STR, the multi-talented actor from the Tamil film industry, has time and time again proven his prowess in the field of acting. Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar, also known as STR or Simbu to his adoring fans, began his artistic career as a young child. Simbu’s acting career was launched by his father, the well-known Tamil film director T. Rajendran. His debut film was Uravai Kaatha Kili (1984). Since then, he has worked as an actor, singer, director, screenwriter, and musician, among other things.
Simbu is the eldest child of T. Rajendar and Usha Rajendar. Kuralarasan and Ilakiya are his siblings. He was born on February 3, 1983, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He is known as the Little Superstar after dancing to the tunes of the song “I am a Little Star, Aaven Naan Super Star” in the film Samsara Sangeetham.
We at Top 10s Only are proud to present a list of the Top 10 films of Tamil Actor Silambarasan, aka STR, aka Simbu.
Top 10 Movies of Tamil Actor Silambarasan aka STR aka Simbu
From commercially successful movies to critically acclaimed ones, Silambarasan, aka STR, aka Simbu, has delivered the best and carved a niche for himself in the industry. Simbu made his mark in the Tamil film industry with his film as the main hero in T. Rajendar’s 2002 film Kadhal Azhivathillai. After this, there was no looking back for the actor. Let’s take a look at the top ten Silambarasan movie list given below.
1. Kovil (2004)
Kovil is the first of the top 10 movies of Silambarasan. This is a must-see Tamil movie, as it recounts the journey of love between Sakthivel (Simbu), a Hindu boy, and Angel (Sonia Agarwal), a Christian girl. As the romance between the two blossoms, the question of whether their families will accept their union and come together is the focus of the story. Silambarasan gave a controlled, mature performance in this film that was appreciated by film critics and audiences alike. Directed by Hari Gopalakrishnan and with the melodious soundtrack of Harish Jayaraj, the movie was shot in 59 days in Tenkasi, Nagercoil, Courtallam, and Munnar. The movie cannot be missed on Tamil actor Silambarasan’s movie list. This was a box-office hit movie for STR, and it cemented his position as an exceptional actor in the Tamil film industry.
2. Manmadhan (2004)
The film is a romantic thriller, with Simbu in a dual role for the first time. It was one of Simbu’s best Tamil movies during his early days. Simbu was paired with Jyothika and Sindhu Tolani. The movie was directed by debutant A. J. Murugan, and it ran for over 150 days in theatres. The plot goes like this: Madhan Kumar is an auditor and is kind by nature, though he has another side to his personality. He hunts and murders immoral girls in the city. The rest of the story revolves around what happens to Manmadhan and the truth behind the killings. It was a box office hit, and Simbu was praised for his performance. Simbu was nominated for the Best Actor Award at the Filmfare Awards for this movie. Manmadhan is undoubtedly one of the Top 10 STR movies of all time. In the wake of the film’s success, Silambarasan became one of Tamil cinema’s top actors, and Manmadhan has become a cult classic.
3. Vallavan (2006)
This romantic action thriller, which also features Nayanthara and Reema Sen as leads, is one of Simbu’s top 10 movies. Simbu even directed and wrote the dialogues for this film. In the film, Vallavan (Simbu), a college student, falls in love with a teacher named Swapna (Nayanthara), who is three years his senior. She breaks up after discovering the age difference. Vallavan recalls his high school love, Geetha (Reema Sen), only to learn that she is responsible for the fiasco in his life. Will Vallavan and Swapna marry, and what ultimately happens to Geetha forms the gripping climax of this movie. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The movie Vallavan did exceptionally well at the box office. Actor Santhanam’s performance in his role as Soori, Suji’s brother, was well-received by the audience, who applauded his effort and enjoyed his comedic timing.
4. Saravana (2006)
Saravana, a notable STR movie in Tamil for the family audience, was directed by ace director K. S. Ravikumar and stars Simbu and Jyothika as the lead pair. The film is a remake of the Telugu film Bhadra. The plot has Saravana (Simbu) returning from college with Sadhana (Jyothika). The film gradually reveals who Sadhana is and why the villains are behind her. Silambarasan delivers a powerful performance in this hit Tamil film, perfectly balancing the soft romantic lover and the angrier side of his character. His action sequences are particularly impressive, and his dialogue delivery is excellent.
5. Silambattam (2008)
One of the popular action packed top 10 Simbu movies is Silambattam, directed by S. Saravanan. This blockbuster Tamil movie sees Simbu in dual roles, with Sana Khan and Sneha playing the female leads. The music was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The movie was a commercial hit, lasting 100 days. Vichu (Simbu) is a temple priest who is soft-spoken and passive. Muthuvel (dual role of Simbu) is in jail. The plot revolves around how the two will meet and whether Muthuvel will be released from prison. It was during a dance shoot for the film that Simbu sustained an ankle sprain and was admitted to the hospital in Usilampatti. Simbu won the Rising Star Lyricist award for the song “Where is the Party”, as well as the Best Dancer award at the 2009 Isaiyaruvi Tamil Music Awards. Another interesting fact about this movie is that Tamil Superstar Ajith attended a special screening of Silambattam, as Simbu appears in the climax as “Billa”, one of the most popular roles of Ajith.
6. Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010)
One of the milestone movies in Simbu’s career, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, cannot be missed in the Simbu top movies list. This Trisha and Silambarasan movie was directed by Gautam Vasudev Menon, and it went on to be a blockbuster. A. R. Rahman composed the music. The plot revolves around Karthik Sivakumar (Simbu), a Hindu boy, and Jessie Thekekuttu (Trisha), a Malayali Christian. Karthik, an aspiring director, falls for Jessie, the daughter of his house owner. The duo then part ways due to complications in their relationship. Simbu’s movie Vinnaithandi Varuvaya was released to critical acclaim, grossed Rs 500 million, and was declared a blockbuster. The romantic scene between Karthik and Jessie, where Karthik proposes, has become a part of popular culture, having been parodied in the 2020 Tamil film Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal, featuring Dulquer Salman. Simbu received the Best Actor Edison Award for his performance. He also received the Most Entertaining Actor award from the Big Tamil Entertainment Awards. Undoubtedly, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa is one of the top Simbu movies and a must-watch for all Simbu fans. In fact, this film is so popular that it has even been included in our list of top 10 best Trisha movies!
7. Vaanam (2011)
Vaanam is the remake of the Telugu movie Vedam, starring Allu Arjun, and is among actor Silambarasan’s best movies. It is an action-packed drama with Simbu playing the lead and Anushka Shetty, Saranya, Sonia Agarwal, and Prakash Raj in supporting roles. The movie was directed by Krish, and the music was by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The film was produced by VTV Ganesh. Simbu dons the role of a cable operator living in the Chennai slums, who dupes his girlfriend, Priya, into believing he is a wealthy man. The film grossed Rs 4.5 crores in Chennai and was declared a success. Simbu received the ITFA Best Actor award for the film, making it a definite addition to the list of the Top 10 Tamil movies of Simbu.
8. Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (2016)
Ace director Gautham Vasudev Menon wrote and directed the romantic action thriller Simbu Movie Acham Enbathu Madamaiyada, featuring Simbu and Manjima Mohan in the lead roles. The duo take on a road trip only to meet with an accident, and things go haywire from that point. Simbu has been cast in a substantial role, which he plays brilliantly. He is versatile and seamlessly switches between two completely different characters in the film, one being a romantic young man in the beginning and then a courageous hero in the later half, excelling in the action sequences. A. R. Rahman was the music composer for the film. The film was a commercial success, grossing Rs 25.60 crores. The Edison Award for Best Actor in Tamil went to Simbu for this film. Die-hard fans are sure to look for this film on actor Silambarasan’s top 10 movie list.
9. Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018)
Directed by Mani Rathnam, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam was produced under the director’s home banner, Madras Talkies, with Lyca Productions. It can be regarded as one of Tamil actor Silambarasan’s top movies. The cast includes notable actors like Arvind Swami, Vijay Sethupathi, Jyothika, Prakash Raj, Thiagarajan, etc. The plot revolves around a power struggle between estranged brothers (played by STR, Arvind Swamy, and Vijay Sethupathi) following the death of their father (Prakash Raj), who runs a criminal empire. The movie was a box office hit and was praised for its direction, cinematography, performances, and music. Despite the huge ensemble cast, this is definitely one of Silambarasan’s best movies. You can find even more details about this film in our article that lists the top ten films of Arvind Swamy!
10. Maanaadu (2021)
And, lastly, we have one of Simbu’s famous movies. Maanaadu is a science fiction action movie directed by Venkat Prabhu with Silambarasan in the lead, along with S J Suryah, Karunakaran, and Premgi Amaren, among others. The story follows Abdul Khaaliq (played by Simbu), a young man who finds himself in an infinite loop of time, where if he dies, he wakes up, and the sequences repeat themselves. The movie also features thrilling action sequences, a captivating story, and a unique visual style that is sure to keep the viewers entertained. The film is one of the best movies of Simbu. Maanaadu is an intriguing and thrilling ride that will keep the audience hooked till the end. The film grossed Rs 156 crores and was the third highest grossing Tamil movie in 2021.
Silambarasan has had a long and successful career as a Tamil actor with a wide range of movies under his belt. From romantic dramas to action-packed thrillers, he has done it all and continues to be one of the most celebrated actors in the Tamil film industry. His top 10 movies are sure to entertain, inspire, and captivate audiences of all ages.
Looking for more top 10 movie lists? If you are a die-hard Tamil movie fan, check out the Top 10 Romantic Movies of Thalapathi Vijay.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is STR in the film industry?
Silambarasan Thesingu Rajendar, also known as STR, is a multifaceted personality in the Tamil film industry, donning the roles of actor, director, music director, writer, playback singer, and lyricist.
2. Who is the Atman of Tamil cinema?
Silambarasan, popularly known by his stage name Simbu, is an Indian film actor, director, and singer. He has been referred to as the Atman of Tamil cinema due to his versatility and popularity among fans.
3. Why is Silambarasan called Atman?
The term was first used by director Gautam Vasudev Menon while explaining the character of Simbu in the film Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu. Later, the director, Venkat Prabhu, revealed that the #Atman epithet was added to the Maanaadu credits.
4. What is Simbu famous for?
Simbu is a versatile actor, and he is famous for his romantic and action-packed roles. His versatility is credited to his long career in the film industry.
5. Why did STR get a doctorate?
STR was honoured with an honorary doctorate by VELS University for excellence in cinema.