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Happy Birthday Sathyaraj: 25 powerful performances of Tamil cinema's unconventional star

Among his contemporaries, Sathyaraj might just be the most exciting actor – minus the star baggage – around. The way he has adapted and moulded his career post-2007 is in many ways, inspirational stuff. In fact, it’s the kind, senior actors would dream of, but wouldn't dare to execute.
Not feeling the pressure to better his own self with every film probably gives Sathyaraj the much-needed space to improvise. On his birthday, we list 25 of his most memorable roles in Tamil cinema.
Not feeling the pressure to better his own self with every film probably gives Sathyaraj the much-needed space to improvise. On his birthday, we list 25 of his most memorable roles in Tamil cinema.
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In one of the most iconic roles of his career, Sathyaraj, sporting a bald, mean look and John Lennon glasses, plays an assassin in Manivannan's Nooravathu Naal (1984).
In one of the most iconic roles of his career, Sathyaraj, sporting a bald, mean look and John Lennon glasses, plays an assassin in Manivannan's Nooravathu Naal (1984).
Sathyaraj nails the character of the notorious smuggler and murderer, Vicky, who becomes the subject of an undercover hunt, in Kamal Haasan's Kaaki Sattai (1985).
Sathyaraj nails the character of the notorious smuggler and murderer, Vicky, who becomes the subject of an undercover hunt, in Kamal Haasan's Kaaki Sattai (1985).
Sathyaraj as Chinnappa Das - a violent person with a prison record, who understands love during his elementary education stint - is super-convincing in Bharathiraja's Kadalora Kavithaigal.
Sathyaraj as Chinnappa Das - a violent person with a prison record, who understands love during his elementary education stint - is super-convincing in Bharathiraja's Kadalora Kavithaigal.
In Manivannan's Paalaiva Rojaakkal. Sathyaraj famously plays a honest Journalist, who fights a corrupt system to expose unscrupulous politicians.
In Manivannan's Paalaiva Rojaakkal. Sathyaraj famously plays a honest Journalist, who fights a corrupt system to expose unscrupulous politicians.
Sathyaraj, enacting a dual role for the first time, appears with a mustache as a doctor, and clean-shaven as a cop, in Mandira Punnagai. It gave Sathyaraj a strong foothold as a lead in the industry.
Sathyaraj, enacting a dual role for the first time, appears with a mustache as a doctor, and clean-shaven as a cop, in Mandira Punnagai. It gave Sathyaraj a strong foothold as a lead in the industry.
Sathyaraj's portrays an alcoholic, who, after the death of his family, adopts a boy with hearing and speech difficulty and names him after his dead son, in Faazil's Poovizhi Vasalile (1987).
Sathyaraj's portrays an alcoholic, who, after the death of his family, adopts a boy with hearing and speech difficulty and names him after his dead son, in Faazil's Poovizhi Vasalile (1987).
Sathyaraj plays a theatre artist, who gets obsessed with the roles he plays and murders rapists and anti-social elements without revealing his identity, in Aalappirandhavan.
Sathyaraj plays a theatre artist, who gets obsessed with the roles he plays and murders rapists and anti-social elements without revealing his identity, in Aalappirandhavan.
Sathyaraj's portrayal of a smuggler, who sets out to take revenge on his childhood friend - a politician - in Makkal En Pakkam (1987), established him as a bankable star in Tamil cinema.
Sathyaraj's portrayal of a smuggler, who sets out to take revenge on his childhood friend - a politician - in Makkal En Pakkam (1987), established him as a bankable star in Tamil cinema.
Sathyaraj was seen as a young man, who poses as an income-tax agent to factory owners, and steals their black money to give to the laborers, in Jallikattu, which also starred Sivaji Ganesan as a judge
Sathyaraj was seen as a young man, who poses as an income-tax agent to factory owners, and steals their black money to give to the laborers, in Jallikattu, which also starred Sivaji Ganesan as a judge
Sathyaraj brings alive Balu Thevar - an atheist who speaks openly against the caste system and is schooled by a young boy - in Bharathiraja's Vedham Pudhidu (1987).
Sathyaraj brings alive Balu Thevar - an atheist who speaks openly against the caste system and is schooled by a young boy - in Bharathiraja's Vedham Pudhidu (1987).
Sathyaraj and Suhasini play a couple, who lose their daughter in an accident, and then adopt a an orphan girl, in Fazil's Bommukutti Ammavuku, which proved beyond doubt the actor's versatility.
Sathyaraj and Suhasini play a couple, who lose their daughter in an accident, and then adopt a an orphan girl, in Fazil's Bommukutti Ammavuku, which proved beyond doubt the actor's versatility.
Sathyaraj's hilarious portrayal of th young man, who disguises himself as an old tuition teacher for money, in Nadigan, won the actor several awards. His iconic scenes with Goundamani are a riot.
Sathyaraj's hilarious portrayal of th young man, who disguises himself as an old tuition teacher for money, in Nadigan, won the actor several awards. His iconic scenes with Goundamani are a riot.
Sathyaraj plays a talented artist with a special ability to draw the faces of persons at their different ages with the help of their childhood photos in K Subhash's Bramma
Sathyaraj plays a talented artist with a special ability to draw the faces of persons at their different ages with the help of their childhood photos in K Subhash's Bramma
In probably one of his most iconic cop roles, Sathyaraj, as Walter Vetrivel, exudes brooding intensity in face of adversity that comes from his own blood. A stellar performance.
In probably one of his most iconic cop roles, Sathyaraj, as Walter Vetrivel, exudes brooding intensity in face of adversity that comes from his own blood. A stellar performance.
In Airport (one of the rare Tamil movie of the 90s without songs, Sathyaraj plays a pilot, who gets framed for the murder of the Prime Minister. The Joshi Vasu film was praised for its slick making.
In Airport (one of the rare Tamil movie of the 90s without songs, Sathyaraj plays a pilot, who gets framed for the murder of the Prime Minister. The Joshi Vasu film was praised for its slick making.
Only an actor of Sathyaraj's stature could follow up Airport with an Amaidhipadai. As the vile, crafty Ammavasai & the sincere cop, Thangavel, Sathyaraj is a revelation in this sharp political satire.
Only an actor of Sathyaraj's stature could follow up Airport with an Amaidhipadai. As the vile, crafty Ammavasai & the sincere cop, Thangavel, Sathyaraj is a revelation in this sharp political satire.
Who else would have thought Sathyaraj could be a Malayali cop but Vasu? His scenes with Goundamani in Malabar Police still make us laugh. A neat thriller wrapped in the garb of a dramedy!
Who else would have thought Sathyaraj could be a Malayali cop but Vasu? His scenes with Goundamani in Malabar Police still make us laugh. A neat thriller wrapped in the garb of a dramedy!
What will stars resort to in their last days as the lead? Sathyaraj famously parodied himself mercilessly in Englishkaaran, an out-and-out comedy full of his trademark whimsical humour.
What will stars resort to in their last days as the lead? Sathyaraj famously parodied himself mercilessly in Englishkaaran, an out-and-out comedy full of his trademark whimsical humour.
What a responsibility it would have been for Sathyaraj to play a leader he admires. As Periyar, Sathyaraj has the envious job of immortalizing the patriarch of TN politics, and comes out unscathed.
What a responsibility it would have been for Sathyaraj to play a leader he admires. As Periyar, Sathyaraj has the envious job of immortalizing the patriarch of TN politics, and comes out unscathed.
Sathyaraj lives the character of Madhava Padayachi, a simple villager, who's forced to leave his home with his wife after a property tussle with his children, in Thangar's Onbadhu Roobai Nottu (2007).
Sathyaraj lives the character of Madhava Padayachi, a simple villager, who's forced to leave his home with his wife after a property tussle with his children, in Thangar's Onbadhu Roobai Nottu (2007).
As James, the affectionate single-parent and brutally honest critic of Nayanthara, Sathyaraj is brilliant in Atlee's Raja Rani (2013).
As James, the affectionate single-parent and brutally honest critic of Nayanthara, Sathyaraj is brilliant in Atlee's Raja Rani (2013).
Sathyaraj is compelling as the senior music director, who gets increasingly jealous of the success of one of his assistants, in SJ Suryah's audacious film, Isai.
Sathyaraj is compelling as the senior music director, who gets increasingly jealous of the success of one of his assistants, in SJ Suryah's audacious film, Isai.
Sathyaraj's version of the heroine's dad, the quick-witted and sarcastic Sivanandi, in Varuthappadatha Valibar Sangam went on to become a huge hit among the audience.
Sathyaraj's version of the heroine's dad, the quick-witted and sarcastic Sivanandi, in Varuthappadatha Valibar Sangam went on to become a huge hit among the audience.
Sathyaraj nails the character of Sekar, a middle-aged, orthodox NRI, who gets drunk and ends up in a locked-up building with a sex-worker. in editor Antony's Oru Naal Iravil.
Sathyaraj nails the character of Sekar, a middle-aged, orthodox NRI, who gets drunk and ends up in a locked-up building with a sex-worker. in editor Antony's Oru Naal Iravil.
Sathyaraj's poignant portrayal of the farmer, who stands up against the society to make sure that his daughter's seemingly-impossible dreams come true, contributed a lot to Kanaa's success.
Sathyaraj's poignant portrayal of the farmer, who stands up against the society to make sure that his daughter's seemingly-impossible dreams come true, contributed a lot to Kanaa's success.
Special mention: Sathyaraj's iconic portrayal of the slave who killed Baahubali is clearly text-book material. As Kattappa, the loyal protector of Magizhmathi, Sathyaraj is just terrific.
Special mention: Sathyaraj's iconic portrayal of the slave who killed Baahubali is clearly text-book material. As Kattappa, the loyal protector of Magizhmathi, Sathyaraj is just terrific.
Sathyaraj

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