Ramanathan Sarathkumar (born 14 July 1954) is an Indian actor, politician and former bodybuilder who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. He has acted in more than 150 films and won two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South.
Originally a bodybuilder and later journalist, in 1986, Sarathkumar started his acting career in the Telugu film Samajamlo Sthree. He first acted in negative roles, and later played supporting roles before establishing himself as a lead actor in subsequent years, earning him the titles Super Hero and Supreme Star in Tamil cinema.
In 2007, he launched a new political party All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in Tamil Nadu, claiming to carry out the ideals of K. Kamaraj. He is the former Member of Legislative Assembly of Tenkasi constituency. He served as the president of the Nadigar Sangam from 2006 to 2015 for three consecutive terms.
Early life Sarathkumar was born on 14 July 1954 to Ramanathan and Pushpaleela, a Tamil family in New Delhi. His father Ramanathan worked at the All India Radio before joining the Press Information Bureau of India, while his mother Pushpaleela was a housewife. Sarathkumar is the youngest child in his family, he had two siblings; an elder brother, the late Sudarshan Ramanathan and an elder sister Mallika Kandaswamy. His mother Pushpaleela died on 26 October 2013.
Sarathkumar started his schooling at the Raja Muthiah High School, after his family relocated from Delhi to Chennai. He then moved on to the Central School in the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and finished at St. Patrick's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School. Being an avid sports enthusiast, he played football, cricket and hockey, representing his school and college teams. He also joined the NCC, becoming an Air Wing Cadet. He was one of the cadets who marched in the Republic Day Parade of 1970. After completing his pre-university levels at Loyola College, he was subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from The New College.
He later became a bodybuilder and earned the "Mr. Madras University" title in 1974. He then moved to Bangalore to work for the newly started Tamil newspaper Dinakaran, he started as a cycle boy distributing newspapers to shops and later graduated to become a reporter for the same newspaper. After successfully establishing the circulation, he moved on to Chennai. He shifted his energies towards running his own business, a travel agency in Chennai and meeting Kannadasan who elevated him to become a producer.
He is fluent in all major South Indian languages and is quite proficient in Russian.
Acting career
1986–1991: Early career Sarathkumar made his acting debut in 1986, in the Telugu film Samajamlo Sthree at the behest of a producer friend. Sarathkumar was originally cast to play the lead role in Chinna Poove Mella Pesu (1987) directed by Robert–Rajasekar but the producers insisted on having one familiar face and he was replaced by actor Prabhu. In 1988, while running his travel agency in Chennai, Sarathkumar got an opportunity to act as well as produce in the Tamil film Kan Simittum Neram. The film was directed by Kannadasan and he co-starred with Karthik and Ambika. In 1989, R. Sarathkumar was spotted by Raju, the personal make-up man of actor Vijayakanth, who recommended him to the Pulan Visaranais team. Finally, R. Sarathkumar acted as a villain in Pulan Visaranai and the film turned out to be a blockbuster. He won a Cinema Express Award for Best Villain for his role, which brought him more film offers.
In 1990, he teamed up for the second time with Kannadasan for the film Mr. Karthik, which flopped at the box office. Thereafter, he appeared in antagonist roles in Tamil films such as Pudhu Padagan, Velai Kidaichuduchu, Raja Kaiya Vacha, Engitta Mothathay, Jagathalaprathapan and in Telugu films such as Vishnu, Magaadu and Balachandrudu. He acted in few Tamil films in supporting roles such as Salem Vishnu, Sirayil Sila Raagangal, Mounam Sammadham and Puriyaadha Pudhir. Puriyaadha Pudhir marked the first collaboration with Sarathkumar and director K. S. Ravikumar. He also acted in his first venture as a hero in Palaivana Paravaigal under Senthilnathan's direction, who at that time gave consecutive hits. In 1991, he acted in twelve Tamil films and three Telugu films, mostly in supporting roles and four films in lead roles, but he continued to act in few films as a villain. In the start of 1991, he acted in negative roles in the Telugu film Stuartpuram Police Station, starring Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti, Namma Ooru Mariamma, Vetri Padigal and Pudhu Manithan. He acted as a retired military officer in Chithirai Pookkal and played the second hero role in the blockbuster film Captain Prabhakaran. In May 1991, he appeared in lead roles in Senthilnathan's Kaaval Nilayam and K. S. Ravikumar's rural drama film Cheran Pandiyan, and starred as Chiranjeevi's brother in the Telugu film Gang Leader, the three were commercially successful. In July 1991, he acted in Archana IAS, co-starring Sithara and acted in the role of the father Vaidehi Kalyanam. At the end of 1991, he played a small role in the Telugu film Surya IPS, a negative role in Pavithran's Vasanthakala Paravai and starred in a lead role in Senthilnathan's Thangamana Thangachi.
1992–1993: Lead roles In 1992, he has acted in 10 films as protagonist and 2 films as antagonist including the Telugu film Agreement, directed by Manivannan and P. C. Sreeram's Meera. In the beginning of 1992, he acted in Senthilnathan's Ilavarasan, alongside Sukanya, Manivasagam's Periya Gounder Ponnu and Sivantha Malar. In mid-1992, he worked in K. S. Ravikumar's Oor Mariyadhai, co-starring Sasikala and in Senthilnathan's Idhuthanda Sattam. He then starred in the action film Suriyan, directed by Pavithran and it became his first big break. The film won positive reviews and became highly successful at the box office; he received a Cinema Express Award Best Actor Special Award for the role in which he shaved his head. Subsequently, Sarathkumar was catapulted to fame, his fan base was growing exponentially and he became selective in accepting new assignments. Soon, he was in competition with "Puratchi Kalaignar" Vijayakanth. In the end of 1992, he acted in the action film Thai Mozhi, co-starring Vijayakanth and Mohini, Ellaichami, Manoj Kumar's Samundi and Senthilnathan's Natchathira Nayagan, making their fifth and last collaboration. Thai Mozhi was released to mixed reviews and Samundi, despite unfavourable reviews, managed to run for more than 100 days. In the start of 1993, he acted in Aadhityan, co-starring Sukanya and Pandiarajan and in Dasarathan, produced by Mani Ratnam and S. Sriram. Aadhityan was released to negative reviews, while the much-hyped Dasarathan failed at the box office.
In mid-1993, he starred in Suresh Krissna's Vedan, co-starring Khushbu, in Munarivippu alongside Heera Rajagopal and in his fourth collaboration with director K. S. Ravikumar; Band Master, again with Heera Rajagopal and Ranjitha. Band Masterreleased to negative reviews, whereas Munarivippu was well received critically. In the end of 1993, he acted in the thriller film Moondravadhu Kann, he teamed up with the Suriyan team (consisting of director Pavithran, cinematographer Ashok Kumar, comedian Goundamani, villain Babu Antony and the editor duo B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan) for the second time in I Love India and worked in the comedy film Kattabomman. Moondravadhu Kann was a hit at the box office and Kattabomman was labelled as a "disaster", but Malini Mannath of The New Indian Express stated that "Sarath seems to have improved on his expressions". His 1992 Telugu film Agreement was dubbed into Tamil as Idhayam Ullavan and fetched highly negative reviews upon release. Malini Mannath criticised his choice of scripts and films.
1994–1999: Breakthrough and success In the start of 1994, he worked in Aranmanai Kaavalan and in the Telugu film Captain, directed by Kodi Ramakrishna. Aranmanai Kaavalan was released to positive reviews while Captain was released to largely negative reviews and failed at the box office. In mid-1994, he played three roles in Namma Annachi and in Manoj Kumar's masala film Raja Pandi, he played a cameo appearance, as himself in the comedy film Killadi Mappillai and he appeared in a guest role for Pavithran's film Indhu. Namma Annachi and Rajapandi were released to unfavourable reviews. K. Vijiyan of New Straits Times stated for Namma Annachi: "to do all three roles is just to generate more publicity for Sarath and the movie". His next venture was K. S. Ravikumar's Nattamai, alongside Meena and Khushbu, in which he played a dual role. The film became a blockbuster and achieved cult status. His performance was highly praised by critics and also fetched him several notable awards, including Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor, Filmfare Award for Best Actor and Cinema Express Award for Best Actor. It was followed by Magudikkaran in which he appeared in a guest appearance. After the failure of Captain and the success of Nattamai, R. Sarathkumar decided to focus only on Tamil cinema. The next year, he worked in the village drama Veluchami, P. Vasu's Coolie, Nadodi Mannan and the crime film Ragasiya Police. Veluchami opened to favourable reviews with K. Vijiyan of New Straits Times claiming that "Sarathkumar shows more maturity with his acting". The four films were commercial failures. In 1996, he acted in A. Venkatesh's first film Mahaprabhu. The film turned out to be a hit. He then starred in the action film Nethaji, alongside Lisa Ray; the film was a failure at the box office.
In 1997, he acted in Aravindhan, co-starring R. Parthiepan, Nagma and Urvashi. The film failed at the box office. His next venture Suryavamsam, directed by Vikraman and produced by R. B. Choudary was a blockbuster. He played a dual role in the film. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil and Cinema Express Award for Best Actor for the second time. In the end of 1997, he acted in the Sundar C comedy film Janakiraman which was a commercial hit. The next year, he played in Moovendhar, directed by Suraj, Sundar C's assistant director. The film, released to negative reviews, failed at the box office. After Nattamai, he re-teamed with K. S. Ravikumar in Natpukkaga, the film was well received critically and turned out to be a blockbuster. R. Sarathkumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the third time and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for the second time. He made a cameo appearance in Vikraman's Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen. He then starred in the Telugu film Preminchanu Nene and in Simmarasi, directed by Erode Soundar, K. S. Ravikumar's former dialogue writer. Simmarasi was released to unfavourable reviews, but Sarathkumar was praised for his role.. Indolink.com. Retrieved on 8 April 2014. In the start of 1999, he acted in R. Chandra's Chinna Durai, co-starring with Roja. It was followed by Oruvan, the remake of the Telugu film Auto Driver, in which Sarathkumar paired with Pooja Batra and teamed up for the second time with the director Suresh Krissna. In the end of 1999, he acted in K. S. Ravikumar's Paattali.
2000–2008: Experimentation in various roles