# K. Natraj
**K. Natraj** is an Indian actor, director, and screenwriter who has worked primarily in Tamil-language films and television serials since the mid-1970s[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4108/k-natraj). He is best known for directing *Anbulla Rajinikanth* (1984), in which [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) appeared as himself, and *Valli* (1993), which Rajinikanth wrote and produced[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El5tICnbDIA). As an actor he has appeared in supporting roles in films including *Moondru Mudichu* (1976) and *Moondram Pirai* (1982), and in television serials such as *[Kolangal](https://www.edgepedia.org/kolangal-tv-series)* and *Roja*[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/k-natraj/biography.html) • [4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actor, director, and screenwriter in Tamil cinema and television[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4108/k-natraj) |
| Acting debut | *Moondru Mudichu* (1976), alongside Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, directed by K. Balachander[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/k-natraj/biography.html) |
| Directing debut | *Anbulla Rajinikanth* (1984), released 2 August 1984, with Rajinikanth playing himself[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/2322/1984-anbulla-rajinikanth) |
| Other directed films | *Selvi* and *Irandu Manam* (1985), *Thalaiyatti Bommaigal* (1986), *Chellakutti* (1987), *Valli* (1993)[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4108/k-natraj) |
| Television work | Acted in serials including *Kolangal*, *Andal Azhagar*, *Pagal Nilavu*, and *Roja*[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj) |
| Long career span | Over 28 film credits as an actor, from 1976 to at least 2017[6](https://auteurgraph.com/person/k-natraj) |
## Early career and acting
Natraj began in the industry as an assistant director at Devar Films[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj). His acting debut came in [K. Balachander](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-balachander)'s *[Moondru Mudichu](https://www.edgepedia.org/moondru-mudichu-1976-film)* (1976), which starred [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) and Rajinikanth[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/k-natraj/biography.html). Through the late 1970s and 1980s he took supporting roles in a string of Tamil films, including *Aadu Puli Attam* (1977), *Priya* (1978), *Bairavi* (1978), *Nizhal Nijamagirathu* (1978), *Ullasa Paravaigal* and *Polladhavan* (1980), *Ranuva Veeran* (1981), *Moondram Pirai* (1982), and *Naan Mahaan Alla* (1984)[7](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/k-natraj). Film databases list him with 28 acting credits spanning 1976 to 2017, the later ones including *Katha Nayagan* (2017)[6](https://auteurgraph.com/person/k-natraj).
From the 2000s he worked extensively in Tamil television. He acted in serials including *Kolangal* with Devayani, *Thangam* with [Ramya Krishnan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ramya-krishnan), *7C* on Vijay TV, *Andal Azhagar*, *Pagal Nilavu*, *Rekka Katti Parakkudhu Manasu*, and *Roja* with Priyanka Nalkar on Sun TV[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj).
## Directorial career
**Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984).** According to a profile of his career, the writer Thooyavan, impressed by the English film *Touch of Love*, prepared a [Tamil script](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-script) and approached Natraj to direct it. The team first sought [M. G. Ramachandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-g-ramachandran) for the lead but could not secure his dates, then narrated the story to Rajinikanth, who agreed and appeared in a guest role as himself[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj). The film, released on 2 August 1984, stars Rajinikanth, Ambika, and Meena, with music by [Ilaiyaraaja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ilaiyaraaja); its story follows a terminally ill girl in an orphanage who befriends the actor[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/2322/1984-anbulla-rajinikanth) • [8](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/anbulla-rajinikanth).
Natraj followed it with *Selvi* (1985), with Revathi, Jeevithaa, and Suresh, and *Irandu Manam* the same year, then *Thalaiyatti Bommaigal* (1986) and *Chellakutti* (1987)[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj) • [1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4108/k-natraj). On *Chellakutti* and *Thalaiyatti Bommaigal* he is also credited as story, screenplay, and dialogue writer[9](https://moviebuff.herokuapp.com/k-natraj).
**Valli (1993).** His most prominent later film was *Valli*, released on 20 August 1993, written and produced by Rajinikanth under the banner Rajini Arts, with Rajinikanth in an extended guest lead role[10](https://old.rajinifans.com/others/guestrole.php) • [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El5tICnbDIA). The film introduced Priya Raman, and the director Hari worked on it as one of the assistant directors[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj). Natraj also directed the serial *Kalki* (2004) with Kushboo Sundar, Pooja Lokesh, and Abhishek Shankar on Jaya TV[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj).
## Personal life
Natraj's daughter married the actor [Vishnu Vishal](https://www.edgepedia.org/vishnu-vishal) in 2011; the couple's marriage ended in 2018[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj).
## Date and place of birth
Sources disagree on both. TamilMDb, Flickchart, and AuteurGraph give 31 August 1949[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4108/k-natraj) • [7](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/k-natraj) • [6](https://auteurgraph.com/person/k-natraj), while Nettv4u's biographical text gives 30 November 1949, although the same page's structured data lists 31 August 1949[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj). On birthplace, Nettv4u states Karaikal, Puducherry[4](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj), while AuteurGraph and CinemaOne list Kerala, India[6](https://auteurgraph.com/person/k-natraj) • [11](https://cinemaone.net/actor/1340392).
## References
1. [K. Natraj, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4108/k-natraj)
2. [Actor and Director K. Natraj | Filmography Of K. Natraj, AnnaParavai (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El5tICnbDIA)
3. [K Natraj Biography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/k-natraj/biography.html)
4. [Tamil Director K Natraj Biography, Nettv4u](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/director/k-natraj)
5. [Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/2322/1984-anbulla-rajinikanth)
6. [K. Natraj, AuteurGraph](https://auteurgraph.com/person/k-natraj)
7. [K. Natraj, Flickchart](https://www.flickchart.com/professional/k-natraj)
8. [Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984), Moviebuff](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/anbulla-rajinikanth)
9. [K Natraj, Moviebuff](https://moviebuff.herokuapp.com/k-natraj)
10. [Rajinikanth Guest Role Movie List, Rajinifans](https://old.rajinifans.com/others/guestrole.php)
11. [K. Natraj, CinemaOne](https://cinemaone.net/actor/1340392)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license