M. N. Rajam

M. N. Rajam Biography

M. N. Rajam is a former actress associated with Tamil film screen. She made her acting debut as a child artist for stage plays before she moved to big screen roles. She is married to noted playback singer of Tamil oldies - A. L. Raghavan. With playing child roles in the late 1940s, she moved to adult roles in the 1950s. Though retired from film scene years ago, she also worked as a voice actor as insisted by MGR. She essayed lead roles, supporting roles, comedy as well as vamp roles in her illustrious film journey. In 2006 hit film with Vadivelu the lead actor - Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei, she played Vadivelu’s mother. She played Trisha's grandmother in Tirupachi. Marudhamalai (2007) was her last release.

She got into theatre due to bad financial situation of her family. She made her stage acting debut at the age of seven. She didn’t have any formal education. She has two younger brothers – one doctor and one engineer. She got her first break to films in the 1949 movie, Nallathambi where she played a child orphan. It was followed by supporting roles of Pavalakkodi, En Thangai, Mappillai etc. At the age of only 14 she played a vamp role in Rathak Kaneer (1954) starring M. R. Radha. It was a major break to her acting career. During her earlier days, she appeared in small comic tracks in NSK’s films. Later she played noted roles in Doctor Savithri, Kanavane Kankanda Dheivam, Maheswari, Mangaiyar Thilakam, Methavikal, Ulagam Palavidham, Kathanayaki, Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum etc.

She also did Telugu films opposite NTR, Nageswara Rao and Kantha Rao. She learnt a bit Telugu from Savitri's father. Savitri and Padmini were her good friends from film industry. Rajam got married in 1960 and hers was an arranged marriage. Her husband, A. L. Raghavan, a leading playback singer of yesterdays is busy with light music concerts nowadays, though retired from playback singing years ago. The couple has two children.

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Updated: March 27, 2016