Lowkey affair…

Suriya is busy shooting for KS Ravikumar’s Aadhavan in far off South Africa and wont be with his family in Chennai for his birthday. However his Suriya Rasigar Mandram is organizing blood donation camps across the state in keeping with the actor’s policy of doing community oriented activities. Suriya, man with a myriad facets…Suriya is one of the top five actors of the Tamil screen today and his star is on the rise after the recent success of Ayan. But the journey has not been an easy one for this shy elder son of actor Sivakumar. For a young man who had a troubled childhood ( read all about his early years in Ippadiku Suriya his autobiography in Tamil), and did not know which career path to choose post his B Com from Loyola College, he certainly has come a long way.Luck steered him towards films with his first film Nearukku Naer followed by a spate of others leading up to a stupendous performance in Nanda, which made people sit up and take notice of him.Success upon success followed and films like Kaakha Kaakha, Ghajini, Vel, Vaaranam Ayiram and now Ayan have only whetted our appetites to see more of him on screen.

The secret of his success?

Suriya lives the adage ‘God lies in the details’ as far as his work is concerned. He gives his hundred percent for every shot, role and performance and constantly seeks to re-invent himself with his next film. His hunger for challenging scripts assures the viewers that a Suriya film will be hundred percent entertainment with something novel each time. Integrity on both the personal and professional fronts is one factor that has endeared him to his fans, which are ever increasing in number. He married the girl he loved with the blessings of his parents, he is a doting father, a loving brother , a caring son and a responsible citizen, contributing to society with his Agaram foundation. He doesnt believe in mere cheque book charity, a factor ingrained in him perhaps by watching his father run the Sri Sivakumar Educational and Charitable Trust for the past 30 years. His own Agaram Foundation today supports education for first generation literates in backward areas, while he actively supports the anti TB DOTS scheme, the Tanker Foundation for Kidney patients and the cause of Autistic children. He tries to make sure that his fan clubs across the state contribute to building socially aware citizens of use to the community they live in. His integrity in his personal and professional lives has made him a favourite among leading corporates in the South who prefer him as their brand ambassador. For his name connotes principles, honesty and integrity, qualities which are automatically transeferred onto the product he endorses, be it a mobile phone provider, a biscuit brand or a two wheeler giant ! Brand Suriya sells !

Looking ahead…

Today Suriya has Aadhavan under production co-starring Nayanthara while Singam with Anushka is next on the cards, to be directed by Hari. Then a bi-lingual with AR Murgadoss is in the air while he forays into Hindi cinema with Ram Gopal Varmas flick on Paritala Ravi. The future is as bright as his name ! Suriya has miles to go. And with each new day, he only seems to be setting new goals for himself, only to reach the pinnacle and look for the next peak to conquer. On his birthday, I am wishing him many many more years of success and satisfaction at work, togetherness with his family and love and respect from his fans. Happy Birthday Suriya !