Guru Somasundaram is an Indian actor who is well known for devering exceptionally good performances in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. Some of his best works includes “Aaranya Kaandam,” “Joker,” “Vanjagar Ulagam,” and “Jai Bhim.”
Wiki/Biography
Guru Somasundaram was born on Wednesday, 3 September 1975 (age 46 years; as of 2021) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. His zodiac sign is Virgo. Guru did his higher education at the B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 60 Kg
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Guru Somasundaram was born in a middle class family in Chennai, India.
Career
Guru Somasundaram was keen towards acting since his school days. Soon after completing his higher education in 2002, Guru decided to pursue his career in acting and join “Koothu-P-Pattarai,” a populat theatre group in Chennai, to brush up existing acting skills. He became part of several dramas and performed in a number of therate plays with theatre group. Director Thiagarajan Kumararaja spotted him during a theatre play called Chandrahari, in which he was playing the character of Chandrahari, and got so impressed with his performance that he offered him to work with him in one of his future movies. Later in 2008, Thiagarajan contacted Guru and signed him for his neo-noir film “Aaranya Kaandam.” The film was based on one of the chapters from the epic Ramayana meaning “Jungle Chapter.” Guru played one of the six protagonists while others were played by Jackie Shroff, Ravi Krishna, Sampath Raj, Yasmin Ponnappa, and Master Vasanth. Guru played the character of Kaalayan, a drunk man in the film and recieved huge appreciation for for his performance. In a media interaction, Guru mentioned that while preparing for his character, he lost seven kilograms of weight, and also changed his hairstyle, moustache, walking styles, body language, and mannerisms to justify the personality of his character. Post the release “Aaranya Kaandam” on 10 June 2011, it won several national and international awards including the Grand Jury Award for Best Film at the 2010 South Asian International Film Festival, National Film Awards for Best Editing and Best First Film of a Director category. Several media houses, praised Guru for his role in the film, including Rediff.com who published an article applauded him my printing,
The honours undoubtedly go to Guru Somasundaram. His gleeful cackles at the rooster fight, pathetic rumblings to his son and wide-eyed act in the Lodge are wonderful to behold.”
Shifting his attention towards building a filmy career, Guru Somasundaram left the Koothu-P-Pattarai theatre group and started focusing more on Malayalam cinema. He did to completely took a back step from theater but opted to work as a freelance theatre actor to stay in touch with his roots. According to Guru, his experience at Koothu-P-Pattarai helps him in adapting different characters and theirs personalities. He said,
In Koothu-P-Pattarai, I used to try different looks and check myself in the mirror. I think, perhaps my face and body structure are such, with less make-up and with minor changes, I am able to show the difference. This helps me in cinema. That’s all; there is no secret in it.”
In 2013, Guru Somasundaram featured in the Tamil-language drama film “Kadal” opposite Gautham Karthik, Arjun, Aravind Swamy, and Lakshmi Manchu in lead roles. The Mani Ratnam film showcases the story of a Christian fishermen who instill the fact that how faith can sometimes lead to the triumph of humanity. Guru played a side character named Kovil Kutty but made a huge remark with his performance in the film. Later he became part of several Tamil and Malayalam films including “5 Sundarikal,” “Pandiya Naadu,” “Jigarthanda,” “49-O,” “Bench Talkies – The First Bench,” “Thoongaa Vanam,” and “Kohinoor.”
Guru Somasundaram’s still from the movie Thoongaa Vanam
Guru Somasundaram got the break through of his career with Raju Murugan’s Tamil-language political satire film “Joker.” The film was released on 12 August 2016 and features a story of an ordinary villager, Mannar Mannan, who decided to call himself the president of the country and stars fighting against the injustices he comes across in his society especially the necessity of toilets for all rural homes. Guru portrayed the character of Mannar Mannan opposite Ramya Pandian and Gayathri Krishnaa, for which he gained huge critical acclaim. The film has eaned two awards at the 64th National Film Awards for Best Feature Film – Tamil category. Guru Somasundaram was honoured with Behindwoods Gold Medal in 2017 for being the Best Actor of the year. Following this, he featured in various commercially successful films like Kuttrame Thandanai, Yaakkai, Paambhu Sattai, Odu Raja Odu, and many more.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xr59w5r6Hw[/embed]
Guru Somasundaram have a very inspiring career graph to look up to. He started from being a theater artist to doing some side role to becoming the main stream hero. When during a media interaction, he was asked about his journey the film industry, he said
As someone who is serious and passionate about acting, how has the film industry treated you? Everyone is passionate about their work. But it is just not enough. It also depends on how that passion translates into output. This determines the respect or welcome or the treatment they receive in the industry. I feel my output in cinema is strong acting-wise or performance-wise. Therefore industry has accepted me as a good performer. That way, I am very happy. And I also would like to mention that it is just not me who is responsible for this acceptance. It also rests with Aaranya Kandam’s script and its director Thiagarajan Kumaraaraja; my next milestone Jigarthanda and its director Karthik Subbaraj and to top it all, as my crown, Joker directed by Raju Murugan. Their contribution is also sizeable and for me to shine as an actor, I see them as important. They have showcased me as a performer in the film world.”
Adding to this, he said,
I am very happy. Generally, actors fall into a monotonous trap and are forced to become predictable in their choices. Only a few actors escape that trap and do varied stuff. I am happy to do so, with all my films since Aaranya Kaandam. After doing all these character roles to playing the hero now, is a rare thing. It’s a great opportunity and I think I have utilized it well. The entire Joker team is happy with the output.”
Guru Somasundaram again came into to lime light after appearing in the Tamil-language legal drama film “Jai Bhim.” The film revolves around the story of Senggeni, a member of the Irular tribe community, seeking justice for her husband filles a legal case against the Police man of her village, after her husband goes missing from the police station. The story is based on a true incident that happened in the year 1993 and Justice K. Chandru fought the case onbehalf of Senggeni. The slogan “Jai Bhim,” meaning “Victory to Bhim,” used in the film is used by followers of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, an Indian scholar and social reformer. Guru played the character of Chellapandiyan, a Public Prosecutor, opposite Lijomol Jose, K. Manikandan, Rajisha Vijayan, Prakash Raj, Rao Ramesh and few other. The film was released on 2 November 2021 in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. Soon after the release it gained huge popularity among the Indian audience and also became the highest-rated movie on IMDb.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahvdd3m8a5s[/embed]