S. S. Rajendran

• Name — S. S. Rajendran • Office — Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly • Term Start1 — 9 June 1980 • Term End1 — 15 November 1984 • 1blankname1 — Chief Minister • 1namedata1 — M. G. Ramachandran • 2blankname1 — Political Party • 2namedata1 — AIADMK • Predecessor1 — K. Kandasamy • Successor1 — M. G. Ramachandran • Constituency1 — Andipatti • Term Start2 — 29 March 1962 • Term End2 — 28 February 1967 • 3blankname2 — Chief Minister • 3namedata2 — M. Bhaktavatsalam • 4blankname2 — Political Party • 4namedata2 — DMK • Predecessor2 — N. M. Velappan and N. R. Thiagarajan • Successor2 — P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan • Constituency2 — Theni • Birth Name — Sedapatti Suryanarayanan Rajendran • Born — 1 January 1928 • Birthplace — Usilampatti, Madras Presidency, British India • Died — 24 October 2014 • Place of death — Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India • Spouse — * Pankajam • C. R. Vijayakumari • Thamarai Selvi • Children — 8 • Occupation — Actor, director, producer, politician • Parents — Father: Suryanarayanan Devar Mother: Aadhilakshmi Sedapatti Suryanarayanan Rajendran, also known by his initials SSR (1 January 1928 – 24 October 2014), was an Indian actor, film director, film producer and politician who worked in Tamil theatre and cinema. He is also referred to as Latchiya Nadigar. He was a Rajya Sabha MP of DMK from April 3, 1970 to April 2, 1976

Sri Aandal was to have his debut film as an actor. He received an offer to act in a negative role, and an advance as well. T. R. Sundaram, who oversaw the production, overruled Rajendran's selection because he "appeared like a boy with curly hair and was unsuitable for the villain role." Rajendran was cast in the title role. He was replaced after two weeks of shooting from the film as T. K. Muthusamy of the TKS Brothers drama troupe said Rajendran was still under contract with them, and threatened legal action if the film continued production. The role went to newcomer S. M. Kumaresan. Rajendran made his acting debut with the 1952 film Parasakthi. He followed with Sorgavasal (1954), Ammaiyappan (1954), Ratha Kanneer (1954), Kula Dheivam (1956), Sivagangai Seemai (1957), Mudhalali (1957), Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (1958), Pillai Kaniyamudhu (1958), Thedi Vandha Selvam (1958), Kalyanikku Kalyanam (1959), President Panchaksharam (1959), Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959), Kumudham (1961), C. N. Annadurai's Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam (1962), M. Karunanidhi's Kaanji Thalaivan (1963), Poompuhar (1964), Poomalai (1965), Avan Pithana? (1966) and Mani Magudam (1966). SSR acted with M. G. Ramachandran in Raja Desingu (1960) and in Kaanji Thalaivan (1963). He had worked in many films with Sivaji Ganesan such as Manohara (1954), Raja Rani (1956), Rangoon Radha (1956), Deivapiravi (1960), Aalayamani (1962), Kunkhumam (1963), Pachai Vilakku (1964), Kai Kodutha Dheivam (1964), Pazhani (1965), Santhi (1965) and Ethiroli (1970). His drama company SSR Nadaka Mandram staged plays including Or Iravu (C. N. Annadurai), Manimagudam (M. Karunanidhi) and Thenpaandi Veeran (P. Nedumaran). He introduced and gave opportunities to actress Manorama. • Illustration — S.S. Rajendran with M.G.R.

He had two wives, including actress CC. R. Vijayakumari, and eight children.

He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party and became the first actor to become an elected member of a legislative assembly in India when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a DMK candidate for the Theni Constituency in the 1962 Madras State legislative assembly election. He joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was elected from Andipatti constituency in the 1980 assembly election.. He stood for the 1984 assembly election in his native town Sedapatti as an independant candidate, but ultimately lost. S. Rajendran entered the electoral fray from Periyakulam in the 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election as a candidate of the AIADMK faction led by J. Jayalalithaa. But he could not win.

Rajendran, being a strict follower of Periyar's policy of rationalism, never acted in films based on Ithihasas and Puranas. He earned the sobriquet "Latchiya Nadigar" (Idealistic Actor) as he never acted in films against his policy.

Rajendran was admitted into Chennai Meenakshi hospital on 20 October 2014 to treat a lung infection. He died on 24 October 2014.

• Year — Film — Role — Notes — Reference(s) • 1952 — Parasakthi — Gnanasekaran • Panam — Sundaram • 1954 — Manohara — Rajapriyan • Sorgavasal — Muthu Manikam • Ammaiyappan — Muthan • Ratha Kanneer — Balu • 1956 — Raja Rani — Babu • Kuladeivam — Rajaiya • Rangoon Radha — Nagasundaram • 1957 — Mudhalali — Vasanthan/Varathan • 1958 — Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum — Rangan • Anbu Engey — Somu • Petra Maganai Vitra Annai — Prince Villalan/Neelan • Pillai Kaniyamudhu • Thirudargal Jakkirathai • Thedi Vandha Selvam • 1959 — Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal • Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai • Sollu Thambi Sollu • Kalyanikku Kalyanam — Sadhasivam • Sivagangai Seemai — Muthalagu Servai • Pudhumai Penn • President Panchatcharam — Sikhamani • Naatukoru Nallaval • Alli Petra Pillai • Thalai Koduthaan Thambi — Indrajith • Odi Vilaiyaadu Paapa — Subramaniyan • 1960 — Deivapiravi — Ramu • Sangilithevan — Sangilithevan • Raja Desingu — General Mohammed Khan • Petra Manam • Thangarathinam • 1961 — Manapanthal — Dr. Gunasekaran • Mamiyarum Oru Veetu Marumagale • Kumudham — Kumaran • Panam Panthiyile • 1962 — Sarada — Sambandham • Ethaiyum Thangum Ithaiyam • Senthamarai • Muthu Mandapam • Aalayamani — Sekar • Deivathin Deivam — Babu • 1963 — Vanambadi — Sekhar • Neengadha Ninaivu • Kattu Roja — Baskaran • Aasai Alaigal — Durai Raj • Naanum Oru Penn — Bhaskar • Kunkhumam — Superintendent Raja • Kaanchi Thalaivan — Commander Paranjothi • Kaithiyin Kathali • 1964 — Pachchai Vilakku — Pasupathy • Alli — Kannan • Kai Kodutha Deivam — Ravi • Vazhi Piranthadu • Poompuhar — Kovalan • Ullasa Payanam — Selvam • 1965 — Pazhani — Raju • Santhi — Ramu • Paditha Manaivi • Kaakum Karangal — Dr. Shankar • Vazhikatti • Poomalai — Sundaram • Maganey Kel • Anandhi — Somu • 1966 — Avan Pithana? — Kumar • Thedi Vandha Thirumagal • Marakka Mudiyuma? — Manikam / Krishnan • Thaaye Unakkaga • Mani Magudam — King Mani Maaran / Puthumai Pithan • 1969 — Kula Vilakku — Guest Appearance • 1970 — Ethiroli — Raju • Vairagyam • 1982 — Erattai Manithan — Durai • 1985 — Anbin Mugavari • 1996 — Rajali — Shekhar • 1998 — Dharma — Chief Minister • 2001 — Rishi — Chief Minister • 2003 — Dum — DGP • 2008 — Theekuchi — Raja