S. J. Surya

Selvaraj Justin Pandian, known by his stage name S. J. Suryah is an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, composer, producer and music director who has works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He sought to become an actor but started out directing, assisting Vasanth and Sabapathy. Surya made his directorial debut with Vaali in 1999 whose success catapulted him to stardom. His other notable films include Kushi (2000), New (2004), Anbe Aaruyire (2005) and Isai (2015). He made his acting debut with New and went on to act in films like Kalvanin Kadhali (2006), Thirumagan (2007), Vyabari (2007) and appeared as the antagonist God Father-True Story of a Man (2016), Spyder (2017), Mersal (2017), Maanaadu (2021), Don (2022) and as protagonist in Kadamaiyai Sei (2022), Mark Antony(2023). Film career 1990–2003: Early career and success After completing his schooling near his birthplace in Vasudevanallur near Sankarankovil in South Tamil Nadu, Suryah moved to Chennai to complete a Physics degree at Loyola College. Despite getting an opportunity to pursue further studies at an engineering college in Madurai, he declined the offer and stayed in Chennai, with the hope of finding a breakthrough as an actor in Tamil films. To be financially self-dependent, he began working in hotels and as a steward, before receiving an offer to apprentice under K. Bhagyaraj. He subsequently worked as an assistant director in the teams of Aasai (1995) under Vasanth and Sundara Purushan (1996) under Sabapathy, while also being seen in uncredited appearances as an actor, notably as a cock fighter in Bharathiraja's Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993).