Surya - the next superstar
It is very clear - Surya currently leads the race to become the next superstar of Tamil cinema. One can arrive at no other conclusion after watching Vel.
Surya’s introduction scene in the movie is cliched - and he uses even more cliches when he talks about how to hold the aruvaal. But once the dust settles, his acting talent reveals itself, and so is his ability to win over every section of the audience.
Contrast this with Azhagiya Thamizhmagan, another double-action movie, with its hero supposedly the superstar-in-waiting. The latter is okayish and watchable. I had written earlier that I found myself liking ATM. I stand by it, but had I watched Vel earlier, I wouldn’t have been as charitable.
Watching Surya in action exposes Vijay’s shortcomings. Even I am surprised when I write that Vijay’s dialogue delivery is one of his weaknesses. No; not when he is spewing out fiery rhetoric. But when he plays the normal lover-boy type scenes, he is needlessly speaking nuni-naakku type Tanglish. And when he is angry, his dialogues sound as if uttered with the teeth gnawing against each other. These are unnatural, and when observed more than once, it makes one wonder if the actor is operating with a limited repertoire. And because Vijay is not of a broad build, he won’t have someone like Abbas remark “Wow, what a man!”
Ajith is seen as the other superstar-in-waiting; and he has proclaimed this himself. However, he has had too many failures in the past, which have cast serious doubts on his credentials to fill thalaivar’s shoes. I can think of only three of his movies in the past four years which I liked - Attagaasam, Varalaaru and Kreedam. Though he has an excellent fan base, Ajith’s successes at the box office are suspect. I think Billa 2007 will change that, and probably place him a few notches above Vijay.
Surya, though, has never resorted to chest-beating a la his contemporaries. Rather, he seems to have been content with concentrating on his acting, which has done him good. Kaakha Kaakha, a universal favorite, ranks among the best two cop movies ever in Tamil (the other being Kurudhi Punal). And the variety in roles that he has essayed puts to shame the filmographies of both Ajith and Vijay, both of whom are only now waking up to the fact that they cannot survive playing the same roles over and over again, the differences being the leading lady, the number of people they kill and the producer who went bankrupt.
That is not to say that Surya can be all-conquering. He is yet to prove himself in a full-length comedy (Mayavi was a decent attempt; Mounam Pesiyadhae was good, but it came before Surya was a star). And he has to find a way to weave in some humour into his roles, which are all pretty serious. And evolve as a mass hero, without compromising on his strong points.
Tough ask, but Surya combines an excellent physique, good looks and far better histrionics than his rivals. Which makes him a deserving candidate to be the next SUPERSTAR!
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Sari…Did u watched Orampo ?? Y’day, I and Gokul did that in Devi Paradise
I am quite surprised how you came to this conclusion. While, I hate actor Vijay to the core, I think he still is probably the one with the most fan following especially young audience. Surya doesn’t even come close to that. I don’t think success of Vel vs. ATM is a good enough reason to think Surya will be the next superstar.
I think Ajit really needs a smash hit from Billa or he will be completely out of the reckoning. I think Ajit has too many short comings and frankly I don’t think he has the screen presence to be the next superstar. However, if Billa turns out to be a huge hit it might change all of that.
The truth its probably too early to come to a conclusion about the next superstar. I think at the moment Vijay is probably a good deal ahead of Ajit, Surya and Vikram.
Talking of Surya as comedian, how about his role in Pithamagan soon after Kakka Kakka. It was amazingly contrasting. The way you describe, Surya will fill better into Kamal’s shoes than Rajini’s. So will Vikram.
Vijay & Ajith are trying to ride on Mass fan following. But it will not last long…
btw, why didn’t you consider “the boy next door” - Danush? did you watch Thriuvilayadal Arambham & the latest movie Polladhavan?
@GD: Did you like Oram Po? I found the trailer very interesting.
@Eshwar: True, but I feel Vijay’s fan following is largely undergoing a carry-over effect, as in, they look at his potential as seen in his older hits, and think he is capable of replacing Rajnikanth. His repeated failures at the BO undermine his weakness. For example, he was forced into a yearlong hiatus after the dismal failure of “Adhi”.
I’m expecting Billa to be a smashing hit. And yes, you’re right again, his screen presence is not commanding enough. I did miss out Vikram’s name, but the long gaps between movies might hamper Vikram.
@Arun: Yes, you’re right about Pithamagan. But the movie itself wasn’t a comedy. I was thinking more in the lines of Thillu Mullu or Veera. In any case, if you see a superstar movie, you’ll find that the first half is breezy and it contains lots of humor. My rant is that Surya is shown as being serious all the time.
One hit has made Surya a contender for Next Superstar is it ? He will now find the going tough as he will have to satisfy his fans who look for something different from him each time and his new-found rural audience as well. If u still remember , he tried a similar mass movie Aaru which miserably flopped.For being a superstar wannabe, a huge fan base is required which surya lacks at this point of time.As of now Vijay and Ajith are the contenders with vijay having an upperhand.
Shrinivas: I’m surprised you think that Surya has produced just one hit.
I am not saying he has produced only one hit . Alll I meant was that for a person who wasn’t in contention at all , one hit has made him the leader . that’s it !
Sorry VK Totally Disagreeing With u.Reason is Simple.
Till Now Surya hasn’t Given a Smash Hit in his Career.Smash Hit In the
Sense Blockbuster in All Centres A,B,C.
Kaakha Kaakha.
Ghajini.
Pithamagan.
Are only Block busters in Urban Side Which Performed Misrably @ the C
Centres..Moreover Till now he hasn’t enjoyed a Bumper Opening Like Vijay
Or Ajith..If Surya Come Up with a String Of Flops Like Vijay(From
Shahjahan–Puthiya Geethai) Or Ajith(From RED To Attagasam)He can no way
coming back to the Cine industry as vijay or ajith did.Thats the Fan
Base both ths guys enjoying even after delivering No.Of Flops..
First Let Surya Cement his Place Then only We Can say anythg abt his
Superstardom.
Only Ajith has the charisma and physique and style to match Rajinikanth. Surya is hardly 5 feet! Vijay - a pathetic remake hero who always overacts like SJ Surya. Though Ajith has technical limitations in his acting - Rajini too had the same. Billa had a great opening - am sure Ajith gonna rule after SuperStar - BUT NO ONE CAN EVER REPLICATE THE SUPERSTAR STATUS OF MR.RAJINIKANTH - HOLDING THE NUMERO UNO STATUS OF TAMIL CINE INDUSTRY IS NO MEAN TASK IN ANY FIELD - CAN ONLY BE MATCHED BY FIDEL CASTRO IN POLITICS
vijay has the upper hand on the super star race
hi surya am u’r gr8 fan frm bangalore wat’s u’r up coming project we r waitin for u’r movie sirrrrrrr
vijay is farr the next superstar the whole tamil community knwz dis suriya is jus a wanabe superstar he actz gd but we cant compare him to vijay.
we cant say suriya is the next candiate for superstar jus cos he’z 2-3 latest filmz were hitz……tamil cinemaz r gehinn dummer byy year..dey select anywun to be a ssuperstar afta the actor havin 3 hitz film datz dum…
vijay will be the superstar n he is the superstarrr
whoz Pharankush,…let me tel u wun fink rajainikanth is a oldd man..he had his superstar timez but itz gna end soonn cozz our thalii gna cum superstar n datz VIJAY….Rajanikanth is oldd..dey put too much make-up on himm…even when he wass young he wass too blikkkkk so dey had too puttt 15 casezz of white powder LMAO…..we al knwww VIJAY is the next superstar even though his 3 latest filmz werent dah hit buhh his stil a superstar…hw wil risee lyk a kuruvi n rajani wil go downn lykk a digger
BIG–UPPP VIJAYYY BWAPPP BWAPPPP
VIAJYY THE NEXTT SUPERSTAR
V 4 VICTORY
V 4 SUPERSTAR
I THINK IT IS TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT SUPERSTAR…IF SURYA HAS DELIVERED BIG HITS..EVEN AJITH AND VIJAY ARE ALSO DELIVERING THE HITS…WHEN COMPARED TO SURYA AND VIJAY AJITH HAS ENTERED THE INDUSTRY WITHOUT ANY BACKGROUND AND HAS ALREDY SETTLED..
AND HE IS THE ONE WHO DOESNT COUNT HIS SUCCESS AS WELL AS THE HELP HE HAS DONE…AND OFCOURSE HE HAS GIVEN THE SMASHING HIT LIKE BILLA…SO WHY NOT HE MAY THE NEXT SUPERSTAR……………………………….