Soori (actor)

Soori
Soori in 2015
Born
Ramalakshmanan Muthuchamy

(1977-08-27) 27 August 1977 (age 47)
Other namesParotta Soori
Occupations
Years active1998–present
Children2

Ramalakshmanan Muthuchamy (born 27 August 1977),[1] professionally known as Soori, is an Indian actor and comedian who predominantly appears in Tamil cinema. Debuting in 1998, he acted in several uncredited roles before his major breakthrough in Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009), where he earned the moniker Parotta Soori. After a decade as a comedian, his dramatic turn as a lead actor in Vetrimaaran's Viduthalai Part 1 (2023) received critical acclaim.

Career

[edit]

Soori moved from Madurai to Chennai in 1996 with the intention of becoming an actor in the Tamil film industry. After failing to get any roles, he took up work in the city as a cleaner to fund his acting ambitions.[2]

He played occasional uncredited roles in films as a junior artiste, appearing especially in comedy scenes, such as in Winner (2003).[2]

Soori notably appeared in the critical and commercial hit film Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009). The suffix "parotta" was soon attached to his name because of the film's famous 'parotta competition' scene, in which Soori's character stuns a hotelier by eating 50 parottas and getting ready to eat the same number once again.[3] He later appeared in a number of films in well-received comedic and sidekick roles, such as Poraali (2011), Sundarapandian (2012), Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam (2013), and Jilla (2014).[4] His supporting roles were also praised in Rajini Murugan (2016) Idhu Namma Aalu (2016), Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016), and Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae (2017).

In 2018, he was seen in both Sivakarthikeyan's Seema Raja and Vikram's Saamy Square. However, his comedic performances in these two films were heavily criticised, prompting Soori himself to respond.[5] He went on to have back-to-back releases with the successful Namma Veettu Pillai (2019) and the panned Sangathamizhan (2019).[6]

In 2023, Soori was cast against type as the main protagonist of Vetrimaaran's period crime thriller, Viduthalai Part 1. His performance garnered highly positive appreciation from critics as well as audiences.[7] This was followed by leading roles in Garudan (2024), a neo-noir action film, and Kottukkaali (2024), a drama-comedy about caste, as well as Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai (2024), a period-bending romantic drama. All three films widely received critical acclaim for their direction and performances, with Kottukkali and Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai being screened at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam respectively.

Personal life

[edit]

After watching Thalapathi (1991), Muthuchamy adopted the protagonist's name, Surya, which was shortened to 'Soori' after he entered cinema.[8]

Soori lives in a joint family and has six siblings. He is married and has a son and a daughter.[9]

Filmography

[edit]

Films

[edit]
Year Film Role Notes
1998 Maru Malarchi Audience member Uncredited role
1999 Sangamam Crowd member Uncredited role
2000 James Pandu Railway porter Uncredited role
Kannan Varuvaan Man in a temple Uncredited role
2001 Ullam Kollai Poguthey Illicit liquor smuggler Uncredited role
2002 Red Thief Uncredited role
2003 Winner Kaipullai's henchmen Uncredited role
Ooruku Nooruper Balan and Anandan's acquaintance Uncredited role[10]
2004 Varnajalam Thief Uncredited role
Kaadhal Mansion mate Uncredited role
2005 Ji College student
2007 Deepavali Fish seller
Dhandayuthapani Dhandayuthapani's friend
Nyabagam Varuthey "Jalra" Soori
Thiruvakkarai Sri Vakrakaliamman Police constable
2008 Kee Mu "Nethili" Murugan
Bheemaa Chinna's henchman
2009 Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu Subramani
Naai Kutty Maari
2010 Kalavani Manikandan
Naan Mahaan Alla Ravi
Unakkaga En Kadhal "Blade" Balu
Unakkaga Oru Kavithai Vinoth's friend
2011 Varmam Guna
Aadu Puli Karuppu
Thoonga Nagaram Address informer for Theru Trisha
Kullanari Koottam Murugesan
Appavi Bharathi's friend
Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai Chandran
Bodinayakkanur Ganesan Gilaki
Pillaiyar Theru Kadaisi Veedu Soori
Vaagai Sooda Vaa Man at theatre
Velayudham Abdullah
Poraali Soori Winner, Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Comedian
Gurusamy Priest Special appearance in the song "Thengaayil Nei"
2012 Sooriya Nagaram Mechanic
Friends Book Venugopal Telugu film
Mattuthavani Panneer's friend
Kandathum Kanathathum Mukil's friend
Manam Kothi Paravai Nalla Thambi
Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam Soori
Paagan Vellayangiri Also playback singer ("Simba Simba")[11]
Sundarapandian Murugesan Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Comedian
Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian
Kai Siva's friend
2013 Haridas Kandasamy
Kedi Billa Killadi Ranga Sindru
Chikki Mukki Karuvaya
Thillu Mullu Mano
Thulli Vilaiyadu Mano
Desingu Raja Surya
Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam Kodi Winner, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian
Winner, Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Comedian
Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Comedian
Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara Thambi
Naiyaandi Soori
Pandiya Naadu Ganesan
Vellai Desathin Idhayam Rahim's friend
2014 Jilla Gopal Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian
Rummy Arunachalam
Pulivaal Chokku
Bramman NBK
Nimirndhu Nil Ramachandran
Maan Karate "Tiger" Tyson Guest appearance
Nalanum Nandhiniyum Sivabalan
Anjaan Raja
Pattaya Kelappanum Pandiya Muthupandi
Jeeva "Senior" David
Poojai Kutti Puli
Oru Oorla Rendu Raja Mike
Vellaikaara Durai Police Pandi
2015 Sakalakala Vallavan Chinnasamy
Paayum Puli Murugesan
Kaththukkutti Ginger
Vedalam Laxmidas
Pasanga 2 Sanjay Ramasamy Guest appearance
2016 Rajini Murugan Thotathree Nominated, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian
Aranmanai 2 Devadas
Mapla Singam Anbuchelvan's friend
Marudhu Kokkarako
Idhu Namma Aalu Vaasu
Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran Sakkarai
Angali Pangali Chandra
Maaveeran Kittu Thangarasu
Kaththi Sandai Deva / Chithra Master
2017 Si3 Veera Babu "Veeram"
Mupparimanam Himself Cameo appearance
Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen Kalyanam
Sangili Bungili Kadhava Thorae Sooranam Winner, Vijay Award for Best Comedian
Winner, SIIMA Award for Best Comedian
Thondan Ramar Guest appearance
Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum Suruli Rajan
Paakanum Pola Irukku
Savarikkadu Master
Podhuvaga Emmanasu Thangam "Tiger" Pandi
Katha Nayagan Annadurai
Ippadai Vellum Daivakolundhu
Nenjil Thunivirundhal Ramesh
2018 Sketch Maari
Pakka Bommai
Bhaskar Oru Rascal Rocky
Kadaikutty Singam Sivagamiyin Selvan
Seema Raja Adiasamy (Kanakku/Maths)
Saamy Square Sakthi
2019 Kanchana 3 Govindan
Devarattam Vetri's 4th brother-in-law
Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu 2 Subramani
Kennedy Club Subramani
Namma Veettu Pillai Paramu
Sangathamizhan Soori
2021 Sarbath Arivu's friend
Udanpirappe Pakkadi
Annaatthe Pachaikili
Velan 'Mamookka' Dineshan
2022 Kombu Vatcha Singamda Karthik
Anbulla Ghilli Ghilli (voice) Voice only[12]
Etharkkum Thunindhavan Aavani Soolamani
Don Perusu
Viruman Kuthukal
Prince Abroad Guy Cameo appearance
2023 Viduthalai Part 1 Kumaresan Debut as lead actor[13]
Winner, Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Actor
2024 Garudan Sokkan Lead actor
The Adamant Girl Paandi Lead actor
Viduthalai Part 2 Kumaresan Post-production
TBA Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai TBA Post-production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Channel
2007-2008 Thirumathi Selvam Amirtham Sun TV

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Actor Soori: I Am Not Against Temples". Outlook India. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Kumar, Pradeep (28 September 2019). "From Madurai to Chennai, and 13 years later: Soori's fascinating journey". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2019 – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ^ "Soori reveals an important secret about the Parotta comedy - Tamil News - IndiaGlitz.com". 3 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Actor Soori in great demand". 16 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Soori blasts critics for slamming his comedy in Seema Raja and Saamy Square". Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Soori: I know if it's a bad comedy even while acting; Sivakarthikeyan Vijay Sethupathi Namma Veettu- Cinema express". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  7. ^ Kuniyl, Sarath Ramesh (31 March 2023). "Viduthalai - Part 1 review: Soori steals the show in this Vetrimaaran flick". The Week. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  8. ^ " 🙏 தயவுசெய்து என் கதைய திருடி படமா எடுக்காதீங்க " - The SS Podcast ft. Soori Muthuchamy (in Tamil). SS Music. 31 May 2024. From 1:31:00 to 1:31:45. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Soori's cute photos with his kids wins hearts!". IndiaGlitz.com. 21 May 2020. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Ooruku Nooruper Tamil Movie Scenes | Ooruku Nooruper Climax Scene | Hans Kaushik | B Lenin". YouTube. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  11. ^ Parotta Soori and Pandi sing a kuthu number in Paagan Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Kolly Talk. 29 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Anbulla Ghilli Movie Review: Excruciating mess of a pet film". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Vetri Maaran's 'Viduthalai Part 1' trailer promises an intriguing serious drama". The Times of India. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
[edit]