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Indian actor, comedian, playwright, lawyer, and political satirist

Cho Ramaswamy

Born 5 October 1934 · Tamil Nadu — Died 7 December 2016

Founded and edited the Tamil political magazine 'Thuglak' known for sharp political satire.

Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, better known as Cho Ramaswamy, was an Indian actor, comedian, editor, political commentator, satirist, playwright, film director and lawyer from Tamil Nadu. He was a popular comedian in the 1960s and 1970s, and had acted with all the top stars in that period.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Cho Ramaswamy acted in 180 Tamil films from 1963 to 2005 and wrote/directly staged over 20 plays, a rare feat combining prolific work in both cinema and theatre.

The Story

1
🎭 In 1963, Cho Ramaswamy debuted as a comedian in the Tamil film Paar Magale Paar, marking the start of a career that spanned over 180 films until 2005.
2
📖 In 1970, he founded the Tamil political magazine Thuglak, which became known for its fearless, satirical criticism of politicians at both the state and national levels.
3🎬 Cho acted alongside superstar Jayalalithaa in 19 films and shared the stage with her in the same drama troupe, blending cinema and politics uniquely in Tamil Nadu.
4In 1968, Cho wrote, directed, and acted in the political satire play and film Mohammed Bin Tughlaq, which led to attempts by the DMK government to ban it due to its controversial portrayal of political power.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Cho’s stage name originated from a character he played in the Tamil play Thenmozhiyaal by Bhageerathan, which stuck with him throughout his career.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth of Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy
Born in Mylapore, Madras Presidency (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, into a family of lawyers.
1934
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Career
Film Debut in Paar Magale Paar
Cho made his debut as a comedian in this Tamil film, launching his cinematic career.
1963
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Career
Mohammed Bin Tughlaq Play and Film
Wrote, directed, and acted in this political satire, provoking controversy and attempted bans.
1968
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Career
Founded Thuglak Magazine
Started the Tamil political satire weekly that challenged all political parties fearlessly.
1970
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Career
Became Rajya Sabha Member
Nominated to the Rajya Sabha, serving until 2005 and bringing his satirical voice to parliament.
1999
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Death
Death of Cho Ramaswamy
Passed away in Chennai following a cardiac arrest at age 82.
2016
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 06
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

His play Mohammed Bin Tughlaq was so controversial that the newly elected DMK government in 1971 sought to ban its film adaptation.

02 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Cho worked with Tamil cinema icons MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, Kamal Haasan, and Rajnikanth across decades, bridging multiple film eras.

03 / 06
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Though a fierce critic of Jayalalithaa at times, Cho acted with her in 19 films and was part of the same drama troupe in their early careers.

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"Cho Ramaswamy was a multidimensional personality, towering intellectual, great nationalist & fearless voice who was respected and admired." - Narendra Modi

— Cho Ramaswamy

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Cho Ramaswamy - ENGE BRAHMANAN Introduction

🌱 What changed because of them

Cho Ramaswamy’s founding of Thuglak magazine established a fearless platform for political satire that challenged governments regardless of party, influencing Tamil political journalism deeply. His plays and films like Mohammed Bin Tughlaq critiqued political power openly, provoking government censorship attempts but eventually expanding freedom of expression in Tamil arts. As a Rajya Sabha member, he brought an independent, satirical perspective to national politics, shaping public debate beyond Tamil Nadu.

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💭 Memories & Tributes

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