Top 10 Best Simbhu Tamil Movies In His Career

Why Kollywood Fans Celebrate Simbhu

For close to two decades now, Silambarasan TR alias STR has been a crowd-puller in Tamil filmdom. Simbhu has covered the entire spectrum of heroism on screen. From his early days as a curly-haired kid in cheesy, sentimental dramas to now, when he is delivering mature performances that are nuanced. If you grew up watching Tamil films, it is likely that at some point you’ve hummed his songs, replicated his punch dialogues or even tried out a few dance steps from one of his many flicks.

Today, we’re going to run down ten of his very best performances, all of which feature showcases for his easygoing charisma and more importantly defined different parts of his career. These aren’t just box office hits, they’re the flicks you’ll talk about, think about and remember long after the lights have come up.

Top 10 Best Simbhu Tamil Movies In His Career

1) Maanaadu (2021)

If you’re on the prowl for that returned-hero line that makes you whisper “Wow, STR is back!”, it has to be Maanaadu. This Venkat Prabhu directed film isn’t just any time-loop sci-fi. It’s a full-blown edge-of-the-seat Tamil masala flick. In the midst of a political assassination attempt, Simbhu’s character Abdul Khaaliq is shown as an average guy trapped in a time loop. You find yourself rooting for him even as he tries to outwit the indefatigable cop (S.J. Suryah) whose comic timing is as sharp as his villainy.

But what is more noticeable in Maanaadu is Simbhu’s upbeat performance on screen. This, after an absence and a few disappointing films, was his comeback. Vulnerability and action really are Doeg’s twin comrades here, as he goes from bewildered to emboldened as his character absorbs what he learns through each repeated day. The cuts are so tight in both these loops that you never even start to tire of them. It’s Simbhu racing, and you’re panting by his side.

The screenplay makes you guess, but Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music ensures that you’re emotionally invested throughout. Maanaadu wasn’t just a hit It was a statement. STR, and commercial Tamil cinema, can have its cake and eat it too.

2) Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010)

No one can have a discussion about Simbhu’s filmography without bringing up Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (affectionately known as VTV). This is not your average “boy meets girl” affair directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s deliciously heart-rending. Simbhu as Karthik is a struggling film maker who goes topsy-turvyafter he meets Jessie played by Trisha. Their love story trickles out in slow, poetic rhythms punctuated pretty by A.R. Rahman’s now iconic music.

Simbhu here is a revelation. In place of his usual mass hero swagger, we meet a refreshingly vulnerable almost painfully honest rendition of a young man who’s lost when it comes to matters of the heart. His chemistry with Trisha sizzles, so when Benny lingers on his encounters like the “Jessie, Jessie” confession and the climax they become instant classics. Every emotion: joy, frustration, heartbreak is felt so viscerally on his face that even now for most fans of the actor, Karthik is Simbhu’s most relatable role.

That isn’t to say VTV is all about the leads. VTV Ganesh’s humour, Gautham Menon’s urban narration and Rahman’s heartwrenching soundtracks (‘Omana Penne’, ‘Hosanna’) make it a cinema next doors that actually feels like speaking something warm sometimes bitter in everyday conversation. Even if you haven’t experienced an intense love story, VTV will make you feel that you did. For a lot of people, it is the number where Simbhu grew up on screen.

3) Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022)

 Simbhu appears as Muthu, an impoverished boy who is sucked into the murky underworld of Mumbai. None of that pausing for punch dialogues or song-dance routines, this movie is real and intense.

Simbhu’s transformation here is remarkable. He leaves his typically flamboyant style in the dust here and underplays Muthu’s journey from wide-eyed innocent to hardened thug with an exquisite subtlety only occasionally displayed. The interim portion scene (when all hell breaks loose and that ‘checkpoint’ bgm starts playing) is easily the best part of not just the film but Simbhu’s career as well. For old-timers and newbies, it was surprising to see how STR held the film on just performance, withholding his trademark style but never failing on the emotional front.

Siddhi Idnani’s portrayal of Paavai imparts a light touch to the otherwise serious tale, and Radikaa Sarathkumar adds seriousness as Muthu’s grief-stricken mother. And A R Rahman is back with another haunting score, which makes the violence and longing sting harder. Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu is the testament to why Simbhu is for far more than just fan service. He’s successfully growing as an actor every time a ballsy script comes his way. For those who have said “Simbu can only do limited roles,” refer them here.

4) Manmadhan (2004)

If you were watching Tamil cinema in the mid 2000s, Manmadhan was a must-watch. This is the Simbhu film that forced critics along with the common man to sit up and notice. He took on a double role for the first time and amazed all with his versatility. It tells the story of Madhan, a college student with an enigmatic dark side, and his twin brother. A series of murders shakes the city, and suspicions are pinned on Madhan, the extended family’s mild-mannered son, but the reality is much darker.

Simbhu plays for contrast: one second, he’s romantic and charming, the immediate next frame he seems cold and dangerous. He also co-wrote the script, showing an early strong sense of storytelling. This sort of psychological thriller aspect appealed to youngsters as well as plenty of older fans, and helped in no small part by A.J. Murugan’s brisk direction and snazzy execution. Jyothika and Sindhu Tolani complete the cast, imparting both drama and vulnerability.

Special mention to Yuvan Shankar Raja’s cult music “En Aasai Mythiliye” and “Manmadhane Nee” worked as anthems for its time. Like they’ve managed to keep the suspenseful treatment of cops and cheekiness attached to campus romance, Manmadhan is a mix of both tension and mass moments. It was a mega-commercial success and stands as a true-blue Simbhu cult classic, fetching him the nomination in the Best Actor category at Filmfare Awards South, solidifying his place among Kollywood’s elite stars.

5) Silambattam (2008)

If you are to ask fans for a single Simbhu movie that’s made for one and all with “mass” at its very core, Silambattam will most probably find itself amongst the choices in any list. Here Simbhu dons two avatars: the nerdy priest Vichu and the long-haired, rustic Muthuvel. The plot is total masala: vengeance, family secrets, village vendettas and edge-of-the-seat action.

The interval fight scene, in which Simbhu rolls up his lungi and swaggers with a stick during the rain-lashed mass sequence, is celebrated as a legend by his fans. And it’s not just action for action’s sake. This is a classic “goosebumps” moment of Tamil cinema with its high emotional quotient, face-off with Prabhu’s character and rousing background music from Yuvan Shankar Raja.

Sana Khan and Sneha lend able support, while Simbhu switches from being the mild-mannered guy to angry young man at breakneck speed you cannot but applaud. The songs, particularly “Where is the Party” were instant party anthems, and Simbhu even got Best Dancer and Rising Star Lyricist awards for this film. If you wanna see Simbhu at his unrestrained and entertaining “thara local” self, then Silambattam is the place to begin with. A decade later, fans still return to those action sequences and whistle at the screen.

6) Kovil (2004)

In Kovil, Simbhu strayed from his usual urbanism as he portrayed Sakthivel, a shy, kindhearted rural village lad who is smitten by a girl from another caste. The romance between Sakthi (Simbhu) and Angel (Sonia Agarwal) isn’t just sweet. It’s nestled in a tale of caste, religion, family feuds that many Tamil families will find extremely close to home.

While Simbhu would feature in more successful films, the movie directed by Hari was perhaps less complicated than those blockbusters – it is simplicity that connected with the audience. It’s a realistic portrayal of an inter-religious love, and the chemistry between the leads is sincere. Vadivelu’s comedy track offers enough lighter moments in the film to offset some heavy family drama.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music lifts the film, particularly with tunes like “En Kadhale” that teenage lovers continue to share on playlists. Emotional high and the delicate treatment of sensitive issues – Simbhu has been lauded for transcending from being “style-bhai” into an actor with acting capabilities early in his career. Kovil may not have been a megaton hit that year, but it’s all remembered for the soul and sincerity in place and remains one of those comfort watches for lovers of Tamil romance.

7) Vaanam (2011)

Vaanam is one of those movies where we get to witness Simbhu, who plays with an ensemble cast, proving that he doesn't have to be on the screen all the time to prove his mettle. The film, directed by Krish is the Tamil remake of Telugu hit Vedam and has five stories running parallel in Chennai.

Simbhu is Cable Raja, a lower middle-class bloke who wants to get rich quick so that he can impress his girlfriend (Jasmin Bhasin). What endeared Simbhu in this film is he’s not the indestructible mass hero or the pucca lover boy. He’s vulnerable, cheeky and has to take real-life decisions that will wrench your heart and mend it too. “Evan Di Unna Pethan,” in which Simbu crooned and danced to his own lyrics, was a chartbuster, but even better, showcased his pop culture influence beyond just being an actor.

The supporting cast: Anushka, Prakash Raj, Saranya and Sonia Agarwal – all score but it’s Simbhu’s humour, street-smartness and eventual redemption that anchor the film. And Vaanam’s climax involving a devastating terror strike is as tender as there comes, in the cut-throat analysis of Tamil mainstream cinema. Add Vaanam to your must-watch list if you want to watch the both drama and slice-of-life comedy being handled by STR, without over-acting or prevailing upon clichés.

8) Vallavan (2006)

When Vallavan came out, it was controversial for reasons other than just Simbhu’s performance: he also wrote and directed the film, in which he starred as the titular Vallavan, college student who is smitten with an older woman. If you’re a fan of tales with some chaos, campus love and one seriously twisted villain, this one’s for you.

Simbhu as Vallavans brings enough boyish charm and emotional gravitas to scenes where he’s hashing things out with his complicated former love Geetha (played with smoldering intensity by Reema Sen) that the messy trio of issues is particularly…vivid? In any event, it’s that continuity or lack thereof in the story really captures (if not necessarily the reality) at least its feel at this college-life stage.

Combine that with the pulsating Yuvan soundtrack and you have a rollercoaster of a movie. The campus brawls, the sincere love making portions and most importantly the climax fight between Vallavan and Geetha all have given Simbhu a scope to display every shade of his acting. For fans, Vallavan isn’t just a film, it’s a nostalgia trip chock-full of charisma, insanity and classic Tamil college vibes.

9) Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018)

Mani Ratnam’s multistarrer gangster epic had Simbhu essaying the role of Ethi, one of three powerful brothers engaged in a quest for power after their don father comes under attack. Simbhu, amongst the likes of Arvind Swami, Arun Vijay and even Vijay Sethupathi in an ensemble cast is able to break out in quite a few scenes with his unpredictable energy.

Ethi is the hot-headed, impulsive sibling and Simbhu just brings all of it to life, as he fights with his rivals. You feel a kind of rawness and volatility in his performance, particularly in the sequences that deal with betrayal and brotherhood.

A.R. Rahman’s soundtrack is a plus, and Mani Ratnam’s visual narrative has room for every actor to command the screen. The comeback It was a genuine “comeback” for Simbhu as per many fans/critics. It was an evidence that he could match up to the best in the trade! If you want something that’s not just stylish but also rooted, with Simbhu in the same grown-up avatar as well, then you can watch Chekka Chivantha Vaanam.

10) Thotti Jaya (2005)

For those who bring up "his style and nothing more" (regarding Simbhu), Thotti Jaya is the answer. He’s shown here in a raw and underplayed part as a bootlegger-turned-gangster who has virtually no lines (less speech than even the notorious Gabbar had), no glamour, and pretty much is there from beginning to end of the film just as a brooding presence. His character, Jaya, is a man all about body language and smouldering silence than zinger punch lines, but it’s works.

Into his life comes Priya (Gopika), emotional and sensitive who changes him completely - bringing meaning to his otherwise brutal life filled with violence and hatred. The film, directed by V.Z. Durai, stays grounded, very little of the mass Simbhu is known for here. Instead, you get mood and melancholy, particularly in the rain-soaked visuals and the muted love story.

The background score by Thotti Jaya adds to the tension (it feels like a bona fide gangster flick but with its feet dug deep in Chennai’s underbelly and not just movie sets). So he was a revelation to many Simbhu fans: he could do intensity and subtlety, and even disappear into a role. Even if you’re a fan of STR’s usual loud power, you’ll admire his quiet strength in this one.

Conclusion

And if you are a product (or the unfortunate byproduct) of Simbhu’s cinema while growing up, you know that these aren’t all of his hits. They’re just the ten that best illustrate his range. From spicy commercial blockbusters to emotional dramas and everything in between. But there is more to explore: Pathu Thala, in which he brings back some of that gritty gangster swagger, Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada’s bizarre combination of romance and raw action and his daring turn in Eeswaran and Idhu Namma Aalu. They both have their fan bases, their unforgettable moments.

Whether you are a fan of the actor for his punch dialogues, fancy footwork or irresistible screen presence, Simbhu’s career is quite representative of how things have evolved in Tamil cinema and in TG K fans’ wish list. So the next time you see a rerun of one of those films, or hear a Simbhu song on the radio,