Mohan R. Radha

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M. R. Radha, An Indian actor. After a successful career in stage in his early years he acted in a few films in 1930s and 1940s and later he went back to his first love, theatre giving up films.

[edit] Career

He gained popularity with the success of his stageplay Rattha Kanneer. When it was adapted for film, Radha became an important figure in Indian Cinema. He very quickly became a box-office attraction on his own, gaining star-status. His acting style was versatile and through his career portrayed villain, comedy and mixtures of both.

After the 1950’s he acted in most of the Tamil pictures released.^{[citation needed]} Film-makers created roles especially for him and often stole the limelight from other performer on screen. Sivaji Ganesan (Tamil Actor) had often referred to M. R. Radha and Mr.Balaiah as two actors whom he always held in very high esteem and whose talents he could not probably match.^{[citation needed]} Incidentally, Sivaji Ganesan had earlier refused to do lead role in Rattha Kanneer when it was made into a film, mentioning that he was not capable of doing that role and only M.R. Radha could do it justice as it required phenomenal amounts of talent.

M. R. Radha is primarily remembered for his shooting of screen idol M. G. Ramachandran, attributed to professional rivalry. Radha was an active member of the Dravidian movement, and was known for his rabid anti-Brahmin views.

[edit] External links

• M.R. Radha at the Internet Movie Database
• A news item on a special postal envelope released in his honour
• A scene from "Paava mannippu"
• A scene from Rattha Kanneer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW-5gM0J_Jk