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M R Santhanam (Actor & Producer) Manuthu Ramasamy Santhanam (13 May 1918 – 25 March 1970), was an Indian film actor, and producer. He appeared in supporting roles in Tamil films. Contents

Early life
Santhanam was born to the couple Ramasamy Gounder and Nachiar in Rajakkapatti a village in Usilampatti taluk of Madurai district Tamilnadu. His father  was Village Munsif of Manuthu panchayat. He had 2 sons and 6 daughters .Santhanam was born on 13th may 1918 as the 7th child. He studied upto 6th and become interested in Dramas which were popular at those times.He was trained by T.K.Sundara Vathiar and joined a drama group called Puliampatti Boys company in 1928. As he was fair he has been given female roles in the early stages. He travelled a lot with the company and while he was in kandy Sri lanka his father became ill and he left the company.Since his brother was indisposed he became Village Munsif till his brother returned.

Early career
He met his mentor T.S Durairaj in Madurai and joined his Drama company.When T.S Durairaj started his career in Tamil Film industry Santhanam also joined him. Santhanam was introduced in Baktha Meera in the year 1945 directed by Ellis. R. Duncan and M. S. Subbalakshmi played the lead role of Meera. From then on he has acted in about 70 films doing character and comedy roles.His charector role as poongavanam in Sorgavaasal earned him the name POONGAVANAM SANTHANAM a title given by the news paper Statesman of Calcutta. The first member on its rolls of the South Indian Film Artist's Association as of 1955, was M. N. Kannappa, 1  and the next was       M. R. Santhanam 2 In November 1955, Santhanam acted many films with the two legends of Tamil Film Industry Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran.in a supporting role.. The noted films of his carrier are Sabash Meena Veerapandiya Kattabomman Kapalotia Tamizhan.

With the help of Sivaji Ganesan  he donned the cap of a producer with Mr. Mohan as a partner  and made the evergreen, classic "Pasamalar" directed by Bhim Singh which became a benchmark for a brother and sister's love starring Sivaji Ganesan and Savithiri under the banner of Rajamani Pictures. He has also produced Annai illam (1963) and Paladai(1967) under the banner Kamala Pictures and Anbalippu (1969) under the banner Kamala Movies which was produced by his eldest son Gandhiraj.

Personal life
He married his sister’s daughter in the year 1945 and had 3 sons and 2 daughters. His sons Santhanabharathi ,R S Sivaji and grand son Sanjay Bhrathi continue in the film career started by him. He left the world on 25th March 1970.