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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.

S. A. Ashokan
Born	Anthony 20 May 1931 (1931-05-20) Tiruchirappalli
Died	11 November 1982 (1982-11-12) (aged 51)
Alma mater	St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli
Occupation	Actor
Spouse	Mary Gnanam
Children	2, including Vincent Asokan
Relatives	Prameela (cousin)

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 also became an actor.[3]

Filmography

This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1953	Avvaiyar	King Chozhan	Debut movie
1954	Ethir Paradhathu	Moorthi
	Illara Jothi
1955	Doctor Savithri
1956	Rambaiyin Kaadhal	Minister
1957	புதையல்	Puthaiyal
1958	Anbu Enge	Guest Appearance
1958	Maya Manithan
1959	Athisaya Penn
1960	Padikkadha Medhai	Thiyagu
	Parthiban Kanavu	Chozhan King Parthiban
	Kalathur Kannamma	Mayor
	Paavai Vilakku
	Vijayapuri Veeran	Nanjappan
1961	Kappalottiya Thamizhan	Sub – Collector Ash
	Manapanthal	Rajasekaran
	Thaai Sollai Thattadhe
1962	Kannadi Maligai	Manager Rathinam
	Kudumba Thalaivan	Somu
	Sarada
	Paadha Kaanikkai	Maanickam
	Indra En Selvam	Sekar. Dr.
	Paasam
	Veerathirumagan
	Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan
1963	Anandha Jodhi	Inspector Baskar
	Dharmam Thalai Kaakkum
	Kaanchi Thalaivan	Chalukiya King Pulikesi
	Kaithiyin Kathali
	Naanum Oru Penn	Guest
	Ezhai Pangalan
	Needhikkuppin Paasam
	Koduthu Vaithaval	Manickam
	Panathottam	Natarajan
	Periya Idathu Penn	Sabapathy
	Idhu Sathiyam
1964	Andavan Kattalai	Manikandan
	Dheiva Thaai	Karunakaran
	Muradan Muthu
	Panakkara Kudumbam	Muthaiah
	Padagotti
	Karnan	Prince Duriyodhanan
	Vettaikaaran
	Thozhilali	Murugappa
1965	Iravum Pagalum	Govindhan
	Karthigai Deepam	Pasubathi
	Kaattu Rani
	Kanni Thaai	Vasu
	Panam Padaithavan
	Poomalai	Anand
	Vallavanukku Vallavan	Ramesh
	Thaayum Magalum
	Thazhampoo	Kanthasamy
1966	Chandhrodhayam	Zamindar Ponnambalam
	Iru Vallavargal
	Mugaraasi	Jambu
	Naan Aanaiyittal	Police Inspector Chezhiyan
	Parakkum Paavai	Vidjayan
	Petralthan Pillaiya	Sekhar
	Ramu	Rangan
	Thanipiravi	Rathnapuram
1967	Adhey Kangal	Kamalanathan
	Arasa Kattalai	Prince Vilavan
	Iru Malargal	College Correspontent
	Kandhan Karunai	Soora Padman
	Kannan En Kadhalan	Doctor Singh
	Penn Endral Penn
	Sabash Thambi	Ramesh
	Thaikku Thalaimagan	Somaiah
	Naan
	Vivasayee	Gurusamy
1968	Andru Kanda Mugam	Advocate Aathmanathan
	Kanavan	Mani
	Kadhal Vaaganam	Pandjachalam
	Kuzhanthaikkaga	The Police Inspector
	Oli Vilakku	Master Jambhu
	Ragasiya Police 115	Nambirajan
	Pudhiya Bhoomi	Mayandi
	Uyarndha Manithan	Doctor Gopal
	Moondrezhuthu
	Neelagiri Express	Bald Man
	Thaer Thiruvizha	Solaimulanga/Somu
1969	Akka Thangai
	Adimai Penn	King Sengodan
	Kaaval Dheivam
	Manasatchi
	Nam Naadu	Aalavandar
1970	En Annan	Dharmaraj
	Maanavan
	Maattukara Velan	Chairman Nagalingam
	Kanmalar
	Thalaivan	Bhairavan
	Thedi Vandha Mappillai	Suresh
1971	Kumari Kottam	Sethupathi
	Rickshawkaran	Kailasam
	Neerum Neruppum	The King Marthadhan
	Oru Thaai Makkal	Selvanayakam
1972	Deivam	Thief
	Nalla Neram	Dharmalingam
	Raman Thediya Seethai	Govindanraj
	Sange Muzhangu	Nagarajan
	Shakthi Leelai	Vaana Sooran
1973	Ganga Gowri
	Gayathri
	Baghdad Perazhagi
	Komatha En Kulamatha	Sengotan
	Pattikaattu Ponnaiya	Master – wrestler Singaiya
	Ponvandu	Kannan's father
	Ulagam Sutrum Valiban	Scientist Bhairavan
1974	Doctor Amma
	Vairam	Thief Samy
	Doctoramma
	Thai Piranthal
	Naan Avanillai
	Netru Indru Naalai	'Perum Puli' Jambu
1975	Ninaithadhai Mudippavan	Police Officer Jagadeesh
	Pattikkaattu Raja	Tiger
1976	Dasavatharam	The King Ravanan or Ilangeswaran
	Nee Oru Maharani
1977	Aattukara Alamelu
	Palabishegam	Land Lord
	Nallathukku Kalamillai
	Murugan Adimai
1978	Shri Kanchi Kamakshi	Kabaligan
	Ival Oru Seethai
	Thai Meethu Sathiyam
1979	Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum	Bhootham
1979	Dharma Yuddham
1980	Billa
1980	Murattu Kaalai
1981	Thee
	Ram Lakshman
	Savaal
	Sankarlal
1982	Krodham	Inspector Prasad
1982	Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu		Last movie

References

External links

• S. A. Ashokan at IMDb

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