V. S. Raghavan

Biography:

V. S. Raghavan (February 18, 1925 – January 24, 2015) was an Indian actor known for his work in both Tamil cinema and television. His journey began in the world of drama and stage acting, which eventually led to his foray into character roles in movies, commencing with his appearance in “Vairamali” in 1954. Throughout his career, he contributed his talent to over 1000 films and made appearances in various television series. Sadly, he passed away on January 24, 2015.

In 1942, V S Raghavan embarked on his career as a sub-editor for Malathi magazine, which was overseen by the humorist Thumilan (N Ramaswamy). After the magazine ceased publication, he joined a printing press.

While working at the press, he became involved in amateur stage plays with some of his colleagues, leading him to participate in various plays, including Hindi productions. Prior to this, he had a role in the YMIA Fine Arts’ theatre group’s play “Vairamalai,” written by Thottakara Viswanathan and staged at the YMCA.

When the play was adapted into a film, he reprised his role in the movie, marking his film debut in 1954. That same year, he also made his debut as a playwright and co-founded the Indian National Artists (INA) with four friends, namely Malli, Vadiraj, Nataraj, and K Balachander. The INA staged plays at prestigious venues in Chennai.

Renowned director K Balachander, celebrated for his acclaimed films, was part of Raghavan’s troupe, where he both acted and wrote scripts. The INA disbanded a decade later, after which Raghavan ventured into the world of cinema, primarily taking on supporting roles.

He appeared in approximately 1000 films, including several alongside MGR. Additionally, he is widely recognized for his role in the TV serial “Anni,” created by K Balachander.