->Kailash29792 at 16:28, 9 August 2021

2021-08-09T16:28:49Z

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{{More citations needed|date=September 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ranjan
| image = Ranjan.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = A snapshot from the 1948 movie ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]''
| birth_name = Ramanarayana Venkataramana Sarma
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1918|3|2}}
| birth_place = [[Madras]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1983|9|12|1918|3|2}}
| death_place = [[New Jersey]], United States
| yearsactive = 1941–1959
| spouse = Kamala
}}

'''Ranjan''' (born Ramanarayana Venkataramana Sarma,<ref name="thehindu_2010731">{{cite news|title=Bhaktha Naradar 1942|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/article543221.ece|date=31 July 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|author=Randor Guy|authorlink=Randor Guy|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20181204044355/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Bhaktha-Naradar-1942/article16216138.ece|archivedate=4 December 2018}}</ref> 2 March 1918 – 12 September 1983) was an Indian actor, singer, journalist and writer. He debuted in the 1941 movie ''[[Ashok Kumar (film)|Ashok Kumar]]'', but gained fame in [[S. S. Vasan]]'s 1948 magnum opus ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]''.

== Early life ==
Ranjan was born Ramanarayana Venkataramana Sarma in [[Mylapore]], [[Madras]] in 1918.<ref name="thehindu_20091127">{{cite news|title=Blast from the past: Rishyasringar 1941|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/11/27/stories/2009112750361600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714233710/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/11/27/stories/2009112750361600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2010|author=Randor Guy|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 November 2009}}</ref> His family hailed from the town of [[Srirangam]].<ref name="malaimalar_20110201">{{cite news|title=வாள் வீச்சில் புகழ் பெற்ற ரஞ்சன்: இந்திப் படங்களிலும் வெற்றிக் கொடி நாட்டினார்|work=[[Maalai Malar]]|date=27 February 2011|language=Tamil|url=http://www.maalaimalar.com/2011/02/11141603/history-of-ranjan.html}}</ref> Ranjan had his schooling in Madras and received an M. Lit degree from Madras University. While studying in college, he participated in a number of stage plays. Coincidentally, an employee of [[Gemini Studios]], Veppattur Kittu was present at one of his plays. Impressed by Ranjan's performance, Kittu suggested his name to P. G. Raghavachari, who cast him in the [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]]-starrer ''[[Ashok Kumar (1941 film)|Ashok Kumar]]'', in which he played the role of [[Gautama Buddha]]. However, Ranjan did not have any dialogues in the film. Following the success of ''Ashok Kumar'', Ranjan was cast in ''[[Rishyasringar (1941 film)|Rishyasringar]]'', in which he played the title role of [[Rishyasringa]]. In his early movies, Ranjan was credited as "R. Ramani, B. A."<ref name="thehindu_20091127" /> The screen name "Ranjan" was actually bestowed upon him by Jithen Banerjee of Newtone Studios.<ref name="thehindu_20091127" />

In the 1940s, Ranjan established a School of Music and Dancing, and edited an art journal entitled ''Natyam''. He was also awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship under the International Art Program sponsored by the Institute of International Education, New York, in 1950-51. Though Ranjan acted in a number of Bollywood movies, especially costume dramas and some social movies in the 1950s, his star faded by the end of the 1950s. He is best known for his roles in ''Madari'', ''Bahut Din Huwe'', ''Suvarn Sundari'', ''Nishan'', ''Magic Carpet'', ''Chor Chor'' and ''Chor Ho To Aisa''. His come-back attempt in Tamil movies also flopped without much opportunity to showcase his talents.

== Family ==
His brother R.R. Sarma, an Architect, who graduated from the JJ School of Arts in Mumbai, designed several projects for the TVS and Murugappa Groups and collaborated his wife brother sivakumar with a UN expert for a housing project in Pallikkaranai. R.R. Sarma, whose firm did not continue after his lifetime, clearly articulated what ailed the industry. "Designing houses in Madras is back-breaking and frustrating," he'd said. He took all that in his stride and went on to create the grand Madras University centenary auditorium, the stately [[Reserve Bank of India|RBI]] office, Victoria Technical Institute on Anna Salai and Voluntary Health Services in Taramani.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The architects of new Madras - The Times of India|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/The-architects-of-new-Madras/articleshow/6389484.cms|accessdate = 2015-09-28}}</ref>

== Death ==
Ranjan died of [[cardiac arrest]] at a [[New Jersey]] hotel on 12 September 1983. He was sixty-five years old at that time.

== Partial Filmography==
*(1943) ''[[Mangamma Sapatham (1943 film)|Mangamma Sapatham]]''
*(1948) ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]''
*(1949) ''Nishan'' / Hindi version of [[Apoorva Sagodharargal (1949 film)]]
*(1952) ''Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo''
*(1951) ''[[Mangamma Sapatham (1943 film)|Mangala]]''
*(1954) ''Minnal Veeran''
*(1957) ''[[Neelamalai Thirudan]]''
*(1958) ''Hum Bhi Kuchh Kam Nahin''
*(1959) ''Madari''
*(1960) Air Mail
*(1961) ''Sapera''
*(1961) ''Jadoo Nagri''
*(1961) ''Khiladi''
*(1962) " SAKHI ROBIN"
*(1965) ''Accident''
*(1969) ''Captain Ranjan'' (Tamil - Produced in 1960 but released in 1969)

== Notes ==

One of his Hindi movies of 1960 was Air Mail, which had a melodious song by Manna Day: "Tum Jo Aao To Bahar Aaye".

{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ranjan (actor)}}
*{{IMDb name|0710206}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranjan}}
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Journalists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Male actors from Tiruchirappalli]]
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Writers from Tiruchirappalli]]

Ranjan (actor) - Revision history

->Kailash29792 at 16:28, 9 August 2021