Srinivasan (Tamil actor)

Last updated

Srinivasan
Born
Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesPower Star, Power
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present

Srinivasan (popularly known as Powerstar and sometimes simply Power) is an Indian actor, doctor, politician, comedian, producer, singer and businessman who has worked in the Tamil film industry. Beginning his career as a medical practitioner, he moved into finance before embarking on making films starring himself. He then appeared in N. Santhanam's Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013) which gave him a breakthrough in receiving further offers for comedic roles.

Contents

Career

Srinivasan completed his degree at Madurai Kamaraj University and then acquired a qualification as an acupressure practitioner from a university in China through a distance education programme, before commencing practise soon after. His passion for the film industry brought him to Chennai, where he set up a finance firm, Baba Trading Company, in Anna Nagar and advertised through brokers that he would help businessmen acquire huge bank loans. [1] He played supporting roles in several films starting with Unakkaga Oru Kavithai (2010) before giving himself the sobriquet "Powerstar" in Neethana Avan (2010). [2] Srinivasan soon went on to direct and star in a film titled Lathika , which released in 2011 with little publicity and featured primarily newcomers. The following year, the team of Lathika put up banners across vast areas in Chennai, remarking that Lathika had been successfully running for 220 days in the city albeit at a single cinema. The move brought him publicity and he gained online fan clubs for the bizarre claims, while he also went on to rechristen himself as 'Powerstar' Srinivasan. [3] Srinivasan subsequently begun several other production ventures starring himself including Ananda Thollai, Abhinava and Desiya Nedunchalai, though most films remain partially shot. [4] Srinivasan inadvertently had marketed himself as a spoof artist through his initial ploys and has since maintained a comic image with the media and on-screen, often portraying outrageous and over-the-top characters. [2]

Actor Santhanam offered him a pivotal role in his first production Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013), to portray one of the three leading male roles. The film opened to positive reviews in January 2013, with critics calling it an "infectious" comedy and went on to do profitable business at the box office. [5] Alongside his co-stars, critics noted that Srinivasan "scorches the screen" and his "comic timing makes the slapstick madness work". [3] [6] The success of the film garnered him offers from big productions, including Bala's Paradesi (2013) and Shankar's I ; though his portions were later replaced in the former film. [7]

Srinivasan has since gone on to appear in supporting roles in smaller budget films, notably playing pivotal characters in Arya Surya and Summa Nachunu Irukku (2013). He has also regularly appeared in promotional videos and single scene appearances in films, with small-time filmmakers keen to sell their films using his popular image. [8] In early 2014, Srinivasan stated that he was unhappy that filmmakers were "betraying" him and depicting him in films. He delivered particular criticism to the makers of Ya Ya (2013) and Goli Soda (2014), who he argued used his presence in their films for cheap publicity. [9]

Personal life

Srinivasan was born in the Simmakal region in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. After leaving Madurai for Chennai, he bought and currently lives in a residence in Anna Nagar. He has been married twice, firstly with Vijaya of Madurai, whom he later divorced before marrying Julie from Anna Nagar. He has a daughter named Lathika, who he named his first production after. [10]

Through his finance firm, Baba Trading Company, Srinivasan allegedly obtained over Rs. 7 crore rupees from unsuspecting businessmen and consequently used the money to begin a career in films, through his home production Lathika (2011). In 2012, Srinivasan was arrested by the Kilpauk police on charges of cheating and released on bail. [11] The following year in April 2013, he was booked by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and sent to prison and the development of more cases against him led to his office in Anna Nagar and a hospital he owned on Park Road, Anna Nagar West Extension, being shut. [1] [12] After a period in Delhi prison, he received bail in October 2013. [13] [14]

Politics

Powerstar Srinivasan joined Tamil Maanila Katchi in 2015 at an event organised by the party.Srinivasan joined Bharatiya Janata Party on 2016 along with his wife. [15] Later, he joined Republican Party of India and contested in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and the party RPI joined with Makkal Needhi Maiam. However, he lost to Thamizhachi Thangapandian, a DMK candidate to a margin of 1,73,272 votes in South Chennai. [16]

He announced in 2020 that if actor Rajinikanth started his own political party he will also start a party and contest in 2021 Tamil Nadu Election.He rejoined BJP. He was kidnapped by unknown persons for financial reasons and for some publicity stunt.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010 Unakkaga Oru Kavithai Jairam
Indrasena
Neethana Avan Vallal Perumal
Mandabam Sabapathy
2011 Lathika Eeshwar
2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Power KumarNominated—SIIMA Award for Best Comedian – Tamil
Edison Award for Best Comedian
Onbadhule Guru Narrator
Azhagan Azhagi Special appearance
Summa Nachunu Irukku Ashok Rajendran
Arya Surya AryanandaAlso singer for "Vadapochae"
Ya Ya BeerpalCameo
2014 Thalaivan Cameo appearance
Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham Gang leaderSpecial appearance
Vizhi Moodi Yosithaal College AlumniGuest appearance
2015 I 'Terror Star' Keerthivasan
Sagaptham R. Manmadhan
MGR Sivaji Rajini Kamal Church fatherGuest appearance
Maharani Kottai Guest appearance
Maanga
Apoorva Mahaan
2016 Sowkarpettai Junior
Vaaliba Raja Cameo appearance
Narathan Power Kumar
Kida Poosari Magudi
Manithan DoctorGuest appearance
Sutta Pazham Sudatha Pazham Also singer for "Gonganika"
Adra Machan Visilu Powerstar (Muniyandi)
Ka Ka Ka Po
Kagitha Kappal
2017Vaanga VaangaPowerstar Srinivasan
Kavan Powerstar SrinivasanGuest Appearance
Vilayattu Aarambam Shah Rukh Khan
Aakkam
Enbathettu
Ilavatta Pasanga
Sakka Podu Podu Raja Himself
2018 Merlin
MohanaPower Star
Kilambitaangayaa Kilambitaangayaa
Enna Thavam Seitheno
Odu Raja Odu Cameo appearance
Avalukkenna Azhagiya Mugam Power Paandi
2019 Simba Veterinary surgeon
Pandiyum Sahakkalum Gethu Sekar
Oviyavai Vitta Yaru Vel Nayakar
Jaikka Povadhu Yaaru
Chennai 2 Bangkok
Capmaari Power Pandy Durai
2020 Marijuana Theatre owner
Naanga Romba Busy "Burma Bazaar" PoweruTelevision film
2021 Pei Mama
2022 John Ahiya Naan PowerstarGuest appearance
2023 Rayar Parambarai
Paatti Sollai ThattatheLiquor smuggler

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2021 Jothi Minister Nagarajan Guest appearance [17]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Rise & fall of Powerstar". Deccan Herald. 14 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Mind it: Rajinikanth gets a rival in unlikely hero 'Power Star' S Srinivasan". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "I'm the only match to Superstar, says Powerstar, powerstar Srinivasan, Rajinikanth".
  4. ↑ "Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya box office collection".
  5. ↑ "Movie Review : Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasiaya". Sify. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Power Star approached for Paradesi?". The Times of India.
  7. ↑ "Power Star's 'Terror Love Anthem'". The Times of India.
  8. ↑ "Powerstar Srinivasan alleges his previous producers of cheating".
  9. ↑ "Power Star invested swindled money in movies: Police". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Power Star Srinivasan arrested for fraud!". Sify. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Another case against 'Power Star' Srinivasan". The Hindu. 10 May 2013.
  12. ↑ Special Correspondent (31 October 2013). "Power Star Srinivasan gets bail". The Hindu.{{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  13. ↑ "Now Delhi police wants Power Star Srinivasan". The Times of India. 6 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "'Superstar Rajinikanth's only rival' Powerstar joins TN BJP". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Antony, Dr. Anny; Margaret, Dr. C.; Karthick, Dr. R.; Ali, Dr. Mohammed; Chenthil, Dr. K.S. (31 December 2019). "Prevalence of H. pylori in Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) in a tertiary care center, South India". International Journal of Medical Research and Review. 7 (6): 520–525. doi: 10.17511/ijmrr.2019.i06.12 . ISSN   2321-127X.
  16. ↑ "சீரியலில் களமிறங்கிய பவர் ஸ்டார். எந்த சேனல்ல ? எந்த சீரியல்ல தெரியுமா ?". 29 May 2021.
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