Five actors who found success after acting in Pudhupettai

Today marks the 15th anniversary of Pudhupettai, one of the unique gangster films to have come out of Tamil cinema. While the film is looked at as a major milestone in the careers of its director Selvaraghavan, lead actor Dhanush and composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, it also gave several memorable supporting characters. And many of the actors who played these impactful roles have gone on to become familiar faces in the years since. Here's a look at five actors who became well-known thanks to Pudhupettai...

Though he was seen in minor roles in a couple of other films before this one, it is in Pudhupettai that Vijay Sethupathi got a comparitively extended (though uncredited) role that made his face register with the audience. A handful of films later, the actor played the lead in Thenmerku Paruvakkatru, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Munnar Ramesh started out with Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam, but in Pudhupettai, his character as Dhanush's wayward father, instantly made him recognisable. Soon, he started to received offers for supporting roles, and became a known face among audiences.

The actor, who passed away recently, played a supporting role that was quite recallable. He played Mani, the brother of Sonia Agarwal, who feels betrayed by Dhanush's Kokki Kumar when the latter, who he had invited for Selvi's wedding, marries his sister forcibly, and joins a rival gang to get his revenge.

While Murugadoss had made his debut with Ghilli, in the character named Aadhivasi, Pudhupettai further became a calling card for the actor, as he played a henchman of Dhanush' team. He was later chosen by director Vetri Maaran for Aadukalam.

Sai Dheena is known for his villainous roles in films like Thimiru Pudichavan, Master and Theri. He had made his debut with Kamal Haasan's Virumaandi, but playing a henchman in this gangster film solidified his fearsome presence, and soon, he started playing many kutty villains in several films.