From EVMs to novels, Tamil writer Sujatha's works always got people queueing up

An engineer by profession, Sujatha's career spanning over four decades saw him succeed as an author, screenwriter and producer. On his 85th birth anniversary, let's look at some rare pictures of man who thrived in synergy of technology and literature.

An engineer by profession, Sujatha's career spanning over four decades saw him succeed as an author, screenwriter and producer. On his 85th birth anniversary, let's look at some rare pictures of man who thrived in synergy of technology and literature. (Ph 

Born on May 3, 1935, in Chennai as Rangarajan, he went on to write over 100 novels, 250 short stories, over 25 films, books on science and dabbled with poetry as well. (Photo | EPS)

Rangarajan, after finishing his schooling in Srirangam and UG in Trichy, proceeded to study engineering in electronics in Chennai where former President APJ Abdul Kalam was his classmate and friend. (Photo | EPS)

He then joined the Civil Aviation department of GoI where he worked for 14 years and later joined the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Bangalore. In the picture, Tamil writer Sujatha (Rengarajan) speaking at the diamond jubilee of 'Dina Mani'. (Photo | EPS)

While working in BEL, he was a key person in the team that developed the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in India which are now used widely in the elections. (Photo | EPS)

Raised by his grandparents, Rangarajan's writing habit began very early with short stories. The award winning writer is known for making science simple and accessible to layman through his works. In the picture, Tamil writers Savi (Centre), and Sujatha (Right). (Photo | Dinamani/K Vaidiyanathan)

Sujatha's novels were also turned into films like Rajinikanth's Priya and Kamal Hassan's Vikram was also written by him. In the later years, he also worked with Director Mani Ratnam and Shankar in some of their famous works. So much that now many film buff rue that without him the directors' are struggling. In the picture, Writer Sujatha interacts with his fans at a Book Exhibition. (Photo | EPS)

The writer adopted the allonym Sujatha (his wife's name) to avoid confusion with the name of an already established author Ra.ki. Rangarajan. (Photo | EPS)

Some of the famous books of Sujatha includes Kolayuthir Kalam, Kanavu Thozhirchalai and Vasanth Vasanth among many others. In the picture, Dinamani kathir short story competion winners being selected by Smt Soundarya Kailasam, Rajanarayanan, Sujatha with Savi (Tamil Writer). (Photo | Dinamani/K Vaidiyanathan)

Sujatha died on February 27, 2008 in Chennai. In the picture, then Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi and his daughter Kanimozhi,MP, paying homage to writer Sujatha in Chennai. (Photo | EPS/A S Ganesh)