Soundararaja Explained

Soundararaja
Native Name:சௌந்தரராஜா
Birth Date:11 August 1983
Birth Place:Usilampatti, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Years Active:2008–present
Nationality:Indian
Citizenship:Indian
Known For:Sundarapandian
Spouse:Tamanna Soundararaja

Soundararaja is an Indian actor and producer who appears in Tamil films, mainly playing supporting and antagonistic roles. His notable performances include Sundarapandian (2012), Jigarthanda (2014), and Dharma Durai (2016). He made his debut as a hero in Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu (2016), which was a reasonable hit in his career.

Early life

Soundararaja was born in Usilampatti, Madurai District. He finished schooling and college in his native place and moved to Chennai. According to Soundararaja, like Vijay Sethupathi, he was a "below-average student right from school" and was "interested in neither sports nor extra-curricular activities".

Soundararaja did a series of odd jobs, which included a retail store salesman and a promoter, for pocket money. In 2004, he graduated with a B.E degree from Bharath Niketan College of Engineering affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University. He joined as a project engineer in Invensys India Pvt. Ltd., deputed to Singapore in 2005 after 2006 he moved Technip France US-based company from there he deputed to Qatar in 2007.

He returned to India in 2008. Afterwards, he started a new film production company called Madurai Touring Talkies with his childhood friend, director M. Manikandan, and he also invested some money in share market business with friends, he joined the Koothu-P-Pattarai acting drama school in 2010. He and his friends, Manikandan and director Karthik Subbaraj, produced many short films under his banners (Madurai Touring Talkies) – Thuru, Raavanm, Petticase, Wind, Aram, etc. with his friends' support.

Film career

Soundararaja subsequently joined the Chennai-based theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai as an accountant and actor where he observed actors.[1] [2] He made his beginnings as a background actor, particularly playing the role of the lead character's friend in a few films, including the well-known series Penn that began in August 2008,[3] as well as several short films as part of the television show Nalaya Iyakunar for Kalaignar TV. He worked on many short films with Manikandan and Karthik Subbaraj, who later cast him in his first feature film.

Soundararaja who went to director Lingusamy's studio to audition for his film Vettai (2011) and was selected to play Arya's friend in the film, which marked Soundararaja's film debut. Following Vettai, he worked on the film Pattarai; however, the film did not see a theatrical release. After making an appearance in S. R. Prabhakaran's Sundarapandian (2012) in a negative role,[4] he was cast by director Ponram a minor supporting role in Ponram's first project, Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (2013). Soundararaja would later credit Prabhakaran with having had an "important role in helping him realise his dreams". Prabhakaran, furthermore, guided Soundararaja to many tips.

Then, Karthik Subbaraj got Soundararaja his second negative role in Jigarthanda (2013), in which he portrayed a shepherd.[5] After Jigarthandas release, he acted in Poojai (2014)[6] and Bharathan's Athithi (2014).[7] [8]

Soundararaja made his debut as a hero in Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu (2016), in which he acted alongside Goundamani. He has performed well in Thudikkum Karangal (2023) as a police official investigating the case, but he has very limited screen time.[9]

Activism

Soundararaja is a nature lover. In 2017, he started Mannukkum Makkalukkum Social Welfare Trust with his friends and family. Along with the people of the trust, he planted more than 25,000 plants all over Tamil Nadu.

Soundararaja had participated in many key social affairs across Tamil Nadu. The most mentionable was his involvement in 2017 pro-jallikattu protests. He was one of the representatives of the Jallikattu support team, who had interacted with the Government of Tamil Nadu regarding the protests.[10] [11] [12]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2012 VettaiMadura
SundarapandiyanParanjothi
2013 Nalanum NandhiniyumMuthu
Varuthapadatha Valiber SangamPullichathanni
2014 JigarthandaPonram
AthithiShiva
Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya SigamaniThiru
PoojaiSoundar
2016 Theri Karthik
Dharmadurai Archunan
Enakku Veru Engum Kilaigal Kidayathu Prabha Nanthan
Rekka
Kaththi Sandai Soundar
2017 Thondan Chinna Pandi
Sathriyan Niranjan
Thangaratham Paraman
Oru Kanavu Pola Joseph
Bogan Special appearance in song "Damaalu Dumeelu"
Thiruttu Payale 2 Maari
2018 Kadaikutty Singam Kodimaran
Silukkuvarupatti Singam Raja Pandi
2019 Coffee Hakeem
Sindhubaadh Politician
Bigil Guna
Sanga Thamizhan Murugan
2021 Kuruthi Kalam Arun web series
Jagame Thandhiram Paraman
Anandham Vilayadum Veedu Selvam
2022 Kallan Selvam
Aruvaa Sanda Pandi
2023 Pathu Thala Inban IPS
Thudikkum Karangal Police official
Raid Chitti
2024 Kattis Gang [13]

Short film project

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Soundararaja. movies.sulekha.com.
  2. Web site: From an Engineer to the notable Tamil actor – Indian Express. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304223346/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/Lingusamy-would-call-me-Madurai%E2%80%99/2013/08/26/article1751744.ece?service . dead . 4 March 2016 . The Indian Express . August 26, 2013.
  3. News: Metro Plus Madurai / Telewatch. https://web.archive.org/web/20080905202451/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/04/stories/2006030400460200.htm . dead . 2008-09-05 . . 2006-03-04 .
  4. News: in this silm he got two state award for best debut Villain.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625022512/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/83132.html . dead . 25 June 2012 . The Hindu . Dec 31, 2012.
  5. News: Mannath . Malini . Actor Soundararaj at the Jigarthanda Press Show. Indiaz.com.
  6. Web site: Jigarthanda Soundararaja in Vishal's Poojai - Only Kollywood. 9 August 2014. OnlyKollywood.com. 14 April 2017.
  7. Web site: விஜய் படத்தில் சவுந்தரராஜா - Soundararaja acting in Vijay film. Dinamalar. 5 November 2015. Dinamalar.com. 14 April 2017.
  8. Web site: தலைவர் கவுண்டமணி கலக்கும் 'எனக்கு வேறு எங்கும் கிளைகள் கிடையாது'. 24 March 2016. TamilCineTalk.com. 14 April 2017.
  9. Web site: Thudikkum Karangal Movie Review : A run-of-the-mill action crime drama.
  10. Web site: Jigarthanda movie review: A story of a conman. India TV News. 3 August 2014 .
  11. Web site: Protecting tree saplings is my ambition, says actor Soundararaja . .
  12. Web site: Soundararaja dons a khaki avatar . 17 September 2017 .
  13. Web site: 2024-05-08 . Unni Lalu-starrer Kattis Gang Trailer Promises Suspenseful Thriller . 2024-05-14 . News18 . en.