S. A. Ashokan

S. A. Ashokan
Born
Anthony

20 May 1931 (1931-05-20)
Died11 November 1982 (1982-11-12) (aged 51)
Alma materSt. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli
OccupationActor
SpouseMary Gnanam
Children2, including Vincent Asokan
RelativesPrameela (cousin)

S. A. Ashokan, born as Antony and often spelled Asokan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema and theatre. He was popular mainly for playing negative roles but was also a successful character actor.

Early life[edit]

Ashokan was born on 20 May 1931 as Anthony in Tiruchirapalli.[1] He showed interest in stage plays and frequently took part in oratorical and writing competitions during his childhood. He finished his B.A. degree at the St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli.[2]

Career[edit]

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 a positive role in the film Penn Kulathin Ponvilakku (1959) as an admirer of a woman he considers a sister. He gained the attention of the 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 and did character roles opposite many leading actors of those times.[2]

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 cast in supporting roles as an elder brother, father or father-in-law, or 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 Katha Thanayan, Kudumba Thalaivan, Panathottam, Koduthu Vaithaval, Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum, Periya Idathu Penn, Anandha Jodhi, Panakkara Kudumbam, Needhikkuppin Paasam, Kaanchi Thalaivan, Vettaikaaran (1964 film), Dheiva Thaai, Thozhilali, Panam Padaithavan, Kanni Thaai, Thazhampoo, Anbe Vaa, Mugaraasi, Chandhrodhayam, Thaali Bhagyam, Thanipiravi, Parakkum Paavai, Petralthan Pillaiya, Thaikku Thalaimagan, Arasa Kattalai, Kaavalkaaran (1967 film), Vivasayee, Ragasiya Police 115, Thaer Thiruvizha, Kannan En Kadhalan, Oli Vilakku, Kanavan, 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), Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, Pattikaattu Ponnaiya, Netru Indru Naalai and 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.[2]

Other work[edit]

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, which helped the filmmaker make his mark. Ashokan, along with Jaishankar, and a troupe of popular artists, often toured all over Tamil Nadu to conduct cultural programs.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Ashokan was married to Mary Gnanam (originally named Saraswathi). They had two sons, including Vincent Asokan, who is also an actor.[3][4]

Filmography[edit]

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

Year Film Role Notes
1953 Avvaiyar King Chozhan
1954 Ethir Paradhathu Moorthi
Illara Jothi
1955 Doctor Savithri
1956 Rambaiyin Kaadhal Minister
1957 Pudhaiyal Puthaiyal
1958 Anbu Enge Guest Appearance
Maya Manithan
1959 Athisaya Penn
1960 Padikkadha Medhai Thiyagu
Parthiban Kanavu Chozhan King Parthiban
Kalathur Kannamma Mayor
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 Maanickam
Indira En Selvam Sekar. Dr.
Paasam
Veerathirumagan
Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan
1963 Anandha Jodhi Inspector Baskar
Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum
Kaanchi Thalaivan Chalukiya King Pulikesi
Kaithiyin Kathali
Naanum Oru Penn Guest
Ezhai Pangalan
Needhikkuppin Paasam
Koduthu Vaithaval Manickam
Panathottam Natarajan
Periya Idathu Penn Sabapathy
Idhu Sathiyam
1964 Andavan Kattalai Manikandan
Dheiva Thaai Karunakaran
Muradan Muthu
Panakkara Kudumbam Muthaiah
Padagotti
Karnan Prince Duriyodhanan
Vettaikaaran
Thozhilali Murugappa
1965 Iravum Pagalum Govindhan
Karthigai Deepam Pasubathi
Kaattu Rani
Kanni Thaai Vasu
Panam Padaithavan
Poomalai Anand
Vallavanukku Vallavan Ramesh
Thaayum Magalum
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 Advocate Aathmanathan
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
Manasatchi
Nam Naadu Aalavandar
1970 En Annan Dharmaraj
Engal Thangam Banker Selvaraj
Maanavan
Maattukara Velan Chairman Nagalingam
Kann Malar
Thalaivan Bhairavan
Thedi Vandha Mappillai Suresh
1971 Kumari Kottam Sethupathi
Rickshawkaran Kailasam
Neerum Neruppum The King Marthadhan
Oru Thaai Makkal Selvanayakam
1972 Deivam Thief
Nalla Neram Dharmalingam
Raman Thediya Seethai Govindanraj
Sange Muzhangu Nagarajan
Shakthi Leelai Vaana Sooran
1973 Ganga Gowri
Gayathri
Baghdad Perazhagi
Komatha En Kulamatha Sengotan
Pattikaattu Ponnaiya Master – wrestler Singaiya
Ponvandu Kannan's father
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban Scientist Bhairavan
1974 Doctor Amma
Vairam Thief Samy
Doctoramma
Thai Piranthal
Naan Avanillai
Netru Indru Naalai 'Perum Puli' Jambu
1975 Ninaithadhai Mudippavan Police Officer Jagadeesh
Pattikkaattu Raja Tiger
1976 Dasavatharam The King Ravanan or Ilangeswaran
Nee Oru Maharani
1977 Aattukara Alamelu
Palabishegam Land Lord
Nallathukku Kalamillai
Gayathri
Murugan Adimai
1978 Shri Kanchi Kamakshi Kabaligan
Ival Oru Seethai
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
1979 Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum Bhootham
Dharma Yuddham
1980 Billa
Murattu Kaalai
1981 Thee
Ram Lakshman
Bala Nagamma
Savaal
Sankarlal
1982 Krodham Inspector Prasad
Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu

References[edit]

  1. ^ "இதே நாளில் அன்று". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "S A Ashokan". Cinefundas. 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Actor Vincent Asokan". Behindwoods. 30 July 2005. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  4. ^ "M.Baby vs Vincent Asokan on 9 March, 2000". indiankanoon.org. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2018.

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