P. K. Raja Sandow

• Name — Raja Sandow • Born — 1894 or 1895 • Birthplace — Pudukottai, India • Died — 1943 • Years Active — 1923–1943 • Occupation — Film director, film producer, Actor

Raja Sandow was born in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu into a mixed Tamil and Telugu family. He was trained as a gymnast and started his film career as a stunt actor in S.N. Patankar's National Film Company at Bombay. He was given the name "Raja Sandow" because of his physique (after Prussian strongman Eugen Sandow). His first lead role was in Patankar's Bhakta Bodana (1922), for which he was paid Rs. 101 as salary. He became famous by starring in silent films like Veer Bhemsen (1923), and The Telephone Girl (1926). After acting in a few silent films, he also worked as a director in Ranjit Studios for a monthly salary. His first film as director was Sneh Jyoti (1928). Returning to Tamil Nadu, he directed and acted in a number of silent films for R. Padmanaban's Associate Film Company. Many of his silent films had reformist social themes like Peyum pennum (1930), Nandhanar (1930), Anadhai Penn (1931), Pride of Hindustan (1931) and sathi usha sundari (1931). After talking films were introduced with Alam Ara in 1931, he went back to Bombay and starred in many Hindi and Tamil talkies. He was often paired with the actresses Gohar and Sulochana (Ruby Myers). Between 1932 and 1935, he acted in many socially themed Hindi films like Shyam Sundar (1932), Devaki (1934) and Indira MA (1935). In 1935, he was commissioned to direct his first Tamil film Menaka and returned to Madras. He continued directing and acting in films till his death in 1943. Vasantha Sena(1936), Chalak Chor (1936), Chandra kantha (1936), Vishnuleela (1938), Thiruneelakantar (1939) and Choodamani (1941) were some of the films he directed and starred in during that period. The last film he worked in was Sivakavi (1943). Sandow suffered a heart attack and died at Coimbatore on 25 November 1943. He was survived by his wife Leelabai and one son.

• Year — Film — Language — Credits • 1922 — Bhakta Bodana — Silent film — Actor • 1922 — Karna — Silent film — Actor • 1922 — Suryakumari — Silent film — Actor • 1923 — Veer Bhimsen — Silent film — Actor • 1923 — Vratrasoor Vadha — Silent film — Actor • 1924 — Ra Mandlik — Silent film — Actor • 1924 — Bismi Sadi — Silent film — Actor • 1924 — Razia Begum — Silent film — Actor • 1924 — Sadguni Sushila — Silent film — Actor • 1924 — Sati Sone — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Deshna Dushman (The Divine Punishment) — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Deva dasi — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Indrasabha — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Kala Chor(The Black Thief) — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Khandani Khavis(The Noble Scamp) — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Matri Prem(For Mother's Sake) — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Mojili Mumbai (The Slaves of Luxury) — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Panchdanda(Five Divine Wands) — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Raja Yogi — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Suvarna — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Veer Kunal — Silent film — Actor • 1925 — Vimala — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Madhav Kam Kundala — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Mena Kumari — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Muntaz Mahal — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Neerajanam — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Prithvi Putra — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Ra Kawat — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Samrat Shiladitya — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Telephone Girl — Silent film — Actor • 1926 — Typist Girl — Silent film — Actor • 1927 — Bhaneli Bhamini — Silent film — Actor • 1927 — Gunsundari — Silent film — Actor • 1927 — Sati Madri — Silent film — Actor • 1927 — Sindh Ni Sumari — Silent film — Actor • 1927 — The Mission Girl — Silent film — Actor • 1927 — Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag(Aladdin & the Wonderful Lamp) — Silent film — Actor • 1928 — Grihalakshmi — Silent film — Actor • 1928 — Naag Padmini — Silent film — Actor • 1928 — Sneh Jyoti — Silent film — Actor, director • 1928 — Up-to-date — Silent film — Actor • 1928 — Vishwamohini — Silent film — Actor • 1929 — Young India — Silent film — Actor • 1929 — Young India — Silent film — Actor • 1930 — Bhimsen The Mighty — Silent film — Actor • 1930 — Peyum pennum — Silent film — Actor, director • 1930 — Rajlakshmi — Silent film — Actor • 1930 — Nandhanar (Elevation of the Downtrodden) — Silent film — Actor, director • 1930 — Sri Valli Thirumanam — Silent film — Actor, director • 1930 — Anadhai penn — Silent film — Actor, director • 1931 — Taranhar (Pride of Hindustan) — Silent film — Actor, director • 1931 — Sati Usha Sundari — Silent film — Director • 1931 — Rajeshwari — Silent film — Director • 1931 — Bhaktavatsala (Dhuruvanin Garvabangam) — Silent film — Director • 1932 — Parijaatha pushpaharanam — Tamil — Director • 1932 — Shyam sundar — Hindi — Actor • 1933 — Pardesi Preetam — Hindi — Actor • 1933 — Noor-E-Imaan — Hindi — Actor • 1934 — Devaki — Hindi — Actor • 1934 — Kashmeera — Hindi — Actor • 1934 — Toofani Taruni — Hindi — Actor • 1934 — Indira M.A — Hindi — Actor • 1935 — Toofani Taruni — Hindi — Actor • 1935 — Raat-Ki-Rani — Hindi — Actor, director • 1935 — Barrister's wife — Hindi — Actor • 1935 — College Kanya — Hindi — Actor • 1935 — Desh Dasi — Hindi — Actor • 1935 — Menaka — Tamil — Director • 1936 — Prabhu Ka Pyara — Hindi — Actor • 1936 — Vasantha Sena — Tamil — Actor, director • 1936 — Vasantha Sena — Tamil — Actor, director • 1936 — Chalak Chor — Hindi — Actor, director • 1936 — Chandrakantha — Tamil — Scriptwriter, director • 1936 — Dil ka Daku — Hindi — Actor • 1936 — Matlabi Duniya — Hindi — Actor • 1937 — Toofani Tarzan — Hindi — Actor • 1937 — Minor Rajamani — Tamil — Director • 1938 — Nandha Kumar — Tamil — Actor • 1938 — Vishnuleela — Tamil — Actor, director • 1939 — Thiruneelakantar — Tamil — Actor • 1941 — Choodamani — Telugu — Director • 1942 — Araichimani — Tamil — Director • 1943 — Sivakavi — Tamil — Director (replaced halfway)