Solomon Pappaiah; Rajinikanth in a still from ‘Sivaji’
| Photo Credit: Ragu R/The Hindu and The Hindu Archives
Solomon Pappaiah, who passed away at the age of 90 today (September 11), could have become a big Tamil film artiste, but he chose not to.
Prof. Pappaiah is a household name in Tamil Nadu, thanks to his oratorical skills and the way he hosted ‘pattimandram’ debates on television. The scholar is fondly remembered by Tamil film fans due to his presence in two big films directed by Shankar: Boys and Sivaji. Unconfirmed reports also state that Prof. Pappaiah playeda small role in Shankar’s Arjun-starrer Mudhalvan, which apparently did not make it to the final film due to length issues.
After a brief appearance in the 2003 coming-of-age Tamil film Boys as a magistrate, Prof. Pappaiah became hugely popular when he played the character of Thondaiman in Rajinikanth’s Sivaji: The Boss. Pappaiah’s close aide and colleague, Raja, also a popular speaker in TV debates, was also featured prominently in the film.
So, why didn’t Prof. Pappaiah accept film offers after that? In an interview with ‘The Hindu’ in 2022, he said, “I harboured that desire [to act] and did some projects. I was treated with utmost respect in the film industry. I got more than 200 film offers after that, but I do not see myself there, but rather in literary and academic circles.”
Prof. Pappaiah was widely respected among Tamil scholars for his vast knowledge of Tamil literature and classics. Superstar Rajinikanth, who shared screen space with Pappaiah in the popular scene in Sivaji: The Boss, was one of his ardent admirers. Upon his passing away, Rajinikanth tweeted, “I pray to God that the soul of Professor Solomon Pappaiya, the great Tamil personality who took the literary tradition of Pattimandram from the educated elite to the common people and made it widely popular, may rest in peace.”
Published – September 11, 2026 04:19 pm IST
