Basuva Rajeev Sundaram (born 6 September 1968) is an Indian dance choreographer, actor and film director, who works primarily in Tamil and Telugu films. He appeared as an actor in films like Jeans (1998), 123 (2002), I Love You Da (2002), Quick Gun Murugun (2009); and directed one film, Aegan (2008).
Raju Sundaram | |
|---|---|
| Born | Basuva Rajeev Sundaram[1] 6 September 1968 (age 56) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Father | Mugur Sundar |
| Relatives |
|
He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in the song "Pranamam Pranamam" song from the film Janatha Garage (2016)[2] and "Everest Anchuna" song from the film Maharshi (2019).[3]
Personal life
editSundaram is the son of dancer Mugur Sundar, and the elder brother of choreographers Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad.[4]
Career
editSundaram began his career assisting as a choreographer for his father Mugur Sundar's projects, before going on to lead troupes. He was a dancer in "Rukkumani Rukkumani" from Mani Ratnam's Roja (1992) and in Aasai (1995). He also regularly featured in cameo appearances in songs featuring his brother Prabhu Deva, with the pair making appearances in Shankar's early films Gentleman (1993) and Kadhalan (1994).[5] After being the lead choreographer for a few Kannada films, his first break came through Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda (1993), where he was given the chance to design dances for three songs.[6] He then went on to become a choreographer of Tamil directors Mani Ratnam and Shankar, and worked on Amitabh Bachchan's album, Aby Baby (1996).
Shankar then offered Sundaram an acting opportunity in his romantic comedy Jeans (1998), where Sundaram played a full-length role. He played the lead in the sports drama I Love You Da (2002) alongside his former girlfriend and actress Simran. The Hindu stated the film proves "serious acting is simply not his cup of tea".[7] After working on an unreleased film titled Colombus, he then went on to feature in the trilingual One Two Three (2003) alongside Jyothika and his brothers. The film opened to mixed reviews and did not perform well at the box office.[8][9] He has since primarily operated as a choreographer, making a few exceptions by starring in comic roles in Jeeva's Unnale Unnale (2007), Prabhu Deva's Engeyum Kadhal (2011) and in the Telugu film, Action 3D (2013).
Filmography
editChoreographer
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Director
edit| Year | Title | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Aegan | Tamil |
Actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Jeans | Madhesh | Tamil | |
| 1999 | En Swasa Katre | Raju | Special appearance | |
| 2002 | Manasella Neene | Arun | Kannada | |
| 2002 | I Love You Da | Raju | Tamil | |
| 2003 | 123 | Pazhani | ||
| 2006 | Pellaina Kothalo | Prakash | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Unnale Unnale | Raju | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Quick Gun Murugun | Rowdy MBA | English | |
| 2011 | Engeyum Kaadhal | Raju | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Julai | Himself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2013 | Mirchi | Himself | Special appearance | |
| 2013 | Action 3D | Purush | ||
| 2015 | Isai | Himself | Tamil | Special appearance |
| 2017 | Yaanum Theeyavan | Pasupathy | ||
| 2018 | Padi Padi Leche Manasu | Goon | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2024 | Maa Nanna Superhero | [10] |
Dancer
edit| Year | Film | Song | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Assembly Rowdy | "Turpu Kondallo" | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Idhayam | "Ohh Party Nalla" | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Roja | "Rukumani Rukumani" | ||
| 1992 | Suriyan | "Thoongu Moonchi" | ||
| 1993 | Enga Thambi | "Ithu Maanodum" | ||
| 1993 | Gentleman | "Chikku Bukku" | ||
| 1994 | Lockup Death | "Current Banthu" | Kannada | |
| 1994 | Police War | "Teenage Papa" | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Jai Hind | "Bodhai Yeri Pochu" | Tamil | |
| 1994 | Kadhalan | "Kadhalikkum Pennin" | ||
| 1995 | Mounam | "Dhammaro Abbaya Raro" | Telugu | |
| 1995 | Aasai | "Shockkadikuthu Sona" | Tamil | |
| 1997 | Ullaasam | "Valibam Vaazha Sollum" | ||
| 1998 | Sollamale | "Allamma Samba" | ||
| 1999 | Kadhal Kavithai | "Aalana Naal Mudhala" | ||
| 1999 | Circle Inspector | "Urmila Urmila" | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Kya Soorat Hai | "Kya Soorat Hai" | Hindi | Music Video, song from Bombay Vikings band |
| 1999 | En Swasa Kaatre | "Jumbalaka" | Tamil | |
| 1999 | Ethirum Pudhirum | "Thottu Thottu" | ||
| 1999 | Anantha Poongatre | "Meenatchi Meenatchi" | ||
| 1999 | Poovellam Kettuppar | "CBI Enge", "O Senorita" | ||
| 2000 | Sandhitha Velai | "Muniyamma" | ||
| 2000 | Pennin Manathai Thottu | "Saltkotta" | ||
| 2000 | Maayi | "Thennagam Aalum" | ||
| 2000 | Rhythm | "Ayyayyo Pathikichu" | ||
| 2000 | Chamundi | "Usarvalli Kshnakondu" | Kannada | |
| 2001 | Aks | "Banda Bindas" | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Poovellam Un Vaasam | "Yukta Mookhey" | Tamil | |
| 2003 | Alai | "Alai Adikuthu" | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Ullam Ketkumae | "Mazhai Mazhai" | ||
| 2005 | Anniyan | "Kumari" | ||
| 2005 | Modati Cinema | "Ninnyna Nadyna" | Telugu | |
| 2009 | Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam | "Evade Subramanyam" | ||
| 2010 | Pa. Ra. Palanisamy | "Singari Mava" | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Vettai | "Dhum Dhum" | ||
| 2013 | Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara | "En Veettula" | ||
| 2013 | Endrendrum Punnagai | "Ennatha Solla" | ||
| 2014 | Ennamo Nadakkudhu | "Money Money" | ||
| 2016 | Thozha | "Door Number One" | ||
| 2016 | Natpadhigaram 79 | "Sollu Sollu Chellamma" | ||
| 2016 | Devi | "Chal Maar" | ||
| Abhinetri | Telugu | |||
| Tutak Tutak Tutiya | Hindi | |||
| 2016 | Remo | "Tamilselvi" | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Kaashmora | "Dhikku Dhikku Sir" | ||
| 2017 | Bogan | "Damaalu Dumeelu" | ||
| 2019 | Sangathamizhan | "Oh My God" | ||
| 2021 | Tughlaq Durbar | "Arasiyal Kedi" |
Awards
edit- Won
- 1994 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer -Kadhalan
- 1997 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Director – Many movies
- 1998 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer – Jeans
- 1998 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Director – Many movies
- 1999 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Master – Many movies
- 1999 Cinema Express Award for Best Dance Master – Many movies
- 2000 Dinakaran Award for Best Dance Master – Many movies
- 2004 Dinakaran-Medimix Award for Best Choreographer – Ghilli
- 2004 Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South – Ghilli
- 2009 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Choreographer – Villu
- 2010 Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer – Paiyaa
- 2010 Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South - Brindavanam
- 2011 Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Choreographer – Engeyum Kadhal
- 2013 Edison Award for Best Choreographer – Biriyani
- 2016 National Film Award for Best Choreography-Janatha Garage (for "Pranaamam")
- 2019 National Film Award for Best Choreography-Maharshi (for "Everest Anchuna")
- 2007 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Unnale Unnale
- 2010 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Enthiran
- 2011 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Engeyum Kadhal
- 2014 South Indian International Movie Award for Best Dance Choreographer – Anjaan
- 2014 Vijay Award for Best Choreographer – Kaaviya Thalaivan
Legacy
editChoreographers and artists L. L. Cool Jayanth, Ashok Raja, Dinesh,[11] Sridhar,[12] Shobi Paulraj,[13] Baba Bhaskar,[14] Kalyan, Johny, Noble Paul,[15] Prem Rakshith, Jani,[16] Lalitha Shobi, Sathish Krishnan, Viji Sathish, Poppy, Japan Kumar, Sindhuja, Nanditha Jennifer, Raja, Shanthi Arvind, Anusha Swamy, Boopathy & Vasanthi had worked as dancers and assistants to him.[17]
References
edit- ^ "ಇಂಡಿಯನ್ ಮೈಕಲ್ ಜ್ಯಾಕ್ಸನ್ Mr Prabhu Deva | Weekend With Ramesh S5 | Full Episode 4 - Zee Kannada". 21 January 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "64th National Awards" (PDF). dff.nic.in. 7 April 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ The Hindu Net Desk (22 March 2021). "67th National Film Awards: Complete list of winners". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "It takes Raju to tango – HYDB". The Hindu. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "rediff.com, Movies: Dancer in the dark: Raju Sundaram". Rediff.com. 4 December 2001. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Raju Sundaram – Telugu Cinema interview – Telugu film choreographer". Idlebrain.com. 27 September 2005. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "I Love You Da". The Hindu. 13 December 2002. Archived from the original on 1 February 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "In front of the camera!". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 17 November 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "One Two Three". The Hindu. 7 June 2002. Archived from the original on 15 August 2002. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ^ "Sudheer Babu's next film titled 'Maa Nanna Superhero'". The Hindu. 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Dinesh Master choreographer – the Official Site". Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Star Holiday (07/06/15) A day out with choreographer sridhar master [Epi – 8]". Youtube. 28 June 2015. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Dance In His Genes:Shobi And His Inspirations". News Central. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Virundhinar Pakkam Choreographer Baba Basker Dt 11-09-13". Youtube. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Choreographer Nobel Interview Part 1". Youtube. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Jani Master journey with director Shankar; from back dancer to choreographer". The Times of India. 18 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "Adhu Idhu Yedhu – Johnny Master, Bobby Antony & Baba Bhaskar Groupla Doupe". Youtube. 14 November 2011. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2015.