S. A. Ashokan


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

Early life

Ashokan was born on 20 May 1931 as Anthony in Tiruchirapalli. 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.

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 a positive role in the film Penn Kulathin Ponvilakku as an admirer of a woman whom he considers as 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, but also did character roles opposite many leading actors of those times.
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 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 Katha Thanayan, Kudumba Thalaivan, Panathottam, Koduthu Vaithaval, Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum, Periya Idathu Penn, Anandha Jodhi, Panakkara Kudumbam, Needhikkuppin Paasam, Kaanchi Thalaivan, Vettaikaaran, Dheiva Thaai, Thozhilali, Panam Padaithavan, Kanni Thaai, Thazhampoo, Anbe Vaa, Mugaraasi, Chandhrodhayam, Thaali Bhagyam, Thanipiravi, Parakkum Paavai, Petralthan Pillaiya, Thaikku Thalaimagan, Arasa Kattalai, Kaavalkaaran, Vivasayee, Ragasiya Police 115, Thaer Thiruvizha, Kannan En Kadhalan, Oli Vilakku, Kanavan, Kadhal Vaaganam, Adimaippenn, Nam Naadu, Maattukara Velan, En Annan, Thalaivan, Thedi Vandha Mappillai, Engal Thangam, Kumari Kottam, Rickshawkaran, Neerum Neruppum, Oru Thaai Makkal, Sange Muzhangu, Nalla Neram, Raman Thediya Seethai, 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, 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.

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.

Personal life

Ashokan was married to Mary Gnanam. They had two sons: Vincent and Amalraj. On 19 November 1982, Ashokan died of a heart attack. Amalraj died in October 2002. Ashokan is survived by Vincent.

Filmography

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

YearFilmRoleNotes
1953AvvaiyarKing ChozhanDebut movie
1954Ethir ParadhathuMoorthi
1954Illara Jothi
1955Doctor Savithri
1956Rambaiyin KaadhalMinister
1958Anbu EngeGuest Appearance-
1958Maya Manithan
1959Athisaya Penn
1960Padikkadha MedhaiThiyagu
1960Parthiban Kanavu Chozhan King Parthiban
1960Kalathur KannammaMayor
1960Paavai Vilakku
1960Vijayapuri VeeranNanjappan-
1961Kappalottiya ThamizhanSub – Collector Ash
1961ManapanthalRajasekaran
1961Thaai Sollai Thattadhe-
1962Kannadi MaligaiManager Rathinam
1962Kudumba ThalaivanSomu
1962Sarada
1962Paadha KaanikkaiMaanickam
1962Paasam
1962Veerathirumagan
1962Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan
1963Anandha JodhiInspector Baskar
1963Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum
1963Kaanchi ThalaivanChalukiya King Pulikesi
1963Kaithiyin Kathali-
1963Naanum Oru PennGuest
1963Ezhai Pangalan
1963Needhikkuppin Paasam
1963Koduthu VaithavalManickam
1963PanathottamNatarajan-
1963Periya Idathu PennSabapathy
1963Idhu Sathiyam-
1964Andavan KattalaiManikandan
1964Dheiva ThaaiKarunakaran-
1964Muradan Muthu
1964Panakkara KudumbamMuthaiah
1964Padagotti
1964KarnanPrince Duriyodhanan
1964Vettaikaaran
1964ThozhilaliMurugappa
1965Iravum PagalumGovindhan
1965Karthigai DeepamPasubathi
1965Kaattu Rani
1965Kanni ThaaiVasu
1965Panam Padaithavan
1965PoomalaiAnand
1965Vallavanukku VallavanRamesh
1965Thaayum Magalum
1965ThazhampooKanthasamy-
1966ChandhrodhayamZamindar Ponnambalam
1966Iru Vallavargal
1966MugaraasiJambu
1966Naan AanaiyittalPolice Inspector Chezhiyan
1966Parakkum PaavaiVidjayan
1966Petralthan PillaiyaSekhar
1966RamuRangan-
1966ThanipiraviRathnapuram
1967Adhey KangalKamalanathan
1967Arasa KattalaiPrince Vilavan
1967Iru MalargalCollege Correspontent
1967Kandhan KarunaiSoora Padman
1967Kannan En KadhalanDoctor Singh-
1967Penn Endral Penn
1967Sabash ThambiRamesh
1967Thaikku ThalaimaganSomaiah
1967Naan
1967VivasayeeGurusamy
1968Andru Kanda MugamAdvocate Aathmanathan
1968KanavanMani
1968Kadhal VaaganamPandjachalam-
1968KuzhanthaikkagaThe Police Inspector
1968Oli VilakkuMaster Jambhu
1968Ragasiya Police 115Nambirajan
1968Pudhiya BhoomiMayandi
1968Uyarndha ManithanDoctor Gopal
1968Moondrezhuthu
1968Neelagiri ExpressBald Man-
1968Thaer ThiruvizhaSolaimulanga/Somu
1969Akka Thangai
1969Adimai PennKing Sengodan
1969Kaaval Dheivam
1969Manasatchi
1969Nam NaaduAlavandar
1970En AnnanDharmaraj
1970Maanavan
1970Maattukara VelanChairman Nagalingam
1970Kanmalar
1970ThalaivanBhairavan
1970Thedi Vandha MappillaiSuresh
1971Kumari KottamSethupathi
1971RickshawkaranKailasam
1971Neerum NeruppumThe King Marthadhan
1971Oru Thaai MakkalSelvanayakam
1972DeivamThief
1972Nalla NeramDharmalingam
1972Raman Thediya SeethaiGovindanraj
1972Sange MuzhanguNagarajan
1972Shakthi LeelaiVaana Sooran
1973Ganga Gowri
1973Gayathri
1973Baghdad Perazhagi
1973Komatha En KulamathaSengotan
1973Pattikaattu PonnaiyaMaster – wrestler Singaiya
1973PonvanduKannan's father
1973Ulagam Sutrum ValibanScientist Bhairavan
1974Doctor Amma
1974VairamThief Samy
1974Doctoramma
1974Thai Piranthal
1974Naan Avanillai
1974Netru Indru Naalai'Perum Puli' Jambu
1975Ninaithadhai MudippavanPolice Officer Jagadeesh
1975Pattikkaattu RajaTiger
1976DasavatharamThe King Ravanan or Ilangeswaran
1976Nee Oru Maharani
1977Aattukara Alamelu
1977PalabishegamLand Lord
1977Nallathukku Kalamillai
1977Murugan Adimai
1978Shri Kanchi KamakshiKabaligan
1978Ival Oru Seethai
1978Thai Meethu Sathiyam
1979Allauddinum Albhutha VilakkumBhootham
1979Dharma Yuddham
1980Billa
1980Murattu Kaalai
1981Thee
1981Ram Lakshman
1981Savaal
1981Sankarlal
1982KrodhamInspector Prasad
1982Oru Varisu UruvagiradhuLast movie