Tamil Actor Rajesh Sudden Death at 75 Shocks Fans and Tamil Film Industry

About Rajesh

Rajesh (20 December 1949 – 29 May 2025) was a South Indian Tamil actor who has performed in Tamil and Malayalam films and serials. He has completed more than 50 years in films and appeared as lead roles and supporting roles in over 150 films. He has done roles ranging from a hero to character actor.

Rajesh was born to Williams Nattar and Lily Grace Mankondar at Mannargudi, Tiruvarur district, but his family hails from Anaikkadu, in Thanjavur district. He studied in Dindigul, Vadamadurai, Melanatham Aanaikadu and Chinnamanur Theni district. After finishing his PUC in Karaikudi Alagappa College, he joined Pachaiappas College, but unfortunately did not complete his college education. He worked as a teacher in St Paul’s High School, Purasawalkam and later at Kellett Higher Secondary School, Triplicane from 1972 to 1979.

Actor Rajesh Sudden Death at 75

Today morning, Chennai was taken aback by devastating news that shattered the core of South Indian cinema. Renowned Tamil actor Rajesh, a name that resonates with versatility and passion, died at 75 years of age. To many of us who came of age appreciating his movies, his infectious smile, emotive demeanor, and vibrant acting wasn’t just part of the show; it was life. Rajesh wasn’t just an actor, but a storyteller, a writer, and a cultural icon. He spent over four decades of his life acting in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films.

என்னுடைய நெருங்கிய நண்பர், நடிகர் ராஜேஷ் அவர்களின் அகால மரணச் செய்தி எனக்கு அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது. மிகுந்த மன வேதனையைத் தருகிறது.

அருமையான மனிதர், அவருடைய ஆத்மா சாந்தியடையட்டும்.

அவருடைய குடும்பத்தினருக்கும், நண்பர்களுக்கும் என்னுடைய ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்.#ActorRajesh

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) May 29, 2025

Rajesh’s cinematic journey began with his debut in Aval Oru Soorat Katha, where he acted in a Tamil Film that introduced to the world a young man with immense potential. It won’t be long before he began to capture hearts. His mastery of slipping into every character, from a loving father to a menacing villain to a comedic sidekick filled every director’s dream. Over the years, he has acted in more than 150 Tamil Films, each of which Rajesh had left an imprint on. But this artistry did not just stop at Tamil cinema. Rajesh did not shy away from crossing boundaries and proved that true talent knows no borders when he acted in Malayalam and Telugu films.

Rajesh’s artistry extended far beyond the silver screen. With a voice that could shift effortlessly from gentle to thunderous, he was also a gifted dubbing artist. His voice gave life to characters you may not have even realized he was behind. And for many of us growing up in homes where the television was the evening ritual, his presence on serials became a familiar comfort.

Perhaps what many didn’t know was that Rajesh was a writer too. He authored nine books, each a window into the human condition. He wrote the way he acted—with empathy, precision, and deep awareness. His storytelling had the same effect whether on screen or on the page: it made you feel seen. His final role in Merry Christmas (2024) was more than a swan song—it was proof that the flame of his passion never dimmed.

கனத்த இதயத்துடன் வந்த முதல்வர் மற்றும் துணை முதல்வர்.. மறைந்த நடிகர் ராஜேஷ் உடலுக்கு நேரில் அஞ்சலி!#CMMKStalin #DeputyCM #ActorRajesh #RIPActorRajesh #TamilNews #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/F6XFBHB218

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) May 29, 2025

The news of his passing felt unreal.

Early this morning, he suddenly fell ill and was being taken to the hospital when he breathed his last. The industry was left reeling, the grief palpable in every post, every conversation, every moment of stunned silence. His body now lies in repose at his residence in Ramapuram, Chennai—a place that now draws people like a magnet, each one wanting to say a quiet thank-you, a silent goodbye.

Rajesh leaves behind his daughter Divya, who is flying in from abroad and is expected to arrive by midnight on May 31st. His final rites will be held on Sunday, June 1st, at 11 a.m., a time that will no doubt see thousands gathering to say farewell.

But this goodbye isn’t an end. Rajesh’s legacy is stitched into the cultural fabric of South Indian cinema. His roles, his books, his voice—all continue to live on. For me, Rajesh will always be a reminder that art, when honest, becomes eternal.

Tamil Actor Rajesh All Movies List

Tamil Films

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