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[[Raghava Lawrence|K. Raghava Lawrence]] is an Indian choreographer, an actor, director, composer and playback singer. He made his debut as a choreographer in 1993. He began his career as an actor in 1998, in a Telugu film. Most of his Telugu films were dubbed by artists. He became famous in Telugu cinema through the film Style. In Tamil, he became famous through the [[Muni (film series)|Muni film series]].
{{Short description|Indian actor and choreographer}}
Lawrence is also known for his complicated hip-hop and westernised dance moves. He has won four [[Filmfare Awards]] and three [[Nandi Awards]] for best choreography. He is also known for his social services and the temple he built for his living mother Kanmani. He was born In Andhra Pradeah
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name              = Raghava Lawrence
| image              =
| caption            = Raghava Lawrence  
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|10|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Royapuram]], [[Madras]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]] {{small|(present-day [[Royapuram]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])}}
| other_names        =
| birth_name        = Lawrence Murugaiyan
| yearsactive        = 1989–present
| spouse            = Latha Lawrence
| children          = 1
| occupation        = {{hlist|Actor|Choreographer|Film director|Composer|Playback singer|Lyricist|Film producer|Philanthropist}}
}}
'''Raghava Lawrence''' (born '''Lawrence Murugaiyan''') is an Indian actor, choreographer, film director, composer, playback singer, lyricist, film producer and philanthropist known for his works primarily in [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] cinema. After making his debut as a dance choreographer in 1993, he began looking for acting opportunities. He began his career as an actor in 1998, in a Telugu film.  
 
He adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001, and choreographed songs for many prominent actors and directors in Tamil and Telugu cinema throughout his career. He got his breakthrough as an actor with the Telugu film ''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]'' (2006) and Tamil horror comedy ''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]'' (2007). As a choreographer, he is known for his simple but intricate [[hip-hop]] and westernised dance moves and has won four [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards]], three [[Nandi Awards]], and two [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award|Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]] for Best Choreography and one [[Vijay Awards]] for social responsibility.
 
==Early life and background==
Lawrence was born on 29 October 1976 into a [[Tamils|Tamil]] speaking family of Murugaiyan and Kanmani. Lawrence had a [[brain tumor]] when he was a child.<ref name="idlebrain1">{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html |title=Raghava Lawrence&nbsp;– Telugu Cinema interview&nbsp;– Telugu film director |website=Idlebrain.com |date=16 January 2006 |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=24 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724005553/http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/lawrence.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rediff1998">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/apr/25law.htm |title=Rediff on the Net, Movies: India rubber |website=Rediff.com |date=25 April 1998 |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224002421/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/apr/25law.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="kalki">{{cite magazine |date=30 September 2001 |title=பதினாறு வயசுல மறுபிறவி! |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki2001-09-30/kalki2001-09-30.pdf |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |language=ta |pages=56–59 |access-date=3 August 2023}}</ref> He attributes the curing of his tumor to the [[deity]], [[Raghavendra Swamy]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060105224137/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/stars/interview_lawrence_2005.php TeluguCinema.Com&nbsp;– TC Exclusive: Interview with choreographer-director Lawrence]. Telugucinema.com. 11 February 2005</ref> and in an act of devotion, he
took the name Raghava<ref name="rediff1998"/> He built the Raghavendra Swamy Brindavanam Temple at [[Thirumullaivoyal|Thirumullaivayal]] on the [[Avadi]]-[[Ambattur]] route, which opened on 1 January 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article214513.ece |title=Rajini's spiritual suggestion |newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-date=21 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321031131/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article214513.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> Raghava also has a younger brother, Elviin Lawrence.
 
== Career ==
 
=== Initial career (1989–2001) ===
He was working as a car cleaner for fight master [[Super Subbarayan]].<ref name="rediff1998"/> [[Rajinikanth]] saw him dancing and helped him to join the Dancers Union.<ref name=kalki /><ref name="rediff1998"/><ref name="hindu1">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/08/stories/2008110853691300.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130826151708/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/11/08/stories/2008110853691300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 August 2013 |title=Metro Plus Kochi / Music : My First Break&nbsp;– Raghava Lawrence |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=8 November 2008 |access-date=26 August 2013}}</ref>
Lawrence first appeared in a song in ''[[Samsara Sangeetham]]'' a Tamil film in 1989 directed by T. Rajendran. Then he appeared in ''Donga Police'' in 1991, also doing some dances with [[Prabhu Deva]]. He was a background dancer in the song Chikku Bukku Chikku Bukku Railey in ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]'' (1993).<ref name="rediff1998"/> He also appeared in dance sequences in ''[[Muta Mesthri]]'' (1993), ''[[Rakshana]]'' (1993) and ''[[Allari Priyudu]]'' (1993).<ref name="rediff1998"/> [[Chiranjeevi]] offered him the job of choreographing the dances for ''[[Hitler (1997 film)|Hitler]]'' (1997). Pleased with Lawrence's work, Chiranjeevi asked him to choreograph dances for ''[[Master (1997 film)|Master]]'' (1997), his next film too.<ref name="rediff1998"/> Producer T V D Prasad offered him the role of a hero in his venture ''[[Speed Dancer]]'' (1999).<ref name="rediff1998"/><ref name=kalki /> That film was a flop.<ref name="idlebrain1"/> After that he acted small roles in Tamil like [[Ajith Kumar]]'s ''[[Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven]]'' (2000) and [[Prashanth]]'s ''[[Parthen Rasithen]]'' (2000).<ref name="idlebrain1"/> Director [[K. Balachander]] invited him to act in his 100th film ''[[Parthale Paravasam]]'' (2001).<ref name="hindu1"/><ref name=kalki />
 
=== Establishing career (2002–2010) ===
He acted as a first lead role in the Tamil with ''[[Arpudham]]'' (2002). As described by review ''sify '', the latest in the line is Lawrence, who like his predecessor Prabhu Deva, is determined to be a hero. ''Arputham'' has a decent screenplay and Lawrence is tolerable. Thereafter, ''[[Style (2002 film)|Style]]'' (2002). He also made a guest appearance with [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]] in the Tamil movie ''[[Thirumalai]]'' (2003). After a guest appearance in the film ''[[Thendral (film)|Thendral]]'' (2004), he directed his first film in Telugu, ''[[Mass (2004 film)|Mass]]'' (2004) starring [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Nagarjuna]] and [[Jyothika]]. The movie was a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-mass.html|title=Mass (Dammunte Kasko) – Telugu cinema Review – Nagarjuna, Charmy, Jyothika|website=Idlebrain.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106115554/http://idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-mass.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/style-review-telugu-movie-8055|title=Style review. Style Telugu movie review, story, rating|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329025224/https://www.indiaglitz.com/style-review-telugu-movie-8055|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
He subsequently directed and acted in ''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]'' (2006) co-starring with [[Prabhu Deva]] and featuring [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Nagarjuna]] and [[Chiranjeevi]] in guest roles.He got his breakthrough with ''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]'' (2007), a horror thriller film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-05/muni-review.html|title=Tamil Movie review Muni Lawrence Raghavendra Rajkiran Vethika saran gemini production picture gallery images|website=Behindwoods.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402233529/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-articles/movies-05/muni-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Thereafter, he directed another film, ''[[Don (2007 film)|Don]]'' (2007). The film starring [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Nagarjuna]]  and [[Anushka Shetty]]. Raghava acted in second roles and made the film depending only on style and technical aspects. The movie had an average response.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/reviews/don-review-wrong-choice-of-nagarjuna-4569 |title=Don Review: Wrong choice of Nagarjuna |work=Greatandhra |access-date=15 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402233915/https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/reviews/don-review-wrong-choice-of-nagarjuna-4569 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Raghava continues to play in different categories films such as ''[[Pandi (film)|Pandi]]'' (2008), ''[[Rajadhi Raja (2009 film)|Rajadhi Raja]]'' (2009) and ''[[Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam]]'' (2010). ''Pandi'' was a moderate success,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/pandi-tamil-movie-review-9709.html|title=Pandi review. Pandi Tamil movie review, story, rating|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=23 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123175816/https://www.indiaglitz.com/pandi-tamil-movie-review-9709.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while ''Rajadhi Raja''
was released to negative reviews, and ''Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam'' was released to mixed reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rajadhi-raja-review--pclxdMhaaffbd.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327093241/http://www.sify.com/movies/rajadhi-raja-review--pclxdMhaaffbd.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 March 2019|title=Review : Rajadhi Raja (2009)|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/irumbu-kottai-murattu-singam-lawrence.html|title=Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Tamil Movie Reviews - Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Larencce - Lakshmi Rai - Padmapriya - Sandhya - Behindwoods.com|website=Behindwoods.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116083659/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-reviews/reviews-2/irumbu-kottai-murattu-singam-lawrence.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== Later career (2011–present) ===
He takes the series ''Muni'' in ''[[Muni 2: Kanchana|Kanchana]]'' (2011). [[Sarath Kumar]] play in the main role. The movie was commercially successful.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/reviews/kanchana-review-horror-on-emotion-30577 |title=Kanchana review: High on emotions |work=greatandhra |access-date=21 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321111030/https://www.greatandhra.com/movies/reviews/kanchana-review-horror-on-emotion-30577 |archive-date=21 March 2019 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2012, he directed Telugu movie ''[[Rebel (2012 film)|Rebel]]'' starring [[Prabhas]] and [[Tamannaah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rebel.html|title=Rebel (2012) – Rebel Movie – Rebel Telugu Movie Cast & Crew, Release Date, Review, Photos, Videos|website=FilmiBeat.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090303/https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/rebel.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He acted in ''[[Kanchana 2]]'' (2015). In 2017, he starred in an action Masala film, ''[[Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva]]''. ''Sify'' described the film as, "Crass, loud and brainless."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/motta-shiva-ketta-shiva-review--crass-loud-and-brainless-review-tamil-rdjt3ubedfjfg.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310051428/http://www.sify.com/movies/motta-shiva-ketta-shiva-review--crass-loud-and-brainless-review-tamil-rdjt3ubedfjfg.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2017|title=Review : Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva review- Crass, loud and brainless (2017)|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Then another of genre horror ''[[Shivalinga (2017 film)|Shivalinga]]'', remake a [[Kannada]] language with the [[Shivalinga (2016 film)|same name]] directed by [[P. Vasu]]. [[Shakthi Vasudevan]], son of director, also starred in the important role for two versions. The story is a cop investigating the suspicious death of a Muslim finds out that his own wife has become possessed by the young man's ghost.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/sivalinga/movie-review/58190687.cms|title=Sivalinga Review {2.5/5}: Shivalinga isn't boring or crassy, and is passable, but isn't that too low a bar for a veteran like P Vasu to be settling for?|access-date=2 April 2019|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> Raghava Lawrence is back with the fourth movie in the series – ''[[Kanchana 3|Muni 4: Kanchana 3: Kaali]]'' (2019), with the new change being three heroines.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-19|title=Kanchana 3 movie review: Raghava Lawrence's film is loud, annoying and barely entertaining horror-thriller|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kanchana-3-review-and-rating-raghava-lawrence-s-film-is-loud-annoying-and-barely-entertaining-horror-thriller/story-3lVO3dLgCfqpXlWGpSrl9N.html|access-date=2020-07-25|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531113107/https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/kanchana-3-review-and-rating-raghava-lawrence-s-film-is-loud-annoying-and-barely-entertaining-horror-thriller/story-3lVO3dLgCfqpXlWGpSrl9N.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film has received a good collections at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-23|title=Kanchana 3 Box office Collection Report: Raghava Lawrence starrer film beats Kalank, Jersey|url=https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-kanchana-3-box-office-collection-report-raghava-lawrence-starrer-film-beats-kalank-jersey-95895|access-date=2020-10-13|website=Zee Business|archive-date=14 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214134344/https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-kanchana-3-box-office-collection-report-raghava-lawrence-starrer-film-beats-kalank-jersey-95895|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, he made his directorial debut in [[Hindi cinema]] with film, ''[[Laxmii]],'' a remake of ''Muni 2: Kanchana''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 21, 2019|title=Raghava Lawrence on exiting Laxmmi Bomb: I have no issues with Akshay Kumar|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/raghava-lawrence-on-exiting-laxmmi-bomb-i-have-no-issues-with-akshay-kumar-1530890-2019-05-21|access-date=2020-10-13|website=India Today|language=en|archive-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529104535/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/raghava-lawrence-on-exiting-laxmmi-bomb-i-have-no-issues-with-akshay-kumar-1530890-2019-05-21|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On November 10, 2023, the movie ''[[Jigarthanda DoubleX]]'', featuring actors Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah in the lead roles, was released as a prequel to the original film, ''[[Jigarthanda (2014 film)|Jigarthanda]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=India |first=The Hans |date=2023-11-10 |title=Dhanush's Reviews on Jigarthanda Double X Movie |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/dhanushs-reviews-on-jigarthanda-double-x-movie-836678 |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=english |archive-date=10 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110110554/https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/dhanushs-reviews-on-jigarthanda-double-x-movie-836678 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
On 14 April, 2024, it was announced that Lawrence will be starring in a film titled ''[[Benz (film)|Benz]]'', directed by [[Bakkiyaraj Kannan]] and written and produced by [[Lokesh Kanagaraj]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-14 |title=Lokesh Kanagaraj's new venture with Raghava Lawrence and Bakkiyaraj Kannan titled Benz |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/lokesh-kanagarajs-new-venture-with-raghava-lawrence-and-bakkiyaraj-kannan-titled-benz-101713076324080.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>,which was confirmed as a part of the [[Lokesh Cinematic Universe]] in October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2024-10-29 |title=Raghava Lawrence's Benz is officially a part of LCU |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Oct/29/raghava-lawrences-benz-is-officially-a-part-of-lcu |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Social work==
In 2015, after the death of former [[President of India|Indian president]] [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]], Lawrence set up a charity trust in his name and made a donation of {{INRConvert|1|c}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawrence donates 1cr |url=http://www.ratingvilas.com/telugu/movies/news/ragavalawrence-donates-money |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208164814/http://www.ratingvilas.com/telugu/movies/news/ragavalawrence-donates-money |archive-date=8 December 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Raghava Lawrence launches Abdul Kalam Trust, donates Rs 1 cr|work=Hindustan Times|date=August 4, 2015|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/raghava-lawrence-launches-abdul-kalam-trust-donates-rs-1-cr/article1-1376396.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806221957/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/raghava-lawrence-launches-abdul-kalam-trust-donates-rs-1-cr/article1-1376396.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2015}}</ref>
 
He did many social service activities in which he has aided many heart surgeries for small children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinibytes.com/tamil/raghava-lawrence-helped-a-child-in-heart-surgery-607.html|title=Raghava Lawrence helped a child in heart surgery|website=Cinibytes.com|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406090147/http://www.cinibytes.com/tamil/raghava-lawrence-helped-a-child-in-heart-surgery-607.html|archive-date=6 April 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.sulekha.com/lawrence_actor-event-photo_raghava-lawrence-helped-128th-heart-surgery_picture_1|title=Page 1 of Raghava Lawrence Helped 128th Heart Surgery, Raghava Lawrence Helped 128th Heart Surgery Photos|website=Movies.sulekha.com|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329062607/http://movies.sulekha.com/lawrence_actor-event-photo_raghava-lawrence-helped-128th-heart-surgery_picture_1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kollyzone.org/2016/03/raghava-lawrence-helped-a-child-in-heart-surgery-128th-heart-surgery-done-by-raghava-lawrence|title=Raghava Lawrence helped a child in heart surgery, 128thh heart surgery done by Raghava Lawrence&nbsp;— Serials online SunTv VijayTv Polimer RajTv News|date=15 March 2016|website=Kollyzone.org|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329112813/http://kollyzone.org/2016/03/raghava-lawrence-helped-a-child-in-heart-surgery-128th-heart-surgery-done-by-raghava-lawrence/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was one of the supporters of the bull-riding sport [[jallikattu]] after its ban in 2017. During a [[2017 pro-jallikattu protests|protest]] in Tamil Nadu in January 2017, he provided food, medicine and basic needs to the protesters and promised to support them until the protests were over.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/for-jallikattu-ar-rahman-will-fast-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-and-sadhuguru-jaggi-vasudeva-lend-support-1650625|title=For Jallikattu, AR Rahman To Fast, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar And Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva Say Ban Must End|website=Ndtv.com|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403010108/https://www.ndtv.com/tamil-nadu-news/for-jallikattu-ar-rahman-will-fast-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-and-sadhuguru-jaggi-vasudeva-lend-support-1650625|url-status=live}}</ref> He asked for an appointment with [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Kerala chief minister]] [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] to donate 1 crore as relief fund for the [[2018 Kerala floods|Kerala flood]] victims.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-director-raghava-lawrence-donate-rs-1-crore-kerala-87105 |title=Actor-director Raghava Lawrence to donate 1 crore for Kerala |work=News Minute |access-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124034551/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-director-raghava-lawrence-donate-rs-1-crore-kerala-87105 |archive-date=24 January 2019 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/kerala-floods-actor-turned-choreographer-raghava-lawrence-to-donate-rs-1-crore-towards-relief-fund/articleshow/65513262.cms|title=Kerala floods: Choreographer-turned-actor Raghava Lawrence to donate Rs 1 crore towards relief fund|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131111951/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/kerala-floods-actor-turned-choreographer-raghava-lawrence-to-donate-rs-1-crore-towards-relief-fund/articleshow/65513262.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Social Services==
* In 2015, after the death of former Indian president [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]], Lawrence set up a charity trust in his name and donated Rs.1 crore to it.
* He helped for curing heart problems for children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chitramala.in/raghava-lawrences-help-for-another-childs-heart-surgery-235158.html|title=Raghava Lawrence’s Help for Another Child’s Heart Surgery|first=|last=KhadeerBasha|date=7 September 2016|website=Chitramala}}</ref>
* Raghava gave his personal fund of 1 crores to provide food for the protestants of the Jallikattu Protests.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/jallikattu-protests-raghava-lawrence-provides-financial-aid-supporters-bull-taming-sport-712740|title=Jallikattu protests: Raghava Lawrence provides financial aid to supporters of bull-taming sport|first=Prakash|last=Upadhyaya|date=18 January 2017|website=International Business Times, India Edition}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chitramala.in/lawrence-turns-real-megastar-jallikattu-protest-240162.html|title=Lawrence turns a real megastar during Jallikattu protest|first=|last=HaribabuBolineni|date=21 January 2017|website=Chitramala}}</ref>
* He also helped people during the Cyclone Vardah in Chennai.<ref name="auto"/>
==Temple for Mother==
As having so much care and affection towards mother, Raghava built a deity statue for his mother. His mother's name is Kanmani who is still alive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/140517/lawrences-temple-for-his-mom.html|title=Lawrence’s temple for his mom!|first=Anupama|last=Subramanian|date=14 May 2017|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>
==Filmography==
==Filmography==
===Director===
===Film director===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of films as director
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Film !! Year!! Language !! Notes
! scope="col" | Year !! scope="col" | Film !! scope="col" | Language !! scope="col" | Notes
|-
|2004 || ''[[Mass (2004 film)|Mass]]'' || rowspan="2" | [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||
|-
|2006
|''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]''
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Mass (film)|Mass]]'' || 2004 || Telugu ||
|rowspan=2|2007 || ''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]'' || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]'' || 2006 ||Telugu ||  
|''[[Don (2007 film)|Don]]'' || Telugu ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]'' || 2007 || Tamil ||
|2011 || ''[[Kanchana (2011 film)|Kanchana]]'' || Tamil ||Also producer
|-
|-
| ''[[Don (2007 film)|Don]]'' || 2007 || Telugu || Also music compose
|2012 || ''[[Rebel (2012 film)|Rebel]]'' || Telugu ||
|-
|-
|''[[Muni 2: Kanchana]]'' || 2011 || Tamil ||  
|2015 || ''[[Kanchana 2]]'' || rowspan="2" | Tamil || rowspan="2" |Also producer
|-
|-
| ''[[Rebel (2012 film)|Rebel]]'' || 2012 || Telugu || Also music composer
|2019 || ''[[Kanchana 3]]''  
|-
|-
|''[[Kanchana 2]]'' || 2015 || Tamil ||
|2020 || ''[[Laxmii]]'' || [[Hindi language|Hindi]] || A remake of ''[[Kanchana (2011 film)|Kanchana]]'' (2011)
|-
|''[[Kanchana 3|Muni 4: Kanchana 3]]'' ||  2018 || Tamil ||
|-
|-
|2026 || {{Pending film|[[Kanchana 4]]}} || Tamil || Filming; also producer<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/mega-exclusive-manish-shah-goldmine-telefilms-gets-back-producing-films-pushpa-rise-part-01-backs-kanchana-4-starring-pooja-hegde-nora-fatehi-raghava-lawrence/|title=MEGA EXCLUSIVE: Manish Shah of Goldmine Telefilms gets back to producing films after Pushpa: The Rise – Part 01; backs Kanchana 4 starring Pooja Hegde, Nora Fatehi, Raghava Lawrence : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|date=24 January 2025}}</ref>
|}
|}
===Actor===
===Actor===
* ''All films are in Tamil language, unless otherwise note''
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of acting performances in film
|- style="background:#ccc;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
! Film !! Year!! Language !! Role !!  
! Year !! Film !! Role(s) !! Notes
|-
| 1999
|''[[Speed Dancer]]''|| Seenu || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film
|-
| 2000
|''[[Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven]]''|| Ganapathi ||
|-
| 2000
|''[[Parthen Rasithen]]''|| Doss ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven]]'' || 2000 || Tamil || Ganapathi ||  
| 2001
|''[[Parthale Paravasam]]''|| Azhagu ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Parthen Rasithen]]'' || 2000 || Tamil || Doss ||  
| rowspan="2" | 2002
|''[[Arpudham]]''|| Ashok Kumar ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Parthale Paravasam]]'' || 2001 || Tamil || Azhagu ||
|''[[Style (2002 film)|Style]]''|| Rishaanth ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Arpudham]]'' || 2002 || Tamil || Ashok Kumar ||  
| rowspan="2" | 2004
|''[[Thendral (film)|Thendral]]''|| Kumar ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Style (2002 film)|Style]]'' || 2002 || Telugu || Rishaanth ||
|''[[Mass (2004 film)|Mass]]''|| Local gangster || Telugu film; special appearance
|-
|-
| ''[[Thendral (film)|Thendral]]'' || 2004 || Tamil || Kumar ||
| 2006
|''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]''|| Raghava || Telugu film
|-
|-
| ''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]] || 2006 || Telugu || Raghava||
| rowspan="2" | 2007
|''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]''|| Ganesh ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]'' || 2007 || Tamil ||Ganesh ||  
|''[[Don (2007 film)|Don]]'' || Raghava || Telugu film
|-
|-
| ''[[Don (2007 film)|Don]]'' ||2007 ||  Telugu||Raghava ||
|2008
|''[[Pandi (film)|Pandi]]''|| Pandi ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Pandi (film)|Pandi]]'' || 2008 || Tamil ||Pandi ||  
|2009
|''[[Rajadhi Raja (2009 film)|Rajadhi Raja]]'' || Raja ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Rajadhi Raja (2009 film)|Rajadhi Raja]]'' ||2009 || Tamil ||Raja ||  
| 2010
|''[[Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam]]''|| Singam & Singaram{{efn|name=dual role|Lawrence plays a dual role films.}}||[[Dual role]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam]]'' || 2010 ||Tamil || Singam, Singaram ||  
| 2011
|''[[Kanchana (2011 film)|Kanchana]]''
| Raghava ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Muni 2: Kanchana]]'' || 2011 || Tamil ||Raghava ||  
| 2015
|''[[Kanchana 2]]''
| Raghava & Shiva{{efn|name=dual role}}|| Dual role
|-
|-
| ''[[Kanchana 2|Muni 3: Kanchana 2]]'' || 2015 || Tamil ||Raghava, Shiva ||
| rowspan="2" | 2017
|''[[Motta Siva Ketta Siva]]''|| [[Assistant Commissioner of Police|ACP]] Shivakumar || Also playback singer for song "Motta Paiyan"
|-
|-
| ''[[Motta Siva Ketta Siva]]'' || 2017 || Tamil || Shivakumar IPS (Shivaraj Pandi) "Shiva" || Also playback singer for song "Motta Paiyan"
|''[[Shivalinga (2017 film)|Shivalinga]]'' || Shivalingeswaran ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Shivalinga (2017 film)|Shivalinga]]'' || 2017 || Tamil || Shivalingeswaran ||
| 2019
|''[[Kanchana 3]]''
| Raghava & Kaali{{efn|name=dual role}}|| Dual role
|-
|-
|-"[[Muni 4: Kanchana 3]]
| rowspan="3" |2023
|''[[Rudhran]]''
| Rudhran ||<ref>{{Citation |title=Rudhran First Look Wall Poster |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcd2KyZj05Q |language=en |access-date=2022-06-30 |archive-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630084929/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcd2KyZj05Q&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Chandramukhi 2]]''
|Pandian & Sengottaiyan Vettaiyan{{efn|name=dual role}}
|Dual role
|-
|''[[Jigarthanda DoubleX]]''
|Alliyus "Alliyan" Caesar
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-10 |title=Jigarthanda Double X Twitter reviews are in: Raghava Lawrence and Karthik Subbaraj film termed 'bad, bold and mad' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/jigarthanda-double-x-movie-review-twitter-karthik-subbaraj-raghava-lawrence-101699606474632.html |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |archive-date=10 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110110709/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/jigarthanda-double-x-movie-review-twitter-karthik-subbaraj-raghava-lawrence-101699606474632.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" |TBA
| {{Pending film|Adhigaram}}
|{{TBA}}
|Filming<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raghava-lawrences-adhigaram-shooting-to-begin-soon/articleshow/91177345.cms | title=Raghava Lawrence's Adhigaram shooting to begin soon | website=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=8 August 2022 | archive-date=8 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808234814/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/raghava-lawrences-adhigaram-shooting-to-begin-soon/articleshow/91177345.cms | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{Pending film|[[Benz (film)|Benz]]}}
|{{TBA}}
|Filming<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/actor-raghava-lawrence-enters-lokesh-kanagaraj-cinematic-universe-as-dangerous-chef-with-benz-2625418-2024-10-30|title = Actor Raghava Lawrence enters Lokesh Kanagaraj's cinematic universe with Benz}}</ref>
|-
| {{Pending film|Kaala Bhairava}}
|{{TBA}}
|Filming<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/raghava-lawrence-announces-next-tamil-movie-titled-kaala-bhairava/cid/2059338|title = Raghava Lawrence announces next Tamil movie titled Kaala Bhairava}}</ref>
|-
| {{Pending film|Bullet}}
|  Kingstar
|Post-production<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2024/Dec/30/elviin-and-raghava-lawrences-bullet-wraps-filming|title = Elviin and Raghava Lawrence's Bullet wraps filming}}</ref>
|-
| {{Pending film|[[Kanchana 4]]}}
| {{TBA}}
|Filming<ref name="auto"/>
|}
|}
===Dancer===
===Dancer===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of dancing performances in film
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Song
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" class=unsortable| Notes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1993
|''[[Uzhaippali]]''|| "Uzhaippali Illatha" || rowspan="2" | Tamil ||
|-
|''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]''|| "Chikku Bukku Rayile" ||
|-
|''[[Mutha Mestri]]''|| "Ee Pettakku" || Telugu ||
|-
| 1994
|''[[Chinna Madam]]''|| "Kora Kizhangukku Kodi" || rowspan="2" | Tamil ||
|-
| 1995
|''[[Thai Thangai Paasam]]''|| "Roopu Tera Masthana" ||
|-
| 1996
|''[[Akka Bagunnava]]''|| "Aalesha Deko Pyaree" || rowspan="4" | Telugu ||
|-
| 1997
|''[[Hitler (1997 film)|Hitler]]''|| "Nadaka Kalisina Navaraatri" ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998
|''Prema Pallaki''|| "Kannepilla Pongulu " ||
|-
|''[[Suryudu]]''|| "Manasu Mamatha" ||
|-
| 1999
|''[[Amarkkalam]]''|| "Maha Ganapathi" || Tamil ||
|-
| rowspan="6"|2000
|''[[Thirunelveli (film)|Thirunelveli]]''|| "Yele Azhagamma" || Tamil ||
|-
|''[[Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi]]''|| "Lovvuki Age" || rowspan="3" | Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Hands Up (2000 film)|Hands Up]]'' || "Jaana Jaana" ||
|-
|''[[Chala Bagundi]]''|| "Yentabagundi Basu" ||
|-
|''[[Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven]]''|| "Sollu Thalaiva" || Tamil ||
|-
|''Bagunnara?''|| "Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa" || Telugu ||
|-
| 2001
|''[[Asura (2001 film)|Asura]]''|| "Maha Ganapathi" || Kannada ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2002
|''[[Varushamellam Vasantham]]''|| "Naan Ready Neenga Readya" || rowspan="3" | Tamil ||
|-
|''[[Roja Kootam]]''|| "Subbamma" ||
|-
|''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]''|| "Maya Maya" ||
|-
| rowspan="6"|2003
|''[[Ninne Istapaddanu]]''|| "Krishna Zilla" || rowspan="4" | Telugu ||
|-
|''[[Satyam (2003 film)|Satyam]]''|| "Kuch Kuch" ||
|-
|''[[Naaga]]''|| "Nayudori Pilla" ||
|-
|-
! Film
|''[[Andhrawala]]''|| "Naire Naire" ||
! Song
! Year
! Language
!class=unsortable| Notes
|-
|-
| ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]'' || "[[Chikku Bukku Rayile]]" || 1993 || Tamil ||
|''[[Pudhiya Geethai]]''|| "Annamalai" || rowspan="2" | Tamil ||  
|-
|-
| ''[[Uzhaippali]]'' || "Uzhaippali Illatha" || 1993 || Tamil ||  
|''[[Thirumalai]]''|| "Thaamthakka Dheemthakka" ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Mutha Mestri]]'' || "Ee Pettakku" || 1993 || Telugu ||
| 2004
|''[[Mass (2004 film)|Mass]]''|| "Mass" || Telugu ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Chinna Madam]]'' || || 1994 || Tamil ||
| 2010
|''[[Pen Singam]]''|| "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Iduppu" || rowspan="2" | Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Thai Thangai Paasam]]'' || "Roopu Tera Masthana" || 1995 || Tamil ||
| 2014
|''[[Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam]]''|| "Live The Moment" ||
|}
 
===Television===
* ''Masthaana Masthaana Part II'' (2007)
 
== Discography ==
=== As a playback singer ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="background:#f5f5f5;"
|+ List of films as a playback singer
! scope="col" | Song(s)
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Composer
|-
|-
| ''[[Amarkalam]]'' || "Maha Ganapathi" || 1999 || Tamil ||
|Thala Suttuthe Maamu
|2007
|''[[Muni (film)|Muni]]''
|[[Bharadwaj (composer)| Bharadwaj]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven]]'' || "Sollu Thalaiva" || 2000 || Tamil ||
|Motta Motta Paiyyan
|rowspan="2" | 2017
|rowspan="2" |''[[Motta Siva Ketta Siva]]''
|rowspan="2" |[[Amresh Ganesh]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi]]'' || "Lovvuki Age" || 2000 || Telugu ||
|Lo Lo Lo Local
|-
|-
| ''[[Chala Bagundi]]'' || "Yentabagundi Basu" || 2000 || Telugu ||
|}
 
=== As a music composer ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of films as music composer
|-
|-
| ''[[Thirunelveli (film)|Thirunelveli]]'' || "Yele Azhagamma" || 2000 || Tamil ||
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" |Notes
|-
|-
| ''[[Asura (2001 film)|Asura]]'' || "Maha Ganapathi" || 2001 || Kannada ||
|2007
|''[[Don (2007 film)|Don]]''||rowspan="2"|Telugu||rowspan="2"|Songs only; score composed by S. Chinna
|-
|-
| ''[[Varushamellam Vasantham]]'' || "Naan Ready Neenga Readya" || 2002 || Tamil ||
|2012
|''[[Rebel (2012 film)|Rebel]]''
|}
 
===As lyricist===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
| ''[[Roja Kootam]]'' || "Subbamma" || 2002 || Tamil ||
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Song
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
|-
| ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' || "Maya Maya" || 2002 || Tamil ||
|2011||''Kanchana'' ||"Nillu Nillu" ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Ninne Istapaddanu]]'' || "Krishna Zilla" || 2003 || Telugu ||
|}
 
==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Award
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Film
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Filmfare Awards South]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South|Best Choreography]]
| ''[[ Annayya (2000 film)|Annayya]]''
|2000
|{{won}}
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Satyam (2003 film)|Satyam]]'' || "Kuch Kuch" || 2003 || Telugu ||
|''[[Paarthale Paravasam]]''
|2001
|{{won}}
|<ref name="indiatimes-49-filmfare">{{cite web |title=49th Annual Filmfare Awards - South Winners |url=http://downloads.movies.indiatimes.com/south2001/winners.html |date=2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505234654/http://downloads.movies.indiatimes.com/south2001/winners.html |archive-date=5 May 2005}}</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Naaga]]'' || "Nayudori pilla..!" || 2003 || Telugu||
|''[[Indra (2002 film)|Indra]]''
|2002
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=/bsnl/asp/content%20mgmt/html%20content/entertainment/entertainment14489.html |title=Manikchand Filmfare Awards: Sizzling at 50 |publisher=[[BSNL]] |access-date=2009-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721152719/http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=%2Fbsnl%2Fasp%2Fcontent%20mgmt%2Fhtml%20content%2Fentertainment%2Fentertainment14489.html |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Andhrawala]]'' || "Naire Naire" || 2003 || Telugu||
|''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]''
|2006
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movietidbits/filmfareawards_aug0407.php |title=Filmfare Awards presented |website=[[Telugucinema.com]] |access-date=2009-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303151528/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movietidbits/filmfareawards_aug0407.php |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Pudhiya Geethai]]'' || "Annamalai" || 2003 || Tamil ||  
| rowspan="3" |[[Nandi Awards]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Nandi Award for Best Choreographer|Best Choreographer]]
|''[[Annayya (2000 film)|Annayya]]''
|2000
|{{won}}
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Thirumalai]]'' || "Thaamthakka Dheemthakka" || 2003 || Tamil ||  
|''[[Indra (2002 film)|Indra]]''
|2002
|{{won}}
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Mass (film)|Mass]]'' || "Mass" || 2004 || Telugu ||
|''[[Style (2006 film)|Style]]''
|2006
|{{won}}
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Pen Singam]]'' || "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Edupu" || 2010 || Tamil ||
|rowspan="2" |[[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]]
|rowspan="2" |[[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Choreographer|Best Choreographer]]
|''[[Kannupada Poguthaiya]]''
|1999
|{{won}}
|
|-
|-
| ''[[Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam]]'' || "Live The Moment" || 2015 || Tamil ||  
|''[[Kanchana (2011 film)|Kanchana]]''
|2011
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{cite news |date=14 July 2017 |title=TN Govt. announces Tamil Film Awards for six years |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tn-govt-announces-tamil-film-awards-for-six-years/article19273078.ece |access-date=19 February 2023 |archive-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615081711/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tn-govt-announces-tamil-film-awards-for-six-years/article19273078.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Khaidi No. 150]]'' || "Ratthaalu" || 2017 || Telugu ||
|[[Vijay Awards]]
|[[5th Vijay Awards#Award winners and nominees|Social Responsibility]]
|{{dash}}
|2010
|{{won}}
|
|}
|}
==Reference==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Tamil actors]]
==Notes==
[[Category:Tamil singers]]
{{noteslist}}
[[Category:Tamil directors]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0706485|name=Raghavendra}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110202013720/http://lctchennai.com/ Lawrence Charitable Trust]
 
{{Raghava Lawrence}}{{Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South}}{{authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Raghava}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Telugu film directors]]
[[Category:Indian film choreographers]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Tamil film score composers]]
[[Category:Telugu film score composers]]
[[Category:Nandi Award winners]]
[[Category:Musicians from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1976 births]]

Latest revision as of 09:19, 27 March 2026


Raghava Lawrence
Born
Lawrence Murugaiyan

(1976-10-29) 29 October 1976 (age 49)
Royapuram, Madras, Tamil Nadu, India (present-day Royapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • Choreographer
  • Film director
  • Composer
  • Playback singer
  • Lyricist
  • Film producer
  • Philanthropist
Years active1989–present
Spouse(s)Latha Lawrence
Children1

Raghava Lawrence (born Lawrence Murugaiyan) is an Indian actor, choreographer, film director, composer, playback singer, lyricist, film producer and philanthropist known for his works primarily in Tamil cinema. After making his debut as a dance choreographer in 1993, he began looking for acting opportunities. He began his career as an actor in 1998, in a Telugu film.

He adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001, and choreographed songs for many prominent actors and directors in Tamil and Telugu cinema throughout his career. He got his breakthrough as an actor with the Telugu film Style (2006) and Tamil horror comedy Muni (2007). As a choreographer, he is known for his simple but intricate hip-hop and westernised dance moves and has won four Filmfare Awards, three Nandi Awards, and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Choreography and one Vijay Awards for social responsibility.

Early life and background[edit | edit source]

Lawrence was born on 29 October 1976 into a Tamil speaking family of Murugaiyan and Kanmani. Lawrence had a brain tumor when he was a child.[1][2][3] He attributes the curing of his tumor to the deity, Raghavendra Swamy,[4] and in an act of devotion, he took the name Raghava[2] He built the Raghavendra Swamy Brindavanam Temple at Thirumullaivayal on the Avadi-Ambattur route, which opened on 1 January 2010.[5] Raghava also has a younger brother, Elviin Lawrence.

Career[edit | edit source]

Initial career (1989–2001)[edit | edit source]

He was working as a car cleaner for fight master Super Subbarayan.[2] Rajinikanth saw him dancing and helped him to join the Dancers Union.[3][2][6] Lawrence first appeared in a song in Samsara Sangeetham a Tamil film in 1989 directed by T. Rajendran. Then he appeared in Donga Police in 1991, also doing some dances with Prabhu Deva. He was a background dancer in the song Chikku Bukku Chikku Bukku Railey in Gentleman (1993).[2] He also appeared in dance sequences in Muta Mesthri (1993), Rakshana (1993) and Allari Priyudu (1993).[2] Chiranjeevi offered him the job of choreographing the dances for Hitler (1997). Pleased with Lawrence's work, Chiranjeevi asked him to choreograph dances for Master (1997), his next film too.[2] Producer T V D Prasad offered him the role of a hero in his venture Speed Dancer (1999).[2][3] That film was a flop.[1] After that he acted small roles in Tamil like Ajith Kumar's Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven (2000) and Prashanth's Parthen Rasithen (2000).[1] Director K. Balachander invited him to act in his 100th film Parthale Paravasam (2001).[6][3]

Establishing career (2002–2010)[edit | edit source]

He acted as a first lead role in the Tamil with Arpudham (2002). As described by review sify , the latest in the line is Lawrence, who like his predecessor Prabhu Deva, is determined to be a hero. Arputham has a decent screenplay and Lawrence is tolerable. Thereafter, Style (2002). He also made a guest appearance with Vijay in the Tamil movie Thirumalai (2003). After a guest appearance in the film Thendral (2004), he directed his first film in Telugu, Mass (2004) starring Nagarjuna and Jyothika. The movie was a commercial success.[7][8]

He subsequently directed and acted in Style (2006) co-starring with Prabhu Deva and featuring Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi in guest roles.He got his breakthrough with Muni (2007), a horror thriller film.[9] Thereafter, he directed another film, Don (2007). The film starring Nagarjuna and Anushka Shetty. Raghava acted in second roles and made the film depending only on style and technical aspects. The movie had an average response.[10] Raghava continues to play in different categories films such as Pandi (2008), Rajadhi Raja (2009) and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam (2010). Pandi was a moderate success,[11] while Rajadhi Raja was released to negative reviews, and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam was released to mixed reviews.[12][13]

Later career (2011–present)[edit | edit source]

He takes the series Muni in Kanchana (2011). Sarath Kumar play in the main role. The movie was commercially successful.[14] In 2012, he directed Telugu movie Rebel starring Prabhas and Tamannaah.[15] He acted in Kanchana 2 (2015). In 2017, he starred in an action Masala film, Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva. Sify described the film as, "Crass, loud and brainless."[16] Then another of genre horror Shivalinga, remake a Kannada language with the same name directed by P. Vasu. Shakthi Vasudevan, son of director, also starred in the important role for two versions. The story is a cop investigating the suspicious death of a Muslim finds out that his own wife has become possessed by the young man's ghost.[17] Raghava Lawrence is back with the fourth movie in the series – Muni 4: Kanchana 3: Kaali (2019), with the new change being three heroines.[18] The film has received a good collections at the box office.[19] In 2020, he made his directorial debut in Hindi cinema with film, Laxmii, a remake of Muni 2: Kanchana.[20]

On November 10, 2023, the movie Jigarthanda DoubleX, featuring actors Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah in the lead roles, was released as a prequel to the original film, Jigarthanda.[21]

On 14 April, 2024, it was announced that Lawrence will be starring in a film titled Benz, directed by Bakkiyaraj Kannan and written and produced by Lokesh Kanagaraj[22],which was confirmed as a part of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe in October 2024.[23]

Social work[edit | edit source]

In 2015, after the death of former Indian president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Lawrence set up a charity trust in his name and made a donation of ₹1 crore (US$140,000).[24][25]

He did many social service activities in which he has aided many heart surgeries for small children.[26][27][28] He was one of the supporters of the bull-riding sport jallikattu after its ban in 2017. During a protest in Tamil Nadu in January 2017, he provided food, medicine and basic needs to the protesters and promised to support them until the protests were over.[29] He asked for an appointment with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to donate 1 crore as relief fund for the Kerala flood victims.[30][31]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

Film director[edit | edit source]

List of films as director
Year Film Language Notes
2004 Mass Telugu
2006 Style
2007 Muni Tamil
Don Telugu
2011 Kanchana Tamil Also producer
2012 Rebel Telugu
2015 Kanchana 2 Tamil Also producer
2019 Kanchana 3
2020 Laxmii Hindi A remake of Kanchana (2011)
2026 Kanchana 4 Not yet released Tamil Filming; also producer[32]

Actor[edit | edit source]

  • All films are in Tamil language, unless otherwise note
List of acting performances in film
Year Film Role(s) Notes
1999 Speed Dancer Seenu Telugu film
2000 Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven Ganapathi
2000 Parthen Rasithen Doss
2001 Parthale Paravasam Azhagu
2002 Arpudham Ashok Kumar
Style Rishaanth
2004 Thendral Kumar
Mass Local gangster Telugu film; special appearance
2006 Style Raghava Telugu film
2007 Muni Ganesh
Don Raghava Telugu film
2008 Pandi Pandi
2009 Rajadhi Raja Raja
2010 Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam Singam & Singaram[lower-alpha 1] Dual role
2011 Kanchana Raghava
2015 Kanchana 2 Raghava & Shiva[lower-alpha 1] Dual role
2017 Motta Siva Ketta Siva ACP Shivakumar Also playback singer for song "Motta Paiyan"
Shivalinga Shivalingeswaran
2019 Kanchana 3 Raghava & Kaali[lower-alpha 1] Dual role
2023 Rudhran Rudhran [33]
Chandramukhi 2 Pandian & Sengottaiyan Vettaiyan[lower-alpha 1] Dual role
Jigarthanda DoubleX Alliyus "Alliyan" Caesar [34]
TBA Adhigaram Not yet released
TBA
Filming[35]
Benz Not yet released
TBA
Filming[36]
Kaala Bhairava Not yet released
TBA
Filming[37]
Bullet Not yet released Kingstar Post-production[38]
Kanchana 4 Not yet released
TBA
Filming[32]

Dancer[edit | edit source]

List of dancing performances in film
Year Film Song Language Notes
1993 Uzhaippali "Uzhaippali Illatha" Tamil
Gentleman "Chikku Bukku Rayile"
Mutha Mestri "Ee Pettakku" Telugu
1994 Chinna Madam "Kora Kizhangukku Kodi" Tamil
1995 Thai Thangai Paasam "Roopu Tera Masthana"
1996 Akka Bagunnava "Aalesha Deko Pyaree" Telugu
1997 Hitler "Nadaka Kalisina Navaraatri"
1998 Prema Pallaki "Kannepilla Pongulu "
Suryudu "Manasu Mamatha"
1999 Amarkkalam "Maha Ganapathi" Tamil
2000 Thirunelveli "Yele Azhagamma" Tamil
Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi "Lovvuki Age" Telugu
Hands Up "Jaana Jaana"
Chala Bagundi "Yentabagundi Basu"
Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven "Sollu Thalaiva" Tamil
Bagunnara? "Tirumala Tirupati Venkatesa" Telugu
2001 Asura "Maha Ganapathi" Kannada
2002 Varushamellam Vasantham "Naan Ready Neenga Readya" Tamil
Roja Kootam "Subbamma"
Baba "Maya Maya"
2003 Ninne Istapaddanu "Krishna Zilla" Telugu
Satyam "Kuch Kuch"
Naaga "Nayudori Pilla"
Andhrawala "Naire Naire"
Pudhiya Geethai "Annamalai" Tamil
Thirumalai "Thaamthakka Dheemthakka"
2004 Mass "Mass" Telugu
2010 Pen Singam "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Iduppu" Tamil
2014 Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam "Live The Moment"

Television[edit | edit source]

  • Masthaana Masthaana Part II (2007)

Discography[edit | edit source]

As a playback singer[edit | edit source]

List of films as a playback singer
Song(s) Year Film Composer
Thala Suttuthe Maamu 2007 Muni Bharadwaj
Motta Motta Paiyyan 2017 Motta Siva Ketta Siva Amresh Ganesh
Lo Lo Lo Local

As a music composer[edit | edit source]

List of films as music composer
Year Film Language Notes
2007 Don Telugu Songs only; score composed by S. Chinna
2012 Rebel

As lyricist[edit | edit source]

Year Film Song Notes
2011 Kanchana "Nillu Nillu"

Accolades[edit | edit source]

Award Category Film Year Result Ref.
Filmfare Awards South Best Choreography Annayya 2000 Won
Paarthale Paravasam 2001 Won [39]
Indra 2002 Won [40]
Style 2006 Won [41]
Nandi Awards Best Choreographer Annayya 2000 Won
Indra 2002 Won
Style 2006 Won
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Choreographer Kannupada Poguthaiya 1999 Won
Kanchana 2011 Won [42]
Vijay Awards Social Responsibility  – 2010 Won

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lawrence plays a dual role films.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Raghava Lawrence – Telugu Cinema interview – Telugu film director". Idlebrain.com. 16 January 2006. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Rediff on the Net, Movies: India rubber". Rediff.com. 25 April 1998. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "பதினாறு வயசுல மறுபிறவி!" (PDF). Kalki (in தமிழ்). 30 September 2001. pp. 56–59. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  4. ↑ TeluguCinema.Com – TC Exclusive: Interview with choreographer-director Lawrence. Telugucinema.com. 11 February 2005
  5. ↑ "Rajini's spiritual suggestion". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Metro Plus Kochi / Music : My First Break – Raghava Lawrence". The Hindu. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ↑ "Mass (Dammunte Kasko) – Telugu cinema Review – Nagarjuna, Charmy, Jyothika". Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Style review. Style Telugu movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Tamil Movie review Muni Lawrence Raghavendra Rajkiran Vethika saran gemini production picture gallery images". Behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  10. ↑ "Don Review: Wrong choice of Nagarjuna". Greatandhra. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  11. ↑ "Pandi review. Pandi Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  12. ↑ "Review : Rajadhi Raja (2009)". Sify. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Tamil Movie Reviews - Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Larencce - Lakshmi Rai - Padmapriya - Sandhya - Behindwoods.com". Behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  14. ↑ "Kanchana review: High on emotions". greatandhra. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  15. ↑ "Rebel (2012) – Rebel Movie – Rebel Telugu Movie Cast & Crew, Release Date, Review, Photos, Videos". FilmiBeat.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "Review : Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva review- Crass, loud and brainless (2017)". Sify. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "Sivalinga Review {2.5/5}: Shivalinga isn't boring or crassy, and is passable, but isn't that too low a bar for a veteran like P Vasu to be settling for?". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  18. ↑ "Kanchana 3 movie review: Raghava Lawrence's film is loud, annoying and barely entertaining horror-thriller". Hindustan Times. 19 April 2019. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "Kanchana 3 Box office Collection Report: Raghava Lawrence starrer film beats Kalank, Jersey". Zee Business. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "Raghava Lawrence on exiting Laxmmi Bomb: I have no issues with Akshay Kumar". India Today. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  21. ↑ India, The Hans (10 November 2023). "Dhanush's Reviews on Jigarthanda Double X Movie". www.thehansindia.com. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "Lokesh Kanagaraj's new venture with Raghava Lawrence and Bakkiyaraj Kannan titled Benz". Hindustan Times. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  23. ↑ Kumar, Akshay (29 October 2024). "Raghava Lawrence's Benz is officially a part of LCU". Cinema Express. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "Lawrence donates 1cr". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  25. ↑ "Raghava Lawrence launches Abdul Kalam Trust, donates Rs 1 cr". Hindustan Times. 4 August 2015. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015.
  26. ↑ "Raghava Lawrence helped a child in heart surgery". Cinibytes.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "Page 1 of Raghava Lawrence Helped 128th Heart Surgery, Raghava Lawrence Helped 128th Heart Surgery Photos". Movies.sulekha.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Raghava Lawrence helped a child in heart surgery, 128thh heart surgery done by Raghava Lawrence — Serials online SunTv VijayTv Polimer RajTv News". Kollyzone.org. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "For Jallikattu, AR Rahman To Fast, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar And Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva Say Ban Must End". Ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  30. ↑ "Actor-director Raghava Lawrence to donate 1 crore for Kerala". News Minute. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  31. ↑ "Kerala floods: Choreographer-turned-actor Raghava Lawrence to donate Rs 1 crore towards relief fund". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Hungama, Bollywood (24 January 2025). "MEGA EXCLUSIVE: Manish Shah of Goldmine Telefilms gets back to producing films after Pushpa: The Rise – Part 01; backs Kanchana 4 starring Pooja Hegde, Nora Fatehi, Raghava Lawrence : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama".
  33. ↑ Rudhran First Look Wall Poster, archived from the original on 30 June 2022, retrieved 30 June 2022
  34. ↑ "Jigarthanda Double X Twitter reviews are in: Raghava Lawrence and Karthik Subbaraj film termed 'bad, bold and mad'". Hindustan Times. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  35. ↑ "Raghava Lawrence's Adhigaram shooting to begin soon". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  36. ↑ "Actor Raghava Lawrence enters Lokesh Kanagaraj's cinematic universe with Benz".
  37. ↑ "Raghava Lawrence announces next Tamil movie titled Kaala Bhairava".
  38. ↑ "Elviin and Raghava Lawrence's Bullet wraps filming".
  39. ↑ "49th Annual Filmfare Awards - South Winners". 2002. Archived from the original on 5 May 2005.
  40. ↑ "Manikchand Filmfare Awards: Sizzling at 50". BSNL. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  41. ↑ "Filmfare Awards presented". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  42. ↑ "TN Govt. announces Tamil Film Awards for six years". The Hindu. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]

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