Ramanathan Sarathkumar (born 14 July 1954) is an Indian actor, politician and former bodybuilder who works predominantly in Tamil cinema in addition to Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.

[3][4] In 2007, he launched a new political party All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) in Tamil Nadu, claiming to carry out the ideals of K. Kamaraj.

Sarathkumar was originally cast to play the lead role in Chinna Poove Mella Pesu (1987) directed by Robert–Rajasekar but the producers insisted on having one familiar face and he was replaced by actor Prabhu.

[12] In 1988, while running his travel agency in Chennai, Sarathkumar got an opportunity to act as well as produce in the Tamil film Kan Simittum Neram.

He acted in few Tamil films in supporting roles such as Salem Vishnu, Sirayil Sila Raagangal, Mounam Sammadham and Puriyaadha Pudhir.

In the start of 1991, he acted in negative roles in the Telugu film Stuartpuram Police Station, starring Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti, Namma Ooru Mariamma, Vetri Padigal and Pudhu Manithan.

He acted as a retired military officer in Chithirai Pookkal and played the second hero role in the blockbuster film Captain Prabhakaran.

In the beginning of 1992, he acted in Senthilnathan's Ilavarasan, alongside Sukanya, Manivasagam's Periya Gounder Ponnu and Sivantha Malar.

[16] In the end of 1992, he acted in the action film Thai Mozhi, co-starring Vijayakanth and Mohini, Ellaichami, Manoj Kumar's Samundi and Senthilnathan's Natchathira Nayagan, making their fifth and last collaboration.

[21][22][23] In the end of 1993, he acted in the thriller film Moondravadhu Kann, he teamed up with the Suriyan team (consisting of director Pavithran, cinematographer Ashok Kumar, comedian Goundamani, villain Babu Antony and the editor duo B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan) for the second time in I Love India and worked in the comedy film Kattabomman.

[24][25] His 1992 Telugu film Agreement was dubbed into Tamil as Idhayam Ullavan and fetched highly negative reviews upon release.

The next year, he worked in the village drama Veluchami, P. Vasu's Coolie, Nadodi Mannan and the crime film Ragasiya Police.

He then starred in the Telugu film Preminchanu Nene and in Simmarasi, directed by Erode Soundar, K. S. Ravikumar's former dialogue writer.

It was followed by Oruvan, the remake of the Telugu film Auto Driver, in which Sarathkumar paired with Pooja Batra and teamed up for the second time with the director Suresh Krissna.

Despite facing controversy, Maayi proved to be successful at the box office with a reviewer citing that "In the title role of a totally underplayed character, Sarathkumar surely makes a mark".

The next year, he starred in Gautham Vasudev Menon's Pachaikili Muthucharam, which released to positive reviews, but ended up as an average grosser.

Sarathkumar's last 2007 release was Nam Naadu, a remake of the Malayalam hit Lion, marking his third collaboration with director Suresh.

[58][59][60] In October 2009, Sarathkumar made his debut in Malayalam through Pazhassi Raja, in which he co-starred with Mammootty and he played the role of Edachena Kunkan.

[67] In early 2012, he accepted Soundarya's offer for an important role in the film Kochadaiiyaan, starring Rajinikanth and Deepika Padukone.

[70] In the beginning of 2014, he played the role of a CBI officer in Nimirndhu Nil and Janda Pai Kapiraju, which were shot simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu.

As reviewed by sify.com, "Sarathkumar is the only saving grace, he looks perfect as a stylish police officer and the actor is the main reason to watch the film until the end".

[82] In 2018, he starred in a series of Telugu action movies like Naa Peru Surya, Bharat Ane Nenu, Saakshyam and Devadas.

[83] In 2020, Vaanam Kottattum from Dhana and Mani Ratnam is a neat family entertainer with some good emotional moments and memorable performance.

[91] In his early days as an actor, R. Sarathkumar was considered to be close to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo Jayalalithaa.

However, this caused a furore in the film industry as the producer R. B. Choudary threatened action against Sarathkumar for misusing a tape given to him for personal viewing.

He, in turn, realising that the public was behind him, announced his decision to join hands with Rajinikanth, who supported the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) alliance.

Even though DMK lost badly in many constituencies, Sarathkumar was defeated by the AIADMK candidate Kadambur R. Janarthanan by a margin of only 6904 votes.

[96] In July 2001, the party made him a Rajya Sabha member, but he resigned before the 2006 Assembly elections to join the AIADMK along with his wife Radhika.

[98] He also quit AIADMK in November 2006, quoting that his role as president of the South Indian Artistes' Association needed "undivided attention".

One of the key value propositions that Media Voice brings to the table is Sarath's personal interview each month with a news-maker discussing current issues.