Updated by admin on
Friday, October 24, 2014 03:23 PM IST
Chennai:
Chennai: Veteran actor S S Rajendran, popularly known as SSR, died here this morning at a private hospital. He was 86 and is survived by two wives including actress Vijayakumari and seven children. SSR, who belonged to the same era as Sivaji Ganesan and M G Ramachandran, was admitted to a city hospital on October 23 and was being treated for a lung infection.
Rajendran known as SSR, acted in the same era as Sivaji Ganesan and MG Ramachandran.
SSR, closely associated with the Dravidian movement, became a member of the DMK, and got elected to the Assembly. After MGR launched his own party, SSR joined it. Later, he was disgusted with politics and quit the arena. He was also associated with strengthening the DMK in the south. Family sources said he had prepared his autobiography but died before its release.
Sedapatti Suryanarayana Devar Rajendran commonly known by his stage name S S Rajendran (SSR) was born in 1928 at Sedapatti near Usilampatti in Madras Presidency. He dabbled in several fields including acting, direction, production and politics.
He was a towering personality in the film world as he was considered handsome, with a clear and emphatic pronunciation.
He spent the early part of his life as a drama artiste, first with Puliya Maangaar Boys Company and later with TKS Brothers Drama Company.
Rajendran, born in 1928, popularly known as SSR, was introduced to Tamil cinema through the hit film Parasakthi in 1952, which also saw the dramatic entry of Sivaji Ganesan.
He had the opportunity to meet Dravidian movement leaders like DK founder Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and DMK founder C N Annadurai.
He wrote songs, scripted films and directed three movies -- Thangarathinam, Alli and Manimagudam in which J. Jayalalitha acted with him. He was known as Latchiya Nadigar and also received the Kalaimaamani award. He also wrote songs "Thunbam Theeradho" for Thangarathinam (1960) sung by T. M. Soundararajan and K. Jamuna Rani and Indraikku Naan Pirandhen for Erattai Manithan, music by M. S.
Viswanathan. He has sung a song Senthamizhnattu Katharinesavu Selaigal Vettigal Vanguveer in Pudhumaipenn (1959) tuned by K. V. Mahadevan and written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi.
DMK president M Karunanidhi, AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa and the Nadigar Sangam condoled the death of Sarath Kumar, its president. Sarath kumar there would be no shooting on Friday afternoon in view of the demise of SSR.
