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Resounding success

Tamil film's new heartthrob, Surya, who is keen on social service, writes G.PRASAD

ENTERPRISING Latest sensation Photo: M. Moorthy

Surya's career graph took an unexpected twist after the film `Nanda'.

Well, you might not have read a better cliché than this in the recent past. But it is worth a repetition.

The actor who was made to run in a song sequence, just because he cannot dance is now able match the best of dancers in the tinsel town.

Since his initial days of not so remarkable performances, he is now remembered by the names of the roles he has played — be it Anbuselvan of `Kakka Kakka' or Sanjay Ramasamy of `Ghajini'.

And moreover he is the new heartthrob of Tamil cinema.

Hardwork

It has been a long journey for Surya, a journey that is marked by hard work and perseverence. Though overwhelmed by the fan following, he admits there is more pressure on him now to perform.

"More than the applause, I give importance to criticism, as it helps an actor mend his performance and live up to the expectation of the fans," shares the actor during a recent visit to the city.

Surya feels the characters he got to play lately in films were key factors behind his success.

Too much of experimentation in the roles wouldn't spoil the party, but would only give more scope for acting, he feels.

"I always want to cater to all types of audience and my latest film `Aaru' has earned me a good name especially in the B and C centres," says Surya, who has always aspired to be on his own and not be known as the scion of actor-father Siva Kumar.

Telugu market

Besides in Tamil, his movies are now doing good business in Telugu as well. With the dubbed versions of `Ghajini' and `Aaru' proving to be runaway hits, Surya is now flooded with offers from the Tollywood producers.

"I don't have any immediate plans of doing a Telugu film. I am comfortable here and looking forward to continue the good show," he grins. He even got a chance to act with Aamir Khan in his latest flick `Rang De Basanti' but he turned down the offer and went ahead with `Ghajini'.

"After watching Rang De.., however, I was disappointed on missing out a chance to act with Aamir, whom I admire. But I am thrilled with the success of Ghajini, which makes me feel I have taken the right decision," the actor confides.

After Aaru, an action-packed entertainer, it is now time for a romantic subject in `Jil Endru Oru Kadhal', produced by Surya's cousin and directed by Gautam Menon's associate.

He feels it offers him the right break as it has all the ingredients to entertain the youths.

That's not all — Surya will also act in a Tamil movie to be directed by renowned Bollywood filmmaker, Ram Gopal Verma, soon.

"I am excited and it will be a great opportunity to work with a person who is so creative," he gushes.

Lessons from Bala

Surya never fails to mention the lessons he learnt from Bala, the man who brought out the actor in him.

"Bala makes us work more, even on minute expressions be it an idle smile or a casual gesture. And those things helped me in the later stages."

On his brother turning out to be an actor: "He has a very good future. He has it in him to go the distance and will soon be a success," he predicts.

Apart from doing commercial endorsements, Surya is also the brand Ambassador of The Tamil Nadu Kidney Research Foundation (TANKER).

"I am doing my bit to create awareness among people on kidney ailments and to help the under-privileged. I feel that it is important to give something back to the people who have given me a star status," he concludes.

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