Saravanan Sivakumar born 23 July 1975, better known by his stage name Suriya is a Tamil film actor, producer and television presenter, who is currently working in the Tamil film industry. He has acted in 29 films in various genres as a lead actor till date. After making his debut in the acclaimed production Nerukku Ner (1997), he went on to feature in many successful films, which include, Nandha (2001), Kaakha Kaakha (2003), Pithamagan (2003), Perazhagan(2004), Ghajini (2005), Vel (2007), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Ayan (2009), Singam (2010), 7aum Arivu (2011) and Singam II (2013). As of 2010, he has won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards South, establishing himself as one of the leading contemporary actors in Tamil cinema.
He is the eldest son of Tamil film actor Sivakumar, and married actress Jyothika in 2006, after being engaged for several years. He became a film producer after opening Studio Green which was responsible for making some of his own and his brother Karthi's films. In 2008, he began Agaram Foundation, which funds for various philanthropic activities. Suriya has become an ambassador for many global brands wanting to reaching the South Indian market. The year 2012 marked his debut as a television presenter with the popular STAR Vijay gaming show Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi, Tamil variant of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
Suriya attended Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School and St. Bede's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai, Suriya has a younger brother, Karthi, who is also a Tamil film actor, and a younger sister named Brindha Sivakumar.
Suriya is married to Jyothika, who was also a film actress, with whom he was paired in films such as Poovellam Kettuppar, Uyirile Kalanthathu, Kaakha Kaakha, Perazhagan, Maayavi, June R and Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. The couple, after being in a relationship for several years, tied the knot on 11 September 2006, and together has two children, daughter Diya born on 10 August 2007.and son Dev on 7 June 2010.
Singam 2, that got released on July 5, 2013. The film received mixed response from critics but had a huge opening. Suriya was once again acclaimed for his portrayal of Durai Singam and his performance was hailed as "the film's backbone". At present, he has announced a project with Gautham Menontitled Dhruva Natchathiram and another film with director N. Lingusamy.
In 2008, Suriya began the Agaram Foundation, working to help children who drop out of school early in Tamil Nadu. With the Ministry of Education in Tamil Nadu, he created a short commercial video outlining child poverty, labour and lack of education, titled Herova? Zerova?. The film was written and produced by Sivakumar and also starred Joseph Vijay, R. Madhavan and Jyothika. Agaram has sponsored 159 underprevileged students in 2010 for their higher education in various disciplines. With the firm belief that the educated mind can not only eliminate social evils but also aid in the socio-economic upbringing of society, Agaram Foundation works towards providing appropriate learning opportunities to the rural populace who do not otherwise have access to quality education. Suriya, along with his father and brother, has also extended help towards the education of Sri Lankan Tamil children on behalf of the Sivakumar Charitable Trust. He is also an active participant in other philanthropic works such as "Save The Tigers" campaign, which aids in the protection and preservation of Tigers in India, and "REACH", a non-profit that cures TB patients for free using supervised medication programs. The actor celebrates every birthday by doing charity work across Tamil Nadu
(courtesy wike)
