Akkamappettai Paramasivan Nagarajan (24 February 1928[1] – 5 April 1977)[2] was an Indian film director, producer, actor and writer who set a trend in film making in Tamil cinema from 1965 to 1977.[3]

A. P. Nagarajan
Born
Kuppusamy

(1928-02-24)24 February 1928
Akkamappettai, Sankagiri, Salem district, Madras Presidency, British India
Died5 April 1977(1977-04-05) (aged 49)
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Other namesArutselvar, Deiviga Iyakkunar
Occupation(s)director, producer, actor and writer
Years active1953–1977
SpouseRani
ChildrenA. P. N. Paramasivam
Parent(s)Father : Paramasivam Gounder
Mother : Lakshmi Ammal

Film career edit

Nagarajan started his own drama company, the Pazhani Kadiravan Nadaga Sabha, and, in 1949, married Rani Ammal. He wrote and acted in several plays and one of his plays "Nalvar" was made into a movie. Nagarajan wrote the screenplay for his own story and play the hero in this film. His film career thus began in 1953.

 
AP Nagarajan with his drama group

He also acted in many movies for producer M. A. Venu, formerly of Modern Theatres, such as Mangalyam, Nalla Thangal and Pennarasi. He wrote the screenplay for Town Bus and by 1956 decided to focus on writing. He wrote Naan Petra Selvam and Makkalai Petra Maharasi — in the latter, he introduced the ‘Kongu' Tamil accent for the hero. The first of his many mythological films — Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958) — was a big success, and Rajaji, who had little regard for cinema, watched this film and praised Sivaji Ganesan's performance as Bharatha in it. He then started to produce in partnership with actor V. K. Ramasamy. Some of the works of this period include Nalla Idaththu Sammandham (1958), Thayai Pol Pillai, Noolai Pol Selai (1959) and Paavai Vilakku. He made his directorial debut with Vadivukku Valaigaappu (1962). He launched his own production company with Navarathri and then went on to make a mark in the field of mythological cinema as well.[4]

Filmography edit

Year Film Credited as Language Notes
Director Producer Writer Actor
1977 Navarathinam  Y  Y Tamil
1977 Sri Krishna Leela  Y Tamil
1976 Jai Balaji  Y Tamil
1975 Melnaattu Marumagal  Y  Y Tamil
1974 Gumasthavin Magal  Y  Y Tamil
1973 Karaikkal Ammaiyar  Y  Y Tamil
1973 Rajaraja Cholan  Y Tamil
1973 Thirumalai Deivam  Y Tamil
1972 Agathiyar  Y  Y  Y Tamil
1971 Arutperunjothi  Y Tamil
1971 Kankaatchi  Y Tamil
1970 Thirumalai Thenkumari  Y  Y  Y Tamil
1970 Vilayattu Pillai  Y Tamil
1969 Gurudhatchanai  Y Tamil
1969 Vaa Raja Vaa  Y  Y  Y Tamil
1968 Thillana Mohanambal  Y  Y  Y Tamil National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1968 Thirumal Perumai  Y  Y Tamil
1967 Thiruvarutchelvar  Y  Y  Y Tamil
1967 Seetha  Y Tamil
1967 Kandhan Karunai  Y  Y Tamil
1966 Saraswathi Sabatham  Y  Y  Y Tamil
1965 Thiruvilaiyadal  Y  Y  Y  Y Tamil National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil
1964 Navarathri  Y  Y Tamil
1963 Kulamagal Radhai  Y  Y Tamil
1962 Vadivukku Valai Kappu  Y  Y Tamil
1960 Paavai Vilakku  Y Tamil
1959 Alli Petra Pillai  Y Tamil
1959 Thayapol Pillai Noolapol Selai  Y  Y Tamil
1958 Neelavukku Neranja Manasu  Y Tamil
1958 Petra Maganai Vitra Annai  Y Tamil
1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam  Y Tamil
1958 Nalla Idathu Sammandham  Y  Y Tamil
1957 Makkalai Petra Magarasi  Y  Y Tamil
1956 Naan Petra Selvam  Y Tamil
1955 Nalla Thangal  Y Tamil
1955 Town Bus  Y Tamil
1955 Asai Anna Arumai Thambi  Y Tamil
1955 Nam Kuzhandai  Y Tamil
1955 Pennarasi  Y Tamil
1955 Nalla Thangai  Y Tamil
1954 Mangalyam  Y Tamil
1953 Naalvar  Y  Y Tamil

Death edit

He died of cardiac arrest on 5 April 1977 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, aged 49.[5]

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ Mass Media in India 1979-1980, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, 1979, p. 204
  2. ^ "Indian movie stars died at 49". patheticfacts.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  3. ^ Raman, Mohan V. (14 April 2012). "Master of mythological cinema". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  4. ^ BASKARAN, SUNDARARAJ THEODORE (24 December 2013). THE EYE OF THE SERPENT: AN INTRODUCTION TO TAMIL CINEMA. Westland. ISBN 9789383260744.
  5. ^ "Director A.P. Nagarajan Contact Number, Residence Address, Phone Number, Email ID". contactphonenumberaddress.com. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Collections". 1991.

External links edit