# Ravichandran (Tamil actor)
**Ravichandran** (born B. S. Raman; 30 March 1940 – 25 July 2011) was an Indian actor who worked in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema). Credited as "Kalaingnar Thilagham" and also called "Puratchi Kalaignar", he appeared in more than 105 films over a career spanning over four decades. Introduced by director [C. V. Sridhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/c-v-sridhar) in the 1964 comedy *Kadhalikka Neramillai*, he was a popular romantic hero through the 1960s and 1970s before returning in character roles from the mid-1980s. A contemporary account placed him, alongside Jaishankar, as one of the most popular heroes of the late 1960s and early 1970s after [M. G. Ramachandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-g-ramachandran) and Sivaji Ganesan.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth and death | 30 March 1940, Kuala Lumpur (some sources give 1942); died 25 July 2011 in Chennai, aged 71[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html) |
| Birth name | B. S. Raman[3](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/2576/ravichandran) |
| Output | More than 105 films in a career spanning over four decades[4](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/ravichandran/1849) |
| Screen names | Credited as "Kalaingnar Thilagham"; also called "Puratchi Kalaignar"[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/ravichandran/) |
## Early life
Ravichandran was born in [Kuala Lumpur](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuala-lumpur) and moved to [Tiruchirappalli](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiruchirappalli), India, in 1951, where he studied at St. Joseph's College and completed his degree.[6](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D) Before entering cinema he acted in stage dramas during his Trichy studies, including *Aanaiyidungal Anna* and *Udhaya Suriyan*, and continued on stage after entering films with *Mapplley Yen Magalaik Kadhali* and *That Man from Poonthamallee*; in the latter he played a double role and received the title "Nadaga Sigamani" from Thirumuruga Kirupanandha Variyar.[7](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ravichandran/ratings)
## Film career
**Debut and lead-hero years.** Director C. V. Sridhar cast Ravichandran as the hero of *Kadhalikka Neramillai* (1964), a comedy that became a superhit with memorable songs and classic comedy.[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tamil-actor-ravichandran-dies-600970) A contemporary account places him, alongside Jaishankar, as one of the most popular heroes of the late 1960s and early 1970s after M. G. Ramachandran and [Sivaji Ganesan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivaji-ganesan).[8](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actor-ravichandiran-passes-away-aid0136.html)
**Comeback and character roles.** After the lead-hero phase ended in 1979, his comeback came with *Oomai Vizhigal* (1986), a horror film in which his chariot-entry scene became popular with audiences.[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html) He also appeared with [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) in *Guru Sishyan* (1988), *Raja Chinna Roja* (1989), and *Arunachalam* (1997), all commercial successes, and played [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s father in *Pammal K. Sambandam* (2002).[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-actor-ravichandran-passes-away/articleshow/9365210.cms) • [10](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actor-ravichandran-fell-coma-aid0091.html) By the 1990s he was mostly a supporting actor, though he played the lead actor's father, opposite [Arjun Sarja](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-sarja), in the Tamil film *Karnaa*.[4](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/ravichandran/1849)
**Direction.** Ravichandran directed films including *Maanaseega Kadhal* (1999) and *Manthiran* (2005), the latter launching his son Hamsavardhan; *Manthiran* drew on the killing of student Pon Navarasu by John David.[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html)
## Screen image
Ravichandran was credited as "Kalaingnar Thilagham" in many films in which he played the lead, and was also called "Puratchi Kalaignar", a title seen in the title scene of *Anandha Bairavi*.[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/ravichandran/) Fans, journalists, and directors gave him further titles including Kalai Ulaga Ilavarasar, Romantic Hero, Style King, and Chennai MGR.[4](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/ravichandran/1849) • [7](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ravichandran/ratings) The writer [Ashokamitran](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashokamitran) told *The Times of India* that although Ravichandran did not distinguish himself as an actor in a craft sense, he was very popular among young audiences.[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-actor-ravichandran-passes-away/articleshow/9365210.cms)
## Personal life and death
Ravichandran's second marriage was to the Malayalam actress Sheela; his sons Hamsavardhan and Balaji were from his first marriage, and his son George, from Sheela, acted in films and television.[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html) His wife at the time of his death was Vimala, and he was also survived by his daughter Lavanya.[1](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tamil-actor-ravichandran-dies-600970)
He had suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis support for about six months before his death.[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html) Hospitalized at Apollo Hospital in Chennai after breathing difficulty on 19 July 2011, he was placed on a ventilator for a lung infection, failed to respond to treatment, and died on the night of 25 July 2011.[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html) • [11](https://www.dinamalar.com/amp/news/tamil-nadu-news/actor-ravichandrans-death/282514) His body was cremated the following evening at the electric crematorium in Besant Nagar, Chennai, after public tributes from political and film figures.[8](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actor-ravichandiran-passes-away-aid0136.html)
## Note on birth year
Sources disagree on his birth year: several reference pages give 30 March 1940, while others, including [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) and AuteurGraph, give 30 March 1942,[5](https://indianexpress.com/about/ravichandran/) • [7](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ravichandran/ratings) and [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) lists 8 May 1937.[4](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/ravichandran/1849) The obituary reports of July 2011 give his age as 71, which is consistent with a 1940 birth year.[2](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html)
## References
1. [Tamil actor Ravichandran dies, NDTV (25 July 2011)](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/tamil-actor-ravichandran-dies-600970)
2. [Yesteryear Tamil film hero Ravichandran dead, The New Indian Express (26 July 2011)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2011/Jul/26/yesteryear-tamil-film-hero-ravichandran-dead-275229.html)
3. [Ravichandran, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/2576/ravichandran)
4. [Ravichandran: Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/ravichandran/1849)
5. [Ravichandran: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/ravichandran/)
6. [ரவிச்சந்திரன் (நடிகர்), தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D)
7. [Ravichandran Ratings, AuteurGraph](https://auteurgraph.com/person/ravichandran/ratings)
8. [பழம்பெரும் நடிகர் ரவிச்சந்திரன் மரணம்: இன்று உடல் தகனம்!, Filmibeat Tamil (26 July 2011)](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actor-ravichandiran-passes-away-aid0136.html)
9. [Tamil actor Ravichandran passes away, The Times of India (26 July 2011)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-actor-ravichandran-passes-away/articleshow/9365210.cms)
10. [கோமாவில் நடிகர் ரவிச்சந்திரன், Filmibeat Tamil (22 July 2011)](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actor-ravichandran-fell-coma-aid0091.html)
11. [நடிகர் ரவிச்சந்திரன் மரணம், Dinamalar](https://www.dinamalar.com/amp/news/tamil-nadu-news/actor-ravichandrans-death/282514)
---
*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 R to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 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