| Silambarasan Rajendar | |
|---|---|
Silambarasan in May 2010 |
|
| Born | Thesingu Rajendar Silambarasan February 3, 1984 [1][2] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Other names | Simbu, STR ,Young Superstar [3] |
| Occupation | Film actor, playback singer, lyricist, director, producer, screenwriter, voice actor |
| Years active | 1998-present |
| Website | |
| www.simbucentral.com | |
Silambarasan Rajendar (Tamil: சிலம்பரசன் ராஜேந்தர்; born February 3, 1985), also known as T.R.Silambarasan, or Simbu, is an Indian film actor, director, playback singer and lyricist. He began his career by playing minor uncredited roles as a child artist in films produced by his father T. Rajendar,[1] before essaying his first lead role in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), under his father's direction as well. He achieved recogniton for his work in Manmadhan (2004), which was also "ghost-directed" by him [2] and became his first major commercial success. He made his full-flegded directorial debut with Vallavan (2006), while he received wide critical praise for his performances in Gautham Menon's Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) and the anthology film Vaanam (2011) and Osthe (2011).
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Silambarasan was born to director, music composer, actor, screenwriter and politician Vijaya T. Rajendar and former actress Usha Rajendar. He has a younger brother Kuralarasan and a younger sister Ilakkiya. He studied at Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School and Santhome Higher Secondary school, Chennai. He had a great passion for dance right from his school days and used to choreograph dances even back then. He then attended The Ashram School in Chennai and also completed an Audio Engineering Course.[4]
As a child artiste Silambarasan started his career in 1987 and acted nearly 19 of his father's films. A few of them are Thai Thangai Paasam, Oru Vasantha Geetham, En Thangai Kalyani, Enga Veetu Velan, Monisha En Monalisa, Oru Thayin Sabhatham, Samsara Sangeetham, Shanti Enathu Shanti, Pettredutha Pillai, Thiruvalla and Sabash Babu. In the movie Samsara Sangeetham, Silambarasan danced to a song singing "I am a little star, Aaaven Naan Super Star" more than twenty years ago.[1] His father,Vijaya T. Rajendar had an idea to make Silambarasan direct a film at the age of 15 but dropped later.[5]
Silambarasan got his first break to act as a hero at a very young age of 19 in Kadhal Azhivathillai film directed by his father Vijaya T. Rajendar. His second film Dhum did average business at the box-office.[5] The film Kuthu was released,[6] which ran for 100 days and was first successful film. His fourth film Alai which ran over 50 days at the box office and the film Kovil was an average grosser at the box office. He got a name for himself as romantic young actor with style as his benchmark.[7]
Silambarasan took an year off from acting to concentrate on Manmadhan, for which he had written story, screenplay and dialogues for the making of the film flick and it paid off well for this 'little' superstar.[7] The film featured him in dual roles for the first time. Jyothika Saravanan was cast as the heroine. The movie is about a serial killer of women. The music was scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja.[8] The film became a runaway triumph at the box-office breaking many records especially in Madurai and it ran for 275 days in Kollywood. The movie earned rave reviews and changed many people's minds about Simbhu’s career. The film was also the first blockbuster in Silambarasan's career. Silambarasan was able to flaunt his acting, dancing and fighting skills in this film apart from his behind-the-camera skills.[9] His next film, Thotti Jaya[10] stood up to the expectations at the box-office.
In 2006, Saravana by K. S. Ravikumar was released. After the success of Manmadhan, he paired up with Jyothika again and the film declared as hit.[9] Silambarasan is a dreamer who not only dreams big but also conquers his dreams most of the time.[7] He dared to wield the megaphone in his film Vallavan acting opposite Nayantara, Reemma Sen and Sandhya, which was a Deepavali release during 2006. He proved successful as a director as well, while the film's score and soundtrack are composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Despite other films of big stars releasing during the same time, Vallavan did decent business at the box office.[11]
His next film Kaalai was released in January 2008 and the music scored by G. V. Prakash Kumar.[12] However in December 2008, Silambattam film released with mixed reviews, though garnering the super hit talk since the film is running packed houses at box office, thus an overall good rating for the film. It was a successful film in his carrier.[5] He became a voice actor after dubbing the Tamil dialogues for the protagonist in the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.[13] In Goa film he played a cameo role reprising his Manmadhan role in the ending of the film.[14]
In 2010, his 25th film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa released, in which he was paired with Trisha Krishnan. Directed and written by Gautham Menon with soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman, the film became his biggest success in his career.[15] Silambarasan received critical acclaim for his performance as Karthik, resulting in several awards and nominations. The film proved to be a significant turning point in his career, changing his media image.[16] The 80 year old living legend of Tamil cinema, K.Balachander has written an open letter to Gautham Menon that the experience of VTV leaves one joyous and anguished at the same time-the very definition of love!” . He wanted Gautham to convey his “heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Silambarasan and Trisha Krishnan for their best performances of their careers.[17] Prior to release, the film became the first Tamil project to have a music soundtrack premiere outside of India, with a successful launch at the BAFTA in London.[18]
After a year his next release Vaanam, a remake of critically acclaimed Telugu movie Vedam, which featured Silambarasan as part of an ensemble cast including Bharath, Anushka Shetty, Prakash Raj and Saranya Ponvannan,[19] was released to positive reviews and the film crossed 100-day mark and made good revenues in the centers released.[20] Yuvan Shankar Raja's music and background score are praiseworthy [21] and he had lend his voice for Vaanam song.[22] Malathi Rangarajan from The Hindu said "Pithy, poignant, funny and serious as the situation warrants, dialogue (Gnanagiri) is a highpoint of Vaanam. Climax is another. After the stupendous hit of VTV, Vaanam should be another significant film in STR's career."[23]
Silambarasan's recent film Hindi blockbuster Dabangg titled Osthi released in more than 110 screens overseas on 8 December 2011,[24] in which simbhu played a stylish cop role for first time in his carrier and the film also featured Richa Gangopadhyay, Githan Ramesh, Sonu Sood . Directed by S. Dharani. Osthi was the biggest ever overseas release in Silambarasan's career and he has already confirmed that 'Osthi' is the biggest action film that he has done so far.[25] Currently the film gets a flying start at Box Office.[26] IndiaGlitz.com described that "Osthi ends up as an entertainer."[27]
Currently, he is busy with Podaa Podi, a romantic musical film which will be released in 2012 and Vettai Mannan playing a gangster role, with Jai playing simbhu's dear friend. Deeksha Seth, Hansika Motwani and Poonam Kaur will play other three female leads in Vettai Mannan film, which will be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.[28] He signed a Vetrimaaran project titled Vada Chennai playing a lead role starring Rana Daggubati and Andrea Jeremiah in crucial roles, which is excepted to commence by March 2012.[29]
On 27 December 2011, Silambarasan released Love Anthem For World Peace and Love to promote world peace. The song was composed by Silambarasan himself and the lyrics contains words of 96 global languages.
Silambarasan, was recently signed as the Brand Ambassador of PepsiCo India for their soft drink 7 Up softdrinks in Tamil Nadu.[30]
| As Actor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1987 | Oru Thayin Sabhatham | Child artist | |
| 1988 | En Thangai Kalyani | Child artist | |
| 1989 | Samsara Sangeetham | Child artist | |
| 1991 | Shanti Enathu Shanti | Child artist | |
| 1992 | Enga Veetu Velan | Child artist | |
| 1993 | Sabash Babu | Babu | Child artist |
| 1993 | Pettredutha Pillai | Child artist | |
| 1993 | Rajadi Rajavan | Child artist | |
| 1993 | Thiruvalla | Child artist | |
| 1994 | Oru Vasantha Geetham | Child artist | |
| 1995 | Thai Thangai Paasam | Child artist | |
| 1999 | Monisha En Monalisa | Special appearance | |
| 2001 | Sonnal Thaan Kathala | Special appearance | |
| 2002 | Kadhal Azhivathillai | Simbu | |
| 2003 | Dum | Sathya | |
| 2003 | Alai | Aathi | |
| 2003 | Kovil | Sakthivel | |
| 2004 | Kuthu | Gurumoorthy | |
| 2004 | Manmadhan | Madhankumar, Madhanraj |
Also screenwriter |
| 2005 | Thotti Jaya | Jayachandran | |
| 2006 | Saravana | Saravana | |
| 2006 | Vallavan | Vallavan | Also director, screenwriter |
| 2008 | Kaalai | Jeeva | |
| 2008 | Silambattam | Vichu, Thamizharasan |
|
| 2010 | Goa | Madhankumar | Special appearance |
| 2010 | Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa | Karthik Sivakumar | Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor Nominated—Vijay Award for Best Actor |
| 2010 | Ye Maaya Chesave | Himself | Guest appearance Telugu film |
| 2011 | Vaanam | "Cable" Raja | |
| 2011 | Osthi | Osthe Velan | |
| 2011 | Mambattiyan | Special appearance in promotional song | |
| 2012 | Podaa Podi | Filming | |
| 2012 | Vettai Mannan | Filming | |
| 2012 | Vada Chennai | Pre-Production | |
| As Playback Singer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Song | Film | Notes |
| 2011 | Pondati | Osthi | Also Lyric[34] |
| 2011 | Nathiyile- Fully Loaded | Doo | |
| 2011 | Nathiyile Alai Ondru | Doo | |
| 2011 | No Money No Honey | Vaanam | |
| 2011 | Kaattuvazhi | Mambattiyan | |
| 2010 | Evan Di Unna Pethan | Vaanam | Also Lyric |
| 2010 | Oola Vediyae | Thottupaar | |
| 2010 | Sama Sama Yama Yama | Drohi | |
| 2010 | Sundara Purusha | Murattu Kaalai | |
| 2010 | Pattu Pattu | Thillalangadi | |
| 2010 | Ka Ka Ka | Naanayam | |
| 2010 | Kannakkol Thiruda | Nellu | |
| 2009 | Mallakottai Kannu | Anthony Yaar? | |
| 2009 | Thallakulam | Renigunta | |
| 2009 | Mansellam | Kulir 100° | |
| 2009 | Karuppayee | Aathi Narayana | |
| 2008 | Kutti Pisase | Kaalai | |
| 2008 | Thanni Karuthuruchi | Ennai Theriyuma | |
| 2008 | Nallamdhana Vechikkava |
Silambattam | |
| 2007 | Hello Hello I Love You | Veerasamy | |
| 2006 | Loosu Penne Loosu Penne (Club Mix) Kadhal Vanthirichu Yammaadi Aathaadi |
Vallavan | Also Lyric Loosu Penne |
| 2006 | Gori Thera Kadhal Keedal |
Saravana | |
| 2004 | En Aasai Mythiliae Thathai Thathai |
Manmadhan | |
| 2004 | Pothu Thaaku | Kuththu | |
| 2004 | Stella Maris Koththamalli |
Samasthanam | |
| 2003 | Kadhal Panna | Kovil | |
| 2003 | Kalakkuven | Dum | |
| 2003 | Kuththadi Kuththadi | Ramachandra | |
| 2002 | Dil Dil Dil | Red | |
| 2002 | Sight Adippom | April Maadhathil | |
| 2002 | Jothikava Clinton Magalo |
Kadhal Azhivathillai | |
| 2002 | Baila More | Kadhal Virus | |
| 2001 | Chukkumula Mullaaga Kuththakoodaathu |
Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala | |