Silambarasan

Silambarasan
Born	Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Residence	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Actor, director, playback singer

Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar is an Indian film actor, director and playback singer of the Tamil Film Industry. He began his career by playing roles as a child artist in films directed by his father T. Rajendar,^[1] before his first lead role in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), under his father's direction and produced by his mother Usha Rajendar.

Early and personal life

Silambarasan was born to actor, director, and politician Vijaya T. Rajendar and former actress Usha Rajendar. He has two siblings, a brother Kuralarasan who is a music composer in the Tamil Film Industry and a sister Ilakiya.

He studied at the Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School,^[2] Shrine Vailankanni Matriculation Higher Secondary School, St.John's International Residential School and Santhome Higher Secondary school, Chennai. He then attended The Ashram School in Chennai and also completed an Audio Engineering Course in Diploma.

Film career

Silambarasan started his career as a child artist in 1987 and acted in his father's films, including 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 Samsara Sangeetham, Silambarasan danced to a song singing "I am a Little Star, Aaaven Naan Super Star".^[1]

Silambarasan played his first starring role in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002) directed by his father. His second film was Dhum (2002). His release in 2003 was Alai. Silambarasan had three releases in 2004. The first of three was Kovil which was followed by Kuththu.^[3] His final release in 2004 was Manmadhan in which he wrote the story, screenplay, co-dialog and co-directed.

His next film, Thotti Jaya^[4] he played the role of an orphaned gangster who finds love. In 2006, he starred in Saravana, directed by K. S. Ravikumar. He next starred and directed Vallavan (2006), as well as writing the story, screenplay and co-dialog for the the film. In 2008, he starred in the action masala film Kaalai which open to negative reviews and became a flop at the box office.^[5] Later that year, he appeared in another action masala film Silambattam.

In 2010, his film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa directed and written by Gautham Menon became a Tamil 'cult classic' film.^[6] Director K. Balachander in an open letter called Silambarasan's performance as his best in his career.^[7] The following year he appeared in two films, the drama film Vaanam and the action film Osthe.^[8] Malathi Rangarajan from The Hindu called it a significant film in his career.^[9] His next release Osthe^[10] in which Silambarasan played a police officer. Podaa Podi released on 13 November 2012 as Diwali film.

Other work

Silambarasan has frequently worked as a playback singer in the Tamil film industry. He first sang in Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala and went on to sing over 60 songs for various composers. He predominantly sings in his own films and has collaborated mostly with his friend and fellow composer Yuvan Shankar Raja. Silambarasan also wrote lyrics for several songs of his films.

On 27 December 2011, Silambarasan released the non-film single "Love Anthem For World Peace and Love" to promote world peace.^[11]

Silambarasan became a voice actor after dubbing the Tamil dialogues for the protagonist in Slumdog Millionaire.^[12]

Silambarasan was signed as the brand ambassador of PepsiCo India for their soft drink 7 Up in Tamil Nadu.^[13]

Awards

Honors

• Kalaimamani from Government of Tamil Nadu (2005)^[14]

Nominations

• Vijay Award for Favourite Hero for Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2011)^[15]
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Tamil for Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2011)^[16]

References

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