Early Life
S. S. Rajendran, born in 1928, popularly known as SSR, was introduced to Tamil cinema through the hit Parasakthi, released in 1952. He was a cult figure in the early 1950s and 60s who thrilled the fans by his breath-taking dialogue delivery and for his Dictaphone Tamil pronunciation — a feat only matched by the thespian Sivaji Ganesan. SSR got offers to act in stage dramas when he was in the 6th std. He joined Puliya Maanagar Boy's Company, which was famous in south Tamil Nadu, established by P. K. Subba Reddiyar. He started acting in the plays with small rolls; soon he was selected to act as "Bala Abhimanyu".
Later he joined T.K.S. Brothers Drama Company, Muththamizh Kala Vidva Rathna TKS Sabha. T. K. Shanmugam, his mentor, was sick one day and he could not attend the play that night for Siva Leela. Rajendran, who was hardly 15 years old, was selected by the troupe to act as the hero Shenbagapandian, replacing Shanmugam. He became a drama star overnight. During those days, he has the opportunity to meet Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and Arignar C. N. Annadurai. He left T.K.S. drama company in 1943 and joined Mohana Gana Sabha in Madras.
He had his first film offer in Abhimanyu, but the opportunity was lost to S. M. Kumaresan. SSR became a playback singer with the song "Inba ulakile manmadhan poonganai" in the film Andaal — music by G. Ramanathan, produced by Salem Moorthy Pictures. After that Rajendran started his own drama company and made efforts to enter filmdom.
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