
The film opened to positive reviews from critics in May 2000 and also went on to achieve box office success. Telling the story of a pair of egoistic lovers with a college backdrop, the film was shot in early 2000 across South India and New Zealand. Rathnam offered Surya an opportunity to make another film and thus Kushi, a romantic comedy featuring Vijay and Jyothika materialised. Īfter watching the première show of Vaali, producer A. The film's commercial success meant that it provided a breakthrough for both Surya's and the lead actors' careers. The New Indian Express mentioned the film as "outstanding" while mentioning Surya does a "good job and succeeds". The reviewer from labelled the film as "a classic in its own right", describing Surya as "a new young director to the cine field who can make Tamil Cinema be proud once again". A thriller film, a reviewer from the Deccan Herald described it as "definitely worth seeing" saying it "has something for all tastes - a pleasant love angle, some suspense, complex psychological nuances, good acting, pleasing songs" while praising Ajith's performance. Keerthi Reddy was announced to be the lead actress before she was replaced by Simran, while Surya also chose to introduce Jyothika in the film. Chakravarthy to produce the film and the team began work on Vaali (1999) in late 1997. Ajith, impressed with the narration, subsequently helped approach S. While working in the team of Ullaasam (1997), the film's lead actor Ajith Kumar recognised Surya from their collaboration in Aasai, and accepted to listen to a script narration. He subsequently worked as an assistant director in the teams of Aasai (1995) under Vasanth and Sundara Purushan (1996) under Sabapathy, while also being seen in uncredited appearances as an actor, notably as a cock fighter in Bharathiraja's Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993). To be financially self-dependent, he began working in hotels and as a steward, before receiving an offer to apprentice under K. Despite getting an opportunity to pursue further studies at an engineering college in Madurai, he declined the offer and stayed in Chennai, with the hope of finding a breakthrough as an actor in Tamil films.

Film career 1990–2003: Early career and success Īfter completing his schooling near his birthplace in Vasudevanallur near Sankarankovil in South Tamil Nadu, Surya moved to Chennai to complete a Physics degree at Loyola College. Suryah is multilingual, and can speak Tamil, English, Hindi and Telugu fluently. Later, Surya returned to Tamil Nadu and completed his bachelor's degree from Loyola College, Chennai. He moved to the United Arab Emirates where he did his primary schooling at the Indian High School, Dubai. Originally a Christian, Surya's family converted to Hinduism during his childhood. He has two elder siblings, a brother Victor and a sister Selvi.

Suryah was born in Vasudevanallur, Tenkasi district on 20 July 1968 to parents Sammanasu Pandian and Aanandham.

2.4 2016–present: Recent work and comeback success.
