T. Rajendar


Vijay Thesingu Rajendar, also known as T. R., is an Indian actor, film director, film producer, musician, cinematographer, film distributor and politician who works primarily in the Tamil film industry. Rajendar is known for being able to speak in rhyming sentences spontaneously and incessant rapping.
Since 2018, he has been focusing primarily on singing film songs.

Personal life

T. Rajendar is married to former actress Usha Rajendar. They have two sons, Silambarasan and Kuralarasan, and one daughter, Ilakiya. His wife has served as the producer for some of his films, such as Kadhal Azhivathillai, starring Silambarasan. He lives in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Film career

Rajendar started off in the Tamil film industry making successful films which included him as an actor, playback singer, dancer and scriptwriter. He gained popularity through his one-of-a-kind style of acting. He normally serves as, but not limited to director, actor, songwriter, art director, production manager and playback singer. During the 1980s, all his movies were blockbusters, running for years and the songs were also well appreciated. He is known for introducing new faces in his movies, and many of the actresses who debuted in his movies have been successful in South Cinema, including Amala, Nalini, Jyothi, Jeevitha and Mumtaj.
After some years, Rajendar's films started to decline in popularity because his films became too predictable, tending to follow the same storyline and oratory style of repetitious dialogues with little if any meaning. For example, his films always contain a sentimental scene involving the hero's younger sister in distress, coupled with the same rhyming rhetoric and gestures.
Rajendar recently started his own web TV channel called 'Kural TV'. Originally he wanted to start a 24-hour TV channel but could not, due to problems arising while securing a license. The channel, apart from broadcasting his movies and speeches, tends to echo sentiments towards the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. He previously owned a magazine called Usha.
Rajendar also distributes films under his home banner "Simbu cine arts". His latest film distribution, as of mid-2011 is his son Silambarasan's film Vaanam, which will be distributed in the Chennai and Madurai region.

Political career

Rajendar founded the Thayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam party in 1991 after he had been expelled from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party. In 1996, after Vaiko's departure from the DMK and the formation of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rajendar's TMK merged with the DMK. Rajendar left the DMK again in 2004, to form the All India Latchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Before expulsion, he was the propaganda secretary of DMK and was elected from Park Town constituency in the 1996 [Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1996 Assembly polls]. He further supported the AIADMK in the 2006 [Tamil Nadu state assembly election|2006 Assembly elections]. After those 2006 elections, the DMK came back to power and he was made vice-chairman of the Small Savings Scheme. He subsequently quit the post.

Filmography

As an actor

As composer and lyricist

This list is of films that T. Rajender only worked as a music director and lyricist.
YearTitleNotesRef.
1981Kilinjalgal
1982Sattam Sirikkiradhu
1985Engal Kural
1986Pookkalai Parikkatheergal
1987Muthukkal Moondru
1987Cooliekkaran
1987Poo Poova Poothirukku
1987Ivargal Varungala Thoongal
1987Aayusu Nooru
1989Enga Veettu Deivam
1996En Aasai Thangachi
1996Pombala Siricha Pochu
2002Sri Bannari Amman

As playback singer

As lyricist

This list is of films that T. Rajender only worked as a lyricist and not as a composer.
YearSongFilmComposerNotes
2021"Omkara"MaaligaiMahesh Mahadev
2022"Thatlam Thatlam"AstakarmmaL.V. Muthu Ganesh

As distributor