# Raghava Lawrence (ரகவா லாரன்ஸ்)
**Raghava Lawrence** (ராகவா லாரன்ஸ்), also credited as Lawrence Raghavendra, is an Indian actor, dance choreographer, film director, playback singer, and philanthropist who works predominantly in Tamil and [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema). Born Raghavendra Murugaiyan in Chennai in 1976, he began in the industry as a background dancer, rose through choreography, and became known as a director and star of the *Muni* and *[Kanchana](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanchana-2011-film)* horror-comedy franchise before turning to Bollywood direction with *[Laxmii](https://www.edgepedia.org/laxmii)* (2020).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Lawrence Raghavendra; birth name Raghavendra Murugaiyan; adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) |
| Born | 1976 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu; sources disagree on the exact date[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/bio/) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) • [4](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) |
| Professions | Actor, dance choreographer, director, producer, screenwriter, composer, playback singer, philanthropist[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) |
| Choreography awards | Four Filmfare Awards South, three Nandi Awards, and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for choreography[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/awards/) |
| Signature franchise | *Muni* (2007), *Kanchana: Muni 2* (2011), *Kanchana 2* (2015), and *Kanchana 3* (2019), in which he wrote, directed, and starred[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) |
| Directing debut | *Mass* (2004), a Telugu film starring Nagarjuna and Jyothika[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) |
| Bollywood debut | *Laxmii* (2020), a Hindi remake of *Kanchana: Muni 2*, starring Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) |
| Philanthropy | Established the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Charitable Trust in 2015 with an initial donation of 10 million (1 crore); also runs the Lawrence Charitable Trust[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) • [7](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5104924/accounts-and-annual-returns) |
## Early life and start as a dancer
Lawrence was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 1976. His birth name was Raghavendra Murugaiyan; after his mother Kanmani prayed to Raghavendra Swami during his childhood illness with a brain tumour, he took the name "Raghava", a change Indian Express dates to 2001.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/bio/) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) • [6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) Before his break in cinema he did odd jobs, working as a car washer for the fight master Super Subbarayan.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html)
**Rajinikanth's intervention.** Filmibeat's account has a young Lawrence performing a few moves in front of [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) on a film set in 1991 while working as a car assistant to Super Subbarayan; Rajinikanth said nothing on the spot but the next day his secretary handed Lawrence a recommendation letter that got him placed in the dance union managed by [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva).[8](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2017/these-legends-were-instrumental-raghava-lawrence-s-career-259005.html) Lawrence later said that in the beginning of his career he worked as a group dancer under Prabhu Deva, whom he calls his guru.[9](https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html)
His first screen appearance was in a song sequence of T. Rajendran's Tamil film *Samsara Sangeetham* (1989), followed by *Donga Police* (1992), in which he danced alongside Prabhu Deva.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) In 1993 he appeared as a background dancer in the song Chikku Bukku Rayile from the Tamil film *Gentleman*, one of the background dancers behind Prabhu Deva.[10](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/laxmii-director-raghava-lawrence-was-once-prabhudeva-s-background-dancer-watch-their-dance-video/story-JuZuxZaFqFz7WwfVTUmGkI_amp.html)
## Choreography career
Lawrence's move from performer to choreographer came through [Chiranjeevi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chiranjeevi), who, having noticed his dancing, gave him the chance to choreograph dance items for *Hitler* (1997) and *Master* (1997).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) The Telugu choreography work brought him a string of awards: Nandi Awards for Best Dance Choreographer for *Annayya* (2000) and *[Indra](https://www.edgepedia.org/indra-2002-film)* (2003), Filmfare Awards South for Best Choreography for *Annayya* (2001), *Paarthale Paravasam* (2002), *Indra* (2003), and *Style* (2007), and [CineMAA Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinemaa-awards) for *Indra* (2003) and *Satyam* (2004).[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/awards/) A Telugu academic study of dance in Telugu cinema identifies Lawrence as a key example of the dancer-to-choreographer path.[12](https://igmlnet.uohyd.ac.in/docs/hi-res/hcu_images/TH13627.pdf)
He has described his dance style as a blend of hip-hop and Westernized styles.[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) In a 2010 interview he said that dancing remains closest to his heart: he started as a group dancer and became known to the public as a dancer.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raghava-lawrence-cowboy-act/articleshow/5921561.cms)
## Acting and directing
Producer TVD Prasad cast Lawrence as the male lead in *Speed Dancer* (1999).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) The film flopped; Lawrence recalled in a 2006 interview that he was insulted to his face afterward and that his two Tamil films as hero also failed, and that he challenged a critic-director that he would star in a hit.[9](https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html) He then played the male lead in *Arputham* (2002) and appeared in minor roles in Tamil films such as *Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven* (2000) and *Parthen Rasithen* (2000).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/)
**Directing.** Lawrence debuted as a director with the Telugu film *Mass* (2004), starring Jyotika and Nagarjuna Akkineni, which became a commercial success.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) His big break as an actor came with the Telugu dance film *Style* (2006), which he also directed; the film won him the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography and, in his telling, broke the "second-film-flop" jinx, with cameo appearances by Chiranjeevi, [Nagarjuna](https://www.edgepedia.org/nagarjuna-actor), and Prabhu Deva in its climax.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [9](https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html)
The Tamil horror-thriller *Muni* (2007), in which he acted and which he wrote and directed, marked his breakthrough success and launched a franchise.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) He continued it as writer, director, and star in *Kanchana: Muni 2* (2011), *Kanchana 2* (2015), and *Kanchana 3* (2019), and won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreography for *Kanchana: Muni 2*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/awards/) In 2020 he debuted as a Bollywood director with the Hindi film *Laxmii*, a remake of *Kanchana: Muni 2*, for which he also wrote the screenplay.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/) • [14](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence/upcoming-movies.html)
His IMDb credits tally 71 choreography entries, 47 acting entries, 12 writing entries, and 11 directing entries.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/)
## Later work
In 2023 Lawrence appeared in [Karthik Subbaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/karthik-subbaraj)'s *Jigarthanda Double X* as Allius Caesar, P. Vasu's *Chandramukhi 2*, and *Rudhran*.[15](https://cinegraph.org/people/raghava-lawrence) • [14](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence/upcoming-movies.html) Announced projects include *Kanchana 4*, which he directs and produces, and films such as *Benz*, *Bullet*, *Kaala Bhairava*, *Hunter*, and *Mahaveer Karna*.[14](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence/upcoming-movies.html) • [16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jun/10/raghava-lawrence-gives-update-on-political-announcement-after-bharathirajas-demise) In June 2026, after the death of the veteran filmmaker [Bharathiraja](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharathiraja), he postponed a planned "important life decision" announcement, and Indian Express reported that he had hinted at entering politics.[16](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jun/10/raghava-lawrence-gives-update-on-political-announcement-after-bharathirajas-demise) • [17](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/raghava-lawrence-politics-entry-tvk-vijay-tiruchirappalli-trichy-east-byelection-10735943/)
## Philanthropy and personal life
Lawrence married Latha Lawrence, and the couple have a daughter, Raghavi.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) After the death of former Indian president [A. P. J. Abdul Kalam](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-p-j-abdul-kalam) in 2015, he established the A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Charitable Trust with an initial donation of 10 million (1 crore).[3](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/) His charitable activity has included funding education for underprivileged children and helping eight children undergo open-heart surgery, as he told the Times of India in 2010.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raghava-lawrence-cowboy-act/articleshow/5921561.cms) In 2017 he supplied food, medicine, and other necessities to protesters supporting jallikattu in [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) and sought a meeting with Kerala's chief minister to offer 10 million (1 crore) in relief money for flood victims.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html) A Lawrence Charitable Trust registered with the United Kingdom Charity Commission, charity number 1174242, has filed annual returns on time through 2025.[7](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5104924/accounts-and-annual-returns)
He has also maintained devotional projects, telling Idlebrain in 2006 that he was building a temple for his deity Raghavendra Swamy in Ambattoor, Chennai.[9](https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html)
## References
1. [Raghava Lawrence, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/)
2. [Raghava Lawrence - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/bio/)
3. [Raghava Lawrence: News, Movies, Photos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/)
4. [ராகவா லாரன்ஸ் - Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html)
5. [Raghava Lawrence Awards, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/raghava-lawrence/awards/)
6. [Raghava Lawrence: Height, Age, Wife, Biography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence.html)
7. [The Lawrence Charitable Trust, UK Charity Commission register](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5104924/accounts-and-annual-returns)
8. [These Legends Were Instrumental In Raghava Lawrence's Career, Filmibeat](https://filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2017/these-legends-were-instrumental-raghava-lawrence-s-career-259005.html)
9. [Interview with Lawrence (16 January 2006), Idlebrain.com](https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html)
10. [Laxmii director Raghava Lawrence was once Prabhudeva's background dancer, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/laxmii-director-raghava-lawrence-was-once-prabhudeva-s-background-dancer-watch-their-dance-video/story-JuZuxZaFqFz7WwfVTUmGkI_amp.html)
11. [Raghava Lawrence - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706485/awards/)
12. [Dance in Telugu Cinema: Transitions, University of Hyderabad thesis](https://igmlnet.uohyd.ac.in/docs/hi-res/hcu_images/TH13627.pdf)
13. [Raghava Lawrence: Cowboy act, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raghava-lawrence-cowboy-act/articleshow/5921561.cms)
14. [Raghava Lawrence Upcoming Movies, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/raghava-lawrence/upcoming-movies.html)
15. [Raghava Lawrence, Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/raghava-lawrence)
16. [Raghava Lawrence gives update on political announcement after Bharathiraja death, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Jun/10/raghava-lawrence-gives-update-on-political-announcement-after-bharathirajas-demise)
17. [Raghava Lawrence breaks silence on political entry, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/raghava-lawrence-politics-entry-tvk-vijay-tiruchirappalli-trichy-east-byelection-10735943/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license