Suruli Rajan

Suruli Rajan (January 14, 1938 - December 5, 1980) was an Indian actor, comedian, and character artist. An actor of Tamil cinema, he was a recipient of Best Comedian Award from the state government of Tamil Nadu (even though he received it after his death) for the year 1981. Biography Rajan was born in 1938 in Periyakulam, situated near Theni in Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Ponnaiya Pillai, worked as an accountant for local farm owners in the surrounding areas of Theni. Rajan was named after the Surulivelar Swamy, the family deity at a temple on top of a hill overlooking Suruli Falls. Rajan lost his parents one after the other, forcing him to discontinue his schooling. He moved to his brother's house in Madurai and worked as an apprentice mechanic in a neighbourhood workshop. Seeking fame in acting, he starred in several amateur stage plays in Madurai before moving to Madras in 1959 in search of better opportunities.