Meet actor who debuted as director and was once arrested for misbehaving with woman censor board official

Meet actor who debuted as director and was once arrested for misbehaving with woman censor board official

As a dedicated follower and admirer of S.J. Suryah’s journey, I find myself deeply inspired by his resilience, versatility, and undying passion for cinema. Born into a typical Tamil Christian family in Tamil Nadu, he rose through the ranks from assistant director to becoming one of the most influential figures in the South Indian film industry today.


Discuss a well-known actor who initially worked as an assistant director before transitioning to directing some highly acclaimed South films. This individual has collaborated with notable actors such as Mahesh Babu and Ajith Kumar. Recently, he made an appearance as the formidable antagonist in Nani’s movie. It is important to note that this actor was previously detained for angrily hurling a phone towards a female member of the censor board. The individual you are referring to is S.J. Suryah.

Who is S.J. Suryah?

Born Justin Slevaraj Pandian on the 20th of July, 1968, in Tamil Nadu, S.J. Suryah spent his childhood within a typical Tamil Christian household, sharing his early years with an older sister named Selvi and brother Victor. The influences of his upbringing and family dynamics have significantly impacted both his professional and personal journey.

Currently, S.J. Suryah is a multifaceted individual in the South Indian film world. He’s worn many hats, such as actor, lyricist, director, producer, screenwriter, playback singer, composer, narrator, and even philanthropist. His work stretches across Tamil and Telugu films, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to his craft. Initially, his ambition was to be an actor, but he started out as a director, learning under Vasanth and Sabhapathy.

Speaking about his educational background, actor S.J. Suryah first attended school in Vasudevanallur, Tamil Nadu. Later, he moved to Chennai where he earned a physics degree from Loyola College. But an opportunity presented itself and instead of going on to study engineering in Madurai as planned, Suryah chose to kickstart his acting career.

S.J. Suryah’s filmography

After making up his mind to chase his dream of acting, Suryah chose to remain in Chennai and put in considerable effort to penetrate the Tamil film industry. To make ends meet financially, he found employment as a hotel waiter. This modest start was a testament to his determination and the extent he was prepared to go to fulfill his aspirations.

At this point, filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj took notice of him. As a result, he worked as an assistant director for the teams behind Aasai (1995) directed by Vasanth and Sundara Purushan (1996) directed by Sabapathy. It is important to note that Suryah had roles in films like Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993), although they went uncredited.

1999 marked the start of Suryah’s transition from Assistant Director to Film Director. His directorial debut was with the film Vaalee, a captivating blend of romance and psychological thriller. Ajith Kumar, Simran, and Jyotika headlined this box-office success.

Moreover, Suryah continued to direct movies, including Kushi (2000), a hit romantic comedy starring Thalapathy Vijay and Jyotika. Remakes of this movie were produced in Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada, with Suryah himself directing the Hindi and Telugu versions. In 2004, Suryah made his acting debut in New (2004), a film he also directed. That same year, he also directed the Telugu version of Naani, starring Mahesh Babu and Ameesha Patel.

Subsequently, Suryah devoted himself to his acting profession for several years. During this period, he graced the screen in movies like Kalvanin Kadhali (2006), Thirumagan (2007), Vyabari (2007), and Newton in Moondram Vidhi (2009). His standout performances include Iraivi, Spyder, Mersal, Monster, Maanaadu, Varisu, Bommai, Raayan, and Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, among others. These roles have made a substantial impact on the South Indian film industry.

S.J. Suryah’s arrest

In the year 2005, S J Surya was apprehended by local law enforcement after an accusation that he hurled a mobile phone at a female member of the movie censor board in a bout of anger. This occurrence, transpiring during the debut of his film ‘New’, stirred debates regarding obscenity and created quite a stir within the Tamil film industry.

Subsequently, Suryah was freed on bail following his appearance before the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Govindarajulu. Moreover, in March 2006, a complaint was lodged against Surya by the Censor Board due to the use of deleted film scenes during production. After being detained for a second time, he was subsequently released.

Simultaneously, actor S.J. Suryah is set to appear in the forthcoming movie of Ram Charan, titled “Game Changer,” directed by S Shankar. In addition to these two stars, Kiara Advani takes on the role of the film’s leading lady.

Read More

2024-09-19 17:22