Surya

Name: Surya
Full Name: Saravanan Sivakumar
Date of birth: July 23rd, 1975

Saravanan Sivakumar popularly known as Surya is an Indian actor in the Tamil film industry. Surya is the son of Tamil actor Sivakumar and is married to Jyothika, a popular Tamil actress. Surya is well-known for trying out off-beat roles in different films. He is also the brand ambassador for large brands like Himani Navratna Oil, Emami Fair & Handsome, Pepsi, TVS and Sunfeast Biscuits.

Surya studied at PSBB and St. Bede’s, Chennai and he completed his commerce graduation from Loyola College, Chennai. Surya was employed in a garment manufacturing company in Ambattur, Chennai. A notable point is Vijay, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja – both Ilayaraaja’s sons, Vishnuvardhan and Surya were all class mates during their studies. Surya then ventured into the cine field to become one of the top reigning stars of the Tamil film industry. He also has various fan bases throughout the world.

Surya’s father is actor Sivakumar. Surya is the eldest son in the family with one younger brother Karthik and younger sister Brindha. He married actress Jyothika on September 11, 2006.

Surya’s debut film, Nerrukku Ner (1997) with Vijay was a big hit but all his succeeding films did not do well. His first reasonable success was in the movie Poovellam Kettuppar (1999). His next movie with Vijay, Friends was an average hit, but he did not get any big breaks and his career seemed to be stalled until director Bala approached him for a role in his next venture titled Nandha. This was Surya’s first blockbuster. The film grossed Rs.50 million at the box office.

Surya’s next venture was with Vikraman in the movie Unnai Ninathu and the movie was able to record good collections, which was followed by Mounam Pesiyadhe which also did decently well. Surya’s second blockbuster was Kaaka Kaaka, a movie about the life of a police officer. The film grossed almost Rs.100 million at the box office. Also Pithamagan alongside Vikram was a big hit, Surya was appreciated for being a very different character.

In the movie Perazhagan, he acted in two roles, one as a boxer and the other as a handicapped but a confident phone booth keeper. Surya’s role as the handicapped was praised by critics, and he received a Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance. His role in Aayitha Ezhuthu as a student leader was also favored by the critics. Surya’s movie Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikkalam was dropped due to financial problems.

In 2005, he delivered more successful films in the form of Maayavi, Aaru, Ghajini – afterwards he set up a production company called Studio Green which distributed the movie in the Chennai district. Ghajini was one of the most sensational hits of 2005, with him playing a short term memory loss patient, for which he even tonsured his head. The film was Surya’s third blockbuster and grossed over Rs.200 million at the box office and then, trade began comparing him with long established superstars Vijay, Ajith and Vikram.

His recent release is N. Krishna’s Sillunu Oru Kaadhal and he acted opposite his real-life partner Jyothika in the film. The movie released on September 8 2006. The movie was an average grosser.

Up next, Surya has signed up to an untitled A. R. Murugadoss film and a film with Gautham Menon, Vaaranam Aayiram directed by Gautham Menon. Surya also dubbed Abhishek Bachchan’s role in the Tamil version of Guru.Surya is also brand ambassador for various products.

Philanthropy
In 2008, Surya began Agaram Foundation working to help children who drop out of school early in Tamil Nadu. With the Ministry of Education in Tamil Nadu, he created a short commercial video outlining child poverty, labour and lack of education, titled Herova? Zerova?. The film was written and produced by Surya and also starred Joseph Vijay, R. Madhavan and Jyothika.

Personal life
He married actress Jyothika Sadanah on 11 September 2006. On August 10 2007, the couple’s daughter Diya was born. He resides in Chennai with his family. At this instance jyothika gave birth to a baby boy on 07-06-2010 early morning.

Awards

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Pithamagan (2003)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Perazhagan (2004)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor – Nandha (2002)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Actor – Ghajini (2005)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Actor – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)

Other awards and recognition

• Kalaimamani Award (2004)
• Dinakaran Best New Face Actor in Nerukku Ner (1997)
• ITFA Best Actor Award in Kaakha Kaakha (2003)
• Vijay Award for Icon of the Year (2007)
• Vijay Award for Best Actor in Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
• Filmfans Award for Best Actor 2008 for Vaaranam Aayiram
• South Scope Award for Style Icon of the Year 2009
• Amrita Mathrubhumi Award for Best Actor in Tamil – Ayan / Aadhavan (2009)
• Vijay Award for Entertainer of the Year (2009) for Ayan/Aadhavan
• Vijay Award for Icon of the Year (2009) – special award for Social Services rendered through the charity Agaram Foundation

Nominations

• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Nandha (2001)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kaakha Kaakha (2003)
• Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Ghajini (2005)
• ITFA Best Actor Award – Ghajini (2005)
• Vijay Award for Favourite Hero – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
• ITFA Best Actor Award – Vaaranam Aayiram (2008)
• Vijay Award for Best Actor – Ayan (2009)
• Vijay Award for Favourite Hero – Aadhavan (2009)

Filmography