Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan Ravi, known mononymously as Radha Ravi, is an Indian actor and politician active primarily in Tamil cinema. Over the course of his career he has been associated mostly with supporting roles, and is particularly recognised for his portrayals of antagonists in Tamil films. Alongside his work in cinema and television, he has held positions in film industry bodies and in mainstream Tamil Nadu politics.
| Full name | Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan Ravi |
|---|---|
| Known as | Radha Ravi |
| Occupation | Actor, politician |
| Primary industry | Tamil cinema |
| Father | M. R. Radha (veteran actor) |
| Half-sisters | Radhika, Nirosha |
| Nephew | Vasu Vikram |
| Notable television work | Chellamae |
| Former position | Chief member, Tamil Nadu Film Artistes' Association |
| Legislative Assembly | Saidapet (elected 2001) |
| Political affiliations | AIADMK (former); Bharatiya Janata Party (current) |
Radha Ravi was born into a prominent Tamil cinema family. He is the son of M. R. Radha, a veteran actor known for his villainous and character roles in Tamil films of an earlier era. He is the half-brother of actresses Radhika and Nirosha, and the uncle of actor Vasu Vikram, placing him within an extended lineage of performers in the Tamil film industry.
Radha Ravi has worked predominantly in supporting capacities in Tamil cinema, with a substantial body of work as an antagonist. In addition to his film appearances, he featured in the Tamil television serial Chellamae, which expanded his reach to small-screen audiences.
He has also been a public figure within the film fraternity, having served as a chief member of the Tamil Nadu Film Artistes' Association. He is known in the public sphere for his outspoken and sometimes controversial remarks concerning other film personalities.
Radha Ravi entered electoral politics with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). In 2001, he was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Saidapet constituency on an AIADMK ticket.
He is currently associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, serving as a state executive member of the party's Tamil Nadu unit.
Radha Ravi's career reflects the long-standing intersection of cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu. As a member of an established film family, a long-serving character actor, and an elected legislator who has worked across more than one political party, he occupies a recognisable position within both the Tamil film industry and the state's political landscape.