Silambarasan (born 3 February 1983) is an Indian actor, director, singer and television celebrity who works in Tamil cinema. He began his career playing minor roles as a child artist in films produced by his father, T. Rajendar. His debut, as a lead actor, was in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), which was produced and directed by his father.[1][2]
His second film Dum (2003), a remake of the 2002 Kannada film Appu, fared well commercially.[2][3] In the same year he appeared in Alai, a box office failure.[4] Silambarasan had three releases in 2004. The first was Kovil, which deals with the relationship between a Hindu boy and a Christian girl.[5] Silambarasan was praised by Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu for acting with "restraint and maturity".[6] It was a box office success.[7] Silambarasan appeared next in Kuthu, a remake of the Telugu film Dil.[7] The film received unfavourable reviews but had a successful theatrical run.[8] His final release in 2004 was Manmadhan, which he also wrote. The film was a major success,[3] and propelled Silambarasan to stardom.[9] The following year, he had only one release: Thotti Jaya, in which he plays an orphaned gangster who finds love.[10] In 2006, Silambarasan had two releases: Saravana (directed by K. S. Ravikumar) and Vallavan which he helped write and directed himself.[11][12] The film was a box office success.[13] He starred in two films in 2008: the action-masala films Kaalai and Silambattam. Neither received positive reviews, but the latter was profitable.[14][15]
Silambarasan's sole release in 2010 as a lead actor was the romance Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, directed and written by Gautham Vasudev Menon. The film attained cult status in Tamil cinema, and was a major breakthrough in his career.[16] It was considered an image makeover for Silambarasan as most of his earlier films were in the action genre.[17] The following year, he appeared in two films. The first was the ensemble drama Vaanam, where he stars as an impoverished cable operator.[18] The second was Osthe, a remake of the Hindi film Dabangg where he played a police officer.[19] Podaa Podi, which began production in 2008 and was released in 2012, was a commercial failure.[13][20] His next appearance as a lead actor was in Vaalu (2015), followed by two releases in 2016: Pandiraj's Idhu Namma Aalu and Menon's Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada.[21][22]
Key † Denotes films that have not yet been released
- All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
Year Film Role(s) Notes Ref. 1984
Uravai Kaatha Kili Silambarasu Child artist [23] 1986
Mythili Ennai Kaathali Girl Uncredited role as a child artist;special appearance in the song "Ada Ponana Manasey" [24] 1987
Oru Thayin Sabhatham Himself Child artist; special appearance in the songs "Dharmanthan Jeyikkumunga"and "Enathu Ganamun" [23] 1988
En Thangai Kalyani Simbhu Child artist [24] 1989
Samsara Sangeetham [25] 1991
Santhi Enathu Santhi Babu [26] 1992
Enga Veetu Velan Velan [27][28] 1993
Pettredutha Pillai Kumaran [29]
Sabash Babu Babu [30] 1994
Oru Vasantha Geetham Silambhu [31] 1995
Thai Thangai Paasam Velu [32] 1999
Monisha En Monalisa Himself Child artist; special appearance in the song "Mo Mo Monisha" [33] 2001
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala Cameo appearance in the songs "Chukkumala" and "Velaa" [34][35] 2002
Kadhal Virus Cameo appearance [36]
Kadhal Azhivathillai Simbhu Debut as a lead actor [37] 2003
Dum Sathya [38]
Alai Aadhi [39] 2004
Kovil Sakthivel [6]
Kuthu Gurumoorthy [7]
Manmadhan Madhankumar (Manmadhan), Madhanraj[a] Dual role; Also screenwriter [40] 2005
Thotti Jaya Jayachandran (Thotti Jaya)[b] [10] 2006
Saravana Saravana [11]
Vallavan Vallavan[b] Also director and screenwriter [41] 2008
Kaalai Jeeva [42]
Silambattam Vichu, Thamizharasan[a] Dual role [43] 2010
Goa Madhankumar Cameo appearance [44]
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Karthik Sivakumar [45]
Ye Maaya Chesave Himself Telugu film; cameo appearance [46] 2011
Vaanam Thillai Raja ("Cable" Raja)[b] [18]
Osthe Osthe Velan [19] 2012
Podaa Podi Arjun [47] 2013
Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Himself Cameo appearance [48] 2014
Inga Enna Solluthu Raghu [49] 2015
Dongaata Himself Telugu film; cameo appearance [50]
Kaaka Muttai Himself Cameo appearance [51]
Vaalu Sakthi (Sharp)[b] [52] 2016
Idhu Namma Aalu Shiva [21]
Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada Rajinikanth Muralidharan [22][53] 2017
Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan Madura Michael (Ashwin Thatha), Thikku Siva[a] Dual role [54] 2018
Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Ethiraj Senapathi [55]
Kaatrin Mozhi Himself Cameo appearance [56] 2019
Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven Adithya (Raja)[b] [57]
90 ML Himself Cameo appearance [58] 2021
Eeswaran Eeswaran [59]
Maanaadu Abdul Khaliq [60] 2022
Maha Malik Cameo appearance [61]
Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu Muthuveeran [62] 2023
Pathu Thala A. G. Raavanan (A. G. R.) [63] 2025
Thug Life Amaran [64] 2026
Arasan† TBA Filming [65] TBA
STR 50† TBA Pre Production [66] TBA
STR 51† TBA Pre Production [67] Year Film Role(s) Notes Ref. 2020
Karthik Dial Seytha Yenn Karthik Sivakumar Also cinematographer [68] Year Show Role(s) Notes Ref. 2007
Jodi Number One Judge Reality show Vijay TV 2022
Bigg Boss Ultimate Host Reality show Hotstar Year Title For Whom / Character Notes Ref. 2009
Naanum Kodeeswaran (D) Dev Patel / Jamal Malik [69] 2017
Katha Nayagan Narrator [70] 2025
Aaromaley [71]
