# Silambarasan filmography
The filmography of **Silambarasan** (also credited as S.T.R. or Simbu) spans child-artist roles in his father [T. Rajendar](https://www.edgepedia.org/t-rajendar)'s films from the 1980s, a run as a romantic-action lead from 2002, one directorial credit, and a substantial parallel record as a playback singer (singer who records film songs that actors lip-sync on screen) and music director in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema). Databases disagree on how to count his work: IMDb lists 57 acting credits, 33 music-department credits, and 22 soundtrack credits, while Cinegraph counts 34 acting and 9 crew credits across 40 films[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) • [2](https://cinegraph.org/people/silambarasan).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Screen debut | Child artist in *Uravai Kaatha Kili* (1984), his father's film, at about one year old[3](https://b4uentertainment.com/start-cast/silambarasan) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/Sep/14/silambarasan-tr-gvm-brings-out-the-real-actor-in-me-34668.html) |
| First lead role | *Kadhal Azhivathillai* (2002), directed by his father T. Rajendar[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) |
| Directing and writing | *Vallavan* (2006), credited as director, actor, and writer[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan) |
| Signature acting roles | Karthik in *Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa* (2010); Abdul Khaaliq in *Maanaadu* (2021); Muthuveeran in *Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu* (2022)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) |
| Major award | SIIMA Tamil Best Actor in a Leading Role for *Maanaadu* (2022 ceremony)[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/) |
| Recent lead films | *Pathu Thala* (2023), *Thug Life* (2025) as Amaran[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23398540/fullcredits/) |
| Announced projects | *Arasan* (Vetri Maaran, June 2026); *STR 50* as producer (2026)[8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/silambarasan/upcoming-movies.html) |
## Child artist years
Silambarasan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the eldest son of the actor-director-musician T. Rajendar and Usha Rajendar. His first screen appearance came in *Uravai Kaatha Kili* (1984), when he was about a year old, and he went on to act in many of his father's films through the 1980s and 1990s, including *En Thangai Kalyani* (1988), *Samsara Sangeetham* (1989), *Shanti Enathu Shanti* (1991), and *Enga Veetu Velan* (1992)[3](https://b4uentertainment.com/start-cast/silambarasan) • [5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan). His dancing and dialogue delivery as a child earned him the nickname "Little Super Star"[3](https://b4uentertainment.com/start-cast/silambarasan).
## Lead roles, 2002 to 2019
His first main role as a hero was *Kadhal Azhivathillai* (2002), under his father's direction[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/). The following years established him as a commercial lead: *Dum* and *Alai* (2003), then three releases in 2004, *Kovil*, *Kuththu*, and *Manmadhan*[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan). In *Manmadhan* he played a double role as Madhan Raj and Madhan Kumar, and the film brought him his first Filmfare Award South nomination for Best Actor (Tamil)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/).
**Directorial work.** In 2006 he directed, wrote, and starred in *[Vallavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/vallavan)*, his only directing credit in the databases surveyed[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/).
The 2010 film *Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa*, directed by [Gautham Vasudev Menon](https://www.edgepedia.org/gautham-vasudev-menon) with music by [A. R. Rahman](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-r-rahman), cast him as Karthik Sivakumar and became the performance most associated with his career; it earned a second Filmfare Best Actor nomination and an Edison Award Merit Award for Best Actor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/). He followed it with *Vaanam* and *Osthe* (2011), *Podaa Podi* (2012), *Vaalu* (2015), *Idhu Namma Aalu* and *Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada* (2016), and *Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan* (2017)[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan). He also appeared in [Mani Ratnam](https://www.edgepedia.org/mani-ratnam)'s ensemble *Chekka Chivantha Vaanam* (2018) as Ethiraj, and in *Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven* (2019)[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan). Rotten Tomatoes lists *Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa* at 80 percent and *Chekka Chivantha Vaanam* at 83 percent among his better-rated films[9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tr_silambarasan).
## Comeback, 2021 onward
After a period of career difficulty, [Silambarasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/silambarasan) returned in 2021 with two releases, *[Eeswaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/eeswaran)* and [Venkat Prabhu](https://www.edgepedia.org/venkat-prabhu)'s time-loop thriller *Maanaadu*, in which he played Abdul Khaaliq[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan). He had lost nearly 27 kilograms, quit alcohol, and become a vegetarian before the film, and described *Maanaadu* as feeling like a comeback[10](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/silambarasan-tr-on-maanaadu-turning-vegetarian-and-quitting-alcohol-spirituality-helped-me-get-out-of-my-shell-101637763737540-amp.html). The film won him the SIIMA Tamil award for Best Actor in a Leading Role[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/).
He reunited with Gautham Menon for the gangster drama *[Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/vendhu-thanindhathu-kaadu)* (2022), playing Muthuveeran, a migrant laborer pushed into the underworld; the actor described it as his biggest test, built around single-shot sequences and a deliberately unglamorous characterization[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan) • [4](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/Sep/14/silambarasan-tr-gvm-brings-out-the-real-actor-in-me-34668.html). The role brought a third Filmfare Best Actor nomination in 2023[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/). He then played A.G. Raavanan in *Pathu Thala* (2023)[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan).
In 2025 he appeared as Amaran in *Thug Life*, directed by Mani Ratnam and written with [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan), joining a cast that included Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, and Nassar[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23398540/fullcredits/). Announced projects include *Arasan*, directed by Vetri Maaran and scheduled for June 2026, and *STR 50*, on which he is credited as producer[8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/silambarasan/upcoming-movies.html).
## Music and singing
Alongside acting, Silambarasan has worked steadily as a playback singer, lyricist, and music director. IMDb credits him with 33 music-department and 22 soundtrack entries[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/). He composed the music for *[Sakka Podu Podu Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/sakka-podu-podu-raja-2017-film)* (2017) and served as music director and actor on *90ml* (2019)[5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan). His singing credits extend across Tamil, Telugu, and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), including *Baadshah* (2013), for which he won the SIIMA Telugu award for Best Playback Singer (Male) for the song "Diamond Girl"[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/) • [8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/silambarasan/upcoming-movies.html).
## Awards record
IMDb totals his record at 5 wins and 6 nominations[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/). The documented wins are the SIIMA Tamil Best Actor award for *Maanaadu*, the SIIMA Telugu Best Playback Singer award for *Baadshah*, Edison Merit Awards for Best Actor for *Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa* (2011) and *Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada* (2017), and a SIIMA Generation Next Award as Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema (2014)[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/).
## Notes on the record
Sources disagree on his birth date: IMDb gives 1984, while TamilMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Filmibeat give 1983[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) • [5](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tr_silambarasan). Total film counts also vary by counting method: one fan discussion estimates around 36 credited appearances including child roles and cameos, while IMDb's 57 acting credits and Cinegraph's 34 reflect different inclusion rules[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/) • [2](https://cinegraph.org/people/silambarasan).
## References
1. [Silambarasan TR, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/)
2. [Silambarasan, Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/silambarasan)
3. [Silambarasan (Simbu) Biography, B4U Entertainment](https://b4uentertainment.com/start-cast/silambarasan)
4. [Silambarasan TR: GVM brings out the real actor in me, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2022/Sep/14/silambarasan-tr-gvm-brings-out-the-real-actor-in-me-34668.html)
5. [Silambarasan, TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/crew/4606/silambarasan)
6. [Silambarasan TR - Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1167656/awards/)
7. [Thug Life (2025) full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23398540/fullcredits/)
8. [Silambarasan Upcoming Movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/silambarasan/upcoming-movies.html)
9. [T.R. Silambarasan Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tr_silambarasan)
10. [Silambarasan TR on Maanaadu, turning vegetarian and quitting alcohol, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/silambarasan-tr-on-maanaadu-turning-vegetarian-and-quitting-alcohol-spirituality-helped-me-get-out-of-my-shell-101637763737540-amp.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license