Madurai Narasimha Achary Rajam is an Indian actress, who works mainly in Tamil cinema. She was known for her roles in Ratha Kanneer, Pennin Perumai, Pudhayal, Thanga Padumai, Nadodi Mannan, Pasamalar, Thaali Bhagyam and Arangetram.
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Career
Rajam made her stage acting debut at the age of seven, and film acting debut as a child artist in 1949. Rajam played the vamp role in the Tamil classic Ratha Kanneer (1954), opposite M. R. Radha.
Since then Rajam had acted with several leading actors including MGR in Nadodi Mannan, Sivaji Ganesan in Rangoon Radha, Gemini Ganesan, M. R. Radha, S. S. Rajendran, M. N. Nambiar and N. S. Krishnan. She married popular Tamil playback singer A. L. Raghavan on 2 May 1960.
She played supporting roles in films from 1970 to 1990. She started working in TV serials from 1995 and continued to work in films till 2014. In 1958 Rajam was booked by MGR for his second directorial venture Ponniyin Selvan. One of the first screen adaptations of Kalki Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan, the film had a huge ensemble cast consisting of Vyjayanthimala, Savitri, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, Saroja Devi and Nagesh. In the film, she was given the role of Nandhini, the wife of Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. However, in mid-1958 the film was shelved for unknown reasons.
During 1950s, Rajam was recognized for her negative shade roles in a few movies. Subsequently, she expanded her character roles to encompas positive roles as well, especially in movies like Arangetram.
