Silambarasan filmography

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]