Srinivasan (Tamil actor)

Srinivasan (popularly known as Powerstar Srinivasan and sometimes simply Power) is an Indian actor and comedian, who has worked in the Tamil film industry (Kollywood). Beginning his career as a medical practitioner, he moved into finance before embarking on making films starring himself. He then appeared in N. Santhanam's Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013) which gave him a breakthrough in receiving further offers for comic roles.

Srinivasan
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Power Star Srinivasan, Powerstar
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2010– Current

Career

Srinivasan completed his degree at Madurai Kamaraj University and then acquired a qualification as an acupuncture practitioner from a university in China through a distance education programme, before commencing practise soon after. His passion for the film industry brought him to Chennai, where he set up a finance firm, Baba Trading Company, in Anna Nagar and advertised through brokers that he would help businessmen acquire huge bank loans.[1] Srinivasan soon went on to direct and star in a film titled Lathika, which released in 2011 with little publicity and featured primarily newcomers. The following year, the team of Lathika put up banners across vast areas in Chennai, remarking that Lathika had been successfully running for 220 days in the city albeit at a single cinema. The move brought him publicity and he gained online fan clubs for the bizarre claims, while he also went on to rechristen himself as 'Powerstar' Srinivasan.[2] Srinivasan subsequently begun several other production ventures starring himself including Ananda Thollai, Indrasena, Abhinava and Desiya Nedunchalai, though most films remain partially shot.[3] Srinivasan inadvertently had marketed himself as a spoof artist through his initial ploys and has since maintained a comic image with the media and on-screen, often portraying outrageous and over the top characters.[4]

Actor Santhanam offered him a pivotal role in his first production Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013), to portray one of the three leading male roles. The film opened to positive reviews in January 2013, with critics calling it an "infectious" comedy and went on to do profitable business at the box office.[5] Alongside his co-stars, critics noted that Srinivasan "scorches the screen" and his "comic timing makes the slapstick madness work".[2][6] The success of the film garnered him offers from big productions, including Bala's Paradesi (2013) and Shankar's I; though his portions were later replaced in the former film.[7]

Srinivasan has since gone on to appear in supporting roles in smaller budget films, notably playing pivotal characters in Arya Surya and Summa Nachunu Irukku (2013). He has also regularly appeared in promotional videos and single scene appearances in films, with small-time filmmakers keen to sell their films using his popular image.[8] In early 2014, Srinivasan stated that he was unhappy that filmmakers were "betraying" him and depicting him in films. He delivered particular criticism to the makers of Ya Ya (2013) and Goli Soda (2014), who he argued used his presence in their films for cheap publicity.[9]

Personal life

Srinivasan was born in 1962 in the Simmakal region in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. After leaving Madurai for Chennai, he bought and currently lives in a residence in Anna Nagar. He has been married twice, firstly with Vijaya of Madurai, whom he later divorced before marrying Julie from Anna Nagar. He has a daughter named Lathika, who he named his first production after.[10]

Through his finance firm, Baba Trading Company, Srinivasan allegedly obtained over Rs. 7 crore rupees from unsuspecting businessmen and consequently used the money to begin a career in films, through his home production Lathika (2011). In 2012, Srinivasan was arrested by the Kilpauk police on charges of cheating and released on bail.[11] The following year in April 2013, he was booked by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and sent to prison and the development of more cases against him led to his office in Anna Nagar and a hospital he owned on Park Road, Anna Nagar West Extension, being shut.[1][12] After a period in Delhi prison, he received bail in October 2013.[13][14]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2010	Neethana Avan	Vallal Perumal
	Mandabam	Sabapathy
	Unakkaga Oru Kavithai	Jairam
	Indrasena
2011	Lathika	Eeshwar
2013	Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya	Power Kumar	Nominated—SIIMA Award for Best Comedian – Tamil Edison Award for Best Comedian
	Onbadhule Guru
	Azhagan Azhagi
	Summa Nachunu Irukku	Ashok Rajendran
	Arya Surya	Aryananda	Also singer for "Vadapochae"
	Ya Ya	Beerpal	Cameo
2014	Thalaivan		Cameo appearance
	Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham	Gang leader	Special appearance
	Vizhi Moodi Yosithaal	College Alumni	Guest appearance
2015	I	'Tower Star' Keerthivasan
	Sagaptham	R. Manmadhan
	MGR Sivaji Rajini Kamal	Church father	Guest appearance
	Maharani Kottai		Guest appearance
	Maanga
	Apoorva Mahaan
2016	Sowkarpettai	Junior
	Vaaliba Raja		Cameo appearance
	Narathan
	Kida Poosari Magudi
	Manithan	Doctor	Guest appearance
	Sutta Pazham Sudaatha Pazham
	Adra Machan Visilu	Powerstar (Muniyandi)
	Ka Ka Ka Po
	Kagitha Kappal
2017	Vaanga Vaanga	Powerstar Srinivasan
	Kavan	Powerstar Srinivasan	Guest Appearance
	Vilayattu Aarambam	Shah Rukh Khan
	Aakkam
	Enbathettu
	Ilavatta Pasanga
	Sakka Podu Podu Raja	Himself
2018	Merlin
	Mohana
	Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa
	Enna Thavam Seitheno
	Odu Raja Odu		Cameo appearance
	Kaattu Pura
2019	Simba	Veterinary surgeon
	Oviyavai Vitta Yaru
	Jaikka Povadhu Yaaru
	Chennai 2 Bangkok
	Capmaari	Power Pandy Durai

References

1. Petlee Peter. "Goondas Act against jailed actor 'Power Star' likely". The Hindu.
2. "Mind it: Rajinikanth gets a rival in unlikely hero 'Power Star' S Srinivasan". The Economic Times.
3. "I'm the only match to Superstar, says Powerstar, powerstar Srinivasan, Rajinikanth".
4. "Rise & fall of Powerstar". Deccan Herald.
5. "Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya box office collection".
6. "Movie Review : Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasiaya". Sify.
7. "Power Star approached for Paradesi?". The Times of India.
8. "Power Star's 'Terror Love Anthem'". The Times of India.
9. "Powerstar Srinivasan alleges his previous producers of cheating".
10. "Power Star invested swindled money in movies: Police". The New Indian Express.
11. "Power Star Srinivasan arrested for fraud!". Sify.
12. "Another case against 'Power Star' Srinivasan". The Hindu.
13. Special Correspondent. "Power Star Srinivasan gets bail". The Hindu.
14. "Now Delhi police wants Power Star Srinivasan". The Times of India.

External links

• Powerstar Srini on IMDb