Raghava Lawrence

Raghava Lawrence (born Lawrence Murugaiyan) is an Indian dance choreographer, director and actor known for his works primarily in Tamil cinema.

Lawrence first appeared in a song in Samsara Sangeetham a Tamil film in 1989 directed by T. Rajendran.

Then he appeared in Donga Police in 1991, also doing some dances with Prabhu Deva.

After making his debut as a dance choreographer in 1993, he began looking for acting opportunities.

He was a background dancer in the song Chikku Bukku Chikku Bukku Railey in Gentleman (1993).

He also appeared in dance sequences in Muta Mesthri (1993), Rakshana (1993) and Allari Priyudu (1993).

Chiranjeevi offered him the job of choreographing the dances for Hitler (1997).

Pleased with Lawrence's work, Chiranjeevi asked him to choreograph dances for Master (1997), his next film too.

He began his career as an actor in 1998, in a Telugu film.

Producer T V D Prasad offered him the role of a hero in his venture Speed Dancer (1999).

That film was a flop.

After that he acted small roles in Tamil like Ajith Kumar's Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven (2000) and Prashanth's Parthen Rasithen (2000).

He adopted the name "Raghava" in 2001, and worked for many prominent actors and directors in Tamil cinema throughout his career.

He got his breakthrough with Telugu film Style and then Muni.

Lawrence is also known for his intricate hip-hop and westernised dance moves and has won four Filmfare Awards, three Nandi Awards and one Tamil Nadu State Film Award for best choreography.

Director K. Balachander invited him to act in his 100th film Parthale Paravasam (2001).

He acted as a first lead role in the Tamil with Arpudham (2002).

As described by review sify , the latest in the line is Lawrence, who like his predecessor Prabhu Deva, is determined to be a hero.

Arputham has a decent screenplay and Lawrence is tolerable.

Thereafter, Style (2002).

He also made a guest appearance with Vijay in the Tamil movie Thirumalai (2003).

After a guest appearance in the film Thendral (2004), he directed his first film in Telugu, Mass (2004) starring Nagarjuna and Jyothika.

The movie was a commercial success.

He subsequently directed and acted in Style (2006) co-starring with Prabhu Deva and featuring Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi in guest roles.He got his breakthrough with Muni (2007), a horror thriller film.

Thereafter, he directed another film, Don (2007).

The film starring Nagarjuna and Anushka Shetty.

Raghava acted in second roles and made the film depending only on style and technical aspects.

The movie had an average response.

Raghava continues to play in different categories films such as Pandi (2008), Rajadhi Raja (2009) and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam (2010).

Pandi was a moderate success, while Rajadhi Raja

and Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam were released to mixed reviews.

He attributes the curing of his tumor to the deity, Raghavendra Swamy, and in an act of devotion, he took the name Raghava He built the Raghavendra Swamy Brindavanam Temple at Thirumullaivayal on the Avadi-Ambattur route, which opened on 1 January 2010.

Raghava also has a younger brother, Elviin Lawrence.

He was working as a car cleaner for fight master Super Subbarayan.

Rajinikanth saw him dancing and helped him to join the Dancers Union.

He takes the series Muni in Kanchana (2011).

Sarath Kumar play in the main role.

In 2015, after the death of former Indian president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Lawrence set up a charity trust in his name and donated inr 10000000.

Lawrence was born into a Tamil speaking Christian Paraiyar family of Murugaiyan and Kanmani.

Lawrence had a brain tumor when he was a child.