S. A. Ashokan

Not to be confused with the Malayalam actor Asokan.
S. A. Ashokan
Born Antony
unknown date
Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu
Died 11 November 1982(1982-11-11)
Chennai
Nationality Indian
Alma mater St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli
Occupation Film actor
Known for Negative and Supporting role
Spouse(s) Mary Gnanam (original name Saraswathi)
Children Vincent Asokan[1]

S. A. Ashokan (died November 11, 1982), born as Antony and often spelt Asokan, was an Indian film actor, who worked mainly in Tamil cinema.[2] He was popular mainly for playing negative roles, but was also a successful character actor.

Early life

Ashokan was born as Anthony in Trichy. He showed interest in stage plays and frequently took part in oratorical and writing competitions during his childhood. He finished his degree at St. Joseph College, Trichy.[3]

Career

After completing his degree, Anthony met director T. R. Ramanna who introduced him to the film industry. Anthony changed his name to Ashokan upon Ramanna's request, and maintained the same name for life. Ashokan made his acting debut in a minor role in the film Avvaiyar. He was given positive role in the film Penn Kulathin Ponvilakku (1959) as an admirer of a woman whom he considers as sister. He gained attention of general public with the film Kappalottiya Thamizhan in 1961, where he portrayed the role of Collector Ash. Later films which featured him in the lead, were however moderately successful. Active mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, he acted mainly in villainous roles, but also did character roles opposite many leading actors of those times.[3]

Ashokan's performance as a helpless traveller who gets conned in Vallavanukku Vallavan, and as the historical Indian character Duryodhana in the mythology film Karnan were well received. He was regularly casted in supporting role as an elder brother or as the father or father-in-law or as the main villain in 59 films with M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role right from Baghdad Thirudan in 1960 to Ninaithadhai Mudippavan in 1975. Some of the popular films with MGR-S.A.Ashokan combination are Arasilangkumari, Thaai Sollai Thattadhe, Thayai Kátha Thanayan, Kudumba Thalaivan, Panathottam, Koduthu Vaithaval, Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum, Periya Idathu Penn, Anandha Jodhi, Panakkara Kudumbam, Needhikkuppin Paasam, Kaanchi Thalaivan, Parisu,Vettaikaaran (1964 film), Dheiva Thaai, Thozhilali, Panam Padaithavan, Aayirathil Oruvan (1965 film), Kanni Thaai, Thazhampoo, Anbe Vaa, Naan Aanaiyittal, Mugaraasi, Chandhrodhayam, Thaali Bhagyam, Thanipiravi, Parakkum Paavai, Petralthan Pillaiya, Thaikku Thalaimagan, Arasa Kattalai, Kaavalkaaran (1967 film),Vivasayee,Ragasiya Police 115,Thaer Thiruvizha, Kudiyirundha Koyil, Kannan En Kadhalan, Oli Vilakku, Kanavan, Pudhiya Bhoomi, Kadhal Vaaganam, Adimaippenn,Nam Naadu (1969 film), Maattukara Velan, En Annan, Thalaivan (1970 film), Thedi Vandha Mappillai, Engal Thangam, Kumari Kottam, Rickshawkaran, Neerum Neruppum, Oru Thaai Makkal, Sange Muzhangu, Nalla Neram, Raman Thediya Seethai (1972 film), Idhaya Veenai, Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, Pattikaattu Ponnaiya, Netru Indru Naalai, Ninaithadhai Mudippavan. His performance as Professor Bhairavan in the M. G. Ramachandran starrer Ulagam Sutrum Valiban was considered a "landmark performance". Some of his other well-known performances include the role of Soorapadman in Kandan Karunai (1967), an intriguing character role in the AVM Studios hit Veera Thirumagan, and important roles in Attukara Allamelu, Adimai Penn, Anbe Vaa, Kaanji Thalaivan, Vivasayee and Raman Thediya Seethai.[3]

Other work

Ashokan also worked as a singer in the film Iravum Pagalum, for the song Iranthavanai Somanthavanum. The film also marked actor Jaishankar's debut. He introduced filmmaker A C Trilokchander to AVM Studios, and this helped the filmmaker to make his mark. Ashokan, along with Jaishankar, and a troupe of popular artistes, often toured all over Tamil Nadu with the purpose of conducting cultural programs.[3]

Personal life

Ashokan was married to Mary Gnanam (originally named Saraswathi), despite her parents' disapproval. They had two sons. On 11 November 1982, he died when his son Vincent Asokan was still young. Vincent is now an actor, portraying villainous roles in Tamil films.[3]

Notable filmography

Year Film Role
1953 Avvaiyar (film) King Chozhan
1954 Ethir Paradhathu Moorthi
Illara Jyothi
1955 Doctor Savithri
1956 Rambaiyin Kaadhal Minister
1958 Anbu Enge
1959 Athisaya Penn
1960 Padikkadha Medhai
Parthiban Kanavu Chozhan King Parthiban
Paavai Vilakku
Vijayapuri Veeran Nanjappan
1961 Kappalottiya Thamizhan Sub - Collector Ash
Manapanthal Rajasekaran
Thaai Sollai Thattadhe
1962 Kannadi Maligai Manager Rathinam
Kudumba Thalaivan Somu
Sarada
Paadha Kaanikkai
Paasam
Veerathirumagan
Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan
1963 Anandha Jodhi Inspector Baskar
Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum
Kaanchi Thalaivan Chalukiya King Pulikesi
Naanum Oru Penn Guest
Needhikkuppin Paasam
Koduthu Vaithaval Manickam
Panathottam Natarajan
Periya Idathu Penn Sabapathy
Idhu Sathiyam
1964 Andavan Kattalai Manikandan
Dheiva Thaai Karunakaran
Muradan Muthu
Padikkadha Medhai
Panakkara Kudumbam Muthaiah
Padagotti
Karnan Princess Duriyodhanan
Vettaikaaran
Thozhilali Murugappa
1965 Karthigai Deepam Pasubathi
Iravum Pagalum Govindhan
Kaattu Rani
Kanni Thaai Vasu
Panam Padaithavan
Poomalai Anand
Vallavanukku Vallavan Ramesh
Thazhampoo Kanthasamy
1966 Chandhrodhayam Zamindar Ponnambalam
Iru Vallavargal
Mugaraasi Jambu
Naan Aanaiyittal Police Inspector Chezhiyan
Parakkum Paavai Vidjayan
Petralthan Pillaiya Sekhar
Ramu Rangan
Thanipiravi Rathnapuram
1967 Adhey Kangal Kamalanathan
Arasa Kattalai Prince Vilavan
Iru Malargal College Correspontent
Kandhan Karunai Soora Padman
Kannan En Kadhalan Doctor Singh
Penn Endral Penn
Sabash Thambi Ramesh
Thaikku Thalaimagan Somaiah
Naan
Vivasayee Gurusamy
1968 Andru Kanda Mugam
Kanavan Mani
Kadhal Vaaganam Pandjachalam
Kuzhanthaikkaga The Police Inspector
Oli Vilakku Master Jambhu
Ragasiya Police 115 Nambirajan
Pudhiya Bhoomi Mayandi
Uyarndha Manithan Doctor Gopal
Moondrezhuthu
Neelagiri Express Bald Man
Thaer Thiruvizha Solaimulanga/Somu
1969 Akka Thangai
Adimai Penn King Sengodan
Kaaval Dheivam
Nam Naadu Alavandar
1970 En Annan Dharmaraj
Maanavan
Maattukara Velan Chairman Nagalingam
Thalaivan Bhairavan
Thedi Vandha Mappillai Suresh
1971 Kumari Kottam Sethupathi
Rickshawkaran Kailasam
Neerum Neruppum The King Marthadhan
Oru Thaai Makkal Selvanayakam
1972 Deivam Theif
Nalla Neram Dharmalingam
Raman Thediya Seethai Govindanraj
Sange Muzhangu Nagarajan
Shakthi Leelai Vaana Sooran
1973 Gayathri (film)
Komatha En Kulamatha Sengotan
Pattikaattu Ponnaiya Master - wrestler Singaiya
Ponvandu Kannan's father
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban Scientist Bhairavan
1974 Doctor Amma
Vairam Theif Samy
Naan Avanillai (1974 film)
Netru Indru Naalai (1974 film) 'Perum Puli' Jambu
1975 Ninaithadhai Mudippavan Police Officer Jagadeesh
1976 Dasavatharam The King Ravanan or Ilangeswaran
1977 Aattukara Alamelu
Palabishegam Land Lord
1978 Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Kabaligan
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
1979 Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Bhootham
1980 Billa
1981 Thee
Ram Lakshman
Savaal

Shankarlal-1981

References

Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema - Actor Asokan

  1. Lata Srinivasan (21 February 2012). "Where are the K town villains?". Times of India. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  2. "Find Tamil Actor S.A. Ashokan Filmography, Movies, Pictures and Videos". Jointscene.com. Retrieved 2012-03-21.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 S A Ashokan - Cinema Ghar. "S A Ashokan | Cinefundas.com - One Stop Cinema Portal". Cinefundas.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 2012-06-24.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.