Santhanam (actor)

N. Santhanam is an Indian film actor and producer who mainly works in Tamil cinema. Beginning his career as a comedian on television, he rose to fame through his performances in STAR Vijay's Lollu Sabha enacting the lead role in spoofs of Tamil films. He was subsequently given a chance by actor Silambarasan to feature in a supporting role in Manmadhan (2004) and then was signed on to appear in a host of films, notably winning good reviews for his work in Sachien (2005) and Polladhavan (2007). He appeared in a one-off leading role in Shankar's production Arai En 305-il Kadavul (2008) and Dagaalty(2020)subsequently became a staple feature as a comedian in successful Tamil films during the period, with his market popularity helping stuck films find distributors.[2][3]

Santhanam
Santhanam at Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham's Thanksgiving Meet
NationalityIndian
OccupationFilm actor, producer
Years active2002–present
Spouse(s)Usha[1]
Children3
WebsiteOfficial website

Santhanam has also had embarked on collaborations with directors including gaining positive reviews for his work in M Rajesh's comic trilogy of Siva Manasula Sakthi (2009), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (2010) and Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012), winning the Vijay Award for Best Comedian for each one. He has also repeatedly collaborated in the films of A L Vijay, Siva and Sundar C as well as in films featuring Silambarasan, Arya and Udhayanidhi Stalin.

His consistently well-received performances and box office appeal in the early 2010s prompted the film industry to dub him as the "Comedy Superstar".[4] In 2012, he began a film production company named Handmade Films and produced his first film, Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013), which went on to become a commercially successful venture. Meanwhile, in 2014, he starred in the leading role again in the action comedy Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham, winning critical and commercial acclaim.[5]

Career

Unlike comedians such as Vadivelu and Vivek who usually appear in comedy tracks separate from the main plot, Santhanam mostly plays either the male protagonist's friend or enemy, forming an essential part of the plot.[2] He has noted that he actively avoided being a part of separate comedy tracks within films, maintaining that appearing as an actor in the story would stop his comedy from becoming monotonous.[6]

His appeal at the box office was evident after films such as Leelai and Kadhal Pisase were able to find distributors following long delays, while Telugu film-makers S S Rajamouli and Sai Kiran Adivi partially shot scenes with the actor before releasing a Tamil version of their Telugu films, through Naan Ee and Vinayaga.

Santhanam's first production venture, Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya directed by Manikandan, became a commercially successful venture upon release in January 2013. Producing the venture under his newly formed studio Handmade Films, Santhanam opted to introduce a predominantly new cast and keep a low budget for the project understanding that film production had "previously ended the careers of many".[7] Featuring Santhanam as one of the three lead characters alongside his close friend and dermatologist Sethu and Power Star Srinivasan, the film was well received by critics, with a reviewer noting "there is a serious actor hidden somewhere inside Santhanam, who seems to be waiting for the right opportunity or role to break out of the comedian and sidekick roles he is confined to now", adding that "he can put many commercially successful actors to shame".[8] He featured a journalist in Kannan's comedy film Settai alongside Arya and Premgi Amaren, also serving as an assistant director, while he then also played a popular role of a love guru in Sundar C's Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru. He continued to feature in well received roles in commercially successful films like Raja Rani and Vanakkam Chennai, and his work in Endrendrum Punnagai with Jiiva and Vinay, was also praised with a critic noting that "with his spot-on comedy, measured histrionics and his immense likeability, he is a revelation and provides some hearty laughs".[9] A set-back came in the form of his fourth collaboration with Rajesh in All in All Azhagu Raja which became a surprise failure, and a critic wrote "though he does have his moments, the comedy seems to be forced, many of the scenes greatly exaggerated, and his portrayal of Kareena Chopra is a disaster".[10][11]

In 2014, he appeared in the leading role in Srinath's Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham, a remake of the 2010 Telugu film Maryada Ramanna. In preparation for the film, Santhanam lost weight, sported a different look and attended dance classes as well as reducing his work by being more selective on accepting other scripts.[12] The film opened in May 2014 to positive reviews and box office success with a critic noting that "it is a Santhanam show all the way" and that "he also delivers as a complete actor, displaying a range of emotions".[13]

Personal life

Santhanam grew up in Pozhichalur, near Pallavaram in Chennai. Santhanam married Usha in 2004. It was an arranged marriage by their parents. They have three children.[14][15]

Criticism

Santhanam was involved in controversy after he performed an impersonation of Mukesh Harane, a 24-year-old tobacco user who died of oral cancer and featured in health-risk warning cards before films in India, in the film All in All Azhagu Raja.[16][17] In 2013, a dialogue laced with double entendres uttered by him in Endrendrum Punnagai created controversy.[18] He was accused of making remarks against women; due to protests, the dialogue was removed from the film.[19]

Selected filmography
Main article: Santhanam filmography
Year Film Role Notes
2004ManmadhanBobby
2008Arai En 305-il KadavulRaasu
2009Siva Manasula SakthiVivek
2010Boss Engira BhaskaranNallathambi
2011SiruthaiKaatuppoochi
VaanamSeenuSIIMA Award for Best Comedian
2012Oru Kal Oru KannadiParthasarathy
2013Kanna Laddu Thinna AasaiyaKKAlso producer
Theeya Velai Seiyyanum KumaruMokia/SathishReceived The Best Comedian Award 2013
Endrendrum PunnagaiBaby
Raja RaniSarathy
2014Vallavanukku Pullum AayudhamSakthiAlso producer
2015IBabu
Inimey IppadithaanSeenuAlso producer
2016Dhilluku DhudduKumar
2017Sakka Podu Podu RajaSanta
2019Dhilluku Dhuddu 2VijiAlso producer
A1Saravanan
2020DagaaltyGuru

Television
Year Show Role TV Channel
2000-2001 Tea Kadai Bench Win TV
2001–2004 Lollu Sabha STAR Vijay
2003 Annamalai Sakthi Sun TV
2003 Sagalai Vs Ragalai STAR Vijay

Awards
Santhanam awards and nominations
Totals[lower-alpha 1]
Wins15
Nominations23
Note
  1. Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They recognize several different recipients, have runners-up and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.
Year Award Category Film Result
2009 4th Vijay Awards Best Comedian Siva Manasula Sakthi Won[20]
2010 58th Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor Boss Engira Bhaskaran Nominated[21]
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Comedian Won
Edison Awards (India) Best Comedian Won
5th Vijay Awards Best Comedian Won[22]
2011 59th Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor Deiva Thirumagal Nominated
Siruthai Nominated
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Comedian Deiva Thirumagal Won
Velayudham Won
6th Vijay Awards Best Comedian Deiva Thirumagal Won[23]
SIIMA Awards Best Comedian Vaanam Won[24]
2012 7th Vijay Awards Best Comedian Oru Kal Oru Kannadi Won[25]
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Comedian Won
60th Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actor Nominated[26]
SIIMA Awards Best Comedian Nominated
Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards Best Comedian Won
Edison Awards (India) Best Comedian Won
2013 8th Vijay Awards Best Comedian Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru Won[27]
SIIMA Awards Best Comedian Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru Nominated
Behindwoods Gold Medal Award Best Acting Performance Raja Rani Won[28][29]
Endrendrum Punnagai Won[30][31]
2014 9th Vijay Awards Best Comedian Aranmanai Nominated
2015 SIIMA Awards Best Comedian Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga Nominated[32]
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gollark: Meanwhile, I have a substantially smaller altitude or something.
gollark: It's just a fancy decentralized tamper-proof repository thing.

References
  1. "I will write and direct a film soon: Santhanam". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. "Santhanam the most wanted!". The Times of India. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. K. R. Manigandan (14 April 2012). "Comedy is serious business". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  4. "Santhanam named 'Comedy Superstar'". 27 November 2012.
  5. "Santhanam Biography". Oneindia.in. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  6. subha j rao (20 March 2011). "Fun Factory". The Hindu.
  7. subha j rao (27 January 2013). "Everything to laugh about". The Hindu.
  8. "Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya". The Times of India.
  9. "Movie Review : Endrendrum Punnagai". Sify.
  10. "Review: All in All Azhagu Raja is a waste of time". Rediff. 5 November 2013.
  11. "Movie Review : All in All Azhaguraja-A profoundly irritating film". Sify.
  12. Udhav naig (17 May 2014). "The rise of a hero". The Hindu.
  13. "Movie review 'Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham': Santhanam steals the show". Deccan Chronicle. 11 May 2014.
  14. Garoo, Rohit (17 August 2016). "Santhanam Marriage: The Simple Shaadi Of The Popular Comedian". The Bridal Box.
  15. "Santhanam and His Lovely Wife Usha : How They Met and In Loved?". MIJ Miner8. 2 June 2016.
  16. "All in All Azhaguraja faces ban? – Times of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  17. "Actor Santhanam's joke has anti-tobacco lobby fuming". The Times of India. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  18. "Santhanam Breaks his Promise – Tamil Movie News". Indiaglitz.com. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  19. "Santhanam's controversial dialogue removed, again – Times of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  20. Lakshmi, K. (30 May 2010). "Pasanga' steals show at Vijay awards". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  21. Ramchander (2 June 2011). "58th Idea Filmfare Awards South nominees". www.filmibeat.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  22. "Vijay TV awards". Sify. Sify. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  23. "6th Annual Vijay Awards". Sify. Sify. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  24. "SIIMA AWARDS: 2011 WINNERS". siima.in. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  25. Desk, India TV News (13 May 2013). "Vijay Awards 2013: Know the winners". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  26. "60th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 (South) Nominations". filmfare.com. Filmfare. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  27. "8th Annual Vijay Awards a grand success - Times of India". The Times of India. The Times of India. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  28. "Behindwoods Gold Performers 2013 - Winners". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  29. "Behindwoods Gold Medals 2013 - Honouring the best performers of Tamil Cinema 2013". Lifeandtrendz. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  30. "Behindwoods Gold Performers 2013 - Winners". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  31. "Behindwoods Gold Medals 2013 - Honouring the best performers of Tamil Cinema 2013". Lifeandtrendz. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  32. "SIIMA 2016 nominations out – here is the list". Thenewsminute. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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