Arjun Sarja is an Indian actor, producer and director who works predominantly in Tamil cinema and he also established his career in Telugu and Kannada cinema apart from a few Hindi and Malayalam films. He debuted as a child actor in the film Simhada Mari Sainya in the year 1981. Sarja had acted in more than 160 movies. He has directed 12 films and also produced and distributed a number of films. [1] After starring in numerous Kannada films with minor roles, he starred in his first movie as an independent actor in Male Bantu Male. In 1984, Sarja made his Tamil debut in Rama Narayanan's film Nandri . [2] During the subsequent years he acted in many Telugu and Kannada films portraying lead and supporting roles in Trimurtulu (1987), Premagni (1989), Prathap (1990) and Shivanaga (1992).
Sarja made his directorial debut with the film Sevagan in 1992. In 1993, he starred in his first breakthrough film as a contemporary actor in S. Shankar's Gentleman , which opened to positive reviews, while Sarja went on to win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. He then starred in commercially successful films such as Jai Hind (1994), Karnaa (1995), and the crime drama film Kurudhipunal (1995). In 1999, he starred in the political thriller Mudhalvan (1999). Sarja won critical acclaim for portraying an ambitious television reporter who became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for a day. The film ran for over 100 days in theaters and won awards on a regional scale. [3]
In 2000, he starred in Vasanth's film Rhythm . He appeared in several action films in which he directed and featured in lead roles are Ezhumalai (2002) and Parasuram (2003), while also starred in Arasatchi (2004). The films, Giri (2004) and Marudhamalai (2007) were box office hits, while several were average grossers including Madrasi (2006), Vathiyar (2006) and Durai (2008). He portrayed the role of the Hindu deity Hanuman in Krishna Vamsi's devotional film Sri Anjaneyam (2004).
Since 2010, Sarja has attempted to change his "action king" image and played negative roles. In 2011, he starred alongside Ajith Kumar in Venkat Prabhu's crime thriller Mankatha, which became a box office success. [4] The following year he appeared in Kannada film Prasad , for which he won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor. He then starred in Mani Ratnam's Kadal (2013), in which he portrayed in the role of a smuggler, which went on to become a box office failure. In a directorial venture, Jai Hind 2 became a box office success in Kannada, while the Tamil and Telugu versions failed at the box office. In 2017, he starred in his 150th film Nibunan which was simultaneously made in Kannada as Vismaya. He then acted in the Telugu film Naa Peru Surya, followed by the Tamil action movie Irumbu Thirai (2018), which later became a blockbuster at the box office.
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Film | Role(s) | Language(s) | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | Simhada Mari Sainya | Arjun | Kannada | [5] | |
1983 | Aasha | Arjun | Kannada | [6] | |
Prema Yuddha | Raja | Kannada | [7] | ||
1984 | Pooja Phala | Kumar | Kannada | [8] | |
Prema Jyothi | Anand | Kannada | [9] | ||
Male Bantu Male | Subbu | Kannada | [10] | ||
Pralayanthaka | Arjun | Kannada | Special appearance | [11] | |
Nandri | Murugan | Tamil | Tamil Debut | [12] | |
Kadamai | Jeeva | [13] | |||
1985 | Naagam | CID officer | Tamil | [14] | |
Maa Pallelo Gopaludu | Gopalam | Telugu | Telugu Debut | [15] | |
Ilamai | Arjun | Tamil | [16] | ||
Vesham | Ashok | [17] | |||
Terror | Kaali | Telugu | [18] | ||
Bangaru Chilaka | Raja | Telugu | [19] | ||
Engal Kural | Raja | Tamil | [20] | ||
Yaar? | Major Jagan | [21] | |||
Avan | Johnny | [22] | |||
Sivappu Kili | [23] | ||||
1986 | Naga Devatha | School master | Telugu | [24] | |
Na Ninna Preetisuve | Pruthvi | Kannada | [6] | ||
Kutra | Arjun | Telugu | [25] | ||
Prathidwani | Ravi | [26] | |||
Kotigadu | Koti | [27] | |||
En Sabadham | Vijay | Tamil | [28] | ||
Kulirkaala Megangal | Prem | [29] | |||
Mannemlo Monagadu | Arjun | Telugu | [30] | ||
Cowboy No. 1 | Vijay | [31] | |||
Konaseema Kurradu | Rambabu | [32] | |||
1987 | Manavadostunnadu | Babu | Telugu | [33] | |
Kalyana Kacheri | Vadivelu | Tamil | [34] | ||
Sankar Guru | Inspector Shankar Guru | Tamil–Telugu bilingual film | [35] | ||
Chinnari Devatha | Inspector Babu | Telugu | [36] | ||
Thayaramma Thandava Krishna | Thandava Krishna | [37] | |||
Trimurtulu | Siva | [38] | |||
Monagadu | Vijay | [39] | |||
Garjinchina Ganga | Gopi | [40] | |||
Prathispandhana | [41] | ||||
Nyayaniki Sankellu | Nethaji | [42] | |||
Rakshasa Samharam | Babu / Arjun | [43] | |||
1988 | Doctor Gari Abbai | Kranthi | Telugu | [44] | |
Thaimel Aanai | Raja | Tamil | [45] | ||
Chattamtho Chadarangam | Madhu | Telugu | [46] | ||
Veguchukka Pagatichukka | Bhargava | [47] | |||
Vettai | Tamil | [48] | |||
Dhaayam Onnu | Arun (Raja / Ilaiyaraja / Arjun / Ignatius Immanuel Inbaraj) | [49] | |||
Pattikkattu Thambi | Chinna Thambi | [50] | |||
Siripuram Chinnodu | Ravi | Telugu | [51] | ||
Coolie | Gopi | [52] | |||
Thaai Paasam | Raja | Tamil | [53] | ||
August 15 Rathri | Abhimanyu | Telugu | [54] | ||
1989 | Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu | Raja | Tamil | [55] | |
Padicha Pulla | Kasi | [56] | |||
En Thangai | Pandiyan | [57] | |||
Sonthakkaran | Rajadurai | [58] | |||
Annanukku Jai | Kaali | [59] | |||
Enga Annan Varattum | Manikkam | [60] | |||
Premagni | Vikram | Kannada | [61] | ||
1990 | Paattali Magan | Gopi | Tamil | [62] | |
Manaivi Oru Manickam | Vijay | [63] | |||
Periya Idathu Pillai | Vijay | [64] | |||
Prathap | SP Prathap | Kannada | [65] | ||
Aatha Naan Pass Ayittaen | Chinnasamy | Tamil | [66] | ||
Thangaikku Oru Thalattu | Gopi / Prakash | [67] | |||
1991 | Thanga Thamaraigal | Ramu | Tamil | [68] | |
Enga Ooru Sippai | Rasaiyya | [69] | |||
1992 | Sevagan | DSP Sanjay | Tamil | Also director | [70] |
Mudhal Kural | Karan | [71] | |||
Annan Ennada Thambi Ennada | Shankar | [72] | |||
Police Lockup | Arjun | Kannada | [73] | ||
Snehada Kadalalli | Krishna | Kannada | [74] | ||
Shivanaga | Shiva | Kannada | [75] | ||
1993 | Alimayya | Anantha | Kannada | [76] | |
Pratap | Pratap | Tamil | [77] | ||
Gokulam | Kannan | Guest appearance | [78] | ||
Gentleman | Krishnamoorthy (Kicha) | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor | [79] | ||
Dhuruva Natchathiram | Suriyadevan | [80] | |||
Karpagam Vanthachu | Sakthivel | [81] | |||
Rojavai Killathe | Alexander (Duraipandi) | [82] | |||
1994 | Jaihind | ACP Bharath | Tamil | [83] | |
Mettupatti Mirasu | Chinnadurai | [84] | |||
Sadhu | Sathyamoorthy (Sakthi) | [85] | |||
Maa Voori Maaraju | Suribabu | Telugu | [86] | ||
1995 | Mudhal Udhayam | Seenu | Tamil | [87] | |
Karnaa | Vijay / Karnaa | [88] | |||
Kuruthipunal | Abbas IPS | Tamil–Telugu bilingual film | [89] | ||
Ayudha Poojai | Krishnasamy | [90] | |||
1996 | Sengottai | SP Sekhar IPS | Tamil | [91] | |
Drohi | Abbas IPS | Telugu | Tamil–Telugu bilingual film | [92] | |
Subash | Colonel Subash | Tamil | [93] | ||
1997 | Adimai Changili | Karthikeyan (Kannan) | Tamil | [94] | |
1998 | Kondattam | Raja (Ramu) | Tamil | [95] | |
Thaayin Manikodi | Arjun | [96] | |||
Zulm-O-Sitam | Arjun | Hindi | Hindi Debut | [97] | |
Subhavartha | Rajendra Prasad (Raja) | Telugu | Partially re-shot in Tamil as Mannavaru Chinnavaru | [98] | |
1999 | Nanbaa | Unknown | Tamil | Shelved Movie | [99] |
Suriya Paarvai | Vijay | Partially re-shot in Telugu as Hello Friend | [100] | ||
Suyamvaram | ACP Sanjay | [101] | |||
Kannodu Kanbathellam | Seetharam | [102] | |||
Mudhalvan | Pughazhendi | [98] | |||
2000 | Sudhandhiram | Vishwa | Tamil | [103] | |
Rhythm | Karthikeyan | [104] | |||
Vaanavil | Surya | [105] | |||
2001 | Vedham | Vijay | Tamil | [106] | |
Sri Manjunatha | Manjunatha | Kannada | [107] | ||
Hanuman Junction | Krishna | Telugu | [108] | ||
2002 | Ezhumalai | Ezhumalai | Tamil | [109] | |
2003 | Parasuram | ACP Parasuram | Tamil | [110] | |
Ottran | Karthik | [111] | |||
2004 | Puttintiki Ra Chelli | Sivanna | Telugu | Partially re-shot in Tamil as Anbu Sagotharan | [112] |
Sri Anjaneyam | Lord Anjaneya | [113] | |||
Arasatchi | Siddharth | Tamil | [114] | ||
Giri | Giri (Shiva) | [115] | |||
Jai Soorya | Jai Anand IAS / Surya | [116] | |||
2005 | Chinna | Chinna | Tamil | [117] | |
Aanai | Vijay IPS | [118] | |||
2006 | Madrasi | Kasi | Tamil | Partially re-shot in Telugu as Sivakasi | [119] [120] |
Vathiyar | Annadurai | [121] | |||
2007 | Manikanda | Manikanda / Raja | Tamil | [122] | |
Marudhamalai | Inspector Marudhamalai | [123] | |||
Thavam | Himself | Guest appearance | [124] | ||
2008 | Swagatam | Srikanth | Telugu | [125] | |
Durai | Durai (Raja) | Tamil | [126] | ||
Thiruvannamalai | Easwaran / Guruji | [127] | |||
2009 | Vayuputra | Himself | Kannada | Guest appearance | [128] |
2010 | Rama Rama Krishna Krishna | Ashok Deva | Telugu | [129] | |
Vandae Maatharam | Anwar Hussain IPS | Tamil-Malayalam | Malayalam Debut | [130] | |
[131] | |||||
Vallakottai | Muthuvel (Vayuputhran) | Tamil | [132] | ||
2011 | Mankatha | ACP Prithviraj | Tamil | [133] | |
2012 | This Weekend | Dr. Sanjay | Hindi | Partially re-shot in Tamil and Telugu as Kaattupuli and Aranyam, respectively | [134] |
Maasi | Inspector Masilamani | Tamil | [135] | ||
Prasad | Shankar | Kannada | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor | [136] | |
2013 | Kadal | Bergmans | Tamil | Vijay Award for Best Villain | [137] |
Attahasa | D.G.P. K. Vijay Kumar | Kannada | Partially re-shot in Tamil as Vana Yuddham | [138] | |
Moondru Per Moondru Kadal | Paul Harris Rosario | Tamil | [139] | ||
2014 | Jaihind 2 | Abhimanyu | Tamil-Telugu-Kannada | Multilingual film | [140] [141] |
Abhimanyu | |||||
2016 | Game | DCP Sharat Chandra | Kannada | Kannada–Tamil bilingual film | [142] |
Oru Melliya Kodu | DCP Shakthivel | Tamil | [143] | ||
Final Cut of Director | Vivek Varma IPS | Hindi | Partially re-shot in Tamil as Bommalattam | [144] | |
2017 | Nibunan | DSP Ranjith Kalidoss | Tamil-Kannada | [145] | |
Vismaya | [146] | ||||
Lie | Padmanabham | Telugu | [147] | ||
2018 | Prema Baraha | Flight captain | Kannada-Tamil | Special appearance: Kannada–Tamil bilingual film | [148] |
Solli Vidava | [149] | ||||
Naa Peru Surya | Dr. Rama Krishna Raju | Telugu | [150] | ||
Irumbu Thirai | Sathyamoorthy (White Devil) | Tamil | [151] | ||
2019 | Kolaigaran | DCP Karthikeyan | Tamil | [152] | |
Kurukshetra | Karna | Kannada | [153] | ||
Jack & Daniel | Daniel Alexander IPS | Malayalam | [154] | ||
Hero | Sathyamoorthy "Moorthy" (Mask) | Tamil | Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actor | [155] | |
2021 | Friendship | Sylender | Tamil | [156] | |
Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea | Anandan | Malayalam | [157] | ||
2022 | Khiladi | Arjun Bharadwaj | Telugu | [158] | |
Oppanda | Sanjay Rangaswamy | Kannada | Dubbed in Telugu as Iddaru | [159] | |
2023 | Leo | Harold Das | Tamil | SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role | [160] |
2024 | Virunnu | Deva Naarayanan | Malayalam | Bilingual film | [161] |
Virundhu | Tamil | [162] | |||
Theeyavar Kulaigal Nadunga † | TBA | Tamil | Filming | [163] | |
Vidaa Muyarchi † | TBA | Tamil | Filming | [164] | |
2025 | Aghathiyaa | TBA | Tamil | Filming |
Title | Year | Credited as | Language | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Producer | Writer | Distributor | ||||
Sevagan | 1992 | Tamil | |||||
Prathap | 1993 | Tamil | |||||
Jai Hind | 1994 | Tamil | |||||
Karna | 1995 | Tamil | |||||
Thaayin Manikodi | 1998 | Tamil | |||||
Thutta Mutta | 1998 | Kannada | |||||
Suyamvaram | 1999 | Tamil | |||||
Vedham | 2001 | Tamil | |||||
Ezhumalai | 2002 | Tamil | |||||
Parasuram | 2003 | Tamil | |||||
Madrasi | 2006 | Tamil | |||||
Vathiyar | 2006 | Tamil | |||||
Thavam | 2007 | Tamil | |||||
Durai | 2008 | Tamil | |||||
Vayuputra | 2009 | Kannada | |||||
Jai Hind 2 / Abhimanyu | 2014 | Tamil | Multilingual Film Sequel to Jai Hind | ||||
Telugu | |||||||
Kannada | |||||||
Prema Baraha | 2018 | Kannada | |||||
Solli Vidava | 2018 | Tamil | |||||
Semma Thimiru | 2021 | Tamil | Tamil dubbed version of Kannada film Pogaru; Distributed only | ||||
Martin | 2024 | Kannada | Story only |
Film | Year | Song | Music director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jai Hind | 1994 | "Ootathuma" | Vidyasagar | Sang the beginning lyrics "Thanni Vechu" |
Mudhal Udhayam | 1995 | "Raasi Nalla Raasi" | Shankar–Ganesh | |
Karnaa | 1995 | "Hello Miss Chellama" | Vidyasagar | Spoke dialogues in the beginning, Sang alongside Chetan, Swarnalatha |
Parasuram | 2003 | "Chittukuruvi" | A. R. Rahman | Sang alongside Swarnalatha, Sriram Parthasarathy |
Jai Soorya | 2004 | "Kattuna Avala Kattuvenda" | Deva | Sang alongside Vadivelu |
Series Name | Year | Role(s) | Language(s) | Channel | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Survivor Tamil | 2021 | Host | Tamil | Zee Tamil | Debut in Television | [165] |
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