Vishal (actor)

Vishal
Born Vishal Krishna Reddy
August 29, 1977 (age 37)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality India
Alma mater Loyola College, Chennai
Occupation Actor, producer
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)

Vishal Krishna Reddy, known by his stage name Vishal, is an Indian film actor,Producer who has appeared in Tamil cinema. Often starring in his home productions, Vishal became an actor after a stint as an assistant director in films. He played his first role in the romantic thriller Chellamae (2004), before going on to secure a run of three consecutive successes with roles as action hero in the 2005 film, Sandakozhi, and with Thimiru in 2006.[1] Following a brief career lull after Sathyam, he made a comeback as actor and producer with Pandiya Naadu (2013).[2]

Early life

Vishal Krishna Reddy was born to G. K. Reddy and Janaki Devi, His father was a film producer for Telugu and Tamil films and his family settled in Chennai. His elder brother, Vikram Krishna has produced several of Vishal's films and had previously appeared as an actor in small budget films under the screen name of Ajay.[3] Vishal also has a younger sister. Vishal obtained his secondary education from Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School before securing a degree in visual communications from Loyola College, Chennai.

Career

Vishal assisted actor-director Arjun Sarja in his venture Vedham,[4] and a producer spotted Vishal on the sets of the film and signed him to appear in an acting role in Gandhi Krishna's directorial debut, Chellamae.[5] Accepting the role, Vishal prepared by joining Koothu-P-Pattarai to hone his acting skills and playing the protagonist role of Raghunandan whose wife is kidnapped by her childhood friend.[5] A critic described his performance is "apt" but "there was plenty left to hone".[6][7] His next film was Sandakozhi with N. Linguswamy, who had previously worked with his father's production house as an assistant director.[8] Vishal was described to have "improved from his Chellamay days" and "clicked as an action hero".[9] Film journalists stated that he was "the fastest rising action hero" of the time.[10] After a cameo as himself in Sasi's Dishyum, he went on to appear in Tarun Gopi's action film, Thimiru. The film opened to mixed reviews with Vishal being praised for his intense performance with a critic calling his performance " the film's only strength and, to an extent, making up for the weak script and poor characterisation".[11] The film became Vishal's third consecutive commercial success, and he began to emerge in Tamil films.[12]

His next film, the political drama Sivappathigaram directed by Karu Pazhaniappan was a failure financially despite favourable reviews.[13] His next released in January 2008, Hari's multi-starring family drama Thaamirabharani and the film went on to gain considerable box-office success, carrying good reports amidst other big budget releases.[14][15] Later in the year he appeared Boopathy Pandian's Malaikottai, a comedy entertainer. In his first full-length comic role, Vishal received mixed feedback for his portrayal from critics, with Rediff stating that he is "a far cry from the rather endearing young man in Sandakozhi", whilst describing his performance as "cringeable".[16] Behindwoods stated it as an "Average masala-mix entertainer".[17] The film took a large opening.[18]

Vishal then was given the opportunity to feature in Bala's dark comedy Avan Ivan (2011), after being recommended to the director by his friend Arya. Portraying a village stage actor with a squint, Vishal suffered from severe eye pain and headaches whilst he also suffered a serious muscular injury on sets.[19] The film opened to mixed reviews, though Vishal's performance won positive reviews. Indiaglitz stated that Vishal delivered an "award winning performance" and that his "mannerisms and body language give you goosebumps". The reviewer further cited that "Vishal's spontaneous response to his mentor's death in the movie is touching. His demonstration of Navarasas in front of actor Suriya will melt you in tears".[20][21] Post the release of Avan Ivan, Vishal revealed that the film made his "outlook take a 360 degree turn" and gave him a "new bravado" as an actor and that he actively sought to move away from the masala film genre, he had previously worked on.[2] Vishal played the role of a police officer in his following release, Vedi (2011) directed by Prabhu Deva, which also became a commercial success at the Box Office.[22]

In the 2013 film Samar, Vishal played a forest trek guide. Behindwoods stated that he "rocks in the action sequences" which include Parkour moves.[23][24] He appeared in three more films that year. Following a cameo role in Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru, he starred in the action films Pattathu Yaanai and Pandiya Naadu. The latter was Vishal's debut production venture.[25][26] Vishal opted to produce and collaborate with Thiru for a third venture, Naan Sigappu Manithan (2014), a revenge drama, in which his character suffered from narcolepsy. To prepare for the lead role, Vishal read up and studied real life case studies of people with the disorder, citing that there was no references from cinema which he could watch and learn.[2]

Filmography

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Notes
2004 Chellamae Ragunandan
2005 Sandakozhi Balu
2006 Dishyum Himself Cameo appearance
Thimiru Ganesh
Sivappathigaram Sathyamoorthy
2007 Thaamirabharani Bharaniputhiran
Malaikottai Anbu
2008 Sathyam Sathyam
2009 Thoranai Murugan
2010 Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai Karthik
2011 Avan Ivan Walter Vanangamudi
Vedi Prabhakaran (Balu)
2013 Samar Shakthi
Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru Himself Cameo appearance
Pattathu Yaanai Saravanan
Pandiya Naadu Sivakumar Also producer
2014 Naan Sigappu Manithan Indhiran Also producer
Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam Himself Cameo appearance
Poojai Vasu Also producer
2015 Aambala Saravanan Also Producer
Paayum Puli Films that have not yet been released Filming
Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga Films that have not yet been released Siva Cameo appearance [27]
Madha Gaja Raja Films that have not yet been released Delayed [28]

References

  1. ↑ "Actor Vishal riding on success". The Hindu. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Neelima Menon (7 April 2014). "There is nothing like a perfect life".
  3. ↑ "Vikram Krishna weds Shriya reddy". Sify. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Star Interviews : Hero Vishal: Interview and profile". Telugucinema.com. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Interview with Chellamae Vishal". IndiaGlitz. 20 September 2004. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  6. ↑ Rangarajan, Malathi (17 September 2004). "Chellamae". The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  7. ↑ "Chellamey". Sify. 20 September 2004. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  8. ↑ Prasad, G. (11 March 2006). "Riding high on crest of success". The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  9. ↑ "Sandakozhi". Sify. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  10. ↑ "Vishal-The dark horse!". Sify. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  11. ↑ Sudha, S (4 August 2006). "Thimiru is a time-pass flick". Rediff. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  12. ↑ "Vishal alters the list of top heroes in Kollywood!!". Behindwoods. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  13. ↑ Rajaraman, R (25 November 2006). "Sivapathigaram Review". Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  14. ↑ Iyer, Sriram (14 January 2007). "Thamirabharani is worth a watch". Rediff. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  15. ↑ "Box-office analysis". IndiaGlitz. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  16. ↑ Srinivasan, Pavithra (28 September 2007). "Malaikottai is avoidable". Rediff. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  17. ↑ "Malaikottai – Masala comedy, no strings attached". Behindwoods. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  18. ↑ S, Aishwarya (4 November 2007). "Fans, frenzy at 50th day celebration of ‘Malaikottai’". The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  19. ↑ Manigandan, KRI (22 January 2011). "Vishal: A squint to success". Times of India. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  20. ↑ Vaadu Veedu Telugu Movie Review. IndiaGlitz (2011-06-17). Retrieved on 2012-06-24.
  21. ↑ Janani Karthik (9 July 2012). "I didn’t work for awards, says Vishal". Deccan Chronicle (Chennai, India). Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  22. ↑ "Vishal’s third project in a row". Behindwoods. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  23. ↑ "Samar Movie Review". Behindwoods. 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  24. ↑ "Samar Tamil Movie Review". IndiaGlitz. 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  25. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/Top-10-Tamil-grossers-of-2013/photostory/27779393.cms
  26. ↑ http://www.sify.com/movies/2013-the-top-10-tamil-grossers-news-tamil-obclopfijjhsi.html
  27. ↑ "Vishal's cameo for Arya's 'VSOP'". 4 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "It's Aambala before Madha Gaja Raja". Behindwoods. 14 July 2014.

External links