Vignesh (actor)

Vignesh
Born
Raja

(1971-04-09) 9 April 1971 (age 53)[1]
Occupation(s)Actor, businessman
Years active1988–present
SpouseUma Maheshwari

Raja (born 9 April 1971), known professionally as Vignesh, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Tamil cinema.[2]

Career

Vignesh was selected to play the lead role in Balu Mahendra's Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992) but he was removed from the film after working on it for seven days and was replaced by Prashanth.[3] He made his acting debut in 1992 with the village drama film Chinna Thayee.[4] In 1993, he acted in Amma Ponnu, Bharathiraja's Kizhakku Cheemayile and Kathir's Uzhavan. In 1995, Vignesh appeared in six films. He starred in Chellakannu, which told the tragic story of a young couple caught between feuding families, and the film performed well and ran for over one hundred days at the box office. The film had featured him alongside actress Yuvarani, as did Pasumpon, while his Nadodi Mannan became a box office failure.[5]

In the mid of 1990s, Vignesh's housemate Bala, an erstwhile assistant of Balu Mahendra wrote the script of the film Sethu, then titled Akhilan, and offered him the film's lead role. The film was shelved due to financial constraints. In 1997, director Bala restarted the project and Vignesh, who was busy with other commitments, was replaced by Vikram. In 1998, Vignesh played the lead role in J. Suresh's Velai and played a supporting role in Ravichandran's Kannedhirey Thondrinal.[6] The following years, Vignesh played the lead role in low-budget films Pudhu Kudithanam (1999) and Nee Enthan Vaanam (2000), and played supporting roles in Suyamvaram (1999) and Appu (2000).

After a hiatus of 3 years, Vignesh made a comeback with Soori (2003). For Soori, Vignesh had to tonsure his head for 70 times.[7][8] His performance received mixed reviews with critics claiming that Vignesh "tends to go slightly overboard, especially when he howls aloud in agony" and "his cries seem over the top".[9][10] 2003 saw the release of his long-delayed films Ennai Thalatta Varuvala and Vani Mahal.[11] The three films went unnoticed at box office, post-release Vignesh signed two projects titled "Ilango" and "Parithi" with both failing to proceed after launch.[12][13] In 2005, Vignesh appeared in two low-budget films: Ulla Kadathal and Aadhikkam. Vignesh then produced and acted in the gangster film Aacharya (2006) and a critic stated, "for Vignesh, it is a comeback vehicle and he has done his best".[14] He later starred as a leading actor such as Malarinum Melliya (2008), Kudiyarasu (2009) and Eesa (2009). He co-starring with Sathyaraj in Gowravargal (2010).[15]

In 2020, he appeared in the serial with Poove Unakkaga broadcast by Sun TV.[16] In 2021, he was seen integral role in the film Anandham Vilayadum Veedu and the serial Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal. In 2022, the film Paasakaara Paya was released.[17] In 2023, he was cast in Chandramukhi 2 directed by P. Vasu.[18]

Filmography

  • All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
Year Film Role Notes
1988 En Thangachi Padichava Fighter
1992 Chinna Thayee Ponrasu
Annai Vayal Sathyam's brother
1993 Amma Ponnu Anand
Kizhakku Cheemayile Seenu
Uzhavan Sundaram's brother
1995 Manathile Oru Paattu Anand
Muthukulikka Vaariyala Chellappa
Pasumpon Raasa
Chellakannu Chellakannu
Nadodi Mannan Ramesh
Mannukku Mariyadhai Pandian
Chithirai Thiruvizha Selvaa
1996 Naalamkettile Nalla Thampimar Robert Malayalam film
Vetri Mugam Aravind
Take It Easy Urvashi Subramani
1997 Pongalo Pongal Subramani
Kaadhali Gopal
Kadhal Palli Balu
Raman Abdullah Raman
1998 Velai Ganesh
Kannedhirey Thondrinal Sakthi
1999 Suyamvaram Potential groom
Pudhu Kudithanam Ashok
2000 Appu Mano
Nee Enthan Vaanam Sathya
Ninaivellam Nee Karthik
2003 Ennai Thalatta Varuvala Santhosh
Soori Suriya
Vani Mahal Arul
2005 Ulla Kadathal Sakthi
Aadhikkam Guru
2006 Aacharya Yadhunandhan (Saamy) Also producer
2008 Malarinum Melliya Elango
2009 Kudiyarasu Kannan
Eesa Eesa
2010 Gowravargal Ganesan
2013 Bhuvanakkadu Mani Bharathi
2016 Avan Aval Venkatakrishnan Also producer
2018 Aaruthra Nambi
2021 Anandham Vilayadum Veedu Pazhanisamy
2022 Paasakaara Paya Guna
2023 Chandramukhi 2 Ranganayagi's brother
2024 Light House
2025 Red Flower Filming[19]

Television

Year Title Role Channel
2011 Appanum Aathalum Kalaignar TV
2020–2021 Poove Unakkaga Sakthivel Sun TV
2020 Roja Sakthivel
2021 Velammal Raja Raghupathi Star Vijay
2021–2022 Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal Rajarathinam
2022 Sathya 2 Special Appearance Zee Tamil
2022–2023 Vidhya No.1 Mayandi
2023–2024 Meena Chidambaram Sun TV

References

  1. ^ "Vignesh | Official Site of South Indian Artists Association, Nadigar Sangam, Tamil Nadigar Sangam". Nadigarsangam.org. 22 May 1994. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Kollywood Movie Actor Vignesh Biography, News, Photos, Videos".
  3. ^ Anupama Subramanian (4 September 2018). "Why Vignesh became a baddie". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  4. ^ Malini Mannath (1 January 1993). "Run-of-the-mill fare". The Indian Express. p. 7. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Google Groups". Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry".
  7. ^ "tamil cinema mottai heroes rajinikanth sivaji kamal aalavandhan vikram sethu ajithkumar red madhavan ayudha ezuthu sathyaraj amaithipadai picture gallery images". Behindwoods.com. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Soori in trouble ?". Mohankumars.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  9. ^ "SOORI". Bbthots.com. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  10. ^ ""Soori"". The Hindu. 26 December 2003. Archived from the original on 22 April 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Dinakaran". www.dinakaran.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Ilango". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 23 August 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Paridhi". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 24 August 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Review : Aacharya (2006)". Sify. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  15. ^ "GOWRAVARGAL MOVIE REVIEW".
  16. ^ "Daily soap 'Poove Unakkaga' to premiere today". The Times of India. 10 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Marketing a film today has become important: Vignesh".
  18. ^ "Chandramukhi 2 review: Not a patch on the first part featuring Rajini-Jyothika".
  19. ^ "Vignesh to play duel roles in 'Red Flower'".