# Cho Ramaswamy

Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, better known as Cho Ramaswamy (5 October 1934 – 7 December 2016), was an Indian actor, comedian, editor, political commentator, satirist, playwright, film director and lawyer from Tamil Nadu. He was a popular comedian in the 1960s and 1970s, and had acted with all the top stars in that period.

## Early life

Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy was fondly addressed and remembered as Cho. Born in a Tamil Brahmin family of lawyers

## Family

The elder son of R. Srinivasa Iyer and Rajammal, Cho had a younger brother, who was also an actor. Cho died on 7 December 2016. He has two children Sriram Ramaswamy and Sindhuja. He did his schooling from P. S. High School. His niece is actress Ramya Krishnan. The name 'Cho' was the name of the character he played in a Tamil play written by Bhageerathan titled Thenmozhiyaal.

## Film career
### Films

Cho made his debut in 1963 with Paar Magale Paar as a comedian. From 1963 to 2005 he acted in 180 Tamil films and directed 5 films. He also wrote and directed 20 plays.
He also wrote and acted in 27 Television serials. He wrote 10 books. Apart from being an actor, he was both the screenplay and story writer of films such as Thenmazhai, Ninaivil Nindraval, Bommalattam, Aayiram Poi and Panam Paththum Seyyum, all of which proved to be box office hits.
Cho played the role of a bike mechanic in the play Petralthan Pillaiya, written by Pattu of the United Amateur Artistes (UAA), which became a huge success. When the play was later adapted into a film by director A. Bhimsingh, Sivaji Ganesan persuaded Cho to play the same role in the film too, leading to Cho's entry into the film world. Cho and Jayalalithaa have worked together in 19 films and also had been part of the same drama troupe.

#### Frequent collaborations

Cho as an actor has been pitted against other actors across generations. His comic timing against T. S. Balaiah in Manam Oru Kurangu, or with M. R. Radha, or many times with actors like V. K. Ramaswamy, Nagesh, Manorama and Sachu in many films brought out the best in him.
Cho and Manorama were paired together in 20 films, which included Malligaip poo, Annaiyum pithavum, Dharisanam, Anbait thedi, Ninaivil Nindraval, Nirai Kudam, Therottam, Aayiram Poi, Mohammed Bin Tughlaq, Bommalattam, Pugundha Veedu, Vilayaattu Pillai, Kanavan, Rojavin Raja and Velum Mayilum Thunai and were pitted in a non-couple role in Suryagandhi, Delhi Mappilai and Naadagame Ulagam.
Cho acted alongside Nagesh in Thenmazhai, Ninaivil Nindraval, Ulagam Ivvalavudhaan and Bommalattam among others. He was paired opposite Sachu in films like Deva Sankalpam, Galaataa Kalyanam and Delhi Mappilai.
Cho has acted with the MGR–Jayalalitha combo in films like Oli Villaku, Kanavan, Kumarikottam, Mattukara Velan, Aadimai Penn, Engal Thangam, Thedi Vantha Mapillai, En Annan and Neerum Nerupum. Cho has acted with MGR in many films like Petralthaan Pillaiya, Sangey Muzhangu, Rickshawkaaran and Thalaivan. Cho has acted with Jayalalitha in other films like Bommalaattam, Galaattaak kalyanam, Suryagandhi, Vandhaale Maharaasi and Anbai Thedi.
Cho has acted with Sivakumar in films like Shanmugapriya, Onne Onnu Kanne Kannu, Thaip Paasam, Uravu Solla Oruvan, Aan Pillai Singam, Yaarukkum Vetkamillai, Chinna Kuyil Padudhu, Sattai Illatha Pambaram and Kanna Thorakiran Samy. Among these, Yaarukkum Vetkamillai was directed by Cho in 1976.

## Journalism

He was the founder and editor of the Tamil magazine Thuglak. Politicians such as J. B. Kripalani, Indira Gandhi, Karunanidhi, Chandra Shekhar, G. K. Moopanar, M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa, Ramakrishna Hegde, N. T. Rama Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and L. K. Advani, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram were targets of his editorial attacks. In his last years, he predicted that Narendra Modi would "win laurels for India" in the future, and also praised Jayalalithaa for her administration of Tamil Nadu.
Cho enjoyed challenging MG Ramachandran (MGR) and his politics, while Karunanidhi stayed his target. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), in his opinion, was populist and lacked ideology. When Jayalalithaa got into power and followed in MGR's path, however, the absence of ideology of the party was no longer an issue for him.
On 25 January 2017, the Government of India announced a posthumous Padma Bhushan award for his contribution towards Literature & Education – Journalism.

## Politics

Cho has been described as a right-wing public intellectual in tributes.
Cho was publicly opposed to Sri Lankan Tamil militants, particularly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at a time when Sri lanka's ethnic crisis was at its peak and almost all political parties in Tamil Nadu highlighted the issue of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
The rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Hindutva wave made Cho their sympathiser. He started involving in direct politics as a mediator. In 1999, he was instrumental in bringing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) together in an alliance with BJP. He was successful in bringing G. K. Moopanar, of the Tamil Maanila Congress and Karunanidhi together in the 1996 elections, and getting Rajnikanth to publicly support the alliance to defeat Jayalalithaa.
Post 2004, he became soft towards Jayalalithaa and spent all his energy in opposing the DMK and promoting BJP. Later on, in 2011, he convinced Vijayakanth to partner with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Cho was an ardent supporter of Narendra Modi. Cho had campaigned extensively for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 Indian general election; Modi described Ramaswamy as "Rajguru", and called himself his "fan".
He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India, K. R. Narayanan. In the Rajya Sabha 12 MPs are nominated by the President of India from amongst persons who have special knowledge or practical experience in the fields of literature, science, art or social service. He served as a Rajya Sabha MP from November 1999 to November 2005.
He remained the Sangh Parivar's political man in Chennai.

## Partial filmography
### As actor

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1963 | Paar Magaley Paar | |
| 1966 | Marakka Mudiyumaa? | |
| 1966 | Thenmazhai | |
| 1967 | Ninaivil Nindraval | |
| 1967 | Manam Oru Kurangu | |
| 1967 | Penn Endraal Penn | |
| 1967 | Naan Yaar Theriyuma | |
| 1967 | Karpooram | |
| 1967 | Aalayam | Guest Appearance |
| 1968 | Galatta Kalyanam | Vittal |
| 1968 | Bommalattam | |
| 1968 | 'Neelagiri Express' | |
| 1968 | Kuzhanthaikkaga | |
| 1968 | Delhi Mapillai | Chinna Thambi |
| 1968 | Lakshmi Kalyanam | |
| 1968 | Kannan En Kadhalan | |
| 1968 | Oli Vilakku | |
| 1968 | Kanavan | |
| 1968 | Siritha Mugam | |
| 1969 | Nirai Kudam | |
| 1969 | Aayiram Poi | |
| 1969 | Ulagam Ivvalavuthaan | |
| 1969 | Adimai Penn | |
| 1969 | Aindhu Laksham | |
| 1969 | Kanni penn | |
| 1969 | Magizham Poo | |
| 1969 | Annaiyum Pithavum | |
| 1970 | En Annan | |
| 1970 | Maattukara Velan | |
| 1970 | Engal Thangam | |
| 1970 | Enga Mama | Gnanam |
| 1970 | Thedi Vandha Mappillai | |
| 1970 | Dharisanam | |
| 1970 | Nadu Iravil | |
| 1970 | Vilayattu Pillai | |
| 1970 | Snegithi | |
| 1971 | Muhammad bin Tughluq | |
| 1971 | Therottam | |
| 1971 | Neerum Neruppum | |
| 1971 | Rickshawkaran | |
| 1971 | Oru Thaai Makkal | |
| 1971 | Kumari Kottam | |
| 1971 | Arunodhayam | |
| 1971 | Soodhattam | |
| 1971 | Yanai Valartha Vanambadi Magan | |
| 1972 | Thavapudhalavan | |
| 1972 | Unakkum Enakkum | |
| 1972 | Mr.Sampath | |
| 1972 | Puguntha Veedu | |
| 1972 | Thaaikku Oru Pillai | |
| 1972 | Sange Muzhangu | |
| 1972 | Deiva Sankalpam | |
| 1973 | Vandhale Magarasi | |
| 1973 | Suryakanthi | |
| 1973 | Gauravam | |
| 1973 | Pon Vanndu | |
| 1973 | Vakkuruthi | |
| 1973 | Ganga Gowri | |
| 1973 | Manitharil Maanikkam | |
| 1973 | Kasi Yathirai | |
| 1973 | Ponnunjal | |
| 1973 | Shanmugapriya | |
| 1973 | Vayadi | |
| 1973 | Veettukku Vandha Marumagal | |
| 1973 | Malligai Poo | |
| 1973 | School Master | |
| 1973 | Nalla Mudivu | |
| 1973 | Anbu Sagodharargal | |
| 1974 | Thanga Pathakkam | |
| 1974 | Orey Saatchi | |
| 1974 | Anbai Thedi | |
| 1974 | Idhayam Parkkirathu | Guest role |
| 1974 | Roshakkaari | |
| 1974 | Devi Sri Karmariamman | |
| 1974 | Kalyanamam Kalyanam | |
| 1974 | Onne Onnu Kanne Kannu | |
| 1974 | Pillai Selvam | |
| 1974 | Thai Pasam | |
| 1974 | Magalukkaga | |
| 1975 | Aan Pillai Singam | |
| 1975 | Sonthankal Vaazhga | |
| 1975 | Andharangam | |
| 1975 | Cinema Paithiyam | Guest role |
| 1975 | Unga Veettu Kalyaanam | |
| 1975 | Avandhan Manidhan | |
| 1975 | Thai Veettu Seethanam | |
| 1975 | Uravu Solla Oruvan | |
| 1975 | Yarukkum Vetkamillai | |
| 1975 | Pinchu Manam | |
| 1975 | Melnaattu Marumagal | Guest actor |
| 1976 | Unmaye Un Vilai Enna | |
| 1976 | Mayor Meenakshi | |
| 1976 | Rojavin Raja | |
| 1976 | Avan Oru Sarithiram | Guest role |
| 1976 | Perum Pugazhum | |
| 1977 | Thanikudithanam | |
| 1977 | Balappareetchai | |
| 1977 | Unnai Sutrum Ulagam | Guest actor |
| 1978 | Sakka Podu Podu Raja | |
| 1978 | Annapoorani | |
| 1979 | Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai | |
| 1979 | Nadagame Ulagam | |
| 1979 | Velum Mayilum Thunai | |
| 1981 | Kadavulin Theerppu | |
| 1983 | Adutha Varisu | |
| 1984 | Naan Mahaan Alla | A. R. Chandran/Reddy |
| 1984 | Saattai Illatha Pambaram | |
| 1985 | Navgraha Nayagi | |
| 1985 | Puthiya Theerpu | |
| 1986 | Kanna Thorakkanum Saami | |
| 1987 | Chinna Kuyil Paaduthu | |
| 1987 | Kani Nilam | |
| 1987 | Manithan | |
| 1987 | Anand | |
| 1987 | Paruva Ragam | |
| 1988 | Guru Sishyan | |
| 1990 | Adhisaya Piravi | |
| 1990 | Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga | |
| 1998 | Kadhala Kadhala | |

### Direction

* Muhammad bin Tughluq (1971)
* Mr. Sampath (1972)
* Yarukkum Vetkam Illai (1975)
* Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna (1976)
* Sambo Siva Samboo (1977)

### Screenplay

* Thenmazhai (1966)
* Ninaivil Nindraval (1967)
* Manam Oru Kurangu (1967)
* Neelagiri Express (1968)
* Bommalattam (1968)
* Aayiram Poi (1969)
* Nirai Kudam (1969)

## Other works
### Plays

| Play | Notes |
| Kalyani | debut drama |
| Wait and See | directed by KB |
| Why Not | directed by KB |
| What For | directed by KB |
| Muhammad bin Tughluq | |
| Yaarukkum Vetkamillai | |
| Saathiram Sonnadhillai | |
| Nermai Urangum Neram | |
| Iraivan Irandhuvittana? | |
| Enru Thaniyum Inda Sudandira Thaagam? | |
| Judgement Reserved | |
| Quo Vadis | |
| Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae? | |
| Saraswathiyin Selvan | |
| Unmai Urangum Neram | |
| Madras by Night | |