SJ Suryah, the most versatile and unconventional talent of South Indian cinema, has opted to take a drastic career change. Famous for his gripping performances as a villain in Kollywood and Tollywood, Suryah has now opted to bring an end to his stint as an antagonist and return to his origins as a filmmaker. This is a major career shift, particularly for an individual who redefined himself as a mighty villain after making a successful directorial start.
In an interview recently, Suryah spoke about choosing to move away from negative roles and focusing more on storytelling, something he has always been interested in. He made it clear that he will be directing and acting in a forthcoming venture called “Killer”, described as a love and action comedy entertainer. The news has created brouhaha throughout the Tamil and Telugu film industries, as Suryah’s distinctive style, as a director, has always been the subject of much discussion among movie buffs.
Suryah has been making a strong impact in recent years portraying grey and negative characters in films such as Spyder, Mersal, Maanaadu, and Mark Antony. His performances were layered, intense, and quite a subject of expectation in most of these films. Fans and critics alike enjoyed his way of stealing the show without being the lead actor. However, Suryah thinks it’s time to move away from the impression of being typecast.
“Several fans and well-wishers have always inquired about when I would come back to direction. I nurtured that thought in my mind. With ‘Killer’, I am making the comeback. It’s time I made the type of cinema that I’ve always wanted to see on screen,” replied SJ Suryah in the interview.
A Decade-Long Gap in Direction Ends
Suryah directed his first film, the blockbuster ‘Vaalee’ in 1999, with Ajith Kumar playing a dual role. The psychological thriller was a path-breaking hit and made Suryah a renowned filmmaker. He continued to deliver other blockbusters such as Kushi, New, and Anbe Aaruyire. His recent directorial effort, Isai, which was released in 2015, garnered mixed reactions but was welcomed for its bold storyline and original music written by Suryah himself.
Since then, he moved towards acting, slowly making a transition to more character-oriented roles and trying out a new image on screen. His natural ability to deliver intense performances, strong dialogue delivery, and expressive body language made him a sought-after actor for villain and special roles in big-ticket projects.
But the director within him never left. And now, after almost a decade-long hiatus, he’s set to call the shots again.
What to Expect from ‘Killer’
While not much has been officially announced regarding Killer, SJ Suryah has termed the film a “love and action comedy entertainer”, which promises a mix of genres that might appeal to both mass and class viewers. Considering his record of creating differentiated stories with out-of-the-box turns, fans are already looking forward to something new and risky.
Different from his previous jobs in which he had portrayed the antagonist role, in this role Suryah will act in the leading position. The director-actor didn’t deny he will be working on composing the music, such as when working on Isai, but only stated the production will see “his total creative aspect.
The news has been welcomed in industry circles. Most fans who appreciated his work as a director feel it’s the right time for a reinvention. Particularly in an industry where multi-talented artists are getting more recognition, SJ Suryah’s comeback as a director could bring much-needed originality to commercial cinema.
Still Active as an Actor
Even as he moves away from negative roles, SJ Suryah is not giving up on acting either. He is now working in ‘Love Insurance Kompany’, an offbeat romantic drama with Pradeep Ranganathan, and features prominently in ‘Sardaar 2’, the much-anticipated sequel for Karthi. In both these films, Suryah can be seen to play influential, perhaps supporting parts that give the story more depth.
This indicates his desire to have a balanced career, prioritizing direction but also selecting acting projects that are diverse and meaningful. Nevertheless, he clarified that he has had enough of playing villains, at least for the time being.
“Portraying a villain earned me lots of recognition, but it began to box me into a genre. I feel I have better things to do as an actor and director. ‘Killer’ will be my next stage,” he declared.
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A New Stage for a Multi-Talented Artist
SJ Suryah’s path has been one of courageous decisions all along. From being a hit-maker director to evolving into a critically acclaimed villain, and then to coming back behind the camera — his life is a case study in reinvention. Few actors and directors can boast of making such smooth transitions between crafts.
With ‘Killer’, he not only asserts his identity as a director again but also shatters the template of his recent series of villainous roles. The buzz surrounding his return to directing is genuine and warranted, given his talent for storytelling and his sense of audience pulse.
With the shoot of Killer gearing up to go on floors, fans are waiting to hear more about the cast, release date, and teaser. One thing is certain — SJ Suryah returns to narrate stories in his own style, and the fans couldn’t be more excited.
Keep watching for more news on Killer and SJ Suryah’s return to the big screen.
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