Suriya turns 40 today and still holds his own against Kollywood’s younger actors. With several hits to his credit and a huge fan following, Suriya has proved he can be both an accomplished actor and a mass hero.
Though he’s the son of popular Tamil actor Sivakumar, who had a long and illustrious career, films weren’t always on Suriya’s mind. He remembers that his parents took special care to ensure they had a non-filmi upbringing.
Image source: Filmysouth File
Suriya was running a textile business when he got the offer to act in Nerukku Ner, produced by Mani Ratnam and directed by Vasanth. He wasn’t too sure, but agreed. He was particularly concerned about his lack of dancing skills.
Some nondescript films followed and then along came Bala, who also turned around the film career of Vikram. Nandha did for Suriya what Sethu did for Vikram. Overnight, Suriya was one of Kollywood’s finest performers. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for the role of a troubled former convict.
Image source: Filmysouth
Next, there was Kaakka Kaakka by Gautham Menon, in which Suriya played a crack cop. The role which allowed him to display emotion and also engage in some tough action was definitely a high point in Suriya’s career. It was also when he began to date his co-star Jyothika.
Suriya’s acting credentials were established also in films like Pithamagan, in which he was a loveable conman, and Perazhagan in which he played dual role – that of a hunchback with buck teeth and loads of attitude and an angry young boxer.
This golden run was followed by films like Mani Ratnam’s Ayutha Ezhuthu in which he was part of an ensemble cast, Ghajini, which won him critical acclaim, and Sillunu Oru Kadhal, a moderate box-office success in which Suriya was in excellent form. He topped it with Vaaranam Aayiram, teaming up again with Gautham Menon, and playing dual roles – that of father and son. 7aum Arivu, in which he played a circus artiste and Bodhidharma, also gave him a canvas to perform.
A still from Vaaranam Aayiram | Image courtesy: www.youtube.com
While Suriya the actor was winning over critics, he also began to sign full-on commercial films such as Aaru, Vel, Ayan and Adhavan. They followed a formula: hero vs baddies, glam heroine, songs in foreign locales. Singam was another formula flick in which he played a supercop.
The more recent Anjaan and Masss haven’t quite shaken up the box-office. Suriya fans will be hoping that at 40 he will rediscover his penchant for good stories and great acting.
