Gowtham Sundararajan
{{short description|Indian actor and choreographer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Gowtham Sundararajan
|image =
|caption =
| birth_date =
|birth_name = Padmanabhan
|birth_place = India
|other_names = Raja, Major Gowtham
|yearsactive = 1986–present
|occupation = Actor
|father = Major Sundarrajan
|spouse =Kokila (m.1995–present)
|children =Dhuruva (b.2000)
}}
Gowtham Sundararajan is an Indian actor and choreographer who has worked on Tamil-language films and in television dramas.{{cite web|title=Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema - Major Sundarrajan|url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Dec_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Major_Sundarrajan.html|work=Kalyanamalai Magazine|accessdate=1 January 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215424/http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Dec_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Major_Sundarrajan.html|url-status=live}}
Career
Gowtham Sundararajan was born to Tamil actor Major Sundarrajan and Shyamala in Madras, Tamil Nadu. He studied at Vivekananda College and graduated in 1989, before attempting to make a breakthrough in the film industry by appearing in item numbers, featuring in various projects including K. Balachander's Azhagan (1990). He married Kokila Hariram in September 1996.{{cite web |url=http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/29/stories/2002082900160300.htm |title=The Hindu : Anchored to success |website=thehindu.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030309121030/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/29/stories/2002082900160300.htm |archive-date=9 March 2003 |url-status=dead}} In 1998, along with his wife, he founded the Academy of Modern Dance, Chennai's first formal Western dance school.{{cite web|url=http://www.educationworldonline.net/index.php/page-article-choice-more-id-3922|title=Avant garde dance teachers|publisher=Education World Online|author=Hemalatha Raghupathi|place=Chennai|accessdate=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101231913/http://www.educationworldonline.net/index.php/page-article-choice-more-id-3922|archive-date=1 January 2015|url-status=dead}} The pair also worked on choreographing for films, with their biggest venture being their first film, the Kamal Haasan-starrer Aalavandhan (2001). They continued to work on other film projects including the incomplete R. Madhavan-Jyothika starrer Acham Thavir, which they travelled to Syria to shoot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_j-9SkiDU4|title=- YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202222701/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_j-9SkiDU4|url-status=live}}
Gowtham then began a career in acting, notably starring as one of Tamizhselvan's aides in Mani Ratnam's Iruvar (1997). As an actor, he mostly appeared in the films of Sundar C and Arjun Sarja. His inability to make it as a leading actor in films, saw him also pursue a career in television while appearing in supporting roles in films. He turned producer alongside Sundar C for the film, Ainthaam Padai (2009).{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
In 2016, his first directorial project, Kannula Kaasa Kattappa starring Aravind Akash, Ashwathy Warrier and Chandini Tamilarasan, was released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/I-Wanted-to-Play-Role-of-a-Slum-Dweller/2015/12/23/article3190987.ece|title = 'I Wanted to Play Role of a Slum Dweller'}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Selected filmography
;Actor
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes | |||
| 1991 | Azhagan | Theatre artiste | Dancer in "Kozhi Koovum" song |
| 1992 | Vaaname Ellai | Pasupathy | |
| 1992 | Naalaya Theerpu | Rocky | |
| 1993 | Karpagam Vanthachu | Raja | |
| 1994 | Thai Maaman | Folk dancer | Dancer in "Enge Kula Saamy" song |
| 1994 | Jaihind | ||
| 1997 | Iruvar | Elango | |
| 1997 | Sishya | Gowtham | |
| 1997 | Thedinen Vanthathu | ||
| 2002 | Ezhumalai | ||
| 2004 | Giri | ||
| 2004 | Udhaya | David John | |
| 2006 | Pattiyal | Azhagu | |
| 2009 | Thee | ||
| 2010 | Nagaram Marupakkam | ||
| 2012 | Maasi | ||
| 2014 | Aadama Jaichomada | Naattamai | |
| 2014 | Jaihind 2 | ||
| 2014 | Aranmanai | ||
| 2015 | Aambala | ||
| 2016 | Kannula Kaasa Kattappa | ||
| 2018 | Chekka Chivantha Vaanam | Assistant Commissioner | |
| 2019 | Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven | Prakash's brother | |
| 2019 | Kee | Ram | |
| 2020 | Ponmagal Vandhal | Police officer | Cameo appearance in song "Pookalin Parvai" |
| 2022 | Vikram | Veerapandian | |
| 2023 | Jigiri Dosthu | ||
| 2024 | Konjam Pesinaal Yenna'' |
;Director
- Kannula Kaasa Kattappa (2016)
=Television=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="background:#ccc;"| Year
! style="background:#ccc;"| Title ! style="background:#ccc;"| Role ! style="background:#ccc;"| Channel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Marmadesam - Iyanthira Paravai | Valarinathan | Raj TV |
| 2000 | Thillana Thillana | dance show | rowspan=5|Sun TV |
| 2005–2006 | Selvi | ||
| 2006–2008 | Lakshmi | ||
| 2010–2012 | Chellamay | ||
| 2017 | Nandini | ||
| 2022–2023 | Jamelaa | Haneefa | Colors Tamil |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|6897507}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sundararajan, Gowtham}}
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Male actors from Chennai
Category:Indian choreographers
Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema
Category:Film directors from Chennai
Category:20th-century Indian male actors
Category:21st-century Indian male actors
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Tamil male television actors
{{India-actor-stub}}