Silambarasan
Silambarasan is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Silambarasan began their career in 1986 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 40 years. With over 60 credits to their name, Silambarasan remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 40+ years, Silambarasan's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
Biography
Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar, known as Silambarasan and also called Simbu or S. T. R., is an Indian film actor, director, playback singer and lyricist of the Tamil film industry. He began his career by playing roles as a child artist in films directed by his father T. Rajendar, before essaying his first lead role in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002), under his father's direction as well and produced by his mother Usha Rajender.\r\n\r\nSilambarasan started his career as a child artist in 1987 and acted in his father's films, including Thai Thangai Paasam, Oru Vasantha Geetham, En Thangai Kalyani, Enga Veetu Velan, Monisha En Monalisa, Oru Thayin Sabhatham, Samsara Sangeetham, Shanti Enathu Shanti, Pettredutha Pillai, Thiruvalla and Sabash Babu. In Samsara Sangeetham, Silambarasan danced to a song singing \"I am a Little Star, Aaaven Naan Super Star\".\r\n\r\nSilambarasan played his first starring role in Kadhal Azhivathillai (2002) directed by his father. His second film was Dum (2002). In 2003, he appeared in Alai. He had three releases in 2004 including Kovil and Kuththu. He then starred Manmadhan which he also wrote and co-directed. His next film was Thotti Jaya. He received rave reviews for his performance.\r\n\r\nIn 2006, he starred in Saravana, directed by K. S. Ravikumar. He next starred and directed Vallavan (2006).\r\n\r\nHis next film, the Tarun Gopi-directed masala film Kaalai, was released in January 2008. Later that year, he appeared in another action-masala film Silambattam.\r\n\r\nIn 2010, his film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa released. Directed and written by Gautham Menon, the film became a Tamil cult film. The film changed his media image. Director K. Balachander in an open letter called Silambarasan's performance as his best in his career.\r\n\r\nThe following year he appeared in two films, the drama film Vaanam and the masala film Osthe. Malathi Rangarajan from The Hindu called it a significant film in his career. Osthe, directed by S. Dharani, released in more than 110 screens overseas in December 2011.\r\n
Personal Info
Career Milestones
Film debut
View film →Highest rated: Kaaka Muttai (8.3)
View film →Iconic Roles
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
A young aspiring filmmaker who falls in love with a Malayali Christian woman, portraying intense romance and heartbreak.
Defining Moments
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
The film was a major critical and commercial success, establishing him as a leading romantic hero and significantly boosting his popularity.
Director and Composer for 'Vanthaan Vendraan'
He took full creative control by directing, starring in, and composing the music for this experimental film and album project.
Filmography
See all 60 credits →
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →
Did You Know?
Silambarasan is often referred to by his initials S. T. R. and the nickname 'Little Superstar'.
He made his debut as a child artist in the 1993 film 'Kaadhalan', directed by his father T. Rajendar.
He is a multi-faceted artist, working as an actor, director, playback singer, and lyricist in Tamil cinema.
He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil for the song 'Oru Naalil' from the film 'Podaa Podi' (2012).
He directed and starred in the 2017 film 'Vanthaan Vendraan', which was also a musical album.
Photos
See all →
Family
Father
T. Rajendar
News & Stories
Desingh Periyasamy Reveals New Details About STR 48
5/9/2023
Pathu Thala Movie Massive Update On Simbu Birthday!
27/1/2023
Silambarasan Recent Images.
11/10/2018
Simbu's starts his second schedule with Sundar C
5/10/2018
Simbu Exclusive Photos.
7/9/2018
Legacy & Influence
Silambarasan, popularly known as Simbu or STR, has carved a distinct and influential path in Tamil cinema since his debut as a lead actor in 2002. His legacy is multifaceted, defined by a willingness to take creative risks and evolve his on-screen persona. Initially gaining a massive youth following with energetic, mass-oriented roles in films like 'Manmadhan' (2004) and 'Saravana' (2006), he was celebrated for his dance skills and rebellious, 'bad boy' image. This phase cemented his status as a major star with a dedicated fanbase. However, his career trajectory took a significant turn as he sought to diversify his filmography and showcase greater versatility. A pivotal moment was his role in Gautham Vasudev Menon's romantic drama 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa' (2010), where his nuanced portrayal of Karthik, a flawed but earnest lover, earned critical acclaim and demonstrated his capacity for subtle, performance-driven cinema. This film expanded his appeal beyond his core fan following. Simbu further pushed boundaries by venturing into writing, directing, composing music, and singing for his films, most notably in the ambitious 'Vallavan' (2006) and the experimental 'Vaanam' (2011), showcasing a hands-on, auteur-like approach. His contribution extends to popularizing rap and contemporary musical styles in Tamil film soundtracks, often penning and performing his own lyrics. While his career has seen commercial fluctuations, his influence is undeniable. He inspired a generation of actors with his unique style and fearlessness in tackling unconventional scripts and characters, as seen in films like 'Podaa Podi' (2012) and 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam' (2018). His journey from a mass hero to an actor willing to deconstruct his own star image for roles reflects a deeper engagement with the craft of filmmaking. Simbu's legacy lies in his embodiment of the modern Tamil film star—one who is not just a performer but a multi-hyphenate creator who has consistently challenged industry norms and audience expectations.