Celebrating a hero, villain, character artiste, all rolled into one

Raghuvaran: Tamil cinema legend with a powerful voice, versatile roles, and enduring impact on fans and filmmakers.

Tall, handsome, and with a voice high on bass, Raghuvaran was a stellar presence in the Tamil films of the 1980s, 1990s, and up until his demise in 2008. Hailing from Kollengode in Kerala before shifting base to Coimbatore and eventually finding his acting chops in the Madras of the ‘80s, the lean actor did the whole spectrum of hero, villain, and character roles.

March 19 marked his 17th death anniversary, a departure that left Kollywood poorer. Fans of a more recent vintage would recall his father role in Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), wherein his relationship dynamic with Dhanush had its moments of angst and affection.

Voice modulation has always been Raghuvaran’s strength. He was an actor who knew the power of a good dialogue and a well-placed pause. It was an attribute he had in abundance even in his early foray into tinseltown. The way he repeats “I know, I know” in the 1990 crime flick Puriyaadha Pudhir is the stuff of legend. A packed Shanti theatre on Mount Road broke into applause as his monologue reflecting anger, suspicion, and a tinge of sadness became part of pop culture.

Finding his groove in serials and then striding into celluloid, Raghuvaran had the screen presence to lock horns with the biggest of stars, be it Rajinikanth (Baasha) or Mammootty (Suryamanasam). Cutting across languages, Raghuvaran carved a fan-base and remained a favourite with directors, bridging the class-commercial divide.

The sensitive dad, grappling with a special child in Anjali, revealed a soft core within Raghuvaran. Mani Ratnam’s film tugged at hearts and left eyes moist; it also showed its hero in fresh light. When literature adopted a cinematic flavour, Raghuvaran was around to lend his might to unique characters. Be it serials or even a Malayalam film, he could convert the author’s vision into an accessible role.

Even in the meanest of villain roles, Raghuvaran found a tonality that rang true with the masses. His Chief Minister’s act in Shankar’s Mudhalvan was another solid performance. One of the rare actors, spoken in the same breath as the film’s hero, Raghuvaran left in his prime, aged just 49.

An actor, who straddled the heights, and as an individual losing his way in life, Raghuvaran paid the price for his indulgences. He remains both an inspiration and a cautionary tale. A documentary on him is on the cards and it is a much needed one. He was the quintessential artiste, wedded to the craft, consumed by its intensity, and like some in that era, was a bit casual in nurturing his health. On screen, he was special.