Actor
Sathyaraj
Based In
Tamil Nadu
Origin
Coimbatore City Tamil Nadu
Years Active
47
Sathyaraj Biography
Sathyaraj (born Rangaraj Subbaiah on October 3, 1954, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu) is a veteran Indian actor, director, producer, and media personality. Starting his career with villainous roles, he later transitioned into a successful lead actor and has acted in over 200 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada. Internationally, he is best known for his iconic role as Kattappa in the epic Baahubali film series.
Early Life and Career
- Birth: October 3, 1954, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
- Education: B.Sc. in Botany from Government Arts College, Coimbatore.
- Passion for Acting: Despite his mother’s opposition, he moved to Chennai in 1976 to pursue acting.
- Debut: Entered films with the Tamil movie Sattam En Kaiyil (1978).
Notable Work and Roles
- Villain to Hero: Began with villainous characters before becoming a celebrated lead actor.
- Director: Directed and starred in Villadhi Villain (1995), playing three different roles.
- Periyar: Portrayed social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in the biographical film Periyar, for which he declined payment.
- Baahubali: Achieved pan-Indian and global recognition as Kattappa in Baahubali.
Other Ventures
- Television: Hosted the game show Home Sweet Home on STAR Vijay.
- Production: Actively involved in film production projects.
Family
- Spouse: Married to Maheswari
- Children: Divya Sathyaraj, Sibi Sathyaraj
- Sibi Sathyaraj: Actor
- Divya Sathyaraj: Nutritionist
Career Highlight
- Gained pan-Indian fame for his iconic role as Kattappa in the Baahubali films.
- Earned critical acclaim for his dual role in Amaidhi Padai.
- Delivered successful lead performances in Tamil films like Vedham Pudhithu and Onbadhu Roobai Nottu.
- Honored with awards for notable performances in Kanaa and Raja Rani.
- Widely recognized for his versatility and ability to portray strong, impactful characters.
- Contributed to cinema not only as an actor but also as a director.
Recent Projects
My Perfect Husband (2024):
- Tamil-language family drama television series on Disney+ Hotstar, where Sathyaraj starred alongside Seetha.
Connect (2022):
- Tamil-language supernatural horror film directed by Ashwin Saravanan, co-starring Nayanthara and Anupam Kher.
Award List Sathyaraj
| Year | Award Category | Award Name | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Best Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | Vedham Pudhithu | Won |
| 1988 | Best Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | En Bommukutty Ammavukku | Nominated |
| 1990 | Best Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | Nadigan | Nominated |
| 1990 | Special Prize | Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | Nadigan | Won |
| 1991 | Kalaimamani | Government of Tamil Nadu | — | Won |
| 1993 | Best Actor – Tamil | Cinema Express Awards | Walter Vetrivel | Won |
| 1995 | Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award (MGR Award) | Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | — | Won |
| 2000 | Honorary Doctorate | Sathyabama University | — | Won |
| 2007 | Special Prize | Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | Periyar | Won |
| 2007 | Periyar Award | Government of Tamil Nadu | Periyar | Won |
| 2007 | Best Actor | Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | Periyar | Won |
| 2007 | Best Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | Onbadhu Roobai Nottu | Nominated |
| 2007 | Best Actor | Vijay Awards | Onbadhu Roobai Nottu | Won |
| 2011 | Kalaichchigaram Award | Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards | — | Won |
| 2012 | Best Supporting Actor | Vijay Awards | Nanban | Won |
| 2012 | Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | Nanban | Nominated |
| 2012 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | SIIMA Awards | Nanban | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | SIIMA Awards | Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | SIIMA Awards | Mirchi | Nominated |
| 2013 | Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | Raja Rani | Won |
| 2015 | Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Filmfare Awards South | Baahubali: The Beginning | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | SIIMA Awards | Baahubali: The Beginning | Nominated |
| 2015 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Telugu | IIFA Utsavam | Baahubali: The Beginning | Nominated |
| 2015 | Performance in a Supporting Role – Tamil | IIFA Utsavam | Baahubali: The Beginning | Won |
| 2015 | Best Supporting Actor | Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | Baahubali: The Beginning | Won |
| 2016 | Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Filmfare Awards South | Nenu Sailaja | Nominated |
| 2017 | Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Filmfare Awards South | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Nominated |
| 2017 | Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | SIIMA Awards | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Nominated |
| 2017 | Best Supporting Actor | Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | Baahubali 2: The Conclusion | Won |
| 2017 | Honorary Doctorate | Vels University | — | Won |
| 2018 | Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | Filmfare Awards South | Kanaa | Won |
| 2018 | Best Supporting Actor | SIIMA Awards | Kanaa | Nominated |
| 2019 | Best Supporting Actor | SIIMA Awards | Thambi | Nominated |
About Sathyaraj
Sathyaraj is a renowned Indian actor, producer, director, and media personality, best known for his versatile roles in Tamil cinema. He has also worked in Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films.
Sathyaraj was born on October 3, 1954, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
His birth name is Rangaraj Subbiah, but he is widely known by his stage name, Sathyaraj.
Sathyaraj made his acting debut in the Tamil film Sattam En Kaiyil (1978) in a small role, but gained recognition with Kadalora Kavithaigal (1986).
Yes, he has won several honours, including Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Filmfare Awards South, Vijay Awards, Ananda Vikatan Awards, and honorary doctorates from Sathyabama University and Vels University.
Sathyaraj played the legendary role of Kattappa, a loyal warrior, which became a cultural phenomenon and earned him international fame.
Yes, in the early 1990s, Sathyaraj was briefly associated with politics and social activism, but later he shifted his focus fully to cinema.
Sathyaraj is married to Maheswari, and they have two children: Sibiraj (actor) and Divya.
Sathyaraj has been active in cinema since 1978, marking more than four decades in the film industry.