The A.V.M.Rajan Mystery.

      

      Rajan,who became A.V.M.Rajan,after his enthusiastic debut in 'Naanum Oru Pen' yet another hit from the AVM mega production house,became a sudden sensation in Tamil Cinema. Paired with Pushpalatha,whom he married afterwards,the movie transformed him into a hero over night.He was an actor of great energy and his acting fervour was ably supported by his wife,who acted with him in many of his movies as Vijayakumari did with S.S.Rajendran and Savithri with Gemini Ganesan. Rajan's voice had a flexible mode to cry in anger and instantly reflect an intense gush of agony that would never fail to change the mood of the viewers.
      Like Muthuraman,AVM Rajan also joined all his contemporary heroes for a substantial level of participation in many movies.He had acted with MGR in 'Engal Thangam' and 'Navarathinam'.But like most other actors, his entries with Sivaji Ganesan were more.He would have acted a great number of films with the Chevalier, such as 'Paar Magale Paar''Aandavan Kattalai','Pachai Vilakku' 'Galatta Kalyanam' 'Manidharil Manickam','Thillaanaa Mohanaambaal','Sivagamiyin Selvan' and 'Rojavin Raja'.With Gemini Ganesan he was seen in 'Chakkaram','Pandhayam' and 'Veera Abimanyu' and with Muthuraman in 'Kodimalar''Major Chandraganth'.'Thulaabaaram' and 'Irulum Oliyum .
      Among the films mentioned above, 'Pandhayam' was a remake of the Hindi movie 'Sachai' {starring Shammi Kapoor and Sanjiv Kumar} which was the story of two friends who were like the north and south poles in their choice of ideals and ways of life. Subsequently, both of them, under forced circumstances,change their ideologies and switch over to each other's way of routine.It was a challenging role for Rajan and he did leave an indelible impression. 
       As a playboy in Balachander's 'Major Chandrakanth',he was quite convincing.'Veera Abimanyu' was a true reflection of a portion of  The Mahabaratha and Rajan was cute in the role of Abimanyu with the fascinating pair of Kanchana, as Vaksala and Gemini playing the role of Lord Krishna, in a captivating manner.
      Rajan frequently appeared in the role of a baddie joining a gang of robbers and smugglers, owing to helpless, personal or family situations.in movies like 'Manippayal' [of Selvi Pictures'], 'Engal Thangam' [Mekala Pictures] and 'Anaadhai Anandan' [an AVM production, based on Charles Dickens'Oliver Twist' and Rajan appeared as Bill Sikes].Finally AVM Rajan also acted in Rajinikanth films such as' Billa' { as a cop} and Thee from the Sujatha Cine Arts, besides 'Thaimeedhu Sathyam' from the Devar films production house. Rajan could perform negative characters with consummate ease just as he portrayed hero and character roles with confidence and credit.
       AVM Rajan's 'Karpooram','Chithrangi'[A Modern Theatres' Release] and 'Magizhampu' with his wife Pushpalatha, apart from the earlier films when they were courting each other are the sweet reminders of the wonderfully matching couple.His other movie 'Darisanam' showed him  in the portrait of an irretrievably dejected man, flooded with philosophical whims as reflected in the most memorable song of TMS and L.R.Eswari starting with 'Idhu Malai Nerathu Mayakkam'.Rajan, had acted as hero in AVM Pictures 'Annaiyum Pithavum' too..
     He has also been a vital part of the devotional films 'Dheivam','Thunaivan' and 'Thiruvarul', all from Devar's Dhandayudhapaani production house. Rajan's performance in each of his movies was a clear vindication of the emotional intensity that he was capable of delivering,to the extent of melting the mood of the viewers.It was his most valuable performance that quite often enriched the quality of the films he acted.His voice was an amazing boost to his level of performance because it could churn out deeper emotions at his beck and call, adding a great deal of genuineness to the emotional context,with unfailing commitment.
       The most tragic of his roles,was that of a labour leader,falling a prey to the brutal schemes of the agents of capitalism, in the immortal Tamil remake of  the award winning Malayalam film 'Thulaabaaram', with the same title.This sorrow- laden film, fetched the national award for Saratha who played the role of Rajan's  widowed wife killing her children,forced by intolerable poverty and social indifference.Though Saratha got the award,no one can undermine the true- to- life portrayal of the union leader played by the emotionally profound AVM Rajan. It is really a mystery,that this great actor disappeared from the world of cinema all of a sudden and it is equally sad that he could not reach higher levels, on the rungs of the acting ladder,despite being called 'the glow of acting .'
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