C. Rudraiah

Q: When did C. Rudraiah die?

C. Rudraiah died on November 18, 2014.

Q: How old was C. Rudraiah when they died?

C. Rudraiah was 67 years old at the time of death.

Died: November 18, 2014
Age: 67 years

Deaths in 2014 November 2014 Died on November 18 Who Died Today Verified Sep 29, 2026

About C. Rudraiah

C. Rudraiah, 67, Indian film director (Aval Appadithan).

Explore other notable deaths in 2014 or deaths in November 2014.

The Deaths Archive presents

How well do you know C. Rudraiah?

Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.

10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?

Challenge your friends

Play together in real-time.

Level: Knowledge Challenge
Mode: Solo / Multiplayer
Questions: 10
Status: Ready to play

Full Biography

Rudraiah Chockalingam (c. 25 July 1947 – 18 November 2014) was an Indian film director most known for directing the film, Aval Appadithan (1978) which starred Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sripriya.

Early life

He was born the son of Chockalingam on 25 July 1947 in Attur, a town in Salem district, present-day Tamil Nadu.

Career

He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli and went on to pursue a diploma in film direction from Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai. His directorial debut Aval Appadithan 'made an impact at the time of its release because its story and dialogues were different from many other Tamil films. The photography throughout the film emphasises moods by using shadows, and close-up shots are used extensively. Jump cuts are also common throughout the film. Aval Appadithan is considered as a milestone in Tamil film history. Indian filmmaker Mrinal Sen remarked that the film "was far ahead of the times". Rudraiah's second film, Gramathu Athiyayam (1980) was a rural tale set in a rustic Tamil village. In 1978, he began a project Yaaro Paarkirargal, based on a novel by Sujatha featuring Kamal Haasan, Seema and Saritha despite a song being recorded, it was shelved.

Despite the success of his first film, Rudraiah found it difficult to continue making films as a result of the changing style of the film industry and the audience's preference for star-driven projects. In 1982, he began a venture titled Raja Ennai Mannithuvidu featuring Kamal Haasan, Chandrahasan, Sujatha and Sumalatha, which dealt with conflicts between two brothers. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and was 40% complete, when Kamal Haasan pulled out citing he wanted to work on scripts with more star value, and the film eventually was thereafter shelved. The songs recorded for the film by Ilaiyaraaja were later used in other ventures.

Rudraiah then announced another film titled Unmayai Thedi which also failed to materialise, before he began work on the road movie, TXT7 in 1988. Written by Sujatha, the team signed on Raghuvaran to play the lead role of a taxi driver and L. Vaidyanathan to compose music. However financial problems meant that the film was soon after indefinitely postponed. The failure for his own productions to take off meant that by 1990, Rudraiah was open to directing films for other producers and began work on a tragic love story titled Kadalpurathil featuring Archana. Soon after production began, the makers decided to change the lead actress and create it as a television film instead, and it was later premièred on Doordarshan.

Death

Rudraiah died in Chennai on 18 November 2014 at the age of 67 after an illness.

Filmography

Aval Appadithan (1978)
Gramathu Athiyayam (1980)

Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

16 Verified Trivia Questions About C. Rudraiah

Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against C. Rudraiah's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.

1.On what date was Rudraiah Chockalingam born?
- A.18 November 2014
- B.25 July 1980
- C.25 July 1947Correct
- D.18 November 1978
Rudraiah Chockalingam was born on 25 July 1947.
Source: Early life section
2.What is the name of the town where Rudraiah Chockalingam was born?
- A.Tiruchirapalli
- B.Salem
- C.AtturCorrect
- D.Chennai
Rudraiah Chockalingam was born in Attur, a town in the Salem district.
Source: Early life section
3.In which academic subject did Rudraiah Chockalingam earn a bachelor's degree?
- A.Film Direction
- B.Literature
- C.EconomicsCorrect
- D.History
Rudraiah Chockalingam graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli.
Source: Career section
4.Which institution did Rudraiah Chockalingam attend to obtain a diploma in film direction?
- A.Film and Television Institute of Tamil NaduCorrect
- B.Chennai Film Academy
- C.St. Joseph's College
- D.Tamil Nadu Institute of Arts
Rudraiah Chockalingam pursued a diploma in film direction from the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu.
Source: Career section
5.Which actors starred in the film Aval Appadithan?
- A.Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and SripriyaCorrect
- B.Rajinikanth, Archana and Kamal Haasan
- C.Raghuvaran, Archana and Sujatha
- D.Kamal Haasan, Seema and Saritha
Aval Appadithan was directed by Rudraiah Chockalingam and starred Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Sripriya.
Source: Introduction
6.Who famously remarked that the film Aval Appadithan was far ahead of its time?
- A.Sujatha
- B.Chandrahasan
- C.Mrinal SenCorrect
- D.L. Vaidyanathan
Indian filmmaker Mrinal Sen remarked that Aval Appadithan was far ahead of the times.
Source: Career section
7.What is the subject of Rudraiah Chockalingam's second film, Gramathu Athiyayam?
- A.A road movie
- B.A urban thriller
- C.A rural taleCorrect
- D.A historical drama
Gramathu Athiyayam (1980) was a rural tale set in a rustic Tamil village.
Source: Career section
8.Which novel was the project Yaaro Paarkirargal intended to be based upon?
- A.A novel by Mrinal Sen
- B.A novel by Kamal Haasan
- C.A novel by Sripriya
- D.A novel by SujathaCorrect
Rudraiah Chockalingam began a project titled Yaaro Paarkirargal which was based on a novel by Sujatha.
Source: Career section
9.Why did Kamal Haasan pull out of the project Raja Ennai Mannithuvidu?
- A.He wanted to work on scripts with more star valueCorrect
- B.The songs were not ready
- C.Financial problems
- D.He had a conflict with the director
Kamal Haasan left the project stating he wanted to work on scripts with more star value.
Source: Career section
10.Who was signed to play the lead role of a taxi driver in the road movie TXT7?
- A.Kamal Haasan
- B.Rajinikanth
- C.RaghuvaranCorrect
- D.Chandrahasan
The team signed on Raghuvaran to play the lead role of a taxi driver in the project TXT7.
Source: Career section
11.Who was hired to compose music for the shelved project TXT7?
- A.Ilaiyaraaja
- B.Rudraiah Chockalingam
- C.L. VaidyanathanCorrect
- D.Sujatha
L. Vaidyanathan was signed on to compose the music for the film TXT7.
Source: Career section
12.What happened to the project titled Kadalpurathil?
- A.It was based on a Sujatha novel
- B.It was released in theaters
- C.It was changed into a television filmCorrect
- D.It starred Rajinikanth
The makers of Kadalpurathil decided to create it as a television film instead, which was later premiered on Doordarshan.
Source: Career section
13.In what city did Rudraiah Chockalingam pass away?
- A.Salem
- B.ChennaiCorrect
- C.Attur
- D.Tiruchirapalli
Rudraiah Chockalingam died in Chennai on 18 November 2014.
Source: Death section
14.What was the age of Rudraiah Chockalingam at the time of his death?
- A.67Correct
- B.65
- C.70
- D.69
Rudraiah Chockalingam died at the age of 67 after an illness.
Source: Death section
15.What cinematography technique was used to emphasise moods in Aval Appadithan?
- A.Slow motion
- B.Color saturation
- C.Panning shots
- D.Using shadowsCorrect
The photography throughout Aval Appadithan emphasises moods by using shadows.
Source: Career section
16.What was a defining technical feature of the film Aval Appadithan?
- A.Jump cuts were commonCorrect
- B.Use of handheld cameras only
- C.Lack of dialogue
- D.No musical score
Jump cuts are common throughout the film Aval Appadithan.
Source: Career section