R. SARATH KUMAR
An all-rounder who wears the caps of
an Actor, Politician, Entrepreneur, MLA of Tenkasi Constituency, Founder and
President of All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi, President of Nadigar Sangam, Director
of Radaan Mediaworks and Journalist. A true nationalist with a vision toiling
for the people and the prosperity of the society. A resolute leader with
practical and progressive outlooks whose actions agree to his words at all
times. He is a self-made man; started off his career in Journalism, then into Travel
and Tourism business, entering Entertainment industry as an Actor and Producer
and later into Politics. His life has been an expedition of hard work,
rectitude and persistence which still keeps him move forward jubilantly.
The formative period of his life was
in Chennai which was instrumental in shaping his character to a man of discipline
and principles. He studied at the Central School in the IIT Madras Campus and
St. Patrick’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai. He passed
pre-university degree from the Loyola College and undergraduate degree in
Mathematics from the New College in Chennai. He developed a sense of social
responsibility from a very young and was quite popular in college for his
obliging nature. Upon graduation in Chennai, Sarath Kumar moved to Bangalore and
started working for Dinakaran News Daily where he put on various roles from a
newspaper boy to managing the circulation and later as a reporter. It was
during this time that he got an opportunity through a friend to act in a Telugu
movie, Samajamlo Sthree in 1986. After a while, he entered into Travel and
Tourism business by setting up a travel agency in Chennai. His opening to
mainstream cinema happened in 1988 when he acted and produced a Tamil movie,
Kan Simittum Neram directed by Kalaivanan Kannadasan. He emerged as an
anti-hero initially in the movie Pulan Visaranai by R. K. Selvamani before progressing
to play supporting roles and later lead roles. He won the Best Villain Cinema
Express Award for Pulan Visaranai in 1990 and subsequently played negative
roles in a number of movies in Tamil and Telugu such as Pudhu Padagan, Velai
Kidaichuduchu, Raja Kaiya Vacha, Engitte Modhathe, Balachandrudu, Vishnu, etc.
Palaivana Paravaigal by Senthilnathan
was the first movie in which he played the lead role. He continued acting simultaneously
in negative, supporting and lead roles in Tamil and Telugu such as Vetri
Padigal, Pudhu Manithan, Captain Prabhakaran, Kaaval Nilayam, Cheran Pandiyan,
Gang Leader, Ilavarasan, etc. before his first break in the movie Suriyan
directed by Pavithran in 1992. He played the lead role in the blockbuster movie
and bagged him the Cinema Express Award Best Actor Special Award. Since then he
climbed up the career ladder being part of a number of movies such as Thai
Mozhi, Aadhityan, Samundi, Dasarathan, Munarivippu, Moondravathu Kann,
Kattabomman, etc. until mid-1990. His next blockbuster movie which made a
175-day run at the box office was Nattamai in 1994 by K. S. Ravikumar in which
he played a dual role along with actresses Khushbu and Meena. His performance
was highly appreciated and fetched him many distinguished awards such as the
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor, Filmfare Award for Best Actor and
Cinema Express Award for Best Actor. Nattamai was followed by movies such as
Magudikkaran, Veluchamy, Coolie, Nadodi Mannan, Ragasiya Police, Mahaprabhu,
Nethaji and Aravindhan. The year 1997 gave him another blockbuster, Suryavamsam
directed by Vikaraman in which he played another dual role pairing with actresses
R. Radikaa and Devayani. His characterisation was recognised far and wide with positive
reviews and he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in Tamil and Cinema
Express Award for Best Actor for the second time. He acted in Moovendhar and
Janakiraman before his next hit, Natpukkaga in 1998 directed by K. S.
Ravikumar. Sarath Kumar won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for the second time
and the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the third time for this movie. In the
interim, his roles in Telugu movies, Preminchanu Nenu and Simmarasi gathered
appreciation and positive reviews. In the first half of 2000, Sarath Kumar made
his mark in the movies, Maayi, Rishi, Ullam Kollai Poguthe, Vinnukkum
Mannukkum, Samudhiram, Tenkasi Pattanam, Arasu, Paarai, Diwan, Chatrapathy,
Gambheeram, Maanasthan and Aai. In 2005, he starred in the movie, Ayya directed
by Hari pairing with Nayanthara followed by Chanakya, Bunny, Thalaimagan,
Pachaikili Muthucharam, Nam Naadu, Maya Kannadi and Vaitheeswaran. In 2009, he
acted in a movie, 1977 directed by G. N. Dinesh Kumar in which he appeared in
six varied looks.
Sarath Kumar made debut in Malayalam
in 2009 in the movie, Pazhassi Raja directed by Hariharan donning the role of a
historical character. The movie was a massive hit; he established his footing
in the Malayalam soil with a brilliant performance as Edachena Kunkan in the
movie. He played the lead role in Jaggubhai in 2010 directed by K. S. Ravikumar
and then in Kola Kolaya Mundhirika and in the Malayalam movies, Oridathoru
Postman, The Metro, Veeraputhran and Christian Brothers. In 2011, he played one
of the most distinguished characters in his career in the movie, Kanchana
directed by Raghava Lawrence where he played the role of a transgender. His
performance fetched him huge applause and the Vijay Award for Best Supporting
Actor. His first Kannada movie, Sarathi happened in 2012 followed by the movie,
Myna and Telugu movies, Genius, Chandee, Nimirndhu Nil and Malayalam movie,
Asha Black in the next two years. He played a cop in the movie, Chennaiyil Oru
Naal in 2013 where his portrayal of the role and the movie was received
positively by the viewers. He appeared in the 3D motion capture computer
animated movie, Kochadaiiyaan with Rajnikanth directed by R. Soundarya Ashwin
in 2014. In 2015, Sarath Kumar appeared in a cameo role in the movie, I
directed by Shankar and also made a remarkable comeback playing a dual lead
role in the movie, Sandamarutham directed by A. Vekatesh. His rendering of the
villain character, Sarvesharan was excellent receiving positive reviews
worldwide.
Sarath Kumar as Edachena
Kunkan in Pazhassiraja (left) and Sarvesharan in Sandamarutham (right)
He aspired to become an actor as acting
was a passion since his childhood days. He adored MGR and was greatly
influenced by his positive outlook and career planning. Sarath Kumar’s hard work
and dedication bestowed him an eminent acting career with more than 130 movies
in various South Indian languages and many recognitions under his belt. His
directors judge Sarath Kumar as an actor who gives utmost perfection and
commitment to his characters. He goes the extra mile with different
makeovers to make his characters notable and convincing. His appearance in the
movies, Namma Annachi, Nattamai, Suryavamsam, Natppukaga, Diwan, Kanchana, Pazhassiraja,
Sandramarutham, etc. were exceptional. He is also known for his depiction of
dual and triple roles which shows his versatility as an actor and the hard work
he is willing to commit to his work. He is a multi-lingual actor; he is fluent
in Tamil, Hindi, English, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. He makes it a point to
dub for his roles in other regional movies which makes him an indigenous actor
for movie goers. He is widely accepted for his roles in Telugu, Malayalam and
Kannada and is never categorised as an ‘imported actor’.
Sarath Kumar embarked into Politics in
1996 with a vision of serving the people and uplifting the society. His initial
political journey included short stints with DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
and AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and also served as a Rajyasabha
member from 2001 to 2006. He founded AISMK (All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi)
on 31 August 2007 with a solemn mission of service to the people along with instituting
principles of democracy, building national unity, enlightening youth to be
responsible citizens and creating respect for equality among people. He regards
K. Kamaraj, one of India’s towering political leaders as his Political guru and
is greatly influenced by his ideologies, integrity and transparency in public
life. AISMK merged with AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections and won two seats
in Tenkasi and Nanguneri. Sarath Kumar currently serves as the MLA (Member of
Legislative Assembly) of Tenkasi Constituency.
Sarath Kumar is a reformist and
development-oriented leader with a clear vision for a developed India. His
inclination to work for people started from his college days where he represented
students and led strikes fighting for justice. His strives on the conviction
that his blessed life should be lived in service to others. He sees Politics as
an extension of social service and a podium where he could address people. He
is an Indian, out and out, with a true spirit of patriotism that is prevalent
in both his actions and words. His principles revolves around education,
empowerment, development and good governance. He believes that the burgeoning
population of youth in the country has great potential to create a new nation
by wiping out poverty, unemployment, corruption and promote education, equality
and agriculture as a sustainable industry. He encourages youth to have a vision
and involve in active work for the growth of the country alongside
accomplishments to improve their personal lives. As a Politician, he works
relentlessly for the progress of people, addressing social issues and working
on results.
Sarath Kumar and R.
Radhika Sarathkumar during AISMK Manila Maanadu meeting, 2014
Sarath Kumar comes across as a very
positive person with a disciplined character who aims at success in whichever
roles he takes up. He keeps an admirable approach to rise above reverses and
believes that failures are temporary which accelerates the ride to victory. His
background of education, the values he has been brought up with by his parents and
life experiences makes him a man of audacity and integrity. He retains a
cordial relationship with everyone being kind and considerate of others
extending a helping hand in the hour of need. He is an excellent orator who
exhibits confidence while speaking with clear views on subjects and solutions
for problems. He is well-read and well-informed making him competent with good
judgemental and decision making skills. His analysis and forecasts, be it a
matter in Politics or Sports or Movies, materialises to be true all the time. He
finds pride in the glorious heritage of India and endeavours to uphold the
country’s culture and tradition unbroken to the coming generation.
Sarath Kumar is a one-man band who is
extremely good at multitasking switching between several roles at the same
time. He serves as the President of South Indian Film Artistes’ Association
(Nadigar Sangam) working for the advancement and handling issues of Tamil movie
industry. Sarath Kumar is one among the Producers of Magic Frames which is into
producing commercial Tamil movies. He continues to act in movies as a means of
living and balances time to work full time as a Politician working for the
people. He functions as the Director of Operations of Radaan Mediaworks which is
an Entertainment company headed by R. Radikaa Sarathkumar. He is also into a
number of humanitarian activities; he is the goodwill ambassador of Santhi
Medical Information Centre, a non-profit organization in Kerala who are into
Organ Donation and helping the underprivileged with medical assistance. Sarath
Kumar has also been very magnanimous to rise to the occasion and extend help
during national crisis such as Kargil war, Cyclone Thane, Uttarakand flood,
etc.
Sarath Kumar finds his role model in
his father who was significant in moulding his personality, developing
interests and guiding him with values which he upholds without fail until now.
His father, Sri. M. Ramanathan, an athlete and boxer at Annamalai University
encouraged both his sons in Sports making them keen sports enthusiasts. Sarath
Kumar together with his brother Sudharshan played Cricket, Football, Pole Vault
and Hockey representing their school and college teams. One of the proudest
moment in his life was when he paraded at the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi
as an NCC Air Wing Cadet. He is still an active follower of Sports mainly
Cricket and Football and a promoter of Sports and Games envisioning a sporting
culture in India. His passion for Sports complements his dynamic character and
bold nature who continuously prepares to try something new.
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Sarath Kumar’s biking marathon in Chennai to create awareness on Health and Fitness
Sarath Kumar is synonymous to Health
and Fitness and the credit again goes to his father who mentored him on the value
of ‘Health is Wealth’ from a very young age. He gives utmost importance to
maintaining his body by regular workouts and adhering to a strict diet plan. He
is one of the rare persons who comments on working out as a habit. Sarath Kumar
earned the title Mr. Madras in 1974 during his College days with his tenacity
and hard work towards body building. He still retains the same spirit and perseverance
in keeping his body and mind fresh and robust. Sarath Kumar is in association
with a number of health organisations and actively takes part in awareness
drives to promote health and wellness among children and adolescents.
Sarath Kumar is considered as quite an
accessible person both as an Actor and a Politician. He has launched a new concept called the ‘Makkal Darshanam’ where he personally meets the people of his
constituency addressing their grievances. He issues Press Releases through
AISMK portal on national events and issues that happen in the country on a
regular basis. He is active on Social Networking websites, particularly Twitter
where he interacts with public acknowledging suggestions and criticisms. He has
recently launched a website called the ‘Friends of Sarath Kumar’ where he
writes as well as gives a platform to the public to voice on societal issues.
He was born on 14 July 1954 to Late.
Sri. M. Ramanathan and Late. Smt. Pushpa Leela in New Delhi. His father worked
with the All India Radio and later joined the Press Information Bureau of
India. He is the youngest child of his parents; his siblings are Late. Mr. R.
Sudharshan and Mrs. Mallika Kandaswamy. Sarath Kumar studied at the Raja
Muthiah High School, New Delhi before his family moved to Chennai. He is
married to Actress - Entrepreneur Mrs. R. Radikaa Sarathkumar and blessed with
four children, Varalaxmi, Rayane, Pooja and Rahhul. He is a complete family man
being a pillar of strength to his wife and a great father to the children.
On a personal note, I have been
researching on him for a while and am greatly impressed by his views, qualities
and outlooks. I got the opportunity to meet him in January, 2015 in Chennai. I
have never met someone who is as charismatic as him before. He was very kind,
warm and friendly. An up-to-date man with the right attitude and
persuasions. He is a man who earns respects with his words and deeds. I wish
him the best in all his endeavours and I am sure he will live up to our
expectations as an Actor and a Politician.
Suriya Gayathri
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