Nambaathe" Monisha En Monalisa
2001 "Kaadhalikka Theriyuma" Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala
2002 "Vetrinadai",
"Roopamani",
Nambinorai
Sri Bannari Amman
2006 "Ammadi Athadi" Vallavan Yuvan Shankar Raja
2007 "Marakka Mudiyala"
"Sollalaiye Kadhal"
"Varaanpaaru"
"Vechuriken"
Veerasamy T. Rajendar
"Gun Ganapathi" Oram Po G. V. Prakash Kumar
2008 "Aathadi" Sandai Dhina
2009 "Aandipatti Arasampatti" Rajadhi Raja Karunas
2011 "Dooda" Doo Abhishek-Lawrence
"Chennai Gaana" Puli Vesham Srikanth Deva
"Kalasala Kalasala" Osthe S. Thaman
2012 "Yamma Yamma" Thiruthani Perarasu
2013 "En Aalu" Summa Nachunu Irukku Achu Rajamani
"Thagadu Thagadu" Arya Surya Srikanth Deva
2014 "Tharumaru" Vaalu S. Thaman
"Chai Chai" Raj Bahadur Jeevith Krupa Kannada film[29]
2015 "Papparappa" Vizhithiru Sathyan Mahalingam
"Summa Polama" Chikkiku Chikkikkichu Vijay Benjamin
2016 "Maaman Waiting" Idhu Namma Aalu Kuralarasan
"Raangu" Theri G. V. Prakash Kumar
"Damakutalaan" Koditta Idangalai Nirappuga C. Sathya
2017 "Happy New Year" Kavan Hiphop Tamizha
2018 "Monkistha Kinkistha" Koothan Balz_G
2022 "Thatlam Thatlam" Astakarmma L .V. Muthu Ganesh
2023 "Adhirudha" Mark Antony G. V. Prakash Kumar
"Goli Soda" Paatti Sollai Thattathe Vijay Shankar
2024 "Jiloma" The Boys Arun Gautham
2025 "Kaalaiyile Koovudhu" Vettu Dharma Teja
"Chikang Gokang" Leg Piece Bjorn Surrao
"Chikitu" Coolie Anirudh Ravichander [30]
"Dandanakka Life'U" Aaromaley Siddhu Kumar

References

  1. ^ TR to stay away from polls Archived 17 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine, IndiaGlitz, 26 March 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Anantharam, Chitradeepa (27 March 2017). "I am the pioneer of kuthu: T Rajendherr". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Simbu poses with father T Rajender at a hospital in America, see photo". The Indian Express. 29 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 185. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  5. ^ "Simbu's parents T Rajendar and Usha on his marriage: We are looking for a suitable girl for him". 7 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Simbu-kuralarasan-ilakiya-family-photo". 7 January 2015. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  7. ^ "JUST IN : Finally STR Getting Married ?? Here's What the Actor Has to Say !! | Chennai Memes". 26 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Rajender gets ready with 'Oru thalai kadhal'". Tamilchannel.com. 26 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  9. ^ "His virtual world: Actor T. Rajendar launches a web television". The Hindu. 7 March 2009. Archived from the original on 4 November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  10. ^ "என்னால் பத்திரிகையை நிர்வகிக்க முடியவில்லை!". Kalki (in Tamil). 16 August 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  11. ^ "TR buys 'Vaanam' rights – Tamil Movie News". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  12. ^ "Tamil film artiste launches new party". Sify. 26 April 2004. Archived from the original on 22 March 2007.
  13. ^ Subramanian, T. S. (7 October 2005). "Another actor in politics". Frontline. The Hindu Group. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  14. ^ Subramanian, T. S. (30 July 2004). "The celluloid connection". Frontline. The Hindu Group. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  15. ^ 1991 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India Archived 7 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine accessed 19 April 2009
  16. ^ "T. Rajendar rejoins DMK". Thehindu.com. 28 December 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  17. ^ Eenadu (13 April 2024). "రాజకీయ తెరపై తారల తళుకులు.. తమిళనాట పరిస్థితి ఇలా." (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  18. ^ a b Mannath, Malini (19 November 1993). "Project son!". The Indian Express. p. 6. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  19. ^ "ஒரு தலை ராகமும்... டி.ராஜேந்தர் எனும் காந்தமும்!". Ananda Vikatan. 9 May 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. ^ சாஸ்திரி, நளினி (21 June 1981). "ரயில் பயணங்களில்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 18. Retrieved 7 April 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ^ "Arya Surya shoot wrapped up". Times of India. 15 January 2017. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  22. ^ "Love triangle". The Indian Express. 4 December 1987. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  23. ^ "En Aasai Thangachi/Tamizhselvan/Krishna/Poovarasan". The Hindu. 16 August 1996. Archived from the original on 20 December 1996.
  24. ^ "Maaligai - Official Teaser | Andrea Jeremiah | KS Ravi Kumar | Dil Sathya | Shanti Telefilms". YouTube. 25 June 2019.
  25. ^ "Vijay TV to launch five 'blockbusters' weeklies". Indian Television Dot Com. 10 October 2003. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  26. ^ ஜெயமன்மதன் (15 June 1986). "பூக்களை பறிக்காதீர்கள்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17. Retrieved 16 February 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ^ "Love triangle". The Indian Express. 4 December 1987. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  28. ^ "En Aasai Thangachi/Tamizhselvan/Krishna/Poovarasan". The Hindu. 16 August 1996. Archived from the original on 20 December 1996.
  29. ^ "T Rajendar Sings for Raj Bahaddur". Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  30. ^ "Coolie promo: A swaggy Rajinikanth steals the spotlight". India Today. 12 December 2024. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)