The transition of a comedian into a hero

       Comedians were cast as heroes ever since the inception of Tamil Cinema. Kalaivaanar N.S.K was cast as hero in the film Nalla Thambi.But he continued as a comedian during the rest of his film career. K.A.Thangavelu did hero roles in Rambaiyin Kaadhal and Naan Kanda Sorgam.But he excelled as a comedian and character actor and did a few villain roles also,through out his film career. Actor singer J.P.Chandrababu did a hero role in Kavalai Illaadha Manidhan, Kumararaja and Thattungal Thirakkapadum. Nagesh who became popular after his hero role in Server Sundaram, became K.Balachan der's pet actor, doing main roles in films like Neerkumizhi, Ethir Neechal, Navagraham and Anubhavi Raja Anubhavi.

   Vadivelu excelled both as hero in comedy roles, in Imsai Arasan 23 aam Pulikesi and Tenaly Raman Indhiralogathil Na.Azhagappan, and as a sober and committed hero, in Mamannan and Mareesan. Recently, comedian Sandhanam also chose to do hero roles. It was late Vivek who was contented to be a comedian and character actor. The latest addition in this list is Soori, who has started doing promising roles as hero. 

   Born as Ramalakshmanan Muthuchamy, Soori became a popular comedian from the film Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu, after doing  uncredited roles in several films. As Parotta Soori, he impressed the audience in Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu. This role made him become a successful comedian in association with Siva Karthikeyan,{Varuthapaadha Vaalibar Sangam.Maan Karaate Seema Raja Namma Veettu Pillai} Vimal, {Kalavani,Vaagai Soodavaa,Pulival} Kaarthi,{Naan Mahaan Alla&Viruman} Suriya,{Anjaan, Singam 3 &Etharkum Thunindhavan} Vishal,{Pandi Nadu} Kamalahasan, {Thoonga Nagaram } Rajinikanth, {Annathe} Vijay, {Velayudham} and Vikram (Saamy 2).For about twenty years, Soori could easily fill the bill, as a successful comedian, especially with a rural touch in his role play.

   It was ace film maker Vetrimaran who first thought of fixing him in a pivotal role in his films Viduthalai Part I and Part II. Soori excelled in the role of a cop with a complete perception of the significance of the character and executing that role, with absolute compactness and poise. These two films exhibited the hero stuff in a comedian, who unlike Sandhanam reflected a flair for sobriety and subdued display of roles. This comparison is inevitable here, because Sandhanam has always been seen as an emphatic comedian, with his one liner creating spot laughter. Even when he does hero roles, it is the comedy element that supersedes the hero in Santhanam. Whereas In Soori, the comedian dissipates into the underplay of character and this has been effectively witnessed consecutively, in Viduthalai Parts I &II, Garudan and in the latest Maman.

  Maaman has proved to be a sweet dish in a family plate, with enormous sentimental ingredients, that were normally witnessed in the films of last century film makers K.S.Gopalakrishnan, A.Bhimsingh, A.C Thirulokchandar and this century's predominant family-oriented film maker Pandiraj. Maaman's film maker Prashanth Pandiaraj, seems to have followed the footsteps of Pandiraj, whose Kadai Kutti Singam and Namma Veettu Pillai were profusely filled with joint family sentiments and sibling bonding. Soori has neatly got into the role of an affectionate younger brother and maternal uncle of a young boy, who cannot spend even a single night without the warming company of his maternal uncle.

  Maman could be called a banquet of family emotions, filling the hearts of the viewers with soul sustaining interpersonal links, within the family network. Soori has done the role with total equanimity and composure, and extensively evolved into a decent hero, surpassing all his previous routine type of comedy roles. With Maman the transition of Soori, the former comedian into a newborn hero is complete. The audience can happily welcome him into the hub of heroes.

                                              =============0================