ArnulfoVos: slightly correct lead for accuracy and added references based on references

2026-03-06T07:52:50Z

slightly correct lead for accuracy and added references based on references

>Menjobleeko11: /* Filmography */ table wk., itals

2021-06-13T01:06:46Z

Filmography: table wk., itals

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{{distinguish|text=the Malayalam actor [[Ashokan (actor)|Ashokan]]}}
{{Short description|Indian film actor}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = S. A. Ashokan
| image = S. A. Ashokan.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Anthony
| birth_place = Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
| birth_date = 20 May 1931
| nationality = Indian
| other_names =
| alma_mater = [[St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli]]
| occupation = [[Film actor]]
| known_for = Negative and Supporting role
| spouse = Mary Gnanam (1941–1985)
| children = Amalraj Asokan (1964–2002)<br />[[Vincent Asokan]] (b.1965)
| relatives = [[Prameela]] (cousin)
}}

'''S. A. Ashokan''' , born as '''Antony''' and often spelt '''Asokan''', was an Indian theatre and film actor, who worked mainly in [[Tamil cinema]]. He was popular mainly for playing negative roles, but was also a successful [[character actor]].

== Early life ==
Ashokan was born on 20 May 1931 as Anthony in [[Tiruchirapalli]].<ref>http://www.dinamalar.com/news_detail.asp?id=1893871</ref> 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|St. Joseph's College]], Tiruchirapalli.<ref name="CINE">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinefundas.com/2011/09/03/s-a-ashokan |title=S A Ashokan | Cinefundas.com – One Stop Cinema Portal |last=S A Ashokan – Cinema Ghar |publisher=Cinefundas.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023103910/http://www.cinefundas.com/2011/09/03/s-a-ashokan |archive-date=23 October 2011 |access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref>

== 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 (film)|Avvaiyar]]''. He was given a positive role in the film ''Penn Kulathin Ponvilakku'' (1959) as an admirer of a woman whom he considers as a sister. He gained the attention of the general public with the film ''[[Kappalottiya Thamizhan]]'' in 1961, where he portrayed the role of [[District collector|Collector]] [[Robert Ashe (administrator)|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, but also did [[Character actor|character roles]] opposite many leading actors of those times.<ref name=CINE />

Ashokan's performance as a helpless traveller who gets conned in ''Vallavanukku Vallavan'', and as the historical Indian character [[Duryodhana]] in the [[List of Hindu mythological films|mythology]] film ''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]'' were well received. He was regularly cast in supporting roles as an elder brother or as the father or father-in-law or as 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 (1972 film)|Raman Thediya Seethai]]''.<ref name=CINE />

== 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]], and this helped the filmmaker to make his mark. Ashokan, along with Jaishankar, and a troupe of popular artistes, often toured all over [[Tamil Nadu]] with the purpose of conducting cultural programs.<ref name=CINE />

== Personal life ==
Ashokan was married to Mary Gnanam (originally named Saraswathi). They had two sons: [[Vincent Asokan|Vincent]] (who also became an actor) and Amalraj.<ref>https://indiankanoon.org/doc/77186927/</ref> Ashokan is survived by Vincent.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-21/news-interviews/31082238_1_villain-prakash-raj-tamil-films |title=Where are the K town villains? |last=Srinivasan |first=Lata |date=21 February 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728210740/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-21/news-interviews/31082238_1_villain-prakash-raj-tamil-films |archive-date=28 July 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
''This is a partial filmography. You can expand it.''<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1953 ||''[[Avvaiyar (film)|Avvaiyar]]''|| King Chozhan
|Debut movie
|-
| rowspan="2" |1954 ||''[[Ethir Paradhathu]]''|| Moorthi
|
|-
|''[[Illara Jothi]]''||
|
|-
| 1955 ||''[[Doctor Savithri]]''||
|
|-
| 1956 ||''[[Rambaiyin Kaadhal (1956 film)|Rambaiyin Kaadhal]]''|| Minister
|
|-
| 1957 ||'' [[புதையல்]]'' ||Puthaiyal
|
|-
| 1958 ||''[[Anbu Enge (1958 film)|Anbu Enge]]''|| Guest Appearance ||
|
|-
| 1958|| ''Maya Manithan'' ||
|
|-
| 1959 ||''[[Athisaya Penn]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |1960 ||''[[Padikkadha Medhai]]''||Thiyagu
|
|-
|''[[Parthiban Kanavu (1960 film)|Parthiban Kanavu]] ''|| Chozhan King Parthiban
|
|-
|''[[Kalathur Kannamma]]'' ||Mayor
|
|-
|''[[Paavai Vilakku]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Vijayapuri Veeran (1960 film)|Vijayapuri Veeran]]''|| Nanjappan
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1961 ||''[[Kappalottiya Thamizhan]]''|| Sub – Collector Ash
|
|-
|''[[Manapanthal (1961 film)|Manapanthal]]''|| Rajasekaran
|
|-
|''[[Thaai Sollai Thattadhe]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="8" |1962 ||''[[Kannadi Maaligai|Kannadi Maligai]]''|| Manager Rathinam
|
|-
|''[[Kudumba Thalaivan]]''|| Somu
|
|-
|''[[Sarada (1962 film)|Sarada]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Paadha Kaanikkai]]''|| Maanickam
|
|-
|''[[Indra En Selvam]]'' ||Sekar. Dr.
|
|-
|''[[Paasam]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Veerathirumagan]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Thaayai Kaatha Thanayan]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="11" |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]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="8" |1964 ||''[[Andavan Kattalai]]''|| Manikandan
|
|-
|''[[Dheiva Thaai]]''|| Karunakaran
|
|-
|''[[Muradan Muthu]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Panakkara Kudumbam]]''|| Muthaiah
|
|-
|''[[Padagotti]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]''|| Prince Duriyodhanan
|
|-
|''[[Vettaikaaran (1964 film)|Vettaikaaran]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Thozhilali]]''|| Murugappa
|
|-
| rowspan="9" |1965||''[[Iravum Pagalum]]''|| Govindhan
|
|-
|''[[Karthigai Deepam (1965 film)|Karthigai Deepam]]''|| Pasubathi
|
|-
|''[[Kaattu Rani (1965 film)|Kaattu Rani]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Kanni Thaai]]''|| Vasu
|
|-
|''[[Panam Padaithavan]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Poomalai (1965 film)|Poomalai]]''|| Anand
|
|-
|''[[Vallavanukku Vallavan]]''|| Ramesh
|
|-
|''[[Thaayum Magalum]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Thazhampoo]]''|| Kanthasamy
|
|-
| rowspan="8" |1966 ||''[[Chandhrodhayam]]''|| Zamindar Ponnambalam
|
|-
|''[[Iru Vallavargal (1966 film)|Iru Vallavargal]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Mugaraasi]]''|| Jambu
|
|-
|''[[Naan Aanaiyittal]]''|| Police Inspector Chezhiyan
|
|-
|''[[Parakkum Paavai]]''|| Vidjayan
|
|-
|''[[Petralthan Pillaiya]]''|| Sekhar
|
|-
|''[[Ramu (1966 film)|Ramu]]''|| Rangan
|
|-
|''[[Thanipiravi]]''|| Rathnapuram
|
|-
| rowspan="10" |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 (1967 film)|Naan]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Vivasayee]]''|| Gurusamy
|
|-
| rowspan="11" |1968 ||''[[Andru Kanda Mugam (1968 film)|Andru Kanda Mugam]]''|| Advocate Aathmanathan
|
|-
|''[[Kanavan]]''|| Mani
|
|-
|''[[Kadhal Vaaganam]]''|| Pandjachalam
|
|-
|''[[Kuzhanthaikkaga (1968 film)|Kuzhanthaikkaga]]''|| The Police Inspector
|
|-
|''[[Oli Vilakku]]''|| Master Jambhu
|
|-
|''[[Ragasiya Police 115]]''|| Nambirajan
|
|-
|''[[Pudhiya Bhoomi]]''|| Mayandi
|
|-
|''[[Uyarndha Manithan]]''|| Doctor Gopal
|
|-
|''[[Moondrezhuthu (1968 film)|Moondrezhuthu]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Neelagiri Express (1968 film)|Neelagiri Express]]''|| Bald Man
|
|-
|''[[Thaer Thiruvizha]]''|| Solaimulanga/Somu
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |1969 ||''[[Akka Thangai (1969 film)|Akka Thangai]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Adimai Penn]]''|| King Sengodan
|
|-
|''[[Kaaval Dheivam]]''||
|
|-
|''Manasatchi''||
|
|-
|''[[Nam Naadu (1969 film)|Nam Naadu]]''|| Aalavandar
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |1970 ||''[[En Annan]]''|| Dharmaraj
|
|-
|''[[Maanavan]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Maattukara Velan]]''|| Chairman Nagalingam
|
|-
|''Kanmalar''||
|
|-
|''[[Thalaivan (1970 film)|Thalaivan]]''|| Bhairavan
|
|-
|''[[Thedi Vandha Mappillai]]''|| Suresh
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1971 ||''[[Kumari Kottam]]''|| Sethupathi
|
|-
|''[[Rickshawkaran]]''|| Kailasam
|
|-
|''[[Neerum Neruppum]]''|| The King Marthadhan
|
|-
|''[[Oru Thaai Makkal]]''|| Selvanayakam
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |1972 ||''[[Deivam]]''|| Thief
|
|-
|''[[Nalla Neram]]''|| Dharmalingam
|
|-
|''[[Raman Thediya Seethai (1972 film)|Raman Thediya Seethai]]''|| Govindanraj
|
|-
|''[[Sange Muzhangu]]''|| Nagarajan
|
|-
|''[[Shakthi Leelai]]''|| Vaana Sooran
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |1973||''[[Ganga Gowri (1973 film)|Ganga Gowri]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Gayathri (film)|Gayathri]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Baghdad Perazhagi]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Komatha En Kulamatha (1973 film)|Komatha En Kulamatha]]''|| Sengotan
|
|-
|''[[Pattikaattu Ponnaiya]]''|| Master – wrestler Singaiya
|
|-
|''[[Ponvandu (1973 film)|Ponvandu]]''|| Kannan's father
|
|-
|''[[Ulagam Sutrum Valiban]]''|| Scientist Bhairavan
|
|-
| rowspan="6" |1974 ||''Doctor Amma''||
|
|-
|''[[Vairam]]''|| Thief Samy
|
|-
|''Doctoramma''||
|
|-
|''Thai Piranthal ''||
|
|-
|''[[Naan Avanillai (1974 film)|Naan Avanillai]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Netru Indru Naalai (1974 film)|Netru Indru Naalai]]''|| 'Perum Puli' Jambu
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1975 ||''[[Ninaithadhai Mudippavan]]''|| Police Officer Jagadeesh
|
|-
|''[[Pattikkaattu Raja]]''|| Tiger
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1976 ||''[[Dasavatharam (film)|Dasavatharam]]''|| The King Ravanan or Ilangeswaran
|
|-
|''Nee Oru Maharani''||
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1977 ||''[[Aattukara Alamelu]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Palabishegam (1977 film)|Palabishegam]]''|| Land Lord
|
|-
|''Nallathukku Kalamillai''||
|
|-
|''Murugan Adimai''||
|
|- ''[[Gaayathri]]'' || Shama Iyer
| rowspan="3" |1978 ||''[[Shri Kanchi Kamakshi]]''|| Kabaligan
|
|-
|''Ival Oru Seethai''||
|
|-
|''[[Thai Meethu Sathiyam]]''||
|
|-
| 1979 ||''[[Allauddinum Albhutha Vilakkum]]''|| Bhootham
|
|-
| 1979 ||''[[Dharma Yuddham]]''||
|
|-
| 1980 ||''[[Billa (1980 film)|Billa]]''||
|
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Murattu Kaalai (1980 film)|Murattu Kaalai]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |1981 ||''[[Thee (1981 film)|Thee]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Ram Lakshman]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Savaal]]''||
|
|-
|''[[Sankarlal]]''||
|
|-
| 1982 ||''[[Krodham (1982 film)|Krodham]]''|| Inspector Prasad
|
|-
|1982
|''Oru Varisu Uruvagiradhu''||
|Last movie
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1125166}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashokan, S. A.}}
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:Indian male voice actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Tamil male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors from Tiruchirappalli]]
[[Category:St Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli alumni]]
[[Category:1931 births]]

S. A. Ashokan - Revision history

ArnulfoVos: slightly correct lead for accuracy and added references based on references

>Menjobleeko11: /* Filmography */ table wk., itals