Thengai Srinivasan (21 October 1937 – 9 November 1987) was an Indian actor who appeared in Tamil-language films and plays from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was given the prefix Thengai (coconut) after his role as a coconut-seller in the play Kal Manam. Although originally a comedian, he also performed in other genres and enacted several lead and antagonistic roles.[1]
Thengai Srinivasan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Srinivasan 21 October 1937 Tamil Nadu, Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin District, India |
| Died | 9 November 1987 (aged 50) Karnataka, India |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Comedian |
| Years active | 1965–1987 |
| Spouse | Lakshmi (till his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Yogi (grandson) Shrutika (granddaughter) |
Early life
editSrinivasan was born to Rajavel Mudaliar (Chennai) and Subammal (Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district) on 21 October 1937.[1][2] He had two sisters. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Chennai. Srinivasan's father was an artist who staged several plays and it was his influence which stimulated Srinivasan's interest in an acting career.[1][3]
After school, Srinivasan joined the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai and later started his theatrical career in the Railway Dramatic Club.[3][2] Srinivasan's first stage appearance was in his father's drama Galatta Kalyanam.[1] Srinivasan was also part of the troupe of K. Kannan and portrayed a coconut vendor in one of his plays Kal Manam. Comedian K. A. Thangavelu upon watching the play, announced he should be called Thengai (coconut) Srinivasan thereafter.[3][4][5]
Career
editSrinivasan's first feature film was the mystery thriller Oru Viral in 1965.[6] The film, which saw him playing a detective, was a financial success.[6] Srinivasan was, however, supposed to make his feature film debut in Iravum Pagalum (1965) that marked the acting debut of Jaishankar, but was dropped after distributors raised concerns about two newcomers being featured in the lead roles. He and Jaishankar nonetheless would become close friends later and Srinivasan was featured in almost 80 per cent of Jaishankar's early films.[2]
For the most part, Srinivasan enacted the role of a comedian or a sidekick. Notable roles in his subsequent career include that of a fake Swami and that of an idealistic industrialist in the cult comedy films Kasethan Kadavulada and Thillu Mullu, respectively.[2][3] In 2013, Forbes India included his performance in Thillu Mullu, along with that of Rajinikanth in the same film, in its list of the "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".[7] Srinivasan also played antagonistic roles; one of which was that of a blackmailing photographer in S. P. Muthuraman's Mayangukiral Oru Maadhu.[2]
He played the lead in Vaali's play Sri Krishna Vijayam, which was later made into a feature film named Kaliyuga Kannan. The makers originally intended to cast Sivaji Ganesan in the role, but Ganesan, being impressed by Srinivasan's performance in the play, suggested that Srinivasan should be retained for the film version. Kaliyuga Kannan went on to become a high commercial success and is considered one of Srinivasan's most notable films.[2] Other films featuring Srinivasan in the lead role were Nandri Karangal, Sri Ramajayam, Porter Ponnusami and Adukku Malli, which was a box office success.[8] In 1987, Srinivasan produced the film Krishnan Vandhaan with Sivaji Ganesan in the lead. The film did not fare well and got him into deep financial trouble.[2]
Death
editWhen Srinivasan went to Bangalore, Karnataka to attend the rituals following his aunt's death, he suffered a brain haemorrhage.[2] Despite intensive treatment, he died on 9 November 1987.[1][9] His body was brought to his house at Ramasamy Street in Gopalapuram, Chennai. His death was marked by tributes from film fans and industry insiders alike.[1][2]
Personal life
editSrinivasan was married to Lakshmi. The couple have two daughters – Geethalakshmi and Rajeshwari – and a son, Shivshankar.[2] Geethalakshmi's son Yogi has acted in films such as Azhagiya Asura (2006) and Sivi (2007),[10] and Shivshankar's daughter Shrutika also appeared in a few Tamil films during the 2000s.[11] Shivshankar's son Adithya Shivpink is also an actor, having starred in films featuring Rajinikanth since 2018.[12][13]
Filmography
editThis is a partial filmography.
1960s
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Oru Viral | CID officer | [1] |
| 1966 | Vallavan Oruvan | ||
| 1967 | Kadhalithal Podhuma | ||
| Raja Veetu Pillai | Singaram | ||
| Sabash Thambi | |||
| Ethirigal Jakkirathai | |||
| 1968 | Ethir Neechal | ||
| Muthu Chippi | |||
| Oli Vilakku | |||
| Moondrezhuthu | |||
| Kannan En Kadhalan | |||
| 1969 | Naangu Killadigal | ||
| Nirai Kudam | |||
| Akka Thangai | |||
| Kanne Pappa | |||
| Kuzhandai Ullam | |||
| Sivandha Mann | |||
| Aindhu Laksham | |||
| Nam Naadu | Kuppuswamy |
1970s
edit1980s
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema – Thengai Srinivasan". Kalyanamalai. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Raman, Mohan V. (20 October 2012). "He walked tall in tinsel town". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Guy, Randor (20 June 2015). "Blast From The Past: Kaasethan Kadavulada (1972)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ Ganesan-Ram, Sharmila (30 August 2009). "Angry, Crazy, Gemini and Cho". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "தேங்காய்க்கு பிடித்தது அப்பளம்!". Kalki (in Tamil). 21 June 1981. pp. 19–20. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Forbes India. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (7 September 2010). "Piranha bares its fangs". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ "'Thengai' Srinivasan dead". The Indian Express. PTI. 10 November 1987. p. 9.
- ^ "Eerie thrills". The Hindu. 20 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ "Sruthika". Sify. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ^ Jagannathan, Sahithya (15 September 2018). "No filter: With no star backing, actor Adithya has arrived". DT Next. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- ^ Adithya Shivpink [@Shivpink] (3 September 2019). "Yes , it's on the birth certificate as my surname... a combination of my dad (shivashanker) and mom (pinky) 😁" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Krishnamachari, Suganthy (12 June 2009). "Livewire of the stage". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ Ramachandran 2014, pp. 86–87.
- ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 95.
- ^ "When Rajni was Billa". Rediff.com. 7 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ Piousji (17 June 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 17. p. 51.
- ^ Ramachandran 2014, p. 106.
- ^ Howarth, Troy (31 May 2019). So Deadly, So Perverse: Giallo-Style Films From Around the World, Vol. 3. Midnight Marquee & BearManor Media. pp. 199–200.
- ^ Devnath, DPK (23 September 2018). "ரஜினி டூ சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் – மூன்று முகம் – திரை விமர்சனம்". Ezhuthaani. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
Bibliography
edit- Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-81-8475-796-5.