imported>GreenC bot at 01:25, 9 August 2021

2021-08-09T01:25:33Z

New page

{{short description|Indian politician and actress (born 1984)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gayathri Raguram
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|04|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| occupation = {{Hlist | Choreographer | actress | politician | director}}
| parents = [[Raghuram]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Deepak Chandrasekhar |2006|2010|end=divorced}}
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] (2014-present<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/gayathri-raghuram-quits-politics-bjp-party-tamil-news-235458|title=Gayathri Raghuram quits politics|date=2019-05-06|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=2019-05-06}}</ref>
| office = {{br list | State President of the Cultural Wing|([[Tamil Nadu]])}}
| president = [[Edappadi K. Palaniswami]]
| term_start = 2020–present
| term_end =
| predecessor = ''Position established''
| successor =
| office1 = Member of [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]
| predecessor1 = ''Position established''
|president1 = [[Jagat Prakash Nadda]]
| term_start1 = 2020–present
| term_end1 =
| office2 = 1st Secretary for Arts
| president2 = [[Amit Shah]]
| term_start2 = 2015
| term_end2 = 2017
| predecessor2 = ''Position established''
| successor2 = ''Position removed''
}}
'''Gayathri Raguram ''' is an Indian actress and politician who has worked in the South Indian film industry. Gayathri began her career as an actress in the 2002 film ''[[Charlie Chaplin (2002 film)|Charlie Chaplin]]'' and after a career break, she began working as a ''choreographer'' in films from 2008 till 2019. In 2020 she became a politician and became a member in [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] and decided to no longer acts in films.

== Personal life ==

Gayathri was born in a Tamil family as the second daughter to dance choreographers [[Raghuram]] and Girija Raghuram.<ref name = india>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/events/11089.html|title=Tamil Cinema News - Tamil Movie Reviews - Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil|website=Indiaglitz.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/gayathri-raghuram-slams-sophia-and-her-supporters-tamil-news-220348|title=Gayathri Raghuram slams Sophia and her supporters - Tamil News|date=2018-09-04|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref> Her elder sister Suja is a prominent dancer, who has also previously worked as an actress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://film.rrfedu.com/california/suja_india/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731162048/http://film.rrfedu.com/california/suja_india/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-07-31|title=Suja Manoj - Film Connection Students|website=Film.rrfedu.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> She is the great granddaughter of director [[Krishnaswami Subrahmanyam]]. Her mother, Girija comes from a family of choreographers, which includes [[Brinda (choreographer)|Brinda]] and [[Kala (choreographer)|Kala]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2009/09/21/sunday-celebritykala-master-she-%E2%80%98sagala-kala-vallavi%E2%80%99 |title=Kala master: she is 'sagala kala vallavi' |work=Asian Tribune |access-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703144856/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2009/09/21/sunday-celebritykala-master-she-%E2%80%98sagala-kala-vallavi%E2%80%99 |archive-date=3 July 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In August 2006, Gayathri had an [[arranged marriage]] with US-based software engineer Deepak Chandrasekar in [[California]], and the pair subsequently held a Hindu ceremony in December 2006 which was attended by several actors and politicians from [[Tamil Nadu]]. In 2008, Gayathri filed for divorce on the grounds of domestic abuse from Deepak and his parents. The divorce was subsequently granted in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/gayathri-ragurams-marriage-on-the-rocks--tamil-news-51640.html|title=Gayathri Ragurama's marriage on the rocks?|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref>

In November 2015, Gayathri was appointed as [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s secretary for arts in Tamil Nadu. She had earlier joined the party in 2014 in the presence of BJP president [[Amit Shah]].

=== Drunk and driving case ===
Gayathri was booked for [[Driving under the influence|drunk and driving]] in November 2019 by Abhiramapuram Traffic Control Police. Police reported that she left a party at a star hotel in MRC Nagar organized for film personalities and was on her way home when she was intercepted by the police, she admitted that she had drunk alcohol when she was asked to blow into the [[Breathalyzer|breathing analyzer]]. A police officer later drove her to her house in [[Adyar River|Adyar]] and confiscated her car. A case under Section 185 of the [[Motor Vehicles Act]] was filed on her and she was also fined for the incident. Gayathri however claimed it was [[fake news]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=November 26, 2018|title=Actor Gayathri Raghuram booked for drunken driving|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/actor-gayathri-raghuram-booked-for-drunken-driving/articleshow/66800864.cms|access-date=2020-08-28|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Actor Gayathri Raghuram booked for drunk driving in Chennai|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-gayathri-raghuram-booked-drunk-driving-chennai-92238|access-date=2020-08-28|website=www.thenewsminute.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-26|title=Gayathri Raghuram's statement on drunken drive controversy|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/gayathri-raghurams-statement-on-drunken-drive-controversy.html|access-date=2020-08-28|website=Behindwoods}}</ref>

===Twitter===
On October 26, 2020, Raguram was permanently suspended from social media platform [[Twitter]] for violating Twitter's rules after posting a series of tweets relating to the controversy over [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi|VCK]] leader [[Thol. Thirumavalavan]]'s statement on [[Manusmriti]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Twitter suspends BJP leader Gayathri Raghuram's account |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/manusmriti-tweets-twitter-suspends-bjp-leader-gayathri-raghurams-account/articleshow/78869693.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 November 2020 |date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026232132/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/manusmriti-tweets-twitter-suspends-bjp-leader-gayathri-raghurams-account/articleshow/78869693.cms |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
Gayathri Raghuram started acting at the age of fourteen.<ref name=ga>{{Cite web |url=http://silverscreen.in/features/gayathri-raguram-interview-dancing-beat/ |title=Gayathri Raguram interview: Dancing to her own beat |work=Silverscreen |access-date=8 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713041425/http://silverscreen.in/features/gayathri-raguram-interview-dancing-beat/ |archive-date=13 July 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Early in her career, she insisted on being known by her full name to avoid confusion with another actress, [[Gayatri Jayaraman]], who was also active in the period.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-19/news-interviews/28198108_1_identity-crisis-film-career-prabhu-dheva |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216021456/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-19/news-interviews/28198108_1_identity-crisis-film-career-prabhu-dheva |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-16 |title=The name is 'Gayathri Raghuram'|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=2009-07-19 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> She initially was cast in [[S. Thanu]]'s production ''Enna Solla Pogiray'' in 2001, but the project was later dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/movienews/morenews28.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030406151322/http://movies.indiainfo.com/tamil/movienews/morenews28.html|title=Indiainfo: Tamil: Movie News|archive-date=6 April 2003|website=web.archive.org}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2021}}

Her debut film, [[Sakthi Chidambaram]]'s comedy drama ''[[Charlie Chaplin (2002 film)|Charlie Chaplin]]'' (2002), featured her in an ensemble cast alongside [[Prabhu Deva]], [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]] and [[Abhirami (actress)|Abhirami]]. She was selected for the film after [[Gayatri Jayaraman]] opted out of the project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg155/culture.htm |title=Arts & Culture |website=Tamilguardian.com |date=2002-04-03 |access-date=2012-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022213751/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg155/culture.htm |archive-date=22 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The film enjoyed commercial success, with a critic from ''[[The Hindu]]'' stating "the new heroine's expertise in dance is particularly impressive".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/22/stories/2002022201180200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020325164804/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/02/22/stories/2002022201180200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 March 2002|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=Charlie Chaplin|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> In 2002, she appeared in three more films: the Kannada film ''[[Manasella Neene]]'' directed by choreographer [[Mugur Sundar|Sundaram]], the Tamil film ''[[Style (2002 film)|Style]]'' alongside choreographer [[Raghava Lawrence]] and the Malayalam film, ''[[Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari]]'', where she starred opposite [[Prithviraj Sukumaran|Prithviraj]]. Her four consequent releases in 2003 fared less well at the box office and failed to garner her more film offers. In concern of her performance in the horror film ''[[Whistle (2003 film)|Whistle]]'' (2003), a critic from The Hindu wrote "Gayathri Raghuram's face is and her expressions are just right but rotundity seems to come in the way of wholesome appeal".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/07/04/stories/2003070401120200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030902043129/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2003/07/04/stories/2003070401120200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 September 2003|website=[[The Hindu]]|title="Whistle"|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> Likewise, a critic wrote "Gayathri, as the garrulous friend of the hero, begins well, and even when you think she might have a solid role to play, she turns out to be just another weighty heroine in tow", in regard of her appearance in the [[Arjun Sarja|Arjun]]-starrer ''[[Parasuram (film)|Parasuram]]'' (2003).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/fr/2003/06/06/stories/2003060601270200.htm|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=Parasuram|access-date=18 July 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Subsequently, she quit films and relocated to pursue a qualification in Visual Communications in Iowa, USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/14001.html |title=Gayathri Raghuram bids goodbye|website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=2005-04-01 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>

Gayathri returned to the film industry in 2008 as a choreographer with films like ''[[Jayam Kondaan]]'' (2008) and ''[[Poi Solla Porom]]'' (2008) and has since worked in big budget productions including ''[[Madrasapattinam]]'' (2010), ''[[Deiva Thirumagal]]'' (2013), ''[[Osthe]]'' (2011) and ''[[Anjaan (2014 film)|Anjaan]]'' (2014).<ref name = ga/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/40397.html |title=Gayathri Raghuram follows her dad|website=IndiaGlitz.com |date=2008-07-31 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> Her work in the crime thriller ''[[Kanthaswamy]]'' (2009) and the satire ''[[Tamil Padam]]'' (2010) were well received by critics.<ref>{{cite news|author=V Lakshmi|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-08/news-interviews/28130557_1_song-choreographing-chance-pe-dance |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216035205/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-03-08/news-interviews/28130557_1_song-choreographing-chance-pe-dance |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-16 |title=I want to try my hand at direction: Gayathri|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=2010-03-08 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> By 2014, she had choreographed around 100 films and has regularly specialised in working on romantic montages.<ref name = ga/>

Gayatri acted once more in ''[[Vai Raja Vai]]'' (2015) at the insistence of her friend [[Aishwarya Dhanush]] by portraying the sister of the film's lead character [[Gautham Karthik]].<ref name = ga/> Likewise, she made an extended guest appearance in director [[Bala (director)|Bala]]'s village drama ''[[Tharai Thappattai]]'' (2016), where she also featured in a [[karakattam]]-based song. After announcing her intentions of directing a film in 2012, she began work on her first directorial venture ''Yaadhumagi Nindraai'' during 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/gayathri-raghuram-turns-director-tamil-news-78299|title=Gayathri Raghuram turns director - Tamil Movie News|website=IndiaGlitz.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/041216/gayathri-raghuram-turns-director.html|title=Gayathri Raghuram turns director|date=4 December 2016|website=Deccanchronicle.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref>

=== Bigg Boss ===
In 2017, Gayathri was a contestant on the Tamil reality show ''[[Bigg Boss Tamil 1|Bigg Boss]]'' hosted by [[Kamal Haasan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/kamal-haasan-bigg-boss-tamil-begins-meet-the-15-contestants-of-the-show-see-photos-4722313/|title=Kamal Haasan's Bigg Boss Tamil begins: Meet the 15 contestants of the show, see photos|date=26 June 2017|website=Indianexpress.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref> She was evicted from the show on day 56, after having attracted widespread criticism for her behaviour inside the Bigg Boss House. In particular, her constant harassment and bullying of contestants [[Bharani (actor)|Bharani]], Julie and then [[Oviya (actress)|Oviya]] were widely criticised. A police complaint was filed against her for using derogatory words against Oviya by saying that Oviya has seri behaviour (Slum behaviour) and hurting the sentiment of others, while on the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/jul/13/action-sought-against-gayathri-raghuram-1627973.html|title=Action sought against Gayathri Raghuram|website=Newindianexpress.com|access-date=18 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-14|title=Bigg Boss Tamil: Another group demands action against Gayathri Raghuram for abusive language|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/bigg-boss-tamil-another-group-demands-action-against-actor-for-abusive-language/story-IrD1wgb4giL9Glk1YSMadO.html|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> Post her appearance on the show, Gayathri returned to choreography, and also appeared as a judge on the television show, ''Mrs Chinnathirai''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/so-where-are-the-bigg-boss-contestants-of-season-1-now/articleshow/64529928.cms|title=So, where are the Bigg Boss Tamil contestants of Season 1 now? - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

=== Actress ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes
|-
|rowspan="4"|2002
| ''[[Charlie Chaplin (2002 film)|Charlie Chaplin]]'' || Susi || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||
|-
| ''[[Manasella Neene]]'' || Renuka || [[Kannada]] ||
|-
| ''[[Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari|Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran<br>Avanundoru Rajakumari]]'' || Aswathy || [[Malayalam]] ||
|-
| ''[[Style (2002 film)|Style]]'' || Viji || Tamil ||
|-
|rowspan="4"|2003
| ''Maa Bapu Bommaku Pellanta'' || Mohana || [[Telugu language|Telugu]]||
|-
| ''[[Parasuram (film)|Parasuram]]'' || Meena || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Whistle (2003 film)|Whistle]]'' || Anjali || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Vikadan]]'' || Gowri || Tamil ||
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Vaanam]]'' || Herself || Tamil || Special appearance in the song "Who Am I?"
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012
| ''[[Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi]]'' || rowspan="2"| Fitness Instructor || Tamil || Special appearance in the song "Azhaipaya Azhaipaya"
|-
| ''[[Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi|Love Failure]]'' || Telugu || Special appearance in the song "Inthajare Inthajare"
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015
| ''[[Vai Raja Vai]]'' || Gayathri || Tamil ||
|-
|''[[Idhu Enna Maayam]]'' || Herself || Tamil || Special appearance in the song "Irukkirai"
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Tharai Thappattai]]'' || Herself || Tamil || Guest appearance in song "Aarambam Aavadhu"
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Aruvam]]'' || Scientist || Tamil ||
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Yaadhumagi Nindraai]]'' || Thamarai || Tamil ||Film released on [[ZEE5]]
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Rang De]]'' || Arjun's sister || Telugu ||
|}

=== Director ===
*''[[Yaadhumagi Nindraai]]'' (2020)

=== Producer ===
*''[[Yaadhumagi Nindraai]]'' (2020)

=== Choreographer ===
{{colbegin}}
*Jayam Kondaan (2008)
*Poi Solla Porom (2008)
*Panchamirtham (2008)
*Kanthaswamy (2009)
*Kola Kolaya Mundhirika (2009)
*Daddy Cool (2009)
*Madrasapattinam (2010)
*Tamil Padam (2010)
*Anwar (2010)
*Osthe (2011)
*Makeup Man(2011)
*Salt N' Pepper (2011)
*I Love Me (2012)
*Scene Onnu Nammude Veedu (2012)
*No.66 Madurai Bus (2012)
*Aravaan (2012)
*Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi (2012)
*Deiva Thirumagal (2013)
*Samsaaram Aarogyathinu Haanikaram (2013)
*SIM (2013)
*Thalaivaa (2013)
*Memories (2013)
*Anjaan (2014)
*To Noora with Love (2014)
*Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014)
*Nimirndhu Nil (2014)
*Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014)
*[[100 Days of Love]] (2015)
*[[Kadavul Paathi Mirugam Paathi]] (2015)
*Chandrettan Evideya (2015)
*Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015)
*[[As I'm Suffering From Kadhal]] (2017)
*Thalaivi
*Maha
{{colend}}

=== Television ===
{{colbegin}}
* Chinna Chinna Aasai- Uravu (1995) - Baby Pooja
*''[[Jodi Number One]]''
*''[[Dancing Khilladies]]''
*''[[Genes (game show)|Genes]]''
*''[[Kitchen Galatta]]''
*''[[Koffee with DD]]''
*''Odi Vilayadu Pappa'' (2016)-Judge
*''[[Bigg Boss Tamil 1|Bigg Boss]]'' (2017)-Contestant - Evicted Day 56
*''[[Mrs. Chinnathirai]]'' (2017)-Judge
*''[[Divided (Tamil game show)|Divided]]'' (2018)-Contestant
*''[[Bigg Boss Tamil 2|Bigg Boss 2]]'' (2018) - Guest
{{colend}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|1690484}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raguram, Gayathri}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses from Chennai]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Indian film choreographers]]
[[Category:Indian women choreographers]]
[[Category:Indian choreographers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Indian women film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Chennai]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Bigg Boss Tamil contestants]]
[[Category:Indian politicians]]

Gayathri Raguram - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot at 01:25, 9 August 2021