A. V. M. Rajan

Shanmugasundaram, known by his stage name A.V.M. Rajan, (26 July 1935) is an Indian preacher and former actor who was active in Tamil cinema. He was one of the top actors in the industry during the 1960s and 1970s.

A.V.M. Rajan
Born	Shanmugasundaram (1935-07-26) 26 July 1935 (age 90) Pudukottai
Other names	A.V.M Rajan
Occupation(s)	Preacher, actor, film producer
Spouses	Meenakshi ​ (m. 1957)​ Pushpalatha ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2025)​
Children	Rajan Rathnavel Rajan Amuthan Saraswathi (Sachu Venkat) Ganesh Rajan Sis.Rachel (Formerly Mahalakshmi) Dr. Catherine (Formerly Abhirami)

Early life

Born in Pudukottai, Shanmugasundaram was very eager to join cinema though he held a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Madras University.^[1] His higher secondary was at Christian Sweden Mission High School. His parents wanted to see him as a police officer. He came to Madras to write the examination, but didn't fit for the exam. He was not confident as he couldn't straighten his left hand fractured at the age of 14. Instead, while working at Raj Bhavan Guindy Chennai, he tried his luck in cinema knocking on the doors of every film company to earn a better income. At long last, his relentless efforts yielded result by getting him the opportunity to enter cinema through the film Aayiram Kaalathu Payiru in which he was introduced as "Raja B.A.". Soon after, he was signed to act in the AVM's film Naanum Oru Penn also.^[2]

Rajan acted in a movie produced by AVM Productions called Naanum Oru Penn, a film that starred S.S.Rajendran in the lead role. Hence he became 'A.V.M.' Rajan. Tamil actress Pushpalatha appeared in the same picture, and they became a couple and later married. They subsequently acted as a pair in many films, including Karppooram (1967) which he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. AVM Rajan has two daughters, the elder daughter Mahalakshmi was an actress between the 80s–90s. On 19 January 1984,^[3] through a personal encounter with God, Rajan converted and there after became a full-time Christian preacher since 1988^[4] and since then has stopped acting in movies and dramas. His wife Pushpalatha is a Catholic by birth. She hails from Coimbatore. She died in 2025. Following Rajan's conversion, his family too is serving full-time Ministry.^[5]

Filmography

As actor

Tamil

Year	Film	Role	Director	Co-stars	Notes
1959	Sivagangai Seemai		K. Shankar	S. S. Rajendran, S. Varalakshmi, P. S. Veerappa, M. N. Rajam	First signed film, but his scenes were deleted
1963	Naanum Oru Penn	Balu	A. C. Tirulokchandar	S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, S. V. Ranga Rao, M. R. Radha
	Aayiram Kalathu Payir	Ratnam	T. S. Durairaj	Kaka Radhakrishnan, Vairam Krishnamurthi, K. Kannan, Nanjil Natarajan	Debut film but Naanum Oru Penn got released before
	Paar Magaley Paar	Sundaram	A. Bhimsingh	Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman, C. R. Vijayakumari
	Thulasi Maadam	Gopal	K. B. Srinivasan	Gemini Chandrakantha, S. N. Lakshmi, Sharadha, M. S. Sundari Bai
1964	Alli	Babu	S. S. Rajendran	S. S. Rajendran, R. Vijayakumari, Sowcar Janaki, Pushpalatha
	Chitrangi	Jeyveeran	R. S. Mani	Pushpalatha, Sheela, R. S. Manohar, A. Karunanidhi
	Pachchai Vilakku	Mani	A. Bhimsingh	Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari
	Andavan Kattalai	Ramu	K. Shankar	Sivaji Ganesan, Devika, Pushpalatha, P. S. Veerappa
1965	Ennathan Mudivu	Kumaran	K.S. Gopalakrishnan	T.S. Balaiah, V. K. Ramasamy, Anjali Devi, Vasanthi	Got the title 'Nadippu Sudar'
	Veera Abhimanyu	Abhimanyu	V. Madhusudhana Rao	Gemini Ganesan, Balaji, Kanchana, G. Varalakshmi
	Enga Veettu Penn	Chandran	Tapi Chanakya	M. R. Radha, S. V. Subbaiah, Jaishankar, Nirmala
1966	Kodimalar	Thambi Durai	C. V. Sridhar	R. Muthuraman, C. R. Vijayakumari, Nagesh, M. V. Rajamma
	Thattungal Thirakkappadum	Doctor	J. P. Chandrababu	R. S. Manohar, Savithri, J. P. Chandrababu, K. R. Vijaya
	Namma Veettu Lakshmi	Chandru	B.R. Panthulu	B. R. Panthulu, Nagesh, R. Muthuraman, M. V. Rajamma
	Major Chandrakanth	Rajinikanth	K. Balachander	Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, R. Muthuraman, Jayalalitha	Remake of Hindi film Oonche Log
1967	Manam Oru Kurangu	Gopinath	A. T. Krishnaswamy	Cho Ramaswamy, R. Muthuraman, T. S. Balaiah, K.R. Vijaya
	Pandhayam	Somu	A. Kasilingam	Gemini Ganesan, Vijaya Nirmala, Nagesh, Sailasri	Remade into Hindi as Sachaai
	Karpooram	Manikkam	C. N. Shanmugam	Pushpalatha, Srikanth, Manimala, T. P. Muthulakshmi
1968	Poovum Pottum	Prakash	Dada Mirasi	S. V. Ranga Rao, P. Bhanumathi, R. Muthuraman, Pandari Bai
	Galatta Kalyanam	Mohan	C. V. Rajendran	Sivaji Ganesan, Nagesh, Cho Ramaswamy, Jayalalitha
	Thillana Mohanambal	Thangarathnam	A. P. Nagarajan	Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, T. S. Balaiah, Manorama
	Jeevanamsam	Balu	Malliyam Rajagopal	Jaishankar, Lakshmi, C. R. Vijayakumari, Sowcar Janaki
	Chakkaram	Jambu	A. Kasilingam	Gemini Ganesan, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Sowkar Janaki, Nagesh
	Thulabharam	Ramu	A. Vincent	Kanchana, Sharada, Muthuraman	Remake of Malayalam film Thulabharam
1969	Thunaivan	Velayudham	M. A. Thirumugam	Sowkar Janaki, Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, Sachu
	Annaiyum Pithavum	Bhaskar	Krishnan–Panju	Vanisri, Lakshmi, Nagesh, Sivakumar, V. K. Ramasamy
	Mannippu	Advocate Kumar	M. Krishnan Nair	Jaishankar, Vennira Aadai Nirmala,Lakshmi, Nagesh	25th Film
	Chellapen		K. Krishnamurthy	Pushpalatha, Manorama, Cho	Pushpalatha replaced Sowcar Janaki although the filming took place to some extent
	Magizhampoo	Pasupathy	V. T. Arasu	Pushpalatha
	Paal Kudam		Pattu	Pushpalatha, Lakshmi
1970	Engal Thangam	Moorthy	Krishnan–Panju	M. G. Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa, Pushpalatha, S. A. Ashokan
	Dharisanam	Pandian/ Chandramohan	V. T. Arasu	Pushpalatha, Srikanth, Cho, Manorama	Dual role
	Anadhai Anandhan	Selvam	Krishnan–Panju	Jayalalithaa, R. S. Manohar, Anjali Devi, Master Sekhar	Simultaneously made in Hindi as Chanda Aur Bijli
	Noorandu Kalam Vazhga	Rajan	K. Sampath	Kanchana, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, L. Vijayalakshmi
	Yaen?	Ramu	T. R. Ramanna	Ravichandran, Lakshmi, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Nagesh
1971	Irulum Oliyum	Thyagarajan (Thyagu)	Puttanna Kanagal	Vanisri, R. Muthuraman, S. V. Ranga Rao, Nagesh
	Pattondru Ketten		S. Raghavan	Rajshree, Nagesh,
	Deivam Pesuma	Dr Sundaram	Chinni-Sampath	Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Sandhya Rani
	Thirumagal	Raju	A. S. A. Sami	Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, Sivakumar, Lakshmi
1972	Agathiyar	Lord Shiva	A. P. Nagarajan	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, T. R. Mahalingam, Sivakumar, Lakshmi
	Thangadurai	Rangen	A. Kasilingam	Sowcar Janaki, Master Sekhar
	Thaikku Oru Pillai	Thiyagaraj	Pattu	Jaishankar, Savitri, Vennira Aadai Nirmala
	Shakthi Leelai	Prohithar	T. R. Ramanna	Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, K. R. Vijaya, B. Saroja Devi
	Deiva Sankalpam	Ravi	P. R. Somu	C. R. Vijayakumari, Cho
	Bathilukku Bathil	Kumaran	C. P. Jambulingam	Muthuraman, C. R. Vijayakumari, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, V. K. Ramasamy
	...Aval!	Prakash	A. C. Tirulokchandar	Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Sasikumar, Srikanth, T. K. Bhagavathi
	Puguntha Veedu	Bhaskar	Pattu	Ravichandran, Savitri, Lakshmi, Chandrakala
	Dheivam	Kadhirvelu	M. A. Thirumugam	Gemini Ganesan, K. R. Vijaya, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman
1973	Manipayal	Arun	A. Jagannathan	Jayanthi, Master Sekhar, Baby Indra, V. K. Ramasamy
	Engal Thaai	Ragunath	Malliyam Rajagopal	Savitri, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Srikanth
	Nee Ullavarai		C. V. Ramana	Kumari Padmini, Pandari Bai	50th Film
	Amman Arul		Pattu	Jaishankar, Manjula, S. A. Ashokan, Srikanth
	Anbu Sagodharargal	Durairaj	Lakshmi Deepak	S. V. Ranga Rao, Jaishankar, Jamuna, Devika	Remake of Telugu movie Pandanti Kapuram
	Dheiva Vamsam		K. Vijayan	Chandrakala
	Veettu Mappillai		A. K. Subramaniam	Savitri, Prameela
	Thirumalai Deivam	Narathan	A. P. Nagarajan	Gemini Ganesan, K. B. Sundarambal, R. Muthuraman, Sivakumar
	Veettukku Vandha Marumagal		R. Vittal	Ravichandran, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Latha, Cho
	Pasa Deepam	Rajarathna	Pattu	Manjula, Sowcar Janaki
	Pennai Nambungal	Ramu	B. V. Srinivasan	Jayanthi, Sivakumar, Jayachitra
	Manidharil Manikkam	Boopathy	C. V. Rajendran	Sivaji Ganesan, Prameela, Major Sundarrajan, M. N. Rajam
	Nyayam Ketkirom			Vennira Aadai Nirmala, R. Muthuraman, Kanchana, Cho
	Prarthanai		Kousikan	Sowkar Janaki, Vennira Aadai Nirmala, Srikanth, Sasikumar
1974	Sivagamiyin Selvan	Wing Commander Raghu	C. V. Rajendran	Sivaji Ganesan, Vanisri, Latha, S. V. Ranga Rao
	Doctoramma	Raja	Sornam	Manjula
	Ore Satchi	Madhavan	K. Vijayan	P. R. Varalakshmi, Major Sundarrajan, M. N. Rajam
	Magalukkaga	Muruga	M. Krishnan	Jaya	75th Film, Remake of Telugu film Drohi
	Murugan Kaattiya Vazhi	Muniyandi	P. Madhavan	Nagesh, Srikanth, Vijayakumar, Vidhubala
	Pathu Madha Bandham	Chandran	Krishnan–Panju	P. Bhanumathi, B. Saroja Devi, R. Muthuraman, Ravichandran
1975	Enakkoru Magan Pirappan		M. Krishnan	Shubha, Vidhubala
	Thiruvarul	Kumara Devan	R. Thyagarajan	Jaya, Major Sundarrajan, Thengai Srinivasan, Nagesh
1976	Rojavin Raja	Gopal	K. Vijayan	Sivaji Ganesan, Vanisri, Srikanth, Major Sundarrajan
	Thayilla Kuzanthai		R. Thyagarajan	Vijayakumar, Jayachitra, S. A. Ashokan
1977	Murugan Adimai	Shiva		R. Muthuraman, K.R. Vijaya, Jaya, S. A. Ashokan
	Navarathinam	Raja	A. P. Nagarajan	M. G. Ramachandran, Latha, Zarina Wahab, M. N. Nambiar
	Unnai Suttrum Ulagam	Film director	G. Subramaniya Reddiar	Jayalalithaa, Kamal Haasan, Prameela, Vijayakumar
1978	Thai Meethu Sathiyam	Babu's Father	R. Thyagarajan	Rajnikanth, Sripriya, Ambareesh, Mohan Babu
1980	Billa	Inspector Varma	R. Krishnamurthy	Rajinikanth, Sripriya, Balaji, Major Sundarrajan
1981	Thee	Ramaiah		Rajinikanth, Suman, Sowcar Janaki,Sripriya
1982	Oorum Uravum	Chandrasekhar	Major Sundarrajan	Sivaji Ganesan, KR Vijaya, Nizhalgal Ravi, Major Sundarrajan
1984	Nandri	DIG	Rama Narayanan	Karthik, Nalini, Mahalakshmi, Arjun Sarja
1987	Veeran Veluthambi	IG		Vijayakanth, Radha Ravi, Karthik, Ambika

Other languages

Year	Film	Role	Language	Director	Co-stars	Notes
1964	Main Bhi Ladki Hoon		Hindi	A. C. Tirulokchandar	Dharmendra, Meena Kumari, Balraj Sahani, Om Prakash	Remake of Naanum Oru Penn
1972	Kandavarundo		Malayalam	Mallikarjuna Rao	Sadhana, Vincent, Renuka, Adoor Bhasi
	Akka Thamudu		Telugu	Krishnan–Panju	Jayalalithaa, R. Muthuraman, Anjali Devi, Master Sekhar	Dubbed movie of Anadhai Anandhan
1975	Annadammula Anubandham	Venu Gopal Rao		S. D. Lal	N. T. Rama Rao, Murali Mohan, Latha, Kanchana

As producer

• Lorry Driver Rajakannu (1981)
• Oorum Uravum (1982)
• Nandri (1984)