Remembering yesteryear actor Ranjan 1918-83

Ranjan (Real name: Ramanarayana Venkataramana Sarma (2 March 1918 – 12 September 1983) was an Indian film actor, singer, journalist and writer. He debuted in the 1941 movie Ashok Kumar, but gained fame in S. S. Vasan's 1948 magnum opus Chandralekha.

Ranjan was born Ramanarayana Venkataramana Sarma in Mylapore, Madras in 1918. His family hailed from the town of Srirangam. 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, 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, in which he played the title role of Rishyasringa. In his early movies, Ranjan was credited as "R. Ramani, B. A."The screen name "Ranjan" was actually bestowed upon him by Jithen Banerjee of Newtone Studios.

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.

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 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 RBI office, Victoria Technical Institute on Anna Salai and Voluntary Health Services in Taramani.

Death

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

Filmography

Chandra Lekha

Mangala

Sapera

Madari

Jadunagri

Khiladi

Neela Malai Thirudan

Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo

Mangamma Sapatham (1943)

Hum Bhi Kuchh Kam Nahin

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".