Anandaraj
| Anandaraj | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anandaraj 11 November Pondicherry, Puducherry |
| Alma mater | M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988 – present |
Anandaraj (born 10 November; Tamil: ஆனந்தராஜ்) is an Indian Tamil film actor, who has enacted villain roles in several Tamil films. He has appeared in over hundred films in different languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. [1]
Anandaraj made his Bollywood debut as main antagonist with Action Jackson starring Ajay Devgan and Sonakshi Sinha.
Career
Anandaraj was born and brought up in Pondicherry and 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. Fortunately 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 films, David Uncle, Thampi Oorukku Puthusu, Kaaval Nilayam, Palaivana Paravaigal, Katharavan, En Rajangam, Kizhakku Veluthathchu, Government Mappillai, Pokkiri Thampi, Puthiya Aatchi and My India. Eventhough 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 hero didn't work, so he decided to play once again the villain as well as character actor roles.
Bollywood
Director Prabhu Deva offered Anandraj, the lead in role and asked not to react to anything eventhough a baddie is expected to give exaggerated expressions. Prabhu Deva wanted Anandraj to sport a certain look, so he went 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 is completely different from the one he had tried the south as he sport a lizard tattoo on his head.[2]
Personal life
Anandaraj was born in Puducherry and is the second son in the family of eight. His father was an arak merchant.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Thaimel Aanai | Tamil | ||
| 1988 | Oruvar Vaazhum Aalayam | Tamil | ||
| En Thangachi Padichava | Gaja | Tamil | ||
| Senthoora Poove | Tamil | |||
| 1989 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | Tamil | ||
| Muddula Mavayya | Telugu | |||
| Rajadhi Raja | Tamil | |||
| Ontari Poratam | Govinda Yadav | Telugu | ||
| Two Town Rowdy | Telugu | |||
| 1990 | Prananiki Pranam | Telugu | ||
| Nalla Kaalam Porandaachu | Tamil | |||
| Pulan Visaranai | Dharma | Tamil | ||
| Paattukku Naan Adimai | Tamil | |||
| Pudhu Padagan | Arumugam | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | Tamil | |||
| Periya Idathu Pillai | Tamil | |||
| Velai Kidaichuduchu | Baasha | Tamil | ||
| Iddaru Iddare | Telugu | |||
| Palaivana Paravaigal | Machi | Tamil | ||
| Vellaiya Thevan | Tamil | |||
| Namma Ooru Poovatha | Tamil | |||
| Raja Kaiya Vacha | Japan | Tamil | ||
| Ethir Kaatru | Devaraj | Tamil | ||
| 1991 | Gang Leader | Kanakambaram | Telugu | |
| Kaaval Nilayam | Raja | Tamil | ||
| Maanagara Kaaval | Tamil | |||
| Shatruvu | Telugu | |||
| 1992 | Government Mappillai | Sundarapandian | Tamil | |
| Unna Nenachen Pattu Padichen | Tamil | |||
| Bharathan | Gangadharan | Tamil | ||
| Thaali Kattiya Raasa | Tamil | |||
| David Uncle | David | Tamil | ||
| 1993 | Kattalai | Tamil | ||
| Rajadurai | Tamil | |||
| Bava Bavamaridi | Bhoopati | Telugu | ||
| 1994 | The City | Malayalam | ||
| En Rajangam | Gopalakrishnan | Tamil | ||
| Jallikattu Kaalai | Loose Gounder | Tamil | ||
| 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 | Tamil | |||
| 1996 | Aruva Velu | Alavanthar | Tamil | |
| Kizhakku Mugam | Nagaraj | Tamil | ||
| Sengottai | Thangamani | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 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 | |||
| Arasiyal | Vikram | Tamil | Guest appearance | |
| 1998 | Moovendhar | Tamil | ||
| Naam Iruvar Nammaku Iruvar | Tamil | |||
| Suryavamsam | Singaraju Lingaraju | Telugu | ||
| Sandhippoma | Tamil | |||
| Kalyana Galatta | Tamil | |||
| Simmarasi | Tamil | Dinakaran Cinema Award for Best Villain Actor | ||
| Desiya Geetham | Tamil | |||
| Urimai Por | J. K. B. | Tamil | ||
| Pudhumai Pithan | Tamil | |||
| Pooveli | Tamil | |||
| 1999 | Periyanna | Tamil | ||
| Kummi Paattu | Tamil | |||
| Oruvan | Peter Fernandez | Tamil | ||
| Malabar Police | Varadappan | Tamil | ||
| Kannupada Poguthaiya | Tamil | |||
| Kanmani Unakkaga | Prathap | Tamil | ||
| Paattali | Tamil | |||
| 2000 | Vaanathaippola | Tamil | ||
| Vetri Kodi Kattu | Dubai Job Agency's Middleman | Tamil | ||
| Anbudan | Tamil | |||
| Vanna Thamizh Pattu | Rasappan | Tamil | ||
| 2001 | Seerivarum Kaalai | Tamil | ||
| Narasimha | Tamil | |||
| Simharaashi | Telugu | |||
| 2002 | Seema Simham | Police Inspector | Telugu | |
| Varushamellam Vasantham | Tamil | |||
| Siva Rama Raju | Veeraju Varma | Telugu | ||
| Style | Tamil | |||
| 2003 | Aasai Aasaiyai | Tamil | ||
| Kadhaludan | Tamil | Guest appearance | ||
| Yes Madam | Tamil | |||
| Sena | Mastan Bhai | Tamil | ||
| Ice | Tamil | |||
| Diwan | Tamil | |||
| Raghavendra | Telugu | |||
| 2004 | Engal Anna | Tamil | ||
| Sathyam | Malayalam | |||
| Arasatchi | Tamil | |||
| Giri | Tamil | |||
| Meesai Madhavan | Tamil | |||
| 2005 | Kannadi Pookal | Tamil | ||
| 2006 | Perarasu | Kesavan Nair | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Pokkiri | Narasimha | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Ashoka | Tamil | ||
| Vallamai Tharayo | Tamil | |||
| Nayagan | Tamil | |||
| 2009 | Villu | J.D | Tamil | |
| Adhineta | Mahendra Bhupati | Telugu | ||
| 2010 | Goa | Tamil | ||
| Kola Kolaya Mundhirika | Veerappan | Tamil | ||
| Agam Puram | Muthuraj | Tamil | ||
| 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 | Tamil |
