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Murali (Tamil actor)

S. D. Murali (19 May 1964 – 8 September 2010), known professionally as Murali, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema, where he was known as Puratchi Nayagan. He has mainly acted in Tamil films as well as few Kannada films. He was famous for roles that portrayed him as a perceptive singer or a tragic lover. His son, Atharvaa, debuted as an actor in the 2010 film Baana Kaathadi.

Early life

S. D. Murali was born on 19 May 1964 in Chennai to a Kannadiga family. Murali had two siblings; a younger brother S.D.Suresh and a sister Santhi. He lived and studied up to his 5th Standard in Chennai, and from 6th Standard to 10th Standard he studied in Bangalore. When he was 14 years old, he joined as an assistant director to his father, film director and writer S. Siddalingaiah. For some time, he worked as an editing assistant. Murali speaks three languages, Tamil, Kannada and English.

Career

Murali started his acting career with the Kannada film Prema Parva (1983) directed by his father; however, Geluvina Hejje (1982) directed by director Eranki Sharma released first. Bili Gulabi, Ajeya, Prema Gange, Thayikotta Thali, Sambhavami Yuge Yuge, and Ajay-Vijay are the Kannada films he did before entering into Tamil film industry. Poovilangu was his first Tamil film. He earned a good name with that film. He then acted in Pagal Nilavu, along with actress Revathi and directed by Mani Ratnam who made his directorial debut in Tamil cinema. Though this film garnered Murali great recognition, he could not sustain his success much longer. His films started failing at the box-office one after another and during that period, he even acted in double hero subjects : Vanna Kanavugal (1987) with Karthik, Thangamani Rangamani (1989) with S. Ve. Shekher and Ninaivu Chinnam (1989) with Prabhu.

In 1990, he starred in Vikraman's Pudhu Vasantham along with Sithara and Anand Babu, where he plays one amongst four friends who find themselves unexpectedly saddled with a young woman. The film was successful and set off a trend of "friendship" based movies and also propelled his career. In 1991, he acted in Idhayam, where he portrayed the soft hero who was incapable of expressing his love due to his inferiority complex. Soon, Murali found himself playing in rural drama films: Chinna Pasanga Naanga (1992), Manikuyil (1993), Manju Virattu (1994), Adharmam (1994), En Aasai Machan (1994) and Poomani (1996).

In 1997, he acted in three films including the romantic-drama Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga and the rural drama Porkkaalam directed by Cheran. The two films received critical acclaim and were blockbusters at the box-office. The next year, he acted in eight films including the long-delayed Veera Thalattu, the romantic-drama films, Kaadhale Nimmadhi, Poonthottam, Unnudan, the village drama films Rathna and En Aasai Rasave. The six films flopped at the box office. Dhinamdhorum was an average grosser while the much-hyped Desiya Geetham, despite positive reviews, bombed at the box office. In 1999, his flop streak continued with Ooty, the fictional biography Iraniyan, based on the life of the freedom fighter Vattakudi Iraniyan and Kanave Kalaiyadhe becoming box office failures.

In 2000, he acted in Vetri Kodi Kattu alongside Parthiban. The movie was a success at the box-office enabling Cheran to develop his own style of film-making. The film also won critical acclaim as well winning a State Award and a National Award in the process. Followed by drama movies, Kannukku Kannaga and Manu Needhi. In 2001, he appeared in five films. He plays in multi-starrers including Sonnal Thaan Kathala, Aanandham, Samudhiram, Alli Thandha Vaanam and Kadal Pookkal. Murali received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for this film. In 2002, he acted in drama, Kamarasu, a comedy, Sundhara Travels and family film, Namma Veetu Kalyanam. The next is Kadhaludan (2003), produced by Devayani and directed by her husband Rajakumaran.

In the early 2000s, Murali lost his appeal at the box office and several of his films, where he collaborated with new directors, subsequently became delayed or shelved. This included project such as Pandian's Kalvettu, Olichandran's Oli, Ramanan's Entrum Sugamae, Abhimanyu's Thala, Paattu Chatham Ketkuthamma and Lovers.

In 2006, he starred in the film, Pasa Kiligal alongside Prabhu, written by M. Karunanidhi. Murali was last seen in a cameo role in Baana Kaathadi (2010), in which his son Atharvaa made his film debut as an actor. His 100th film was the unreleased Kavasam, after which he died at the age of 46 due to cardiac arrest.