Raju Sundaram

Raju Sundaram
Name	Raju Sundaram
Birth date	1968
Birth place	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Choreographer, actor, film director
Years active	1980s–present
Relatives	Prabhu Deva (brother), Girish Karnad (associate)

Raju Sundaram Raju Sundaram is an Indian choreographer, actor, and director prominent in Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Hindi cinema, Malayalam cinema, and Kannada cinema. He is noted for his contributions to song choreography across films featuring leading stars from Rajinikanth to Shah Rukh Khan, combining classical and contemporary influences drawn from collaborations with artists across South and North India. His career spans work with major directors, producers, music composers, and studios in the Indian film industry.

Early life and background

Born in Chennai into a family active in film and dance, he trained under established choreographers and was influenced by the work of BR Ambedkar-era dancers and modern practitioners. He grew up amid connections to the Tamil film industry and was exposed to studios such as AVM Productions, Gemini Studios, and the networks around Cholamandal Artists' Village. Early contacts included rehearsals with performers linked to Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, Kamal Haasan, Sridevi, and choreographers associated with Hindi film song-and-dance traditions. He also encountered cultural institutions such as Madras Music Academy and performing groups linked to Bharatanatyam stalwarts like Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Career

He began as an assistant and dancer in films produced by companies like AVM Productions and worked on shoots with choreographers who served actors such as Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, and Mohanlal. Rising to lead choreographer, he collaborated with directors like Mani Ratnam, S. Shankar, K. Balachander, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy projects, and producers such as K. S. Ravikumar and Karan Johar. His choreography credits span films featuring stars Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Venkatesh, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, and Amitabh Bachchan. He also worked with music composers Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, Harris Jayaraj, Devi Sri Prasad, Yuvan Shankar Raja, and Vishal–Shekhar on dance numbers for studios including Yash Raj Films, Shemaroo, and Eros International.

He expanded into acting, appearing in supporting roles alongside actors such as Karthik, Prabhu, Arjun Sarja, and Dhanush, and later directed projects featuring casts that included regional and pan-Indian performers from Tollywood and Kollywood. Production houses he worked with include Sun Pictures, Lyca Productions, Red Giant Movies, and Geetha Arts.

Choreography and dance style

His choreography draws on elements of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Western jazz dance, and Hip hop while referencing the cinematic vocabularies of choreographers linked to Hrithik Roshan films and dance sequences popularized in Bollywood. He integrates rhythmic patterns from composers like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman with steps suited to stars such as Rajinikanth and Shah Rukh Khan. Collaborations with cinematographers like Santosh Sivan, Rajiv Menon, and P. C. Sreeram helped shape visual staging in numbers shot at locations including Ramoji Film City, Marina Beach, Meenakshi Amman Temple, and urban sets in Mumbai. He has trained dancers who later worked with choreographers connected to Prabhu Deva, Farah Khan, Saroj Khan, and Remo D'Souza.

Filmography

As choreographer, his credits include dance sequences in films produced by studios such as AVM Productions, Madras Talkies, Tips Industries, and Sun TV Network projects, working on tracks for movies starring Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Venkatesh, Chiranjeevi, Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, and Shah Rukh Khan. He choreographed songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja, A. R. Rahman, Harris Jayaraj, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Devi Sri Prasad, and Vishal–Shekhar in films directed by Mani Ratnam, S. Shankar, Gautham Vasudev Menon, K. S. Ravikumar, and Karan Johar.

As actor, he appeared in supporting and cameo roles in films associated with Kollywood and Tollywood actors including Prabhu Deva, Vikram, Dhanush, and Karthi. As director, he led productions backed by companies such as Aascar Films and AG Films with crews that involved technicians linked to AR Murugadoss and S. S. Rajamouli-era projects.

Awards and recognition

He has received honors from award bodies including Filmfare Awards South, South Indian International Movie Awards, Kalaimamani, Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and recognition at ceremonies hosted by Zee Cine Awards and IIFA-adjacent events. His choreography won accolades for work with artists such as Vijay, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, and singers like K. S. Chithra and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Industry peers including Prabhu Deva, Farah Khan, Remo D'Souza, Saroj Khan, and Ashley Lobo have cited his influence in interviews and retrospectives.

Personal life and legacy

He is part of a film family connected to figures like Prabhu Deva and networks spanning Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. His legacy includes mentoring dancers who became choreographers in Bollywood and Kollywood and shaping dance sequences for leading actors across Indian cinema. Institutions and festivals such as Chennai International Film Festival, International Film Festival of India, and cultural organizations like Sangeet Natak Akademi have showcased programs referencing his work. His contributions continue to influence choreographers, cinema-makers, and performers across regional and national film industries.

Category:Indian choreographers Category:Living people Category:People from Chennai