Murali Siddalingaiah (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.[2] 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.

Murali
Born
Murali Siddalingaiah

(1964-05-19)19 May 1964
Died8 September 2010(2010-09-08) (aged 46)
Occupations
Years active1982–2010
Spouse
Shobha
(m. 1987)
Children3, including Atharvaa
Parent(s)S. Siddalingaiah
Dhanalakshmi
RelativesDaniel Balaji (Cousin)

Early life

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Murali Siddalingaiah was born on 19 May 1964 in Madras to a Tamil mother and Kannadiga father. Murali had two siblings; a younger brother 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.[3][1] Murali speaks three languages, Tamil, Kannada and English.

Career

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Murali started his acting career with the Kannada film Prema Parva (1983) directed by his father;[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] In 1991, he acted in Idhayam, where he portrayed the soft hero who was incapable of expressing his love due to his inferiority complex.[8] 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.[9][10] 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.[11][12][13][14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18][19][20][21][22]

In 2006, he starred in the film, Pasa Kiligal alongside Prabhu, written by M. Karunanidhi.[23] Murali was last seen in a cameo role in Baana Kaathadi (2010), in which his son Atharvaa made his film debut as an actor.[24] His 100th film was the unreleased Kavasam, after which he died at the age of 46 due to cardiac arrest.[25][26][27]

Death

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Murali died in the early hours of 8 September 2010 from a sudden massive heart attack in Chennai.[28] He was 46.

Filmography

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Tamil films

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Year Film Role Notes
1984 Poovilangu Pandiyan Remake of Prema Parva
Ingeyum Oru Gangai Kathamuthu
Pudhiavan Manohar / Kishore
1985 Elan Kandru Velan
Pagal Nilavu Selvam
Geethanjali James
Anthasthu Murali
1986 Puthir Vijay / Azhagu Tamil version of Ajeya
Oru Malarin Payanam Moorthy
Kaalamellaam Unn Madiyil Murali
Mannukkul Vairam Mayilsamy
1987 Kudumbam Oru Koyill Raja
Valayal Satham Sundar
Vanna Kanavugal Moorthy
Aval Mella Sirithal Murali
Meendum Mahaan Murali
Puyal Paadum Paattu
Thulasi Sivalingam
1989 Thangamani Rangamani Rangamani
Kai Veesamma Kai Veesu Balu
Ninaivu Chinnam Muthu
Dharma Devan Arun
1990 Paalam Jeeva
Pudhu Vasantham Balu
Vetri Malai Bhaskar
Chilambu Marudhu
Naanum Indha Ooruthan Muthu
Nangal Puthiyavargal Gowri
Sirayil Sila Raagangal Vijay
Pudhiya Kaatru
Namma Ooru Poovatha Ponarasu Got title 'Puratchi Nayagan'
1991 Sami Potta Mudichu Kathirvelan
Iravu Sooriyan Vijay
Idhayam Raja Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil
Kurumbukkaran Muthurajah
1992 Thanga Manasukkaran Murugesh (Murugan)
Thangarasu Thangarasu
Chinna Pasanga Naanga Muthukaalai
Thaali Kattiya Raasa Pandiyan
Endrum Anbudan Thyagu
1993 Manikuyil Muthuvelu
Thangakkili Moorthy
1994 Adharmam Arjuna
En Aasai Machan Subramani
Sathyavan Diwakar
Manju Virattu Pandian
1995 Thondan Jeeva Also singer for song "Nattu Nadu Center"
Aakaya Pookal Siva
1996 Poove Unakkaga Murali Special appearance in song "Machini Vara Neram"
Poomani Poomani
1997 Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga Jeeva
Porkkalam Manikkam
Roja Malare Kannan
1998 Kaadhale Nimmadhi Mohan
Dhinamdhorum Aadhi
Veera Thalattu Pandian
Rathna Rathna / Muthuvel
Poonthottam Moorthy
En Aasai Rasave Muthumani
Unnudan Santhosh
Desiya Geetham Pandian
1999 Poo Vaasam Kanna
Kanave Kalaiyadhe Anand
Ooty Balakumar
Iraniyan Iraniyan
2000 Vetri Kodi Kattu Sekhar
Kannukku Kannaga Dharma
Manu Needhi Chinnakannu
2001 Sonnal Thaan Kathala Murali
Aanandham Madhavan
Samuthiram Thangarasu
Alli Thandha Vaanam Madhavan Guest appearance
Kadal Pookkal Karuthayya Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor
2002 Kamarasu Kamarasu
Sundhara Travels Gopikrishnan
Namma Veetu Kalyanam Ravi
2003 Kadhaludan Kalyan
2004 Arivumani Arivumani
2006 Pasa Kiligal Sevathayya
2009 Enga Raasi Nalla Raasi Vijay
Nee Unnai Arindhaal Gopal
2010 Baana Kaathadi 'Idhayam' Raja Guest appearance

Kannada films

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Year Film Role Notes
1982 Geluvina Hejje Manchu
1983 Prema Parva Sadhguru
1984 Bili Gulabi Suresh
1985 Ajeya Ajey
1986 Prema Gange Krishna Remake Ingeyum Oru Gangai
1987 Thayi Kotta Thaali
1988 Sambhavami Yuge Yuge
1989 Padma Vyuha Kiran
1990 Ajay Vijay Ajay Partially re-shot in Tamil as Puthiya Natchathiram

Shelved films

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Year Film Language Notes Ref
1988 Chithiram Pesuthadi Tamil [29]
1989 Nal Valthukkal Tamil [30]
1992 Santharppam Tamil [31]
1992 Sooriya Namaskaaram Tamil [32]
1995 Karutha Machan Tamil [33]
1997 Contractor Mappillai Tamil [34]
1997 Irulum Oliyum Tamil [35]
1998 Vaazhthukkal Tamil [36]
1998 Kaadhal Chinnam Tamil [37]
2000 Oli Tamil [38]
2010 Kavasam Tamil 100th Film [39]

References

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  1. ^ a b "dinakaran". 10 February 2001. Archived from the original on 10 February 2001.
  2. ^ "Jointscene - Tamil Actor Murali". Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  3. ^ Ramya Kannan, S. R. Ashok Kumar (8 September 2010). "Tamil actor Murali dies of heart attack". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Caught in colour". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Murali passes away". Indiaglitz. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  6. ^ Prakash Upadhyaya (8 September 2010). "A tribute to actor Murali". OneIndia.in. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  7. ^ Pavithra Srinivasan (8 September 2010). "Mourning the loss of a mild-mannered hero". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  8. ^ Srinivasan, Sridhar (23 July 2016). "High Five". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. ^ "A-Z (III)". 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Titans together". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Dhinandhorum Nagaraj back in reckoning with Mathapoo - KOLLY TALK". 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  12. ^ "rediff.com: Cheran's Pokkisham in pix". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Madras calling". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  14. ^ "A-Z (V)". 4 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "Gokul's Tamil Cinema News". www.geocities.ws. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Review of Cheran's 'Vetri Kodi Kattu'". 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Kathaludan". Sify. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  18. ^ "19-04-03". Archived from the original on 25 October 2004.
  19. ^ "11-04-03". Archived from the original on 25 October 2004.
  20. ^ "08-07-03". Archived from the original on 25 October 2004.
  21. ^ "Dinakaran". www.dinakaran.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Dinakaran". Archived from the original on 14 August 2003.
  23. ^ "Pasa Kiligal (2006) | The last 10 films of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi". Behindwoods. 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Baana Kaathadi review. Baana Kaathadi Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  25. ^ "To Murali, with love". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Tamil actor Murali passes away!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  27. ^ Praveen (3 June 2021). "100வது படத்தின் போது உயிரை விட்ட ஒரே பிரபலம்.. 46 வயதில் நடந்த சோகம்!". Cinemapettai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Popular Kannada, Tamil actor Murali dead". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  29. ^ "Chithiram Pesuthadi".
  30. ^ "Nal Valthukkal".
  31. ^ "Santharppam".
  32. ^ "Sooriya Namaskaaram".
  33. ^ "Karutha Machan".
  34. ^ "Contractor mappillai".
  35. ^ "Irulum Oliyum".
  36. ^ "Vaazhthukkal".
  37. ^ "Kaadhal Chinnam".
  38. ^ "Oli".
  39. ^ "Kavasam".
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