Latha Rajinikanth

Latha Rajinikanth (born Latha Rangachari) is an Indian philanthropist, film producer, playback singer, and the wife of actor Rajinikanth.^[1] She is the founder and correspondent of The Ashram, a Chennai-based school, and is the chairperson of her daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth’s production company, Ocher Studios.^[2]

Early life and education

Latha was born in Chennai, India. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree in English literature from Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai in 1980.

Career

During the 1980s, Latha worked as a playback singer in Tamil cinema. She sung a few songs in films; notable examples include "Netru Indha Neram" from the Kamal Haasan-starrer 'Tik Tik Tik (1981) and "Kadavul Ullamae" from Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984). She also contributed to Rajini 25 (1999), a musical album that commemorated Rajinikanth's 25 years of his career.

In 1991, Latha founded The Ashram, a philanthropic school for young children based in Velachery, Chennai, which she currently heads.^[3] She is expected to work with her daughter Soundarya Rajinikanth for producing the film Rana.

Personal life

Latha is the sister-in-law of veteran playwright Y. Gee. Mahendra, while she is also related to former actress Vyjayanthimala.^[4] Her brother Ravi Raghavendra is also an actor who is the father of Kolaveri-fame music director Anirudh Ravichander. She married Rajinikanth on February 26, 1981 at Tirupati, whom she met during an exclusive interview. The couple have two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya. Her elder daughter, Aishwarya married actor Dhanush in 2004 and they have two sons, Yathra and Linga. Her younger daughter Soundarya married Chennai-based Industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar in 2010.

Controversy

An FIR has been filed in Bangalore against Latha for allegedly forging documents to obtain a court order, restraining media from publishing news about her dispute with a commissioned producer over selling of rights of Tamil film 'Kochadaiiyan' on 15 June 2015.^[5]

Filmography

As producer

• Maaveeran (1986)
• Valli (1993)

As singer

• "Netru Indha Neram" - Tik Tik Tik
• "Kadavul Ullame" - Anbulla Rajinikanth
• "Kukkukoo Koovum" - Valli
• "Manappenin Sathiyam" - Kochadaiiyaan^[6]

As costume designer

• Valli (1993)

References