P. K. Raja Sandow

P. K. Raja Sandow Biography

P. K. Raja Sandow was one of the prominent film makers of the silent era of Indian cinema. He was also a successful actor, producer and director. Starting his career in the silent era of cinema, he has also done some talkies in both Hindi and Tamil language in the 1930s. A pioneer in the first generation of Indian film making, he was acting in film making till 1943 till death took him away. He died of heart attack aged 48. His last project – Sivakavi was replaced by another director halfway. He has worked with many leading actors and technicians of the silent era.

Sandow is known for many reforms in Tamil cinema, which were regarded quite taboo in those days by the conservative society. He was one among the directors who prompted others to make social themed movies other than mythological ones. He also shot intimate kissing scenes for his movies and dancers in revealing costumes, which were new then to Indian films. He marketed his films well and also used Tamil literary works for film making for the first time.

Raja Sandow was born in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu in 1894. He was a trained gymnastic and started his film career as a stuntman. Starting his film journey with S.N. Patankar's National Film Company Mumbai, Bhaktha Bhodhana (1922) was his first movie as a hero. He was rechristened as Raja Shadow for his physique after strongman Eugen Sandow. He gained attention through the silent movies - Veer Bhemsen (1923) and The Telephone Girl (1926). Later he concentrated to film direction and has also written one or two scripts for talkies.

Once returning to Tamil Nadu, he worked as an actor and director under R. Padmanaban's Associate Film Company. His films based on social themes include - Peyum pennum (1930), Nandhanar (1930), Anadhai Penn (1931), Pride of Hindustan (1931) etc. After the introduction of talkies to Indian cinema, he once again returned to Mumbai. His pairing with lead actresses - Gohar and Sulochana earned him popularity. Till he died of heart attack in 1943 he was fully active in the film field.

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Updated: November 12, 2015