Santhanam is an Indian actor and film producer who has predominantly appeared in Tamil films as a comedian and also has appeared in films in a lead role. He began his career on television shows including Vijay TV's Lollu Sabha enacting the lead role in spoofs of Tamil films. He was subsequently given a chance by actor Silambarasan in a supporting role in Manmadhan (2004) and then was signed on to appear in films including Sachien (2005) and Polladhavan (2007). He appeared in a one-off leading role in Shankar's production Arai En 305-il Kadavul (2008) and subsequently became a staple feature as a comedian in successful Tamil films during the period, with his market popularity helping stuck films find distributors. Santhanam has also had embarked on collaborations with directors including M. Rajesh's comic trilogy of Siva Manasula Sakthi (2009), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (2010) and Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (2012).
Film
As actor
| Year | Film | Role(s) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Pesadha Kannum Pesume | Vikram's classmate | Uncredited role | |
| Kadhal Azhivathillai | Aravind | |||
| 2004 | Manmadhan | Bobby | ||
| 2005 | Sachien | Santhanam | ||
| Englishkaran | College Student | |||
| February 14 | College Student | |||
| Oru Kalluriyin Kathai | David | |||
| Anbe Aaruyire | Jackie | |||
| 2006 | Idhaya Thirudan | Mahesh | ||
| Something Something... Unakkum Enakkum | Arivu | |||
| Sillunu Oru Kaadhal | Rajesh | |||
| Vallavan | Bala | |||
| Rendu | Seenu | |||
| 2007 | Veerasamy | Veera Saamy's friend | ||
| Mudhal Kanave | Sathish | |||
| Viyabari | Suryaprakash's PA | |||
| Kireedam | Balasubramaniam | |||
| Veerappu | Puli's Friend | |||
| Thottal Poo Malarum | Ravi's friend | |||
| Azhagiya Tamil Magan | Murugan | |||
| Machakaaran | Vicky's friend | |||
| Polladhavan | Sathish | |||
| Billa | Krishna | |||
| 2008 | Kaalai | College Student | ||
| Vaitheeswaran | Madan | |||
| Kannum Kannum | Murali | 25th Film | ||
| Santosh Subramaniam | Srinivasan | |||
| Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul | Raasu | Debut in a lead role | ||
| Kuselan | Nagercoil Nagaraj | |||
| Jayamkondaan | Bhavani | |||
| Mahesh, Saranya Matrum Palar | Mahesh's friend | |||
| Silambattam | Sama | |||
| 2009 | Siva Manasula Sakthi | Vivek | Vijay Award for Best Comedian | |
| Thoranai | Vellaichamy | |||
| Maasilamani | Pazhani | |||
| Vaamanan | Chandru | |||
| Modhi Vilayadu | Kaduku | |||
| Malai Malai | Vimal Haasan | |||
| Kandein Kadhalai | Mokkai Raasu | |||
| Kandhakottai | Velu | |||
| Balam | Mahesh's friend | |||
| 2010 | Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai | Kumar | ||
| Guru Sishyan | Gayathri's uncle | |||
| Maanja Velu | Manikkam | |||
| Thillalangadi | Dr. Putti Paul | |||
| Moscowin Kavery | Devaraj | |||
| Boss Engira Bhaskaran | Nallathambi | Vijay Award for Best Comedian | ||
| Enthiran | Siva | |||
| Mandhira Punnagai | Senthil | |||
| Chikku Bukku | Vijay | |||
| Ayyanaar | Shiva | 50th Film | ||
| Aattanayagan | Lingam's friend | |||
| Chutti Chathan | Scientist Vasu | |||
| 2011 | Siruthai | Kaatuppoochi | Vijay Award for Best Comedian | |
| Thambikottai | Saisa | |||
| Singam Puli | Buji Babu | |||
| Vaanam | "Tantana Tan" Seenu | |||
| Kandaen | Saami | |||
| Udhayan | Mukundhan | |||
| Deiva Thirumagal | Vinod | |||
| Markandeyan | Yaanaimudi | |||
| Yuvan Yuvathi | Sakkarai | |||
| Vanthaan Vendraan | Delhi | |||
| Vellore Maavattam | Kumaravel | |||
| Velayudham | Speed | |||
| Osthe | Selvam | |||
| 2012 | Vinayaka | Senthil | Scenes reshot for Tamil version only | |
| Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal | Chandru | |||
| Kadhal Pisase | Srinath | |||
| Oru Kal Oru Kannadi | Parthasarathi "Partha" | Vijay Award for Best Comedian | ||
| Leelai | Vicky | |||
| Kalakalappu | Vettupuli | |||
| Ishtam | Thiyagu | |||
| Saguni | Appadurai "Rajni" | |||
| Naan Ee | Poottu Govindhan | 75th Film | ||
| Mirattal | Chari | |||
| Thaandavam | Sathyan | |||
| Podaa Podi | Himself | Guest appearance in "Love Pannlama" song | ||
| Neethaane En Ponvasantham | Prakash | |||
| 2013 | Alex Pandian | Kaalayan | ||
| Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya | Kaalkattu Kaliyaperumal |
Also producer |
||
| Settai | Nagaraj "Nadupakka Nakki" | |||
| Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru | Nokia | Vijay Award for Best Comedian | ||
| Thillu Mullu | American Mappilai | Guest appearance | ||
| Singam 2 | Susai | |||
| Pattathu Yaanai | Poongavanam & Gouravam | Double role | ||
| Thalaivaa | Logu | |||
| Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu | Gopal | |||
| Ya Ya | Rajkiran "Sehwag" | |||
| Raja Rani | Sarathy | |||
| Vanakkam Chennai | Narayanan | |||
| All in All Azhagu Raja | Kalyanam & Kaali | Double role | ||
| Endrendrum Punnagai | Baby | |||
| 2014 | Veeram | Bail Perumal | ||
| Salalah Mobiles | Azhagarsamy | Malayalam film | ||
| Inga Enna Solluthu | Ezhumugam | |||
| Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal | Mayilvaganam | |||
| Bramman | Nandhu | |||
| Thalaivan | Kannan | |||
| Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham | Shakthi |
Also producer |
||
| Vanavarayan Vallavarayan | Anjali's suitor | Guest appearance | ||
| Aranmanai | Paalsaamy | |||
| Lingaa | Lingaa's sidekick | 100th Film | ||
| 2015 | I | Babu | ||
| Aambala | Inspector RDX Rajasekhar | |||
| JK Enum Nanbanin Vaazhkai | Thothathri & Paartha | Double role | ||
| Nannbenda | Sivakozhundhu "Kozhundhu" | |||
| Inimey Ippadithaan | Seenu |
Also producer |
||
| Vaalu | Tyre | |||
| Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga | Vasu | |||
| 2016 | Vaaliba Raja | Raja | ||
| Idhu Namma Aalu | Sherlock Holmes | Guest appearance | ||
| Dhilluku Dhuddu | Kumar | |||
| Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum | Nasa | |||
| Nambiar | Nambiar | |||
| 2017 | Enakku Vaaitha Adimaigal | Santhanam | Guest appearance | |
| Server Sundaram | K. Sundaram | Unreleased; Filmed in 2016 | ||
| Sakka Podu Podu Raja | Santa | |||
| 2019 | Dhilluku Dhuddu 2 | Viji | Also producer | |
| A1 | Saravanan | |||
| 2020 | Dagaalty | Guru | Also co-producer | |
| Biskoth | Rajasimma, Raja, Simmha & Baabubali | Quadruple role | ||
| 2021 | Parris Jayaraj | Jayaraj | ||
| Dikkiloona | Mani, EB Mani & Mappillai Mani | Triple role | ||
| Sabhaapathy | Sabhaapathy | |||
| 2022 | Gulu Gulu | Gulu Gulu | ||
| Agent Kannayiram | Detective Kanayiram | |||
| 2023 | DD Returns | Sathish | 125th Film | |
| Kick | Santhosh | |||
| 80s Buildup | Kathir | |||
| 2024 | Vadakkupatti Ramasamy | Ramasamy | ||
| Inga Naan Thaan Kingu | Vetrivel | |||
| 2025 | Madha Gaja Raja | Kalyanasundaram | Filmed in 2012 and released after 12 years |
Discography
As singer
| Year | Film | Song | Composer | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Thalaiva | "Vanganna Vanakkanganna" | G. V. Prakash Kumar | |
| 2016 | Nambiar | "Aara Amara" | Vijay Antony | |
| 2022 | Kick | "Saturday is Cominguuu" | Arjun Janya | |
| 2024 | Vadakkupatti Ramasamy | "Abarakko Dabarakko" | Sean Roldan |
References
- "'I don't need to work with top heroines'". The Hindu. 22 June 2019.
- "Santhanam the most wanted!". The Times of India. 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013.
- K. R. Manigandan (14 April 2012). "Comedy is serious business". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- "Exclusive biography of #Santhanam and on his life".
- S Engira Santhanam. Say Yes. – Telugu Movie News. Indiaglitz.com (1 June 2011). Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- K. Lakshmi (30 May 2010). "'Pasanga' steals show at Vijay awards". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- Ramchander (27 June 2011). "5th Vijay Awards winners list". Oneindia. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- ^ "Dhanush, Samantha win top honours at Vijay Awards". The Times of India. Indo-Asian News Service. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
- "Podaa Podi Movie Review - Tamil Visitor Coloumn - Podaa Podi | Vignesh Shivan". behindwoods.com.
- "Santhanam turns producer!". Sify.
- "Santhanam in Kamal Haasan's role, thillu mullu 2, thillu mullu". behindwoods.com.
- Suganth, M (17 June 2013) Santhanam in 'Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham' – The Times of India. The Times of India. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- Srinivasan, Sudhir (12 September 2014). "Vanavarayan Vallavarayan: Siamese torture". The Hindu.
- "Santhanam to release 'Inimmey Ippadithaan' on his own!". Sify. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015.
- Ramanujam, Srinivasa (22 December 2017). "'Sakka Podu Podu Raja' review: the errors of comedy". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- Ramanujam, Srinivasa (7 February 2019). "'Dhilluku Dhuddu 2' review: Nothing fresh in this late entrant to the horror-comedy genre". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Vadakkupatti Ramasamy".
- Kumar, Akshay (3 January 2025). "Vishal-Sundar C's Madha Gaja Raja finally gets a release date". Cinema Express.
- Lakshmi, V. (5 January 2017). "Santhanam turns singer, records song in 15 mins!". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 June 2019.