# V. S. Raghavan

V S Raghavan (18 February 1925 – 24 January 2015) was an Indian actor, who has acted both in Tamil films as well as television. He started his career as a dramatist and stage actor and went on to act as a character actor in films, starting with Vairamali (1954) and over 1000 films in all. He has also acted in numerous television series. He died on 24 January 2015.

## Early life and education

Born in Vembakkam village, near Singaperumal Koil near Chengleput, where he spent early part of his childhood, later for three years he lived in Mylapore neighbourhood of Chennai, and studied at the P S High School. Subsequently, he studied at St Columbus Higher Secondary School, Chengalpattu, followed by two years in Madras Christian College, Chennai. However, as he finished his school the death of his father prompted his mother to shift from native village to move to Vellala Street in Purasawalkam, Chennai where his elder sister lived.

## Career

V S Raghavan started his career in 1942, as a sub-editor for Malathi magazine run by humourist Thumilan (N Ramaswamy), and after it closed he joined a printing press. At the press a group of fellow employees used to do amateur stage plays, which led him to act in some plays including some Hindi plays. Earlier, he had acted in YMIA Fine Arts' theatre group's play Vairamalai, written by Thottakara Viswanathan, staged at the YMCA, and when the production adapted the stage play into a film, he played the same role in it, thus made his film début in 1954. In the same year, he made his debut as a dramatist and started the Indian National Artists (INA) with four other friends like Malli, Vadiraj, Nataraj and K Balachander. The INA staged plays at reputed Sabhas in Chennai.
Veteran director K Balachander who has won several accolades for memorable films was part of his troupe where he acted and wrote scripts. The INA closed down a decade later and Raghavan entered the cinema world and acted in supporting roles. He has acted in around 1000 films and has also featured in many MGR films. He is also very well known for his role in the TV serial Anni created by K Balachander.

## Partial filmography
### As Actor

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1954 | Vaira Malai | | |
| 1955 | Kaalam Maaripochu | | |
| 1955 | Kalyanam Seydhukko | | |
| 1959 | Manaiviye Manithanin Manickam | | |
| 1962 | Kaathirundha Kangal | Dr. Nair | |
| 1962 | Nenjil Or Aalayam | Seetha's father | |
| 1962 | Sumaithaangi | Rathnavel | |
| 1962 | Vanambadi | Somasundaram | |
| 1964 | Kalai Kovil | | |
| 1964 | Bommai | Jagadish | |
| 1964 | Kadhalikka Neramillai | Sachidanandam | |
| 1964 | Karnan | Vidurar | |
| 1965 | Nadu Iravil | Jambulingam | |
| 1966 | Chitthi | | |
| 1966 | Ramu | Doctor | |
| 1966 | Gowri Kalyanam | Vedhagiri | |
| 1967 | Pesum Dheivam | Doctor | |
| 1967 | Anubavam Pudhumai | | |
| 1967 | Ethirigal Jakkirathai | Dinathayalan | |
| 1967 | Kadhalithal Podhuma | Somasundaram | |
| 1967 | Nenjirukkum Varai | Natarajan | |
| 1967 | Ninaivil Nindraval | Umapathi | |
| 1967 | Pattanathil Bhootham | Sabapathy | |
| 1968 | Kallum Kaniyagum | | |
| 1968 | Panama Pasama | Shankar's father | |
| 1968 | Neelagiri Express | Sabapathy | |
| 1968 | Oli Vilakku | Commissioner | |
| 1968 | Galatta Kalyanam | Masilamani | |
| 1968 | Lakshmi Kalyanam | Rajankam | |
| 1968 | Machan | | |
| 1968 | Uyarndha Manidhan | Murugan | |
| 1968 | Ethir Neechal | | |
| 1969 | Iru Kodugal | Janaki's father | |
| 1969 | Aayiram Poi | Kanagasabai | |
| 1970 | Ethiroli | Public Prosecutor | |
| 1970 | Penn Deivam | | |
| 1970 | Welcome Back Gandhi | | Also made in English |
| 1970 | Vilaiyaattu Pillai | Maragatham's father | |
| 1970 | Engal Thangam | | |
| 1970 | Maanavan | College principal | |
| 1970 | Balan | | |
| 1971 | Savaale Samali | Ayyakannu | |
| 1971 | Uyir | | |
| 1971 | Punnagai | | |
| 1971 | Arunodhayam | Viswanathan | |
| 1971 | Avalukendru Or Manam | Sathyamoorthy | |
| 1971 | Moondru Dheivangal | retired police officer | |
| 1971 | Iru Thuruvam | Jailer | |
| 1971 | Nootrukku Nooru | David | |
| 1972 | Needhikku Thalaivanangu | Rajasekaran | |
| 1972 | Raman Thediya Seethai | Karmeghan | |
| 1972 | Sange Muzhangu | Dhayalan | |
| 1972 | Kanna Nalama | Lawyer | |
| 1972 | Vazhaiyadi Vazhai | | |
| 1972 | Nawab Naarkali | Raajavelu | |
| 1972 | Kurathi Magan | | |
| 1972 | Raja | Dharmalingam Boopathy | |
| 1974 | Urimaikural | Sabapathy | |
| 1974 | En Magan | D.I.G. Ramnath | |
| 1974 | Gumasthavin Magal | Ramaswami | |
| 1974 | Sirithu Vazha Vendum | De Selva | |
| 1974 | Athaiya Mamiya | Sachinthandham | |
| 1974 | Sivagamiyin Selvan | Kavitha's father | |
| 1975 | Ellorum Nallavare | | |
| 1975 | Pallandu Vazhga | Dharmaraj | |
| 1975 | Ninaithadhai Mudippavan | Ranjith's father | Guest Appearance |
| 1975 | Idhayakkani | Judge | Guest Appearance |
| 1975 | Naalai Namadhe | Sharma | |
| 1976 | Dasavatharam | Guru Sukracharya | |
| 1976 | Mayor Meenakshi | | |
| 1976 | Needhikku Thalaivanangu | Rajasekaran | |
| 1976 | Uzhaikkum Karangal | Sendhil Nadhan | |
| 1977 | Sri Krishna Leela | Ugrasenan | |
| 1978 | Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan | Minister | |
| 1978 | Varuvan Vadivelan | Uma's Father | |
| 1978 | Vaazhkai Alaigal | | |
| 1978 | Aayiram Jenmangal | Ravi's father | |
| 1979 | Kalyanaraman | Chinnadurai | |
| 1979 | Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren | | |
| 1979 | Gnana Kuzhandhai | Sivapada Hrudiyar | |
| 1980 | Devi Dharisanam | | |
| 1980 | Rishi Moolam | | Guest Appearance |
| 1981 | Sathya Sundharam | | |
| 1981 | Bala Nagamma | Karunakaran | |
| 1981 | Kalthoon | | |
| 1982 | Sangili | | |
| 1982 | Thyagi | | |
| 1982 | Hitler Umanath | | Guest Appearance |
| 1982 | Krodham | | |
| 1982 | Deviyin Thiruvilaiyadal | | |
| 1984 | Rusi | | |
| 1984 | Simma Soppanam | | |
| 1984 | Thambikku Entha Ooru | Chandrasekhar | |
| 1984 | Kai Kodukkum Kai | Kaalimuthu's brother | |
| 1985 | Nalla Thambi | Raghavan | |
| 1985 | Santhosha Kanavukal | Kalyani's father | |
| 1985 | Navagraha Nayagi | | |
| 1985 | Padikkadha Pannaiyar | | |
| 1985 | Poi Mugangal | | |
| 1985 | Naan Sigappu Manithan | Judge Vishwanathan | |
| 1985 | Sri Raghavendrar | Srinivasacharya Devotee | |
| 1985 | Naam Iruvar | Somasundaram | |
| 1986 | Naanum Oru Thozhilali | Rammohan | |
| 1987 | Veerapandiyan | Dharmalingam | |
| 1988 | Unnal Mudiyum Thambi | | |
| 1989 | Sattathin Marupakkam | | |
| 1990 | Avasara Police 100 | Chitra's father | |
| 1992 | Idhuthanda Sattam | Venugopal | |
| 2000 | Hey Ram | K. T. Chari | |
| 2001 | Love Channel | Arumugam | |
| 2001 | Poovellam Un Vasam | Chinnasamy | |
| 2004 | Kamaraj | | |
| 2006 | Imsai Arasan 23m Pulikesi | Palace Astrologer | |
| 2008 | Thodakkam | | |
| 2008 | Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul | | Cameo |
| 2009 | Kudiyarasu | Raghavan | |
| 2010 | Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam | Old man in Jaishankar Puram | Cameo |
| 2010 | Kola Kolaya Mundhirika | Masilamani | |
| 2010 | Magizhchi | Thiravi's granduncle | |
| 2010 | Thamizh Padam | Judge | |
| 2010 | Nagaram Marupakkam | Seth | |
| 2012 | Nuvvekkadunte Nenakkadunta | Hari's grandfather | Telugu film |
| 2012 | Kalakalappu | Maya's Grandfather | |
| 2012 | Mudhalvar Mahatma | | |
| 2012 | Saguni | Kamalakannan's Grandfather | |
| 2013 | All in All Azhagu Raja | Sathyamoorthy | |
| 2013 | Anna Nee En Deivam | | |
| 2013 | Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara | Prayer Song | |
| 2014 | Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum | | |
| 2015 | Indru Netru Naalai | Victim | |
| 2018 | Kaathadi | | |

## TV serials

| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Anni | Jaya TV | Ramanathan's father | |
| 2006 | Penn | Sun TV | Ranganayaki's father | |
| 2008 | Rekha IPS | Kalaignar TV | | |
| 2012 | Bhairavi Aavigalukku Priyamanaval | Sun TV | Guest Appearance | Episode 3 |
| 2012 | Valli | Sun TV | Swaminathan Subbu's grandfather | Episode 16-449 |

## Short films

* Alaivarisai (2013)