3 Generations of Tamil Cinema: Rising Stars Who Carry the Legacy

S.A. Chandrasekhar was a legendary director and actor who launched the careers of many big stars, including his son, Thalapathy Vijay, one of the most popular Tamil actors of all time. Sanjay, Chandrasekhar's grandson, is an aspiring filmmaker who collaborated with Lyca for his debut film. The three generations of film stars have made a significant impact on Tamil cinema, with their films continuing to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

Vinod Raj, Vikram's father, struggled to make it as an actor, but Vikram rose to become one of the most decorated actors in Tamil cinema. Vikram's son, Dhruv, is also an actor, marking the third generation of actors in the family.

Sivaji Ganesan, aka Nadigar Thilagam, is acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian actors of all time and among the most imitated by other actors. In 1956, Prabhu was born to Shivaji, started acting in 1982, and became one of the leading actors in the industry by giving some of the best flicks like Chinna Thambi, Manasukkul Mathappu, and many more. Then, in 2012, Vikram joined the cinema to lead their legacy and made their debut breakthrough film, Kumki.

Muthuraman Radhakrishnan was a leading actor during the 1960s and 1970s and was fondly called Navarasa Thilagam. Muthuraman's son Karthik is also a popular Tamil actor and politician, and his grandson Gautham Karthik is also an actor who made his debut in Kadal (2013).

Siddalingaiah was an Indian film director, scriptwriter, and producer who made his debut through the Puthir movie, in which his son Murali starred. But he made his debut entry before 4 years, since before that his father was active in the Kannada film industry. Murali's son, Atharvaa Murali, was one of the charming actors who started acting in 2010.

Saroja, Menaka Suresh, and Keerthy Suresh are three generations of Tamil actresses who have made their mark on the film industry. Saroja is a veteran actress who has starred in over 100 films, while Menaka is a popular actress who has starred in a number of successful films. Keerthy Suresh is a rising star who has won a number of awards for her performances.

Ravichandran, a veteran actor who made his debut in 1964, was recently seen in the movies Aadu Puli and Kanden Kadhalai. His son Hamsavardhan, who starred in a few films, is best known for the movie Punnagai Desam. Ravichandran's granddaughter, Tanya Ravichandran, is a beautiful actress in the Kollywood industry, known for her roles in Karuppan and Brindavanam.

M.R. Ragha, a legendary Tamil actor, continues to inspire youngsters with his words and thoughts. His legacy lives on through his daughters Radhika and Varalakshmi, both successful actresses in their own right.

Editor Mohan, his son Jayam Ravi, and grandson Aarav are a father-son-grandson trio in the Tamil film industry. Mohan is a renowned editor, Ravi is a successful actor, and Aarav is a child actor who made his debut in his father's film Tik Tik Tik.

Vijayakumar, Arun Vijay, and Arnav Vijay are a three-generation Tamil acting dynasty. Vijayakumar is a veteran actor with over 200 films to his credit; Arun Vijay is a popular actor with over 25 films to his name; and Arnav Vijay is the son of Arun Vijay and is making his acting debut in the 2023 film Oh My Dog. The three have starred together in Oh My Dog.

Karunanidhi, the former CM of Tamil Nadu, started his career in the film industry as a lyricist and screenwriter. His son, M.K. Stalin, the current CM, acted in a lead role in the 1987 film with Karthick. Both Karunanidhi and Stalin later switched to politics. However, Karunanidhi's grandson, Udhayanidhi Stalin, started his career in the film industry before entering politics.

Kumari Rukmini was a renowned actress and dancer; her fame spread all over India. Her daughter Lakshmi made her debut as a child artist in her mother's film Sri Valli and went on to star in many films. She is best known for her roles in Jeans, Snegithiye, and Vel. Lakshmi's daughter Aishwarya started her acting career in 1989 in Telugu and has starred in many films, including Panchatanthiram, M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi, Aaru, and Vel.

Shakti Prasad, Arjun Sarja, and Aishwarya Arjun are a family of renowned Tamil actors. Shakti Prasad was a popular Kannada film actor, and his son Arjun is one of the most successful Tamil actors of his generation. Arjun's daughter Aishwarya is also an actress, and she has appeared in both Tamil and Kannada films.

Nagesh, a legendary Tamil actor, starred in over 1000 films and was renowned for his comic timing and thought-provoking dialogues. His son, Anand Babu, made his acting debut in 1983, while his grandson, Gajesh, made his debut in 2014. Unlike Nagesh, these two did not achieve fame with the audience.

Kamala Kamesh is a Tamil actress who made her debut in the critically acclaimed film Kudisai (1979). Her daughter, Uma Riyaz, and son, Shariq Khan, are also actors. Uma Riyaz has acted in many films in supporting roles, while Shariq Khan made his debut in 2016 with the film Pencil.