P. K. Raja Sandow
Encyclopedia
Raja Sandow (born as P.K. Nagalingam) was a Tamil
film actor
, film director
and producer. He began his career as an actor in silent films and later became a prominent actor and director in Tamil and Hindi films of the 1930s. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of early Indian cinema.
. He was trained as a gymnast and started his film career as a stunt actor in S.N. Patankar's National Film Company at Bombay. He was given the name "Raja Sandow" because of his physique (after strongman Eugen Sandow
). His first lead role was in Patankar's Bhaktha Bhodhana (1922), for which he was paid Rs. 101 as salary. He became famous by starring in silient films like Veer Bhemsen (1923), The Telephone Girl (1926). After acting in a few silent films he also worked as a director in Ranjit Studios for a monthly salary. His first film as director was Sneh Jyoti (1928).
Returning to Tamil Nadu, he directed and acted in a number of silent films for R. Padmanaban
's Associate Film Company. Many of his silent films had reformist social themes like Peyum pennum (1930), Nandhanar (1930), Anadhai Penn (1931), Pride of Hindustan (1931) and sathi usha sundari (1931). After talking films were introduced with Alam Ara
in 1931, he went back to Bombay and starred in many Hindi and Tamil talkies. He was often paired with the actresses Gohar and Sulochana (Ruby Myers)
. Between 1932-35, he acted in many socially themed Hindi films like Shyam sundar (1932), Devaki (1934) and Indira MA (1935). In 1935, he was commissioned to direct his first Tamil film Menaka and returned to Madras. He continued directing and acting in films till his death in 1943. Vasantha Sena(1936), Chalak Chor (1936), Chandra kantha (1936), Vishnuleela (1938), Thiruneelakantar
(1939) and Choodamani (1941) were some of the films he directed and starred in during that period. The last film he worked in was Sivakavi
(1943).
Sandow suffered a heart attack and died at Coimbatore
on 25 November 1943.
's novel of the same name.
Writing about Sandow, film historian Theodore Baskaran says:
Film historian Randor Guy
has also described him as a tough task master:
The Tamil Nadu Government has instituted an annual award in his name called Raja Sandow memorial Award, given for outstanding services to Tamil Cinema
. A Postage stamp has been in issued in recognition of his contributions to Indian cinema.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and producer. He began his career as an actor in silent films and later became a prominent actor and director in Tamil and Hindi films of the 1930s. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of early Indian cinema.
Biography and career
Raja Sandow was born in Pudukottai, Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. He was trained as a gymnast and started his film career as a stunt actor in S.N. Patankar's National Film Company at Bombay. He was given the name "Raja Sandow" because of his physique (after strongman Eugen Sandow
Eugen Sandow
Eugen Sandow , born Friedrich Wilhelm Müller, was a Prussian pioneering bodybuilder in the 19th century and is often referred to as the "Father of Modern Bodybuilding".-Early life:...
). His first lead role was in Patankar's Bhaktha Bhodhana (1922), for which he was paid Rs. 101 as salary. He became famous by starring in silient films like Veer Bhemsen (1923), The Telephone Girl (1926). After acting in a few silent films he also worked as a director in Ranjit Studios for a monthly salary. His first film as director was Sneh Jyoti (1928).
Returning to Tamil Nadu, he directed and acted in a number of silent films for R. Padmanaban
R. Padmanaban
R. Padmanabhan was one of the pioneer of South Indian Film Industry. He initially started distribution of silent films and later started directing and producing his own movies. He was son of K. Rangaswamy Iyer, of Sivaganaga, Tamil Nadu....
's Associate Film Company. Many of his silent films had reformist social themes like Peyum pennum (1930), Nandhanar (1930), Anadhai Penn (1931), Pride of Hindustan (1931) and sathi usha sundari (1931). After talking films were introduced with Alam Ara
Alam Ara
Alam Ara is a 1931 film directed by Ardeshir Irani. It was the first Indian sound film.Irani recognized the importance that sound would have on the cinema, and raced to complete Alam Ara before several contemporary sound films. Alam Ara debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai on March 14, 1931...
in 1931, he went back to Bombay and starred in many Hindi and Tamil talkies. He was often paired with the actresses Gohar and Sulochana (Ruby Myers)
Ruby Myers
Sulochana , real name Ruby Myers) was an Indian silent film star of Jewish ancestry, although it is unclear whether she descended from an Ashkenazi family, Bene Israeli family, or both....
. Between 1932-35, he acted in many socially themed Hindi films like Shyam sundar (1932), Devaki (1934) and Indira MA (1935). In 1935, he was commissioned to direct his first Tamil film Menaka and returned to Madras. He continued directing and acting in films till his death in 1943. Vasantha Sena(1936), Chalak Chor (1936), Chandra kantha (1936), Vishnuleela (1938), Thiruneelakantar
Thiruneelakantar
Thiruneelakantar is a 1939 Tamil-language film directed by Raja Sandow and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The film was a big hit and was known for M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's acting apart from his songs. Famous nadaswaram artist T. N...
(1939) and Choodamani (1941) were some of the films he directed and starred in during that period. The last film he worked in was Sivakavi
Sivakavi
Sivakavi was a 1943 Tamil-language film directed, initially, by Raja Sandow and later, S. M. Sreeramulu Naidu. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, Serukalathur Sama, Thripuramba, T. R. Rajakumari, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Madhuram...
(1943).
Sandow suffered a heart attack and died at Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
on 25 November 1943.
Legacy
Sandow was the first Tamil film director to adopt the practice of using names of actors in film titles. He was the first to introduce intimate kissing scenes and dancers in revealing costumes to the then conservative Tamil film industry. He was also the first director and producer to move Tamil cinema from remaking mythological stories and into making social themed films. He even advertised his films as "Don't miss to see your own picture". Sandow was also the first director to use Tamil literary works for film by directing Anadhai penn in 1931 based on Vai. Mu. Kothainayagi AmmalKothainayaki Ammal
Vaithamanithi Mudumbai Kothainayaki Ammal was a Tamil writer, novelist and journalist who is remembered as the first woman to occupy the editorial board of a Tamil magazine....
's novel of the same name.
Writing about Sandow, film historian Theodore Baskaran says:
Film historian Randor Guy
Randor Guy
Randor Guy is the pen name of Madabhushi Rangadorai, a prominent Indian lawyer, columnist and film and legal historian associated with the English language newspaper The Hindu.-Early life:Guy graduated in B.Sc and B. L. from Madras University and commenced his career as a lawyer...
has also described him as a tough task master:
The Tamil Nadu Government has instituted an annual award in his name called Raja Sandow memorial Award, given for outstanding services to Tamil Cinema
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
. A Postage stamp has been in issued in recognition of his contributions to Indian cinema.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | Bhaktha Bhodhana | Silent film | Actor |
| 1922 | Karna | Silent film | Actor |
| 1922 | Suryakumari | Silent film | Actor |
| 1923 | Veer Bhimsen | Silent film | Actor |
| 1923 | Vratrasoor Vadha | Silent film | Actor |
| 1924 | Ra Mandlik | Silent film | Actor |
| 1924 | Bismi Sadi | Silent film | Actor |
| 1924 | Razia Begum | Silent film | Actor |
| 1924 | Sadguni Sushila | Silent film | Actor |
| 1924 | Sati Sone | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Deshna Dushman (The Divine Punishment) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Deva dasi | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Indrasabha | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Kala Chor(The Black Thief) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Khandani Khavis(The Noble Scamp) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Matri Prem(For Mother's Sake) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Mojili Mumbai(Slaves Of Luxury) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Panchdanda(Five Divine Wands) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Raja Yogi | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Suvarna | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Veer Kunal | Silent film | Actor |
| 1925 | Vimala | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Madhav Kam Kundala | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Mena Kumari | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Muntaz Mahal | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Neerajanam | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Prithvi Putra | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Ra Kawat | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Samrat Shiladitya | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Telephone Girl | Silent film | Actor |
| 1926 | Typist Girl | Silent film | Actor |
| 1927 | Bhaneli Bhamini | Silent film | Actor |
| 1927 | Sati Madri | Silent film | Actor |
| 1927 | Sindh Ni Sumari | Silent film | Actor |
| 1927 | The Mission Girl | Silent film | Actor |
| 1927 | Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag(Aladdin & the Wonderful Lamp) | Silent film | Actor |
| 1928 | Grihalakshmi | Silent film | Actor |
| 1928 | Naag Padmini | Silent film | Actor |
| 1928 | Sneh Jyoti | Silent film | Actor, Director |
| 1928 | Up-to-date | Silent film | Actor |
| 1928 | Vishwamohini | Silent film | Actor |
| 1929 | Young India | Silent film | Actor |
| 1929 | Young India | Silent film | Actor |
| 1930 | Bhimsen The Mighty | Silent film | Actor |
| 1930 | Peyum pennum | Silent film | Actor, Director |
| 1930 | Rajlakshmi | Silent film | Actor |
| 1930 | Nandhanar (Elevation of the Downtrodden) | Silent film | Actor, Director |
| 1930 | Sri Valli Thirumanam | Silent film | Actor, Director |
| 1930 | Anadhai penn | Silent film | Actor, Director |
| 1931 | Taranhar (Pride of Hindustan) | Silent film | Actor, Director |
| 1931 | Sati Usha Sundari | Silent film | Director |
| 1931 | Rajeshwari | Silent film | Director |
| 1931 | Bhaktavatsala (Dhuruvanin Garvabangam) | Silent film | Director |
| 1932 | Parijaatha pushpaharanam | Tamil | Director |
| 1932 | Shyam sundar | Hindi | Actor |
| 1933 | Pardesi Preetam | Hindi | Actor |
| 1933 | Noor-E-Imaan | Hindi | Actor |
| 1934 | Devaki | Hindi | Actor |
| 1934 | Kashmeera | Hindi | Actor |
| 1934 | Toofani Taruni | Hindi | Actor |
| 1934 | Indira M.A | Hindi | Actor |
| 1935 | Toofani Taruni | Hindi | Actor |
| 1935 | Raat-Ki-Rani | Hindi | Actor, Director |
| 1935 | Barrister's wife | Hindi | Actor |
| 1935 | College Kanya | Hindi | Actor |
| 1935 | Desh Dasi | Hindi | Actor |
| 1935 | Menaka | Tamil | Director |
| 1936 | Prabhu Ka Pyara | Hindi | Actor |
| 1936 | Vasantha Sena | Tamil | Actor, Director |
| 1936 | Vasantha Sena | Tamil | Actor, Director |
| 1936 | Chalak Chor | Hindi | Actor, Director |
| 1936 | Chandrakantha | Tamil | Scriptwriter, Director |
| 1936 | Dil ka Daku | Hindi | Actor |
| 1936 | Matlabi Duniya | Hindi | Actor |
| 1937 | Toofani Tarzan | Hindi | Actor |
| 1937 | Minor Rajamani | Tamil | Director |
| 1938 | Nandha Kumar | Tamil | Actor |
| 1938 | Vishnuleela | Tamil | Actor, Director |
| 1939 | Thiruneelakantar Thiruneelakantar Thiruneelakantar is a 1939 Tamil-language film directed by Raja Sandow and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The film was a big hit and was known for M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's acting apart from his songs. Famous nadaswaram artist T. N... |
Tamil | Actor |
| 1941 | Choodamani | Telugu | Director |
| 1942 | Araichimani | Tamil | Director |
| 1943 | Sivakavi Sivakavi Sivakavi was a 1943 Tamil-language film directed, initially, by Raja Sandow and later, S. M. Sreeramulu Naidu. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, Serukalathur Sama, Thripuramba, T. R. Rajakumari, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Madhuram... |
Tamil | Director (replaced halfway) |