Kumaresan Ramaiyya, better known by his stage name Ramarajan (born 18 October 1960), is an Indian film actor, director, screenwriter and politician associated primarily with Tamil cinema. He is widely referred to by the epithet "Makkal Nayagan" ("People's Hero") in recognition of his work as an actor and director of films built around rural and village-based themes.
| Full name | Kumaresan Ramaiyya |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Ramarajan |
| Date of birth | 18 October 1960 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter, actor, politician |
| Known for | Village-based Tamil films |
| Epithet | Makkal Nayagan |
Ramarajan built his screen identity around stories rooted in rural Tamil Nadu, working both in front of the camera and as a filmmaker. His association with village-themed cinema became a defining feature of his career and the basis for the popular title Makkal Nayagan conferred on him by audiences.
Ramarajan has worked in Tamil cinema in multiple capacities, including as an actor, director and screenwriter. Alongside his film career, he has also been active in politics.
Within Tamil cinema, Ramarajan is associated with a wave of films that foregrounded village life, rural characters and folk sensibilities, a focus that distinguished his body of work and earned him a dedicated following.