Varathan, S

Sanjeevirajulu Varathan, commonly known as S Varathan (b. 1934), contributed to Singapore Tamil theatre in various capacities as playwright, director, producer and researcher. He was the founder of the Rational Drama Troupe, a Tamil theatre group, and the Singapore Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA). Though born in Singapore, he moved to India with his family when he was two years old and received his education there. He returned to Singapore at the age of 18 and joined a shipping company as a clerk in 1953, where he worked until 1971. 

Ever since his return to Singapore, he had been interested in watching as well as acting in progressive plays and in 1955, he founded the Rational Drama Troupe and produced several plays, including Kasantha Karumbu (1957) and Engume Ethirppu (1960). Even when his theatre group was disbanded in 1968, Varathan continued to create plays. Then, in 1971, intending to bring theatre, radio and television artistes under one umbrella, he, together with some friends,  established the Singapore Indian Artistes’ Association and became its Secretary. He was later elected as Chairman and remained in charge until the end of the 1980s. During that period, he directed several plays, including Uyarntha Ullam (1978) and Muthukkuviyal (1987). In the Tamil theatre festivals organised by the Ministry of Culture, he was adjudged the best director for three consecutive years (1983-85). Since the early 1990s, while working as a consultant to SIAA, Varathan has been involved in researching and documenting theatre history. During that period, he has authored several books, including Memories Never Fade (1990), Personalities of Tamil Drama in Singapore (1991) and Development of Tamil Drama in Singapore (2008), some of which were translated into English.  For his services to theatre, Varathan received awards including the Tamil Chudar Lifetime Achievement Award (2022) and the Cultural Medallion (1984).

For more information
Singapore: The Encyclopedia, edited by Tommy Koh, Timothy Auger, Jimmy Yap, Ng Wei Chian, published by Editions Didier Millet and National Heritage Board, 2006
S. Varathan, Memories Never Fade, trans. Singapore Indian Artistes’ Association (Singapore: Singapore Indian Artistes’ Association, 1990) S. Varathan, Oral history interview by Daniel Chew, 13 March 1990, transcript and MP3 audio, 00:31:22, National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 001000/08/03), 16–17
Venka Puroshothaman, ed., Narratives: Notes on a Cultural Journey (Singapore: National Arts Council, 2002)

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