Judo. KK Rathnam (1930-2023) was a stunt artist, stunt director and actor who worked on more than 1500 films in a career spanning more than 5 decades. He holds the world record for making the maximum number of films as a stunt artist or stunt director and directing fight scenes for the maximum number of actors. He worked in Tollywood, Mollywood, Kollywood, and Bollywood. In the 1960s and 1970s, he directed fight scenes in almost every Tollywood film.
Wiki/Biography
Judo. KK Rathnam aka KK Rathnam was born on Friday, 8 August 1930 (age 92 years; at death) at Gudiyatham, in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, (then Madras Presidency), British India (now India). His zodiac sign is Leo. He was weak during his advancing age and had no interest in Judo. Once he went to work in a factory where he was asked if he would work the night shift because he didn’t look strong. Upon hearing this, he became angry and began to do physical exercises to achieve a good physical condition. He learned Taekwondo from ‘Mahabharat’ Masilamani, boxing from South Indian Boxing Champion Paramashivan, Judo from G. Ramu, yoga from Thangavelu, and also trained under Soviet-trained Ranganathan. Once he was doing training in the district collector program when he was met by script writer Mugavai Rajamanickam. Mugavai persuaded him to work in films.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 10″
Weight (approx): 70 kg
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper (half bald)
Eye Color: Black
Family
Wife & Children
His first wife was Padma, and his second wife was R. Govindammal who died on 15 November 2013. He had 8 children including 6 daughters. His son is Judo. KK Ramu is also a stuntman, while his grandsons Judo Lenin and John Prince are stunt artists.
Judo. KK Rathnam with his wife, R. Govindammal
Career
Movie
Judo. KK Rathnam made his debut as an actor in the film Tamaraik Kulam directed by Mukta V Siniwan, on the recommendation of screenwriter Mugavai Rajamanickam. He then made his debut as an action director with R. Sundaram Vallavan’s Oruvan in 1966 where he directed the judo fight scenes for Jaishankar-Manohar. This fight scene created a lot of sensation among fans, and he became very popular. RR Sundaram, the president of Modern Theatre, gave him the status of ‘My Lord’ through this film, and the Tamil Arts and Literature Forum awarded him the title of ‘Judo’. Rathnam has produced more than 1500 films which include 49 films with Rajinikanth, 16 films with Kamal Haasan, 69 films with Kannada Rajkumar, 4 films with Amitabh Bachchan, and 16 films with NTR. He has worked as a stunt artist and stunt director in films in over 9 languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and English. He also produced the film Othiyadi Pathayile directed by Prof AS Prakasam and starring famous music director Shankar Ganesh and released in 1980. Some of the films in which he worked as an action director were Thangakopuram, Vallavan to Vallavan, Two Vallavars, Kannayira Prisoner, Groom Floor, All Mighty Vallavan, Flowing Tiger, Red Sun, Roaring Cow, Gayatri, Thangaikor Geetham, Usha Till Alive, Tirupam, and Don’t Sleep Brother Don’t Sleep. He directed many iconic battle scenes such as the train fight scene in Rajinikanth’s Muratkugu. His last film as an actor was Thalayanagaram which was released in 2006.
Judo. KK Rathnam during the fight scene in the movie
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- 2013: Guinness World Record for working on more than 1200 films as a stunt coordinator
- 2016: Swamigal Sankaradas Award
- 2019: Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu Government
Death
Judo. KK Rathnam died on 26 January 2023 at the age of 92 in his hometown Gudiyatham in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Many people paid tribute to him including Rajinikanth, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, and CM MK Stalin of Tamil Nadu who expressed their condolences by tweeting about his contribution to the film industry.
Mr. Judo Ratnam அவியுக்கியார் நாய்சிய்
1/2 pic.twitter.com/YHuho3lWvc
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) January 27, 2023
Facts/Trivia
- Stunt actors and actors like Vikram Dharma, Super Subbarayan, Thalapathy Dinesh, Jaguar Thangam, Rambo Rajkumar, FEFSI Vijayan, Ponnambalam, Judo. KK Ramu, Indian Baskar, Rajasekhar, Ambur. RS Babu, and M. Shahul Hameed have worked as fighters and assistants.
- He also holds the Guinness World Record for performing stunts for 63 heroes.
- He was inspired by the principles of communism and was an active member of the Marxist Communist Party.
- Judo KK Ratnam has written an appeal letter to Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. He said that the Kalaimamani Award had not been given to him and requested that it be given to him.
- He published his autobiography titled Thamaraikulam Two Capitals in 2013.
- His nicknames are Kalaichelvan and Rudhranagam.
- Judo. KK Rathnam said during an interview that he injured Rajinikanth’s neck while practicing the ancient martial art of Silambam.
Judo. KK Rathnam (right) in a fight scene with Rajinikanth
- In August 2021, thieves stole 15 expensive silk saris, ½ kg of silverware, 2 expensive Rolex watches and Rs. 20 thousand from his house on Periyappa Mudali Road in his hometown, Kudiatham, Dharanapet.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
