Pandiarajan

• Name — Pandiarajan • Birth Name — Rathnam Pandiarajan • Born — 2 October 1959 • Birthplace — Saidapet, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India • Occupation — actor, director • Years Active — 1981–present • Children — 3, including Prithvi Rajan

Pandiarajan was born to Sulochana in Saidapet, Chennai in a lower-middle-class family. He has two sisters, Maheshwari and Geetha. In 1986, he married Vasuki, daughter of the director, producer, and poet Avinasi Mani. They have three sons, Prithvi Rajan, Pallava Rajan and Prem Rajan.

During his early career, Pandiarajan aspired to become an actor but faced challenges due to his height and appearance. As a result, he decided to start his journey in the film industry as an assistant director. His interest in music led him to earn a diploma as “Isai Selvam” in 1977 from Thamizisai College. While working as an office assistant for writer Thooyavan, he crossed paths with director K. Bhagyaraj and eventually became his associate director. His journey led him in three of his film, Andha 7 Naatkal (1981), Thooral Ninnu Pochu (1982) and Darling, Darling, Darling (1982). His first venture as a director and lead actor Aan Paavam (1985) was a massive success at the box office. He has co-starred with Sivaji Ganesan in Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu (1986) and Muthukkal Moondru (1987). Actors Seetha, S. J. Suryah, Mayilsamy, Kollangudi Karuppayee and Bengali actress Debashree Roy were introduced by him to Tamil cinema and so was Srikanth Deva as music director. Pandiarajan is also an accomplished director and has directed several hit films including Subramaniya Swamy (1994), Gopala Gopala (1996), Doubles (2000), and Kai Vandha Kalai (2006). He played leading roles like Thaikulame Thaikulame (1995), Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996) and Purushan Pondatti (1996) were hits. He acted in the TV serial Mama Maaple on Sun TV. He directed his first short film, Magan in 2004. It was selected for screening at the International Children Film Festival held in Hyderabad. The film dealt with the issues of child labour. In 2006, he directed another short film, Iru Thuligal, on polio awareness. Two years later, in 2009, he made one more film on organ donation. Titled Azhagu, acclaimed cinematographer Ravi Varman produced the film and also cranked the camera. His short film in English, Help, was nominated at the ArtDeco Film Festival 2011, at São Paulo in Brazil.

• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1981 — Andha 7 Naatkal — Flower seller in the temple — Uncredited role • 1982 — Thooral Ninnu Pochu — Mridangam artist in "Yen Soga Kadhaiye" — Uncredited role • Darling, Darling, Darling — New Watchman — Uncredited role • 1985 — Kanni Rasi — Person praying — Cameo appearance Also Director • Aan Paavam — Chinna Paandi — Debut as actor Also director • 1986 — Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu — Kannan • 1987 — Manaivi Ready — Radha — Also Director • Muthukkal Moondru — Pandian • Yettiki Potti — Balasubramaniam • Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan — Rajan • Vaazhga Valarga — Pandian • Meendum Mahaan — Pandian • Aayusu Nooru — Doctor Rathnam • 1988 — Oorai Therinjikitten — Pandian / Rajan • Katha Nayagan — Mani • Paatti Sollai Thattathe — Selvam • Jadikketha Moodi — Viswanathan • 1989 — Kakka Kadi • Thalaippu Seithigal — Chitti Babu / Sabapathy • Vaai Kozhuppu — Vasu • Ellame En Thangachi — Raja • Nethiyadi — Venu — Debut as music director • Dilli Babu — Dilli Babu • Sariyana Jodi — Raja • Pudhu Mappillai — Pandian — Also writer • Chinna Chinna Aasaigal — Vasu • 1990 — Pachai Kodi — Balu • Manasukketha Maapillai • Pudhu Varisu — Pandian • 1992 — Oor Panchayathu — Siva • Purushan Enakku Arasan — Seenu • 1993 — Aadhityan — Chinna Paandi • Poranthalum Ambalaiya Porakka Koodathu — Lakshmi • 1994 — Subramaniya Swamy — Velayudham • Killadi Mappillai — Rajaram • Pandianin Rajyathil — Pandian • 1995 — Valli Vara Pora — Chinna Paandi • Padikkara Vayasula • Thaikulame Thaikulame — Pandian • Neela Kuyil — Muthusamy • 1996 — Summa Irunga Machan — Subramani • Mappillai Manasu Poopola — Manikkam • Kaalam Maari Pochu — Muthupandi • Purushan Pondatti — Pandian • Gopala Gopala — Gopalakrishnan, Usha's grandfather — Dual roles • 1997 — Nalla Manusukkaran — Chinna Paandi • Adrasakkai Adrasakkai — Pandian • 1998 — Kavalai Padathe Sagodhara — Janakiraman • Kumbakonam Gopalu — Gopal • 1999 — Manaivikku Mariyadhai — Pandian • Sundari Neeyum Sundaran Naanum — Subramani • Suyamvaram — Pallavan • 2000 — Doubles — Ganesh • Kannula Kaasa Kattappa — Kannan • 2001 — Thaalikaatha Kaaliamman — Paandi • En Iniya Ponnilave — Shiva • Kabadi Kabadi — Pandian • Azhagana Naatkal — Michael — Guest appearance • 2002 — Andipatti Arasampatti — Andipatti • 2003 — Ramachandra — Thirunavukkarasu • Vaseegara — Photographer — Guest appearance • Anbu Thollai — Singamuthu • Military — Guest appearance • Galatta Ganapathy — Ganapathy • Vadakku Vaasal — Ramakrishna • Adhaanda Idhaanda • 2004 — Engal Anna — Cheenu • Jairam — Sachin Undulkar • Aarumugaswamy — Arumugam • Pethi Solla Thattathea — Sombu • Jollyman • Settai — Chinnasamy • Giri — Devaki's potential bridegroom • En Purushan Ethir Veetu Ponnu — Pandian • Kathavasheshan — Kathavarayan — Malayalam film • Sollattuma — Paandi • 2005 — London — Kathir • Maayavi — A film director • Vairavan — Ganesan • Thiru Thiru — Vathiyar • 2006 — Iyappa Saamy — Pandian • Perarasu — Kandhasamy • Kaivantha Kalai — Ganesan • 2007 — Kalakkura Chandru — Singampuli • 2008 — Anjathe — Logu • Ponmagal Vandhaal • Pudhupaandi • Nayagan — Konjumani • 2009 — Thoranai — Walter Vetrivel • 2010 — Thairiyam — Dancer — Guest appearance • Kola Kolaya Mundhirika — Madan • 2011 — Kasethan Kadavulada — Duraisingam • Velayudham — Head Constable • 2012 — Vinmeengal — Panchu • Gaantham — Rajesh • Mirattal — Babloo's father • Mannaru — Dancer — Special appearance • Thiruthani — Mohanraj • 2013 — Kurumbukara Pasanga — Sasi's father • Kolagalam — Venkatesh • 2014 — Rettai Kadhir • Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah — Roshan Kumar • Vaayai Moodi Pesavum — Health Minister Sundaralingam • Pani Vizhum Nilavu — Ruthramoorthy • Aaivu Koodam — Martin Leo • 2015 — Miss Pannidatheenga Appuram Varuthapaduveenga — Pavithra's father • Kadhal Agadhi — Meenakshi's husband • 2016 — Mapla Singam — District Collector • Salaiyoram — J. G. • Ilamai Oonjal — Raja Paandi • Ner Mugam — Police officer • 2017 — Mupparimanam — Himself — Cameo appearance • Kavan — Pillai, Senior News Editor of Zen One TV • Aarambamae Attakasam — Jeeva's father • Tubelight — Mouli • Adhagappattathu Magajanangalay — Anand's father • Guru Uchaththula Irukkaru • 2018 — Street Lights • Panjumittai — Psychiatrist • 2019 — Natpe Thunai — Sridhar's father • Jaikka Povadhu Yaaru — M. P • Dhanusu Raasi Neyargale — Thirumandha • 2020 — Taana — Shakthi's father • Naan Sirithal — Psychiatrist Veerabadhran • Ponmagal Vandhal — Karpooram • Kanni Raasi — Thiruvengadam • Kombu — Karthick's Uncle • 2021 — Annaatthe — Idithangi — Extended Cameo appearance • 2022 — Riya - The Haunted House • Super Senior Heroes — Captain — Direct release on Sun TV • 2023 — Deiva Machan — Paramanandham • Partner — Scientist Prathap • Paatti Sollai Thattathe — Pandian • Sooragan — Chidambaram • 2024 — Ippadiku Kadhal — Harish Nair • PT Sir — K. Selvaraj • 2026 — Pookie — Kailash's father

• Year — Title — Role — Channel • 2010–2011 — Mama Maaple — Rajapaandi — Sun TV • 2015–2016 — En Thangai — Pandian — Raj TV • 2015 — Koffee With DD — Guest — Vijay TV • 2019–2020 — Lolluppa — Host — Sun TV • 2020–2021 — Baakiyalakshmi — Sundaram — Star Vijay • 2022 — Maari — Rajan (Cameo Appearance) — Zee Tamil • 2025 — Veera — Judge (Cameo Appearance) — Zee Tamil • 2025 — Mounam Pesiyadhe — Locker Masilamani (Cameo Appearance) — Zee Tamil

• Year — Film — Notes • 1985 — Kanni Rasi — Debut film as director • Aan Paavam — Debut film as actor • 1987 — Manaivi Ready • 1988 — Nethiyadi — Also music composer • 1994 — Subramaniya Swamy • 1996 — Gopala Gopala • 2000 — Doubles • 2001 — Kabadi Kabadi • 2006 — Kaivantha Kalai — His son Prithvi Rajan's debut film as hero

• Year — Film — Notes • 2004 — Magan • 2006 — Iru Thuligal • 2009 — Azhagu • 2011 — Help — English film • 2013 — Man Paanai