Basava Raju Sundaram is an Indian dance choreographer, actor and director, who works primarily in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films. He appeared as an actor in films such as but not limited to: Jeans (1998), 123 (2002), I Love You Da (2002) and Quick Gun Murugun (2009); and directed one film, Aegan (2008). He is the son of dancer Mugur Sundar, and the elder brother of choreographers Prabhu Deva and Nagendra Prasad.[1]
Raju Sundaram | |
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| Born | Basava Raju Sundaram (1968-09-06) 6 September 1968 (age 54) Mysore, Karnataka State, India |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Prabhu Deva (brother) Nagendra Prasad (brother) |
Choreographers and artists L. L. Cool Jayanth, Ashok Raja, Dinesh, Sridhar, Shobi Paulraj, Baba Bhaskar, Johny, Noble Paul, Prem Rakshith, Jani, Lalitha Shobi, Sathish Krishnan, Viji Sathish, Poppy, Japan Kumar, Sindhuja, Nanditha Jennifer, Raja, Shanthi Arvind, Anusha Swamy and Boopathy had worked as dancers and assistants to him.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] He won the National Film Award for Best Choreography for his work in the song "Pranamam Pranamam" song from the film Janatha Garage (2016)[10] and "Everest Anchuna" song from the film Maharshi (2019).[11]
Sundaram began his career assisting as a choreographer for his father Mugur Sundar's projects, before going on to lead troupes. He was a dancer in "Rukkumani Rukkumani" from Mani Ratnam's Roja (1992) and in Aasai (1995). He also regularly featured in cameo appearances in songs featuring his brother Prabhu Deva, with the pair making appearances in Shankar's early films Gentleman (1993) and Kadhalan (1994).[12] After being the lead choreographer for a few Kannada films, his first break came through Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda (1993), where he was given the chance to design dances for three songs.[13] He then went on to become a choreographer of Tamil directors Mani Ratnam and Shankar, and worked on Amitabh Bachchan's album, Aby Baby (1996).
Shankar then offered Sundaram an acting opportunity in his romantic comedy Jeans (1998), where Sundaram played a full-length role. His played the lead in the sports drama I Love You Da (2002) of which The Hindu stated the film proves "serious acting is simply not his cup of tea".[14] After working on an unreleased film titled Colombus, he then went on to feature in the trilingual One Two Three (2003) alongside his brothers, with scenes shot in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. The film opened to mixed reviews and did not perform well at the box office.[15][16] He has since primarily operated as a choreographer, making a few exceptions by starring in comic roles in Jeeva's Unnale Unnale (2007), Prabhu Deva's Engeyum Kadhal (2011) and in the Telugu film, Action 3D (2013).
| Year | Film | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Aegan | Tamil |
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Jeans | Madhesh | Tamil | |
| 1999 | En Swasa Katre | Raju | Special appearance | |
| 2002 | Manasella Neene | Arun | Kannada | Special appearance |
| 2002 | I Love You Da | Raju | Tamil | |
| 2003 | 123 | Pazhani / Shiva | Tamil / Kannada | |
| 2006 | Pellaina Kothalo | Prakash | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Unnale Unnale | Raju | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Quick Gun Murugun | Rowdy MBA | English | |
| 2011 | Engeyum Kaadhal | Raju | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Julai | Himself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2013 | Mirchi | Himself | Special appearance | |
| 2013 | Action 3D | Purush | ||
| 2015 | Isai | Himself | Tamil | Special appearance |
| 2015 | Size Zero | Himself | Telugu | Special appearance |
| 2017 | Yaanum Theeyavan | Pasupathy | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Padi Padi Leche Manasu | Goon | Telugu | Special appearance |
| Year | Film | Song | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Assembly Rowdy | "Turpu Kondallo" | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Idhayam | "Ohh Party Nalla" | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Roja | "Rukumani Rukumani" | ||
| 1992 | Suriyan | "Thoongu Moonchi" | ||
| 1993 | Enga Thambi | "Ithu Maanodum" | ||
| 1993 | Gentleman | "Chikku Bukku" | ||
| 1994 | Lockup Death | "Current Banthu" | Kannada | |
| 1994 | Police War | "Teenage Papa" | Telugu | |
| 1994 | Jai Hind | "Bodhai Yeri Pochu" | Tamil | |
| 1994 | Kadhalan | "Kadhalikkum Pennin" | ||
| 1995 | Mounam | "Dhammaro Abbaya Raro" | Telugu | |
| 1995 | Aasai | "Shockkadikuthu Sona" | Tamil | |
| 1997 | Ullaasam | "Valibam Vaazha Sollum" | ||
| 1998 | Sollamale | "Allamma Samba" | ||
| 1999 | Kadhal Kavithai | "Aalana Naal Mudhala" | ||
| 1999 | Circle Inspector | "Urmila Urmila" | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Kya Soorat Hai | "Kya Soorat Hai" | Hindi | Music Video, song from Bombay Vikings band |
| 1999 | En Swasa Kaatre | "Jumbalaka" | Tamil | |
| 1999 | Ethirum Pudhirum | "Thottu Thottu" | ||
| 1999 | Anantha Poongatre | "Meenatchi Meenatchi" | ||
| 1999 | Poovellam Kettuppar | "CBI Enge" / "O Senorita" | ||
| 2000 | Sandhitha Velai | "Muniyamma" | ||
| 2000 | Pennin Manathai Thottu | "Saltkotta" | ||
| 2000 | Maayi | "Thennagam Aalum" | ||
| 2000 | Rhythm | "Ayyayyo Pathikichu" | ||
| 2000 | Chamundi | "Usarvalli Kshnakondu" | Kannada | |
| 2001 | Aks | "Banda Bindas" | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Alai | "Alai Adikuthu" | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Ullam Ketkumae | "Mazhai Mazhai" | ||
| 2005 | Anniyan | "Kumari" | ||
| 2005 | Modati Cinema | "Ninnyna Nadyna" | Telugu | |
| 2009 | Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam | "Evade Subramanyam" | ||
| 2010 | Pa. Ra. Palanisamy | "Singari Mava" | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Vettai | "Dhum Dhum" | ||
| 2013 | Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara | "En Veettula" | ||
| 2013 | Endrendrum Punnagai | "Ennatha Solla" | ||
| 2014 | Ennamo Nadakkudhu | "Money Money" | ||
| 2016 | Thozha | "Door Number One" | ||
| 2016 | Natpadhigaram 79 | "Sollu Sollu Chellamma" | ||
| 2016 | Devi | "Chal Maar" | ||
| Abhinetri | Telugu | |||
| Tutak Tutak Tutiya | Hindi | |||
| 2016 | Remo | "Tamilselvi" | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Kaashmora | "Dhikku Dhikku Sir" | ||
| 2017 | Bogan | "Damaalu Dumeelu" | ||
| 2019 | Sangathamizhan | "Oh My God" | ||
| 2021 | Tughlaq Durbar | "Arasiyal Kedi" |
National Film Award for Best Choreography | |
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