S. A. Ashokan
Born
Anthony

20 May 1931 (1931-05-20)
Died11 November 1982 (1982-11-12) (aged 51)
Alma materSt. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli
OccupationActor
SpouseMary Gnanam
Children2, including Vincent Asokan
RelativesPrameela (cousin)

S. A. Ashokan, born as Antony and often spelled Asokan, was an Indian actor who worked mainly in Tamil cinema and theatre. 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.[1] 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.[2]

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 (1959) as an admirer of a woman he considers 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 and did character roles opposite many leading actors of those times.[2]

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, father or father-in-law, or 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 (1964 film), Dheiva Thaai, Thozhilali, Panam Padaithavan, Kanni Thaai, Thazhampoo, Anbe Vaa, Mugaraasi, Chandhrodhayam, Thaali Bhagyam, Thanipiravi, Parakkum Paavai, Petralthan Pillaiya, Thaikku Thalaimagan, Arasa Kattalai, Kaavalkaaran (1967 film), Vivasayee, Ragasiya Police 115, Thaer Thiruvizha, Kannan En Kadhalan, Oli Vilakku, Kanavan, Kadhal Vaaganam, Adimaippenn, Nam Naadu (1969 film), Maattukara Velan, En Annan, Thalaivan (1970 film), Thedi Vandha Mappillai, Engal Thangam, Kumari Kottam, Rickshawkaran, Neerum Neruppum, Oru Thaai Makkal, Sange Muzhangu, Nalla Neram, Raman Thediya Seethai (1972 film), 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 (1967), 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.[2]

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, which helped the filmmaker make his mark. Ashokan, along with Jaishankar, and a troupe of popular artists, often toured all over Tamil Nadu to conduct cultural programs.[2]

Personal life

Ashokan was married to Mary Gnanam (originally named Saraswathi). They had two sons, including Vincent Asokan, who is also an actor.[3][4]

Filmography

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

YearFilmRoleNotes
1953AvvaiyarKing Chozhan
1954Ethir ParadhathuMoorthi
Illara Jothi
1955Doctor Savithri
1956Rambaiyin KaadhalMinister
1957 PudhaiyalPuthaiyal
1958Anbu EngeGuest Appearance
Maya Manithan
1959Athisaya Penn
1960Padikkadha MedhaiThiyagu
Parthiban Kanavu Chozhan King Parthiban
Kalathur KannammaMayor
Paavai Vilakku
Vijayapuri VeeranNanjappan
1961Kappalottiya ThamizhanSub – Collector Ash
ManapanthalRajasekaran
Thaai Sollai Thattadhe
1962Kannadi MaligaiManager Rathinam
Kudumba ThalaivanSomu
Sarada
Paadha KaanikkaiMaanickam
Indira En SelvamSekar. Dr.
Paasam
Veerathirumagan
Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan
1963Anandha JodhiInspector Baskar
Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum
Kaanchi ThalaivanChalukiya King Pulikesi
Kaithiyin Kathali
Naanum Oru PennGuest
Ezhai Pangalan
Needhikkuppin Paasam
Koduthu VaithavalManickam
PanathottamNatarajan
Periya Idathu PennSabapathy
Idhu Sathiyam
1964Andavan KattalaiManikandan
Dheiva ThaaiKarunakaran
Muradan Muthu
Panakkara KudumbamMuthaiah
Padagotti
KarnanPrince Duriyodhanan
Vettaikaaran
ThozhilaliMurugappa
1965Iravum PagalumGovindhan
Karthigai DeepamPasubathi
Kaattu Rani
Kanni ThaaiVasu
Panam Padaithavan
PoomalaiAnand
Vallavanukku VallavanRamesh
Thaayum Magalum
ThazhampooKanthasamy
1966ChandhrodhayamZamindar Ponnambalam
Iru Vallavargal
MugaraasiJambu
Naan AanaiyittalPolice Inspector Chezhiyan
Parakkum PaavaiVidjayan
Petralthan PillaiyaSekhar
RamuRangan
ThanipiraviRathnapuram
1967Adhey KangalKamalanathan
Arasa KattalaiPrince Vilavan
Iru MalargalCollege Correspontent
Kandhan KarunaiSoora Padman
Kannan En KadhalanDoctor Singh
Penn Endral Penn
Sabash ThambiRamesh
Thaikku ThalaimaganSomaiah
Naan
VivasayeeGurusamy
1968Andru Kanda MugamAdvocate Aathmanathan
KanavanMani
Kadhal VaaganamPandjachalam
KuzhanthaikkagaThe Police Inspector
Oli VilakkuMaster Jambhu
Ragasiya Police 115Nambirajan
Pudhiya BhoomiMayandi
Uyarndha ManithanDoctor Gopal
Moondrezhuthu
Neelagiri ExpressBald Man
Thaer ThiruvizhaSolaimulanga/Somu
1969Akka Thangai
Adimai PennKing Sengodan
Kaaval Dheivam
Manasatchi
Nam NaaduAalavandar
1970En AnnanDharmaraj
Maanavan
Maattukara VelanChairman Nagalingam
Kann Malar
ThalaivanBhairavan
Thedi Vandha MappillaiSuresh
1971Kumari KottamSethupathi
RickshawkaranKailasam
Neerum NeruppumThe King Marthadhan
Oru Thaai MakkalSelvanayakam
1972DeivamThief
Nalla NeramDharmalingam
Raman Thediya SeethaiGovindanraj
Sange MuzhanguNagarajan
Shakthi LeelaiVaana Sooran
1973Ganga Gowri
Gayathri
Baghdad Perazhagi
Komatha En KulamathaSengotan
Pattikaattu PonnaiyaMaster – wrestler Singaiya
PonvanduKannan's father
Ulagam Sutrum ValibanScientist Bhairavan
1974Doctor Amma
VairamThief Samy
Doctoramma
Thai Piranthal
Naan Avanillai
Netru Indru Naalai'Perum Puli' Jambu
1975Ninaithadhai MudippavanPolice Officer Jagadeesh
Pattikkaattu RajaTiger
1976DasavatharamThe King Ravanan or Ilangeswaran
Nee Oru Maharani
1977Aattukara Alamelu
PalabishegamLand Lord
Nallathukku Kalamillai
Gayathri
Murugan Adimai
1978Shri Kanchi KamakshiKabaligan
Ival Oru Seethai
Thai Meethu Sathiyam
1979Allauddinum Albhutha VilakkumBhootham
Dharma Yuddham
1980Billa
Murattu Kaalai
1981Thee
Ram Lakshman
Bala Nagamma
Savaal
Sankarlal
1982KrodhamInspector Prasad
Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu

References

  1. "இதே நாளில் அன்று". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "S A Ashokan". Cinefundas. 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  3. "Actor Vincent Asokan". Behindwoods. 30 July 2005. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  4. "M.Baby vs Vincent Asokan on 9 March, 2000". indiankanoon.org. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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