Rajesh (Tamil actor)

Indian actor (1949–2025)

For other people with the given name Rajesh, see Rajesh.

Rajesh

Rajesh in 2018

Born|

Rajesh Williams[1]

(1949-12-20)20 December 1949

Mannargudi, Tanjore District, Madras Province, Dominion of India (now in Thiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India)

Died| 29 May 2025(2025-05-29) (aged 75)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1974–2025
Spouse|

Joan Sylvia Vanathirayar

(m. 1983; died 2012)​

Children| 2
Family| Mahendran (cousin)[2]

Rajesh (20 December 1949 – 29 May 2025) was an Indian actor who performed in predominately Tamil films and serials. He completed more than 50 years in films and appeared as lead roles and supporting roles in over 150 films.[3]

## Life and career

[edit]

Rajesh was born on 20 December 1949 to Williams Nattar and Lily Grace Mankondar at Mannargudi, Tiruvarur district,[4] but his family hails from Anaikkadu, in Thanjavur district.[3][5] He studied in Dindigul, Vadamadurai, Melanatham Aanaikadu and Chinnamanur Theni district.[6] After finishing his PUC in Karaikudi Alagappa College, he joined Pachaiappas College, but unfortunately did not complete his college education. He worked as a teacher in St Paul's High School, Purasawalkam and later at Kellett Higher Secondary School, Triplicane from 1972 to 1979.[3]

In 1974, he got a chance to act in the film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai in a small role.[3] His first film as a hero was Kanni Paruvathile (1979), produced by Rajkannu.[5] Rajesh acted in Achamillai Achamillai, by K. Balachander. Later, he moved into playing character roles, and acted in movies with Kamal Haasan like Sathya (1988), Mahanadhi (1994) and Virumaandi (2004).

Later in life, he was in the hotel and real estate business, and he was a leading builder in the city.[3] He also wrote biographies of Hollywood actors in Tamil.

He was a Christian, later he was active in Periyaar's ideologies, then he involved himself in Astrology. He wrote many books and articles about astrology.

### Personal life

[edit]

In 1983, Rajesh married Joan Sylvia Vanathirayar, who is the granddaughter of the famous social reformist and Dravidian leader Pattukottai Davis Vanathirayar. They had one daughter Divya[citation needed] and one son Deepak, who made his acting debut in 2014.[7] His wife died on 6 August 2012.[citation needed]

He was the first Tamil actor to build a bungalow for the purpose of movie shooting in 1985 near KK Nagar, Chennai, which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.[8] Many Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi movie shootings were completed in that house. He later sold it in 1993, while starting his real estate business. In the early 1990s, as advised by his friend Jeppiaar, he started a Real Estate business, then he started hotel and construction business. He was active in politics from 1987 to 1991, supporting Janaki. He was also a follower of Karl Marx. He visited the UK and paid his tribute to the great leader.

### Death

[edit]

Rajesh died from a heart attack in Chennai, in the early hours of 29 May 2025, at the age of 75.[9][10]

## Filmography

[edit]

* All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.

### As actor

[edit]

List of performances in films  Year  | Film  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1974  | Aval Oru Thodar Kathai | Petitioner | Uncredited role
1979 | Kanni Paruvathile | Subbiah |
1980 | Thani Maram |  |
Thai Pongal |  |
Naan Naanethaan |  |
1981 | Andha 7 Naatkal | Anand |
Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile |  |
Mayil |  |
Paakku Vethalai |  |
Velichathukku Vaanga |  |
1982 | Kannodu Kan |  |
Sivantha Kangal |  |
Thanikattu Raja | Ethiraj's brother |
Deviyin Thiruvilayadal |  |
Payanangal Mudivathillai | Mohan |
Metti | Vijayan |
Vetri Namathe |  |
Avanukku Nigar Avane |  |
Kadhoduthan Naan Pesuven |  |
1983 | Anal Kaatru |  |
Kan Sivandhaal Man Sivakkum |  |
Thai Veedu | Geetha's love interest | Guest appearance
Yaamirukka Bhayamen |  |
Yuga Dharmam |  |
1984 | Achamillai Achamillai | Ulaganathan |
Alaya Deepam |  |
Ezhuthatha Sattangal | Gopinath |
Kuzhandai Yesu |  |
Sanga Natham |  |
Simma Soppanam | Labour Leader |
Sirai | Anthony |
Naanayam Illatha Naanayam | Inspector Irulappan |
Nee Thodum Pothu |  |
Ponnu Pudichirukku |  |
Mudivalla Arambam |  |
1985 | Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye |  |
Idhu Engal Raajiyam |  |
Uthami | Sivashankar / Sivaram |
Kolusu |  |
Santhosha Kanavukal | Kannan |
Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal | Mari Muthu |
Samayapurathale Saatchi |  |
Chithirame Chitirame |  |
Chain Jayapal |  |
Melmaruvathur Aadhi Parasakthi |  |
Rajathi Rojakili | Surutaiyan |
Veli |  |
1986 | Sarvam Sakthimayam |  |
Nilave Malare | Raghu |
Mahasakthi Maariamman |  |
Manakanakku | Pandiyan |
Melmaruvathur Arpudhangal |  |
Yaro Ezhudhia Kavithai |  |
Mannukkul Vairam | Velappa |
1987 | Ilangeswaran | Ilangeswaran |
Kaalam Maaruthu |  |
Murugane Thunai |  |
Thaali Dhaanam |  |
Ellai Kodu |  |
Makkal En Pakkam | Rajmohan |
1988 | Sathya | Mariappa |
Pattikattu Thambi |  |
1989 | Sattathin Thirappu Vizhaa | Prabhu Das |
Dharma Devan |  |
Penbutthi Munbutthi |  |
Vaathiyaar Veettu Pillai | Gowri's father |
1990 | Kavalukku Kettikaran | Balayya |
Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar | Rajalingam |
Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu | Asogan |
Pudhu Pudhu Ragangal |  |
Murugane Thunai |  |
1991 | Nallathai Naadu Kekum | DSP Prabhakaran |
Paadhai Maariya Payanam |  |
Perum Pulli |  |
Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen | Inspector |
Abhimanyu | Police Inspector | Malayalam film
1992 | Thambi Pondatti | Chellappa |
Chinna Marumagal | Sekhar |
Mudhal Seedhanam |  |
Vaaname Ellai | Samyvelu |
Kathirukka Neramillai | D.I.G. Mohanraj |
1993 | Chinna Jameen | Advocate Rajamanickam |
Ponnumani |  |
Varam Tharum Vadivelan |  |
1994 | Ravanan | Meena's father |
Jai Hind | Seenivasan |
The City | C. I. Durai | Malayalam film
Thamarai | Subbarayan |
Mahanadhi | Muthusamy |
1995 | Mannai Thottu Kumbidanum | Sathyamoorthy |
Aval Potta Kolam |  |
1996 | Aruva Velu | Muthurasa |
1997 | Iruvar | Madhivanan |
Mannava | Kavitha's father |
Pongalo Pongal | School Master |
Nerrukku Ner | Thamizharasan |
Thaali Pudhusu | Seetha's father |
1998 | En Uyir Nee Thaane | Janaki's brother |
1999 | Ooty | Balu's uncle |
Kudumba Sangili | Chidambaram |
2000 | Budget Padmanabhan | Subramaniam |
2001 | Dheena | Police officer |
Love Channel | Sethumadai Gounder |
Citizen | Judge Krishnan |
2002 | Ramana | Ka. Parandhaman IAS, District Collector |
Red | Manimegalai |
2003 | Saamy | Judge Sivaraman |
Anjaneya | Education officer |
Sindhamal Sitharamal | Kandasamy |
Parasuram | Director General of Police |
2004 | Virumaandi | Chennai Police Commissioner |
Kovil | Church Father Anthony James |
Autograph | Pandian |
Udhaya | Muthuswamypillai |
Maanasthan |  |
Chatrapathy |  |
Dreams | Lawyer Varadharajan |
Jananam | Chief Minister |
2005 | Aayudham | Siva's father |
Ji | Vasu's uncle |
Padhavi Paduthum Paadu | Manivasagam |
Kaatrullavarai | Ramkumar |
Sivakasi | Meiyappan |
Mazhai | Sundaram |
2006 | E |  |
Dharmapuri | Valarmathi's father |
Thirupathi | Chief Minister | Guest appearance
Theenda Theenda | Paramasivam |
Paramasivan | SI Ganapathy |
Varalaru | Assistant commissioner of police |
2007 | 18 Vayasu Puyale |  |
Marudhamalai | Circle Inspector |
2008 | Arai En 305-il Kadavul | Thanjai Rudhran |
Kannum Kannum |  |
Seval | Murugesan's father |
2009 | Anthony Yaar? | Priest |
2010 | Porkkalam | Karnan's father |
Siddhu +2 | Siddhu's father |
Ochayee | Periyamaayan |
Mudhal Kadhal Mazhai |  |
2011 | Doo | Swapna's father |
2013 | Kantha | Varadharajan |
Jannal Oram | Vinayagam, Village Panchayat Chief |
2014 | Tenaliraman | Restaurateur |
Thirudan Police | Head constable Singaram |
2016 | Gethu | Colonel Matthews |
Dharma Durai | Doctor Kamaraj aka Muniyandi |
2018 | Sarkar | T. N. Chari, Election Commissioner |
2021 | Master | College staff member |
2022 | Yaanai | P.R.Veerapandiyan "PRV" |
2023 | Rudhran | Subbiah |
Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir | Church Father |
Kathar Basha Endra Muthuramalingam |  |
Unnaal Ennaal |  |
2024 | Merry Christmas | Yadhoom Uncle |

### As dubbing artist

[edit]

Year  | Actor  | Films  | Notes

|
|
|

2001 | Murali | Dumm Dumm Dumm | [11]
2003 | Joot
2005 | Majaa
Ullam Ketkume
Raam
2008 | Nedumudi Venu | Poi Solla Porom
2016 | Joy Mathew | Devi |

## Television

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Channel  | Language

|
|
|
|

2000 | Micro Thodargal-Azhukku Vetti |  | Raj TV | Tamil
Micro Thodargal-Savvukadi |
2001–2003 | Alaigal | Krishna | Sun TV
2004–2006 | Kanavarukaaga |
2005 | Swami Ayyapan |  | Asianet | Malayalam
2012 | Aan Paavam | Gopalaswamy | Sun TV | Tamil
2013 | Dhayam |  | Kalaignar
2014 | Mudivalla Arambam |  | Vendhar
Akka |  | Jaya TV
2015–2016 | Kalathu Veedu |  | Vijay TV
2018–2022 | Roja | Tiger Manickam | Sun TV
2020 | Suryavamsam | Selva Ganapathy (Special Appearance) | Zee Tamil
Poove Unakkaga | Tiger Manickam (Special Appearance) | Sun TV
2021 | Sillunu Oru Kaadhal | Sivaraman Zamindar (Special Appearance) | Colors Tamil
2022 | Kana Kaanum Kaalangal | Mr. Sakthivel | Disney+Hotstar
2022–2024 | Karthigai Deepam | Dharmalingam | Zee Tamil

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "'Merry Christmas': Katrina Kaif, Vijay Sethupathi's film pushed to January 2024". The Hindu. 16 November 2023.
2. ^ "பாக்யராஜ் படத்தில் நடிக்கத் தயங்கினேன் - Actor Rajesh Chai With Chithra Part - 1". Touring Talkies. 20 September 2020. Relationship mentioned at 4:42. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2020 – via YouTube.
3. ^ a b c d e "Tamil Nadu News : From schoolteacher to character artiste". The Hindu. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
4. ^ "Entertainment Chennai / Interview : Veteran on a rewind". The Hindu. 18 March 2005. Archived from the original on 4 May 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
5. ^ a b "ஆசிரியராக இருந்து நடிகரான ராஜேஷ்: 'கன்னிப் பருவத்திலே' படத்தின் கதாநாயகன் ஆனார்" [Teacher-turned-actor Rajesh: Became lead actor with 'Kanni Paruvathile']. Maalai Malar. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012.
6. ^ "சிறை தந்த சிறந்த நடிகர்". Kalki (in Tamil). 3 February 1985. pp. 24–27.
7. ^ "Never forced my son to act: Rajesh". The Times of India. Indo-Asian News Service. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
8. ^ "ராஜேஷ் வாழ்க்கையில் எதிர்பாராத சோதனை: கட்டிய வீட்டை விற்று கடனை அடைத்தார்!" [Unexpected tribulation in Rajesh's life: Sold off his home to pay debts]. Maalai Malar. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012.
9. ^ "Veteran actor Rajesh passes away at 75; Tamil cinema mourns the loss of a legend". The Times of India. 29 May 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
10. ^ "Tamil Actor Rajesh Dies Of Heart Attack At 75". NDTV.
11. ^ Kumar, S. r Ashok (23 April 2020). "'Life has come full circle for me,' says veteran TV and film actor Rajesh". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Rajesh at IMDb
* Rajesh at Cinesouth

*[m.]: married