Happy birthday Sathyaraj: A look at his best films as villain
While celebrated as a beloved hero, Sathyaraj's most impactful roles often came when he played the villain. This look back at his career highlights his best villainous performances, where his commanding screen presence, sharp dialogue delivery, and intense expressions created some of Indian cinema's most memorable and formidable foes
24 Mani Neram With a ruthless and sadistic billionaire womanizer named X.W. Ramarathnam, Sathyaraj’s performance is considered as one his career defining villain roles. His character’s cruelty and arrogance which drives the central plot of the movie, showed his ability to play a chilling and memorable role.
2/8
Nooravathu Naal Though it started out as a supporting role but ended up becoming rivals, this movie is known as Sathyaraj's breakthrough. He became a major contender for wicked roles in the industry with his powerful presence and portrayal of a psychopathic killer who makes an appearance in a memorable climax.
3/8
Annanagar Mudhal Theru The film which was later remade in Hindi as Ghar Ho To Aisa, the actor played a negative role with a mix of dark comedy and villainy. The actor’s performance as the lazy son-in-law, who made trouble in the film showed his ability to mix humour and wickedness.
4/8
Kaakki Sattai With Kamal Haasan playing the lead, Sathyaraj's role of the main rival, a smuggling don who was highly praised for his swag and sense of style. He gave the villain a unique, self-assured, and humorous style that contributed to the establishment of a new standard for fashionable villains in Tamil cinema.
Pagal Nilavu The actor played a character who operates as a local mobster and a fierce rival in this Mani Ratnam movie. His performance in the movie captured the raw intensity and regional political undertone of the story while marking his character a compelling grounded threat.
6/8
Sikandar Sathyaraj takes up the role of a villain named Minister Pradhan against Salman Khan in the hindi film Sikandar. The actor’s role as a prominent villain is a proof of his enduring reputation for delivering powerful and memorable villain performance across Indian Cinema.
7/8
Vidinja Kalyanam Sathyaraj gave another popular villain performance in this movie, which was directed by his friend Manivannan. His career as a humorous and memorable villain who did well in dark, psychological roles was significantly shaped by his early work with Manivannan.
8/8
Chennai Express Playing the role of a powerful head of the village in the Southern part of India and the father of the female lead in this Bollywood blockbuster. The actor is a primarily showed as a villain who commands respect and fear. Sathyaraj’s performance was also infused with a unique blend of comedy making him a instantly recognizable figure to a pan-India audience.
