Shanmugasundaram
Shanmugasundaram | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 August 1939 |
| Died | 15 August 2017 (aged 78)
[1] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupations | Film actor, Television actor, Voice actor, Stage actor |
| Years active | 1963–2017 |
| Spouse | Sundari |
| Parent | Father : Konjithapatham Mother : Ramamirtham Ammal |
| Family |
|
Shanmugasundaram was an Indian actor who has appeared in Tamil films. He began his career as an actor in Ratha Thilagam (1963) had acted for nearly six decades in several roles characters in films like Karnan (1964), Karakattakkaran (1989) Kizhakku Vaasal (1990). He is also a dubbing artist.[2] He has acted in over 500 films in Tamil cinema industry.[3] He died on 15 August 2017.[4][5]
Career
Shanmugasundaram was born in Chennai to a family of businesspeople. When he was studying in college, he had accompanied one of his actor friends to a drama performance, and as one of the junior artists did not perform well, he was brought in spontaneously. To the surprise of many, he had done that role with efficiency, which earned him appreciation spontaneously. He then moved on to work in Tamil theatre, notably appearing as Adolf Hitler in a play also featuring Kannadasan. Sivaji Ganesan was impressed by his performances and recruited him to make film acting debut with Ratha Thilagam (1963), where he portrayed a Chinese army major.[6]
Shanmugasundaram had performed a wide range of roles and was especially famous for playing the nattamai or village chieftain. However, he will always be remembered for playing Salliya Chakravarthy in the iconic Sivaji Ganesan starrer Karnan (1964).[7] He was acting in negative roles in the films of Black and white era. In the 1980s he emerged as a character artist.[8] Over the course of his career, he appeared in more than 500 Tamil films and became a well-known dubbing artist as well.
One of Shanmugasundaram’s standout roles came in the 1989 Tamil film Karagattakaran, directed by Gangai Amaran. His portrayal in the film, especially a poignant scene where he pleads for innocence to his on-screen sister, earned him critical acclaim and made him a popular figure among mimicry artists. In addition to his film work, he transitioned to television serials in the late 1990s and early 2000s, collaborating with actress Radhika in series like Annamalai, Selvi and its sequel, Arasi. In the 2010s, he continued to feature in films directed by Gangai Amaran’s son, Venkat Prabhu.[9]
Death
Shanmugasundaram died on August 15, 2017, due to age related ailments[10] at the age of 78.[11]
Filmography
This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.
As an actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Ratha Thilagam | Chinese Military Officer | Debut movie |
| 1964 | Karuppu Panam | Sundaram | |
| Karnan | Salliyan | ||
| 1968 | Lakshmi Kalyanam | Balu's mother | |
| 1970 | Kalam Vellum | Narasingam | |
| 1971 | Aathi Parasakthi | ||
| 1972 | Shakthi Leelai | Brinkki Munivar | |
| Mappillai Azhaippu | |||
| Vazhaiyadi Vazhai | |||
| Velli Vizha | Raja | ||
| Kurathi Magan | |||
| 1973 | Baghdad Perazhagi | Thalapathi Sikander | |
| Nathaiyil Muthu | |||
| 1974 | Avalukku Nigar Avale | ||
| 1975 | Idhayakkani | Nattamai's son | |
| Pattampoochi | |||
| 1976 | Uzhaikkum Karangal | Public prosecutor | |
| Dasavatharam | Prince Namachi | ||
| 1977 | Unnai Suttrum Ulagam | ||
| Thaliya Salangaiya | |||
| 1978 | Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan | Son of Minister | |
| 1980 | Ellam Un Kairasi | Ellappan | |
| 1982 | Deviyin Thiruvilayadal | ||
| 1984 | Pozhuthu Vidinchachu | ||
| Vellai Pura Ondru | |||
| 1985 | Padikatha Pannaiyar | ||
| Navagraha Nayagi | Mangalapuri King | ||
| 1988 | Shenbagamae Shenbagamae | Surulivelu | |
| 1989 | Annanukku Jai | ||
| Karagattakaran | Kamakshi's father | ||
| Annakili Sonna Kathai | |||
| Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal | Lord Indra | ||
| 1990 | Mounam Sammadham | ||
| Kizhakku Vasal | Selvi's father "Valliooran" | ||
| 1991 | Thangamana Thangachi | ||
| Kaaval Nilayam | |||
| Naan Pogum Paadhai | |||
| 1992 | Singaravelan | Cameo | |
| Ponnuketha Purushan | Theatre owner | ||
| Pangali | |||
| Villu Pattukaran | |||
| 1993 | Koyil Kaalai | Murugesan | |
| Aadhityan | Pannayar | ||
| Manikuyil | Ramasamy | ||
| Udan Pirappu | |||
| Thiruda Thiruda | Chengalvarayan | ||
| 1994 | Subramaniya Swamy | ||
| En Rajangam | Shanmugam | ||
| Sevatha Ponnu | Sethupathi | ||
| Manju Virattu | Sethupathi | ||
| 1995 | En Pondatti Nallava | Ponnusamy | |
| 1996 | Vaikarai Pookkal | Vellaisamy Gounder | |
| Take It Easy Urvashi | Subramani's father | ||
| Nattupura Pattu | |||
| En Aasai Thangachi | |||
| Senthamizh Selvan | Shanmugasundaram | ||
| Vetri Vinayagar | Goundalya Muni | ||
| Namma Ooru Raasa | Sathyamoorthy | ||
| 1997 | Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga | Jeeva's father | |
| Pongalo Pongal | Pichandi | ||
| 1998 | Maru Malarchi | Land Broker | |
| 1999 | Unnai Thedi | Raghupathi | |
| Ethirum Pudhirum | |||
| Nee Varuvai Ena | Rajadurai | ||
| Jayam | Nattamai | ||
| 2000 | En Sakhiye | Shanmugam | |
| 2001 | Ninaikkatha Naalillai | Prabhukanth's father | |
| Shahjahan | Aisha's father | ||
| Ponnana Neram | |||
| 2007 | Chennai 600028 | Sports minister | |
| Achacho | Nattamai | ||
| Niram | Church father | ||
| Vasantham Vanthachu | Chettiar | ||
| 2008 | Saroja | Special appearance | |
| 2010 | Pugaippadam | ||
| Goa | Karagattakkarar | ||
| Tamizh Padam | CBI officer Shanmugasundaram | ||
| Mandabam | |||
| 2011 | Mankatha | Suchitra's father | |
| 2012 | Nanban | Education minister | |
| Kalakalappu | Minister Sundaram | ||
| 2013 | Onbadhule Guru | Chinna Gounder | |
| Biriyani | Sugan's father | ||
| 2014 | Thalakonam | Sethupathy's close aide | [12] |
| Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum | |||
| 2015 | Massu Engira Masilamani | Ghost | |
| Trisha Illana Nayanthara | Ticket Collector | ||
| 2016 | Jackson Durai | ||
| Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru | Kumar's grandfather | ||
| Chennai 600028 II: Second Innings | Sports minister | ||
| Achamindri | Varaprasadam | ||
| 2017 | Veruli | ||
| Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan | Nattamai | ||
| 2018 | Bodha | father-in-law | Posthumous release |
| 2019 | Kadhal Munnetra Kazhagam | President Panchayat | |
| Naan Avalai Sandhitha Pothu | |||
| 2021 | Appathava Aattaya Pottutanga | Sokkalingam | |
| 2023 | Kabadi Bro | ||
As dubbing artist
| Year | Film | Artist | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Kai Kodukkum Kai | Ranganath | ||
| 1985 | Naan Sigappu Manithan | Banerjee | ||
| 1989 | Ammavasai Iravil | Oduvil Unnikrishnan | ||
| Vettri Vizhaa | Sudheer | |||
| 1990 | Kaadhal Devathai | Tiger Prabhakar | ||
| Vaaliban | Kota Srinivasa Rao | |||
| 1992 | Dharma Bhoomi | Kota Srinivasa Rao | ||
| 1993 | Police Attack | Kota Srinivasa Rao | ||
| Mechanic Mappillai | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | |||
| 1994 | Manidha Manidha | Krishnam Raju | ||
| Anbalayam | Anupam Kher | |||
| Mr. Maharani | Kota Srinivasa Rao | |||
| 1995 | Maanbumigu Mesthri | Sharat Saxena | ||
| Chutti Kuzhandhai | Giri Babu | |||
| 1996 | Aranmanai Vaasal | Murali | ||
| Nakkeeran | Girish Karnad | |||
| Jurassic Park | DNA | |||
| Idhayame Idhayame | Chalapathi Rao | |||
| 1997 | Makkal Thilagam | Rajan P. Dev | ||
| Time Bomb | Krishnam Raju | |||
| Akka | Lokesh | |||
| 1999 | Kaaki Sattaiya Karuppu Sattaiya | Costumes Krishna | ||
| Shanmuga Pandiyan | Kaikala Satyanarayana | |||
| 2000 | Moothavan | Kota Srinivasa Rao | ||
| 2001 | Kadhal Galatta | |||
| Commissioner Eeswara Pandiyan | Rajan P. Dev | |||
| 2003 | Thaaye Bhuvaneswari | Srinivasa Murthy | ||
Television
References
- ↑ Staff Reporter (16 August 2017). "Actor Shanmugasundaram passes away at 79". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 April 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ↑ "RIP Shanmugasundaram: An actor who became a cult favourite". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ↑ "500 படங்களுக்கு மேல் நடித்த நடிகர் சண்முக சுந்தரம் மரணம்; உடல் தகனம் இன்று நடக்கிறது". Dailythnathi.com. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ↑ PuthuYugamTV (3 June 2014). "Kelvi Paathi Kindal Paathi - Actor Shanmugasundaram". Retrieved 16 April 2018 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Veteran Tamil actor Shanmugasundaram passes away, celebrities, fans express condolences". 15 August 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ↑ "புதுமுகங்களை மதித்து புன்னகை மாறாது பழகும் டைரக்டர்". Navamani (in Tamil). 6 December 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 4 October 2025 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
- ↑ "'Bowlinga, fieldinga?': Veteran Kollywood actor Shanmugasundaram is no more". The News Minute. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ↑ "Actor Shanmugasundaram is no more". Indiaglitz.
- ↑ "Shanmugasundaram". Filmy Focus. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ↑ "Veteran actor Shanmugasundaram passed away". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ↑ "'Bowlinga, fieldinga?': Veteran Kollywood actor Shanmugasundaram is no more". 15 August 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ↑ "தலக்கோணம்" [Thalakonam]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
