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Happy Birthday Suriya: 11 performances of the actor that proves his versitality

Here are 11 standout roles from his career that showcased his impressive range in Tamil cinema

Jayabhuvaneshwari B

Suriya has had a remarkable journey since 1997's Nerukku Ner. With 40-plus films under his belt, he's had his fair share of successes that shaped him as a talented actor. Today, he's celebrated for his versatility, delivering iconic and unforgettable performances.

Here are 11 standout roles from his career that showcased his impressive range in Tamil cinema.

Nandha: In the film, Suriya delivered a unexpected performance as a man haunted by his childhood experiences. Despite serving his sentence for his crime, he's shunned by society. Suriya masterfully portrayed Nandha's grim demeanor, conveying his deep desire for approval and motherly love. The eighth film in his career, Nandha marked a new standard for Suriya's acting talent.
Kaakha Kaakha: Suriya's ACP Anbuselvan in Kaakha Kaakha remains an iconic character, etched in our hearts. His flawless performance and charisma made women swoon, seeking their own Anbuselvan. With a perfect blend of action, heroism, and romance, Suriya's Anbuselvan is unforgettable. His portrayal is unparalleled, making Anbuselvan a character synonymous with Suriya.
Pithamagan: In Pithamagan, Suriya played Shakthi, a supporting role to Vikram's lead. Despite not being the main character, Suriya made his presence felt by realistically portraying the friend and confidante of Vikram's character. He earned recognition equal to Vikram, for his portrayal of Shakthi, solidifying his acting prowess and ability to shine in any role.
Perazhagan: In Suriya's double role debut, he excelled as Karthik and Chinna, roles that were completely different due to the storyline. His portrayal of Chinna, a person with a hunchback, was particularly impressive, leaving audiences wondering if it was really the actor playing the role. He masterfully differentiated between the roles, showcasing his versatility and ability to fit into any character.
Ghajini: Ghajini, inspired by Memento, was a game-changer in Tamil cinema, with Suriya's iconic performance as a businessman-turned-amnesiac seeking revenge. He distinctively portrayed dual personas, showcasing charisma and aggression. The transition in body language and expressions after diagnosis was remarkable, marking a milestone in Suriya's cinematic journey.
Varanam Aayiram: Once again, Suriya excelled playing dual, portraying diverse emotions like love, pain, and depression with perfection. His versatility in playing both Krishnan and Suriya made the film all the more relatable, and also redefined the conventional father-son double roles in Tamil cinema.
Singam: Suriya brought his own charm when he portrayed a cop for the second time in his career. With powerful dialogues like "Ongi Adicha Ondra Ton Weight Da," (which made its way into meme culture eventually), and a solid performance as a straightfoward cop, Suriya redefined the concept of police films. His convincing performance also ensured that two sequels, before he finally retired the Kaakhi uniform, and the titular handlebar mustache that many went on to imitate.
7aum Arivu: While Kanguva is creating the most buzz for Suriya currently, the actor is definitely not new to essaying historical characters. In 7aum Arivu, we saw the actor as the ancient Bodhi Dharma who came with wisdom and courage. We also saw him portray the happy-go-lucky Aravind, who comes around to help in times of dire need. Suriya's climax action sequence fully choreographed with martial art moves, was the cherry on the top.
24: After shining in dual roles in quite a few films, Suriya managed to bring three different personalities to Athreya, Subramani and Sethuraman in 24. While he's also not new to performing characters with a grey shade, his portrayal of Athreya was refreshing, bringing out a rather unseen side of the actor. Seeing Suriya switch between a comical Subramani and an evil Athreya was quite a fascinating theatrical experience.
Soorarai Pottru: Suriya shone as Nedumaaran Rajangam, a character we needed when we were deprived from film releases during the coranvirus-induced lockdown. His performance, inspired by Captain GR Gopinath's life, was convincing that it blurred reality. Suriya's portrayal earned widespread acclaim, garnering positive comments and compliments, making his efforts truly fruitful.
Special Mention- Vikram: While there are more performances to describe the versitality of Suriya, Vikram makes it to the list because of how hooked he got the audience to Rolex within five minutes of screen time. There's a lot of hope pinned upon Lokesh Kanagaraj and Suriya to bring about a full-fledged film for Rolex, to give us more iconic dialogues like, "Sir, just sir!"

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