Happy Birthday STR: 5 films of Silambarasan that everyone loves

From starting out as a Little Super Star and transitioning into Young Super Star and now Atman, Silambarasan TR has had many phases throughout his 38-year-old career. With the star celebrating his birthday on February 3, here are five films of this energetic star which are loved by not just his fans but by everyone!

When Maanaadu went on floors, the big question that everyone was asking was if the film would ever see the light of the day given its leading man's then issues. For a while, the doubters seemed to be right, as the film almost came close to being dropped. But then, like a phoenix, STR rose from the ashes, by fixing himself up, and surprising everyone with him trim and smart new look and cal and positive attitude. The rest, as they say, is history, as the actor, playing Abdul Khaliq, a character stuck in a time loop, gave a charismatic performance in one of the best thrillers Tamil cinema has seen in recent times.

The film that showed the transition of Simbu into another phase as an actor, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa was everything that one did not expect at that time from a Silambarasan film. When Gautham Vasudev Menon announced that he was making a film with the actor, everyone wondered if the director was making the right decision as the film sensibilities of the two seemed to vastly different. But as Karthik, an aspiring filmmaker who gets his heart broken by Jessie, the girl he hopelessly falls in love with, Simbu showed a subtle, sensitive side that was totally a revelation. The Young Super Star had well and truly arrived!

For almost half-a-dozen films since he became a lead actor with Kadhal Azhivathillai, Simbu films had a particular template that appealed only to his core audience. But then, the star decided to chart his own path and acted in Manmadhan, which he also wrote for himself. Playing brothers who were starkly different, STR showed that there was also a terrific actor inside him. If he invited sympathy as Motta, he gave several whistle-worthy scenes as Madhan, a loving brother who has turned into an avenging angel!

If there is one film in STR's filmography that is often overlooked, it has to be Vaanam. Fresh off his VTV makeover, the actor showed restraint; here, he not a star, but an actor who was part of an ensemble. As Cable Raja, Simbu was his usual fun self, trading jokes with Santhanam and acting all playful, but there was also a hint of sadness that he brought to the role. This is why when his character makes the supreme sacrifice, it left everyone in the audience teary-eyed.

Unlike the other films in this list, Silambattam is pucca commercial. And it is also a perfect showcase for the mass hero that STR is. It has everything that was the hallmark of Simbu during his Little Super Star phase... from the finger swooshes to punchy action, punchier dialogues, foot-tapping songs, and even romantic scenes that bordered on titillation. And it was all immensely enjoyable! Playing the dual role of a timid son and an intrepid father, Simbu was every bit the playful young star we all loved.