E A Rajendran, the Malayalam actor and director known for his work across theatre, cinema and television, has died at the age of 71. He had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness. He passed away at his residence in Pattathanam, Kollam. Rajendran was the brother-in-law of actor Mukesh.
Rajendran began his artistic journey in theatre, establishing himself as a stage actor before transitioning to films. Over the course of his career, he appeared in around sixty films, essaying a range of roles as both a villain and a character actor. He was also a familiar presence on television through various serials. Beyond the arts, he served as Chairman of the State Horticulture Corporation.
Born to Ayyappan and Sumathi in the Engoor Tharavadu at Thrithallur in Thrissur district, Rajendran showed an early inclination towards performance. During his time at Thrithallur U P School, he was actively involved in stage productions organised by the school’s literary society.
After completing his college education, he joined the National School of Drama in Delhi, graduating with first rank. He later pursued a television course at the Film Institute in Pune. It was upon returning from Pune that he met Sandhya, daughter of O Madhavan and sister of Mukesh. The two later married; at the time, Sandhya was a student at the Thrissur School of Drama.
Following their marriage, Rajendran settled in Kollam and became closely associated with Kalidasa Kalakendram, the theatre troupe run by his father-in-law. With the support of playwright Jose Chirammal, he adapted a Russian novel into a stage production, which went on to win the Kerala State Government Award for Best Play in 1987. Rajendran later assumed a leading role in the troupe’s activities, and for several years, he and Sandhya were its principal performers. During this period, Sandhya received the State Award for Best Theatre Actress.
Although Rajendran had earlier appeared in V R Gopinath’s Greeshmam after graduating from the Pune Film Institute, sustained opportunities in cinema did not immediately follow. After a considerable hiatus, he returned to the screen with Kaliyattam, directed by Jayaraj. He later went on to feature in films including Pranayavarnangal, Daya and Pattabhishekam, among others.