Ashok Kumar (Tamil actor)
{{short description|Indian actor}}
{{other people|Ashok Kumar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ashok Kumar
| image = Ashok Kumar Balakrishnan.jpg
| birth_date =
| birth_place = India
| birthname = Ashok Kumar Balakrishnan
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1993; 2007–present
| other_names = Muruga Ashok
| alma mater =
| spouse =
}}
Ashok Kumar Balakrishnan is an Indian actor who has appeared in predominantly Tamil films.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-11 |title='4554' is a tribute to dedicated drivers, says actor Ashok Kumar- Exclusive! |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/4554-is-a-tribute-to-dedicated-drivers-says-actor-ashok-kumar-exclusive/articleshow/95449764.cms |access-date=2023-05-28 |issn=0971-8257}}
Career
Originally from Thanjavur district, Ashok Kumar grew up in Mumbai. He was a Bharatanatyam dancer and won the Nrithyamayoor ({{Translation|Dancing Peacock}}) Award from the Government of Maharashtra. He played Krishna in the Hindi television serial Krishna (1993-97). His film debut but was supposed to be Dishyum (2006), but he was subsequently removed from the film and replaced by Jiiva.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-would-never-take-on-a-project-just-for-the-heck-of-it-says-ashok-kumar/articleshow/108812301.cms|title =I would never take on a project just for the heck of it, says Ashok Kumar|work=The Times of India|date=27 March 2024|access-date=25 January 2025}} He then made his feature film debut with R. T. Neason's Muruga (2007) and starred in Pidichirukku the following year.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/01/stories/2009050150391600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504093002/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/01/stories/2009050150391600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 May 2009 |work=The Hindu |date=1 May 2009 |title=My First Break -- Ashok Kumar |ref=none}} He made a special appearance as a Tamil actor in a song from the Malayalam film Mulla (2008).{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/mulla-malayalam-movie-9907|title=Mulla review. Mulla Malayalam movie review, story, rating|website=IndiaGlitz.com}} Ashok made his Telugu debut with the bilingual Kaki (2015), which was made by Vetrimaaran's assistant director.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151124/entertainment-kollywood/article/vetrimaaran-heaps-praises-his-prot%C3%A9g%C3%A9|title=Vetrimaaran heaps praises on his protégé|date=24 November 2015|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|accessdate=31 May 2021}} The film was released in Tamil two years later as Ka Ka Ka: Aabathin Arikuri (2017).{{Cite web|url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/review/2017/09/28214201/1110526/Ka-Ka-Ka-Aabathin-Arikuri-movie-review.vpf|language=ta|title=கா கா கா ஆபத்தின் அறிகுறி [Ka Ka Ka: Aabathin Arikuri]|date=28 September 2017|website=Maalai Malar|url-status=dead|access-date=21 May 2020|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021055250/https://cinema.maalaimalar.com/cinema/review/2017/09/28214201/1110526/Ka-Ka-Ka-Aabathin-Arikuri-movie-review.vpf}}
In 2019, he appeared in the multi-starrer movies such as Chithiram Pesuthadi 2 and Gangs of Madras.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/chithiram-pesuthadi-2-review-tamil-movie-22601|title = Chithiram Pesuthadi 2 Review}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/reviews/gangs-of-madras-movie-review-cv-kumars-second-film-is-a-pretty-decent-heroine-oriented-thriller|title =Gangs Of Madras Movie Review: CV Kumar’s Second Film Is A Pretty Decent Heroine-oriented Thriller}} He also acted in the Malaysian film Unakkagathane released in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/fr/title/tt11920236/|title = Unakkagathane}} He was seen in the crime series Kuruthi Kalam (2021) which was released on MX Player.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/mx-player/kuruthi-kalam-an-mx-original-series/webseriesshow/80407381.cms|title = Kuruthi Kalam - An MX Original Series}}
In 2022, Ashok Kumar was seen successively in horror films such as Vidiyatha Iravondru Vendum, Bestie,
and Mayathirai. In 2023, he was appeared in the action thriller, Vizhithelu.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vizhithelu-is-an-awareness-film-says-director-tamilchelvan-exclusive/articleshow/98312505.cms|title = 'Vizhithelu' is an awareness film, says director Tamilchelvan - Exclusive}}
In 2024, he was appeared in the drama thriller E-mail.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/e-mail/movie-review/107575215.cms|title =E-mail Movie Review : A guilty pleasure among guilty pleasures that feels like a poorly written email}} as well as part of a Kannada project called Sambhavami Yuge Yuge,{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-would-never-take-on-a-project-just-for-the-heck-of-it-says-ashok-kumar/articleshow/108812301.cms|title =I would never take on a project just for the heck of it, says Ashok Kumar}} and the fantasy thriller, Maya Puthagam. Ashok Kumar starred in Lara (2025).{{Cite news |title=Lara Movie Review : A coastal mystery, more murky than deep |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/lara/movie-review/116884004.cms |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
Filmography
= Films =
- All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
= Television =
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|6311476}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashok}}
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Male actors from Tamil Nadu
Category:People from Thanjavur district