Judo. K. K. Rathnam

K. K. Rathnam (8 August 1930 – 26 January 2023), known as Judo Rathnam, was an Indian action choreographer in Kollywood, Bollywood, Mollywood, Sandalwood and Tollywood. He made his debut as an actor in the film ''Thamarai Kulam'' in 1959, and later made his debut as a stunt master in the film '' Vallavan Oruvan'' in 1966. He made his last appearance as an actor before retirement in the film ''Thalainagaram'' in 2006. Stunt masters and actors such as Vikram Dharma, Super Subbarayan, Thalapathy Dinesh, Jaguar Thangam, Rocky Rajesh, Rambo Rajkumar, FEFSI Vijayan, Stun Siva, Ponnambalam, Judo. K. K. Ramu, Indian Baskar, Rajasekhar, Ambur. R. S. Babu, M. Shahul Hameed, Kundrathur Babu, Azhagu & Vengal Rao have worked as fighters and assistants to him. His son Judo. K. K. Ramu is also a stunt master, while his grandsons Judo Lenin and John Prince are stunt artists.

Rathnam died on 26 January 2023, at age 92.

Early life and career

Rathnam was born in Gudiyattam. From his early childhood, he was attracted towards bodybuilding, yoga and silambam. He won gold medal in bodybuilding and silver cup in boxing which led Rathnam to receive opportunities in films as a stuntman. Mugavai Rajamanikkam took him to Chennai and introduced him to Muktha Srinivasan who gave him an opportunity for playing a stuntman in his film ''Thamarai Kulam''. He was given the name Judo Rathnam by A. Kareem at Tamil Art Literature Conference.

Filmography

* 1966 '' Vallavan Oruvan''
* 1966 ''Iru Vallavargal''
* 1967 ''Madi Veettu Mappillai''
* 1967 ''Ethirigal Jakkirathai''
* 1967 '' Kadhalithal Podhuma''
* 1968 ''Thanga Valayal''
* 1968 '' Muthu Chippi''
* 1968 ''Deiveega Uravu''
* 1969 ''Thulabaram''
* 1970 '' Dharisanam''
* 1971 ''Thanga Gopuram''
* 1971 ''Signal Man Siddappa'' (Kannada)
* 1971 ''Nammaka Drohulu'' (Telugu)
* 1972 ''Bathilukku Bathil''
* 1972 ''Kasethan Kadavulada''
* 1973 ''Puttinillu Mettinillu'' (Telugu)
* 1973 ''Sahadharmini'' (Kannada)
* 1973 ''Bidugade'' (Kannada)
* 1974 ''Nomu'' (Telugu)
* 1975 ''Mayura'' (Kannada)
* 1975 ''Hotel Sorgam''
* 1975 ''Pooja'' (Telugu)
* 1976 '' Jeevana Jyothi'' (Hindi)
* 1977 ''Gaayathri''
* 1977 ''Devare Dikku'' (Kannada)
* 1977 '' Thayigintha Devarilla'' (Kannada)
* 1977 ''Nallathukku Kaalamillai''
* 1978 ''Mela Thalangal''
* 1978 ''Maathu Tappada Maga'' (Kannada)
* 1979 ''Pancha Kalyani''
* 1979 ''Suddhikalasam'' (Malayalam)
* 1980 '' Murattu Kaalai''
* 1980 ''Othaiyadi Pathaiyile''
* 1981 '' Netrikkann''
* 1981 ''Nenjil Oru Mul''
* 1981 ''Raktham'' (Malayalam)
* 1981 ''Sivappu Malli''
* 1982 '' Pokkiri Raja''
* 1982 '' Sagalakala Vallavan''
* 1982 '' Chinnan Chirusugal''
* 1982 ''Theeratha Vilayattu Pillai''
* 1982 ''Kanne Radha''
* 1982 ''Puthukavithai''
* 1982 ''Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam'' (Malayalam)
* 1982 ''Pakkathu Veetu Roja''
* 1982 ''Enkeyo Ketta Kural''
* 1982 ''Theerpugal Thiruththapadalam''
* 1982 ''Anandha Ragam''
* 1983 '' Uruvangal Maralam''
* 1983 ''Malaiyoor Mambattiyan''
* 1983 ''Oru Kai Parppom''
* 1983 ''Coolie'' (Malayalam)
* 1983 '' Paayum Puli''
* 1983 ''Thangaikkor Geetham''
* 1983 ''Uyirullavarai Usha''
* 1983 '' Thudikkum Karangal''
* 1983 ''Puthisali Paithiyangal''
* 1983 ''Naan Soottiya Malar''
* 1983 ''Sivappu Sooriyan''
* 1983 ''Mundhanai Mudichu''
* 1983 ''Valartha Kada''
* 1983 ''Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey''
* 1983 '' Kairasikkaran''
* 1983 '' Soorakottai Singakutti''
* 1983 ''Adutha Varisu''
* 1984 ''Madurai Sooran''
* 1984 '' Naan Mahaan Alla''
* 1984 ''Thambikku Entha Ooru''
* 1984 ''Sabash''
* 1984 ''Magudi''
* 1984 ''Insaaf Kaun Karega'' (Hindi)
* 1984 ''Poochakkoru Mookkuthi'' (Malayalam)
* 1984 '' Itha Innu Muthal'' (Malayalam)
* 1984 ''Mainakam'' (Malayalam)
* 1984 '' Thiruppam''
* 1984 '' Nerupukkul Eeram''
* 1984 ''Neengal Kettavai''
* 1984 ''Niyayam''
* 1984 '' Vellai Pura Ondru''
* 1984 ''Neram Nalla Neram''
* 1984 ''Kai Kodukkum Kai''
* 1984 '' Iru Medhaigal''
* 1984 ''Udhandudu'' (Telugu)
* 1984 '' Mudivalla Arambam''
* 1984 ''Nallavanukku Nallavan''
* 1984 ''Rajathanthiram''
* 1984 ''Naanayamillatha Naanayam''
* 1985 '' Padikkadavan''
* 1985 ''Oru Kaidhiyin Diary''
* 1985 '' Avan''
* 1985 ''Veettukkari''
* 1985 ''Ketti Melam''
* 1985 ''Mappillai Singam''
* 1985 '' America Alludu'' (Telugu)
* 1985 ''Ragasiyam''
* 1985 ''Nermai''
* 1985 '' Partha Gnabagam Illayo''
* 1985 '' Yaar?''
* 1985 ''Oru Malarin Payanam''
* 1985 '' Puthiya Sagaptham''
* 1985 ''Eetti''
* 1985 ''Wafadaar'' (Hindi)
* 1985 ''Deivapiravi''
* 1985 ''Raja Yuvaraja''
* 1985 ''Paadum Vaam Paadi''
* 1985 ''Urimai''
* 1985 ''Vetrikkani''
* 1985 '' Ilamai''
* 1985 ''Sigappu Kili''
* 1985 ''Thalaimagan''
* 1985 ''Uyarndha Ullam''
* 1985 '' Mangamma Sabadham''
* 1985 ''Nalla Thambi''
* 1985 ''Mookkanan Kayiru''
* 1985 '' Unnai Thedi Varuven''
* 1985 ''Ketti Melam''
* 1985 '' Arthamulla Aasaigal''
* 1985 ''Chinna Veedu''
* 1986 ''Engal Thaaikkulame Varuga''
* 1986 ''Prathidwani'' (Telugu)
* 1986 ''Dharma Devathai''
* 1986 '' Mr. Bharath''
* 1986 ''Maruthi'' (Telugu)
* 1986 ''Deshoddharakudu'' (Telugu)
* 1986 ''Manchi Manasulu'' (Telugu)
* 1986 '' Kulirkaala Megangal''
* 1986 ''Kaalamellam Un Madiyil''
* 1986 ''Murattu Karangal''
* 1986 Shanthi Nivasam (Telugu)
* 1986 ''Kadaikkan Parvai''
* 1986 ''Brahmastram'' (Telugu)
* 1986 ''Mounam Kalaikirathu''
* 1986 '' Naanum Oru Thozhilali''
* 1986 ''Jeevanadhi''
* 1986 '' Viduthalai''
* 1987 '' Manithan''
* 1987 ''Cooliekkaran''
* 1987 '' Shankar Guru''
* 1987 ''Chinnari Devatha'' (Telugu)
* 1987 ''Veera Pratap'' (Telugu)
* 1987 '' Anjatha Singam''
* 1987 ''Majaal'' (Hindi)
* 1987 ''Enga Chinna Rasa''
* 1987 ''Per Sollum Pillai''
* 1987 ''President Gari Abbai'' (Telugu)
* 1987 ''Marana Sasanam'' (Telugu)
* 1988 '' Guru Sishyan''
* 1988 ''Paatti Sollai Thattathe''
* 1988 '' Idhu Namma Aalu''
* 1988 ''Senthoora Poove''
* 1988 '' Vasanthi''
* 1988 ''Chinnodu Peddodu'' (Telugu)
* 1988 ''Dharmathin Thalaivan''
* 1988 '' Irandil Ondru''
* 1988 ''Manamagale Vaa''
* 1988 '' Kazhugumalai Kallan''
* 1989 '' Meenakshi Thiruvilayadal''
* 1989 '' Dravidan''
* 1989 ''Raja Chinna Roja''
* 1989 '' Sonthakkaran''
* 1989 ''Poola Rangadu (''Telugu'')''
* 1989 ''Dilly Babu''
* 1989 ''Bamma Mata Bangaru Baata'' (Telugu)
* 1989 ''Dharma Devan''
* 1989 ''Gair Kanooni'' (Hindi)
* 1989 ''Vaai Kozhuppu''
* 1989 ''En Rathathin Rathame''
* 1990 '' Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga''
* 1990 '' Amma Pillai''
* 1990 ''Athisaya Piravi''
* 1990 ''Pengal Veettin Kangal''
* 1990 ''Jeevan Ek Sanghursh'' (Hindi)
* 1990 ''Pudhu Varisu''
* 1990 '' Parampara'' (Malayalam)
* 1990 ''Puttinti Pattu Cheera (''Telugu'')''
* 1990 ''Idem Pellam Baboi'' (Telugu)
* 1990 '' Enkitta Mothathe''
* 1990 ''En Kadhal Kanmani''
* 1990 ''Guru Sishyulu'' (Telugu)
* 1990 '' Pudhu Pudhu Ragangal''
* 1990 ''Aatha Naan Pass Ayittaen''
* 1991 ''Nenjamundu Nermaiundu''
* 1991 ''Niyantha'' (Telugu)
* 1991 '' Sarpayagam'' (Telugu)
* 1992 ''Sakalakala Vandugal''
* 1992 ''Kaaval Geetham''
* 1992 '' Therku Theru Machan''
* 1992 ''Mudhal Kural''
* 1992 '' Pandiyan''
* 1994 ''Prema & Co'' (Telugu)
* 1995 ''Orey Rikshaw'' (Telugu)
* 1997 ''Rowdy Durbar'' (Telugu)
* 2014 '' Bonku Babu'' (Bengali)
* 2018 ''Aschhe Abar Shabor'' (Bengali)

Actor

* 1959 ''Thamarai Kulam''
* 1963 '' Konjum Kumari''
* 2006 ''Thalainagaram''

Producer

* 1980 '' Othayadi Paathayilae''

Awards and honours

* 2013 Guinness Book of Records - Guinness World Record for working in more than 1200 films as a stunt coordinator.
* 2016 Sankaradas Swamigal Award.
* 2019 Kalaimamani Awards from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathnam, Judo. K. K.
1930 births
2023 deaths
20th-century Indian male actors
Indian action choreographers
Male actors from Tamil Nadu
Male actors in Tamil cinema
People from Vellore district