Anandaraj
Anandaraj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Anandaraj 10 November 1958 Pondicherry, Puducherry |
| Alma mater | M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988 – Present |
Anandaraj is an Indian actor and politician. He has acted in villain roles in several Tamil films and has appeared in over a two hundred films in different languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.[1]
Anandaraj made his Bollywood debut as the main antagonist in Action Jackson, starring Ajay Devgan and Sonakshi Sinha.
Career
Anandaraj was born and brought up in Pondicherry.His father was a businessman. After schooling, he wanted his son to be a police officer, but Anandaraj wanted to try something different as he was fascinated with films. His family supported his dreams. He joined in M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, Chennai for a course. Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar was his classmate.
Anandaraj was under the impression that offers would come his way, but later he had to struggle for an opportunity and finally started off with the 1988 film Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam, starring Prabhu and Sivakumar, where he played the role of a crook and Urimai Geetham, both becoming blockbusters at the box office, and later En Thangachi Padichava, directed by P. Vasu, gave him the much-needed break in all the four south Indian languages.[2] Thereafter, he has acted as a villain alongside most of the top actors, like Rajnikanth (Baasha), Vijayakanth (Pulan Visaranai), R. Sarathkumar (Suryavamsam), Mammootty (Makkal Aatchi), Balakrishna (Muddula Mavayya), Chiranjeevi (Gang Leader) and Vijay (Pokkiri).
Hero
On playing the hero roles, Anand Raj mentioned: "When one gets popular being a villain, people around you always push you to take the next step and it was one of those phases when I took up offers to play the lead role". He went on to play lead roles in the films David Uncle, Thambi Oorukku Puthusu, Kaaval Nilayam, Palaivana Paravaigal, Katharavan, En Rajangam, Kizhakku Veluthathchu, Government Mappillai, Pokkiri Thambi, Puthiya Aatchi and My India. Even though directors offered him good scripts, the films just didn't work well at the box office.[2][3]
Anand Raj continued: "When you are a hero, you get to do only two or three films a year. But if you are a villain, you get to sign a lot of films". He said he lost his income as his films as the hero didn't work, so he decided to play once again as the villain, as well as character actor roles.
Bollywood
Director Prabhu Deva offered Anandraj the lead in the role and asked him not to react to anything, even though a baddie is expected to give exaggerated expressions. Prabhu Deva wanted Anandraj to sport a certain look, so he underwent intense training for a year and lost about 12 kilos and fulfilled Prabhu Deva's expectation to get signed for Action Jackson. He played a don in the film and his look was completely different from the one he had tried in the south, as he spots a lizard tattoo on his head.[2]
Personal life
Anandaraj was born in Puducherry and is the second son in the family of eight. He is married and has a daughter and a son.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam | Tamil | ||
| Thaimel Aanai | Tamil | |||
| Jeeva | Tamil | |||
| En Thangachi Padichava | Gaja | Tamil | ||
| Senthoora Poove | Udayappan | Tamil | ||
| Paatti Sollai Thattathe | Autorickshaw driver | Tamil | ||
| Kalicharan | Anandraj | Tamil | ||
| 1989 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | Tamil | ||
| Nal Valthukkal | Tamil | |||
| Rajadhi Raja | Tamil | |||
| Muddula Mavayya | Gaja | Telugu | ||
| Lankeswarudu | Telugu | |||
| Ontari Poratam | Govinda Yadav | Telugu | ||
| Two Town Rowdy | Rowdy | Telugu | ||
| Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | Anasuya's husband | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Prananiki Pranam | Bahadoor | Telugu | |
| Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu | Joe | Tamil | ||
| Pulan Visaranai | Dharma | Tamil | ||
| Paattukku Naan Adimai | Tamil | |||
| Pudhu Padagan | Arumugam | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| Thangathin Thangam | Tamil | |||
| Kalyana Rasi | Tamil | |||
| Urudhi Mozhi | Tamil | |||
| Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | Tamil | |||
| Periya Idathu Pillai | Tamil | |||
| Velai Kidaichuduchu | Baasha | Tamil | ||
| Iddaru Iddare | Teja | Telugu | ||
| Palaivana Paravaigal | Machi | Tamil | ||
| Vellaiya Thevan | Tamil | |||
| Namma Ooru Poovatha | Tamil | |||
| Raja Kaiya Vacha | Japan | Tamil | ||
| Ethir Kaatru | Devaraj | Tamil | ||
| 1991 | Sathruvu | Satya Murthy | Telugu | |
| Gang Leader | Kanakambaram | Telugu | ||
| Kaaval Nilayam | Raja | Tamil | ||
| Maanagara Kaaval | Robin | Tamil | ||
| Iravu Sooriyan | Tamil | |||
| Moondrezhuthil En Moochirukkum | Amirtharajah | Tamil | ||
| Thambi Oorukku Pudhusu | Tamil | |||
| 1992 | Government Mappillai | Sundarapandian | Tamil | |
| Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen | Tamil | |||
| Bharathan | Gangadharan | Tamil | ||
| Pokkiri Thambi | Thambidurai | Tamil | ||
| Kizhakku Velathachu | Tamil | |||
| Thaali Kattiya Raasa | Tamil | |||
| David Uncle | David | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | Kattalai | Tamil | ||
| Rajadurai | Mayandi | Tamil | ||
| Bava Bavamaridi | Bhoopati | Telugu | ||
| 1994 | The City | Malayalam | ||
| En Rajangam | Gopalakrishnan | Tamil | ||
| Vandicholai Chinraasu | Santhanapandian | Tamil | ||
| Jallikattu Kaalai | Loose Gounder | Tamil | ||
| Magudikkaran | Tamil | |||
| Jaana | Anand | Kannada | ||
| 1995 | Baashha | Indaran | Tamil | |
| Kattumarakaran | Tamil | |||
| Thottil Kuzhandhai | Rajarathnam | Tamil | ||
| Puthiya Aatchi | Marappan | Tamil | ||
| Nandhavana Theru | Rajasekhar | Tamil | ||
| Thirumoorthy | Govindan | Tamil | ||
| Pedarayudu | Bhupathi | Telugu | ||
| Thedi Vandha Raasa | Tamil | |||
| Mr. Madras | Thiruttani | Tamil | ||
| Makkal Aatchi | Rangachari | Tamil | ||
| Ragasiya Police | Azhagam Perumal | Tamil | 100th film | |
| Maaman Magal | Paramasivam | Tamil | ||
| Thondan | Ilavenil | Tamil | ||
| Varraar Sandiyar | Maruthu | Tamil | ||
| 1996 | Aruva Velu | Alavanthar | Tamil | |
| Kizhakku Mugam | Nagaraj | Tamil | ||
| Sengottai | Inspector Thangamani | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| Andha Naal | Father James | Tamil | ||
| Manikkam | Tamil | |||
| Ramudochadu | Gavaraju | Telugu | ||
| Palegara | Kannada | |||
| 1997 | Shubhakankshalu | Moses | Telugu | |
| Aravindhan | Ramanathan | Tamil | ||
| My India | Tamil | |||
| Suryavamsam | Dharamalingam Gounder | Tamil | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain Cinema Express Award for Best Villain | |
| Abhimanyu | Tamil | Guest appearance | ||
| Adimai Changili | Tamil | |||
| Janakiraman | Tamil | |||
| Taraka Ramudu | Gajapati's brother-in-law | Telugu | ||
| Arasiyal | Vikram | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 1998 | Moovendhar | Velliangiri | Tamil | |
| Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar | Tamil | |||
| Suryavamsam | Singaraju Lingaraju | Telugu | ||
| Sandhippoma | Tamil | |||
| Kalyana Galatta | Tamil | |||
| Simmarasi | Maragatham | Tamil | Dinakaran Cinema Award for Best Villain Actor | |
| Desiya Geetham | Tamil | |||
| Urimai Por | J. K. B. | Tamil | ||
| Pudhumai Pithan | Tamil | Guest appearance | ||
| Pooveli | Maha's uncle | Tamil | ||
| 1999 | Periyanna | Tamil | ||
| Kummi Paattu | Pachhamalayan | Tamil | ||
| Oruvan | Peter Fernandez | Tamil | ||
| Malabar Police | Varadappan | Tamil | ||
| Kannupada Poguthaiya | Maniyaandar | Tamil | ||
| Kanmani Unakkaga | Prathap | Tamil | ||
| Unnaruge Naan Irundhal | Jamindar | Tamil | ||
| Paattali | Tamil | |||
| Time | Local Rogue | Tamil | ||
| 2000 | Vaanathaippola | Tamil | ||
| Vetri Kodi Kattu | Dubai Job Agency's Middleman | Tamil | ||
| Krodham 2 | Yogaraj | Tamil | ||
| Anbudan | Tamil | |||
| Vanna Thamizh Pattu | Rasappan | Tamil | ||
| Independence Day | Tamil/Kannada | |||
| 2001 | Seerivarum Kaalai | Tamil | ||
| Simharasi | Telugu | |||
| Narasimha | Thilagarnambi | Tamil | ||
| 2002 | Seema Simham | Police Inspector | Telugu | |
| Varushamellam Vasantham | Tamil | |||
| Ezhumalai | Tamil | |||
| Siva Rama Raju | Veeraju Varma | Telugu | ||
| Chennakesava Reddy | Dhanunjaya Reddy | Telugu | ||
| Style | Marthandam | Tamil | ||
| 2003 | Aasai Aasaiyai | Commissioner Srinivas IPS | Tamil | |
| Kadhaludan | Tamil | Guest appearance | ||
| Yes Madam | Tamil | |||
| Raghavendra | Ankineedu | Telugu | ||
| Sena | Mastan Bhai | Tamil | ||
| Ice | Tamil | |||
| Diwan | Meenakshi's father | Tamil | ||
| Vadakku Vaasal | Inspector Alex Pandian | Tamil | ||
| 2004 | Campus | Tamil | ||
| Engal Anna | Durairaj | Tamil | ||
| Sathyam | Mambally Mukundan Menon | Malayalam | ||
| Arasatchi | Tamil | |||
| Giri | Pasupathy, Pasupathy's father | Tamil | ||
| Meesai Madhavan | Rani's father | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Iyer IPS | Pasupathy | Tamil | |
| Kannadi Pookal | Tamil | |||
| 2006 | Perarasu | DCP Kesavan Nair | Tamil | |
| Jayam | Bharathan | Malayalam | ||
| 2007 | Pokkiri | Narasimha | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Ashoka | Tamil | ||
| Vallamai Tharayo | Nandita's father | Tamil | ||
| Nayagan | Gang leader | Tamil | ||
| 2009 | Villu | J.D | Tamil | |
| Adhineta | Mahendra Bhupati | Telugu | ||
| 2010 | Kola Kolaya Mundhirika | Veerappan | Tamil | |
| Goa | Tamil | |||
| Indrasena | Tamil | |||
| Agam Puram | Muthuraj | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 2011 | Doubles | Pathan | Malayalam | |
| En Ullam Unnai Theduthey | Tamil | |||
| 2014 | Mundasupatti | Zamindar Ekambaram | Tamil | |
| Action Jackson | Xavier | Hindi | ||
| 2015 | Pulan Visaranai 2 | Tamil | ||
| Paayum Puli | Manikandan | Tamil | ||
| Naanum Rowdydhaan | Pondicherry Don | Tamil | ||
| 2016 | Oru Nodiyil | Anna | Tamil | |
| Parvathipuram | Telugu | |||
| Dhilluku Dhuddu | Kumar's father | Tamil | ||
| 2017 | Bruce Lee | Inspector Shanmugapandiyan | Tamil | |
| Maragadha Naanayam | 'Twinkle' Ramanathan | Tamil | ||
| Katha Nayagan | Dubai Sheik | Tamil | ||
| Sathya | Inspector Chowdhary | Tamil | ||
| 2018 | Gulaebaghavali | Munish's boss | Tamil | |
| Thaanaa Serndha Koottam | Gandhi Appa (Kuthaalingam) | Tamil | ||
| Pakka | Nattamai | Tamil | ||
| Iravukku Aayiram Kangal | Murugesan | Tamil | ||
| Kalavani Mappillai | Thulasi's father | Tamil | ||
| Evanukku Engeyo Matcham Irukku | Annachi | Tamil | ||
| Johnny | Prakash | Tamil | ||
| Silukkuvarupatti Singam | Share Auto Chandran | Tamil | ||
| 2019 | Ayogya | 'Bullet' Rajendran | Tamil | |
| Gurkha | Alex | Tamil | ||
| Jackpot | Maanasthan/Inspector Maanasthi | Tamil | Best Comedian ZEE TAMIL AWARD | |
| Bigil | Anand (Rock) | Tamil | ||
| 2020 | Biskoth | Narasimhan | Tamil |
References
- ^ "Politics it is". IndiaGlitz. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ a b c "My wife is happy that I am a villain Anand Raj". The Times of India. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ M. K. Megan (2 October 1992), "Graduating from acting as crook to hero", New Straits Times, retrieved 17 January 2013
- Living people
- Male actors from Puducherry
- Male actors in Tamil cinema
- People from Pondicherry
- Male actors in Hindi cinema
- Male actors in Malayalam cinema
- Male actors in Telugu cinema
- Male actors in Kannada cinema
- Indian male film actors
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 21st-century Indian male actors
- 1958 births
- M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute alumni