Stunt Silva Explained

Stunt Silva
Birth Date:6 June 1973
Birth Place:Thoothukkudi, Tamil Nadu
Nationality:Indian
Occupation:Action Director, Actor
Yearsactive:1997 – present

Stunt Silva is an Indian stunt actor, action director and stunt co-ordinator who has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada,, Hindi. He made his debut with the 2005 Telugu film Chatrapathi, directed by S. S. Rajamouli and has since also made appearances in films, portraying a supporting antagonist.[1]

Career

After training as a nurse at Stanley Medical College, Silva began working as a male nurse at hospitals in his home town of Tuticorin before joining Vijaya Health Centre in Chennai in 1990.[2] He also pursued work as a peon in offices and dabbled in a transport business to keep a float financially. In 2002, he met a dance choreographer from the film industry who advised him to sign up as a background dancer in films.[3] He took up dance lessons at Paul Raj's school but was unable to gain access into the dancers' union and instead, as a means of making any sort of money, opted to apply for membership with the union for stuntmen. Silva then began working as an assistant to stunt choreographer Peter Hein in Run (2002) and Thirumalai (2003), and choose to leave his hospital ward boy duties. During his time as an assistant, (2005) he helped Rajinikanth perform stunts in Sivaji (2007).

After serving as an assistant fighter in several Tamil and Telugu films, director S. S. Rajamouli gave Silva an opportunity to work as the stunt director of his fantasy film Yamadonga (2007), for which his work won critical acclaim. He has since gone on to work in over one hundred Indian films as the lead stunt director, working with leading directors and actors. He won recognition for his chase sequences in Mankatha (2011) and has regularly collaborated in films directed by Venkat Prabhu.[4] In 2014, he was described by Sify.com as having achieved a "career high" through his work on prestigious film projects.[5]

Stunt Silva has also featured in films portraying a supporting antagonist. After being seen as a henchman in Yamadonga (2007), Thalaiva (2013), Jilla (2014) and Veeram (2014), he portrayed the role of a gangster in Gautham Menon's Yennai Arindhaal (2015).[6] He was also revealed to be a playing a leading role in the sports film, Brazil, which began production in 2014.[7]

Personal life

Stunt Silva was credited in films under his original name, Selvam, and also as Selva, before being mistakenly referred to as Silva in the credits of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) by Gautham Vasudev Menon. He has subsequently chosen to adapt it as a stage name, noting that the industry's fixation with foreign stunt directors, meant that a foreign-sounding name would benefit him.[4]

Awards and nominations

Nominated MovieYearLanguageAwardCategoryResults
Mankatha2011TamilSouth Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMA &Vijay Television AwardsBest Action Choreography
32012TamilSouth Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMA &Vijay Television AwardsBest Action Choreography
Vettai2013TamilSouth Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMABest Action Choreography
Veeram2014TamilVijay Television AwardsBest Stunt Director
Jilla2014TamilVijay Television AwardsBest Stunt Director
Anjaan 2014TamilSouth Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMABest Fight Choreographer
Baji2015MarathiInternational Marathi Film Festival Awards — IMFFABest Action
Vedhalam2015TamilEdison AwardsBest Action Choreography
Thani Oruvan2015TamilBENZ Club AwardBest Action Choreography
Vettai2012TamilTamil Nadu State Film AwardsTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Stunt Coordinator
Chithirai Sevvanam2022TamilEdison AwardsBest Debut Director
Maanaadu2022TamilMirchi Awards & V4 AwardsBest Action Director
Master2022TamilGalatta Crown Award & Anna University Techofest AwardBest Action Director

Filmography

Stunt director and actor
Year Film Language Role Notes
2002 Naya Anubhav Hindi Actor Uncredited appearance[8]
2004 7/G Rainbow Colony Tamil / Telugu
2005 Chhatrapati Telugu
2005 Anniyan Tamil Uncredited appearance
2006 Ashok Telugu
2006 Bommarillu Telugu as Rajesh, Haasini's college mate turned eve teaser.
2007 Yamadonga Telugu Stunt Director & Actor
2008 Pourudu Telugu Stunt Director
2008 Yaaradi Nee Mohini Tamil Stunt Director
2008 Homam Telugu Stunt Director
2008 Hare Ram Telugu Stunt Director
2008 Souryam Telugu Stunt Director
2008 Saroja Tamil Stunt Director
2008 Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul Tamil Stunt Director
2009 Kadhalna Summa Illai Tamil Stunt Director
2009 Eeram Tamil Stunt Director
2009 Sankham Telugu Stunt Director
2009 Drona Telugu Stunt Director
2009 Rechipo Telugu Stunt Director
2010 Police Police Telugu Stunt Director
2010 Shambo Shiva Shambo Telugu Stunt Director
2010 Ye Maaya Chesave Telugu Stunt Director
2010 Kedi Telugu Stunt Director & Actor
2010 Goa Tamil Stunt Director
2010 Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Tamil Stunt Director
2010 Panchakshari Telugu Stunt Director & Actor
2010 Vamsam Tamil Stunt Director
2011 Anaganaga O Dheerudu Telugu Stunt Director
2011 Margazhi 16 Tamil Actor
2011 Nadunisi Naaygal Tamil Stunt Director
2011 Vaanam Tamil Stunt Director
2011 Venghai Tamil Stunt Director Nominated for SIIMA Award
2011 Mankatha Tamil Stunt Director Nominated for SIIMA and Vijay Awards
2011 Osthe Tamil Stunt Director
2011 Velayutham Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2012 Ek Deewana Tha Hindi Stunt Director
2012 The King & the Commissioner Malayalam Stunt Director
2012 Murattu Kaalai Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2012 3 Tamil Stunt Director
2013 Thalaivaa Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Tamil Stunt Director & Actor As Kolaveri David — Kidnapper
2013 Biriyani Tamil Stunt Director
2014 Jilla Tamil Stunt Director & Actor Nominated for Vijay Awards
2014 Veeram Tamil Stunt Director & Actor Nominated for Vijay Awards
2014 Mr. Fraud Malayalam Stunt Director & Actor
2014 Bramman Tamil Stunt Director
2014 Anjaan Tamil Stunt Director Nominated for Vijay Awards
2014 Oru Oorla Rendu Raja Tamil Stunt Director & Actor As Hitman
2015 Yennai Arindhaal Tamil Stunt Director & Actor As Matthew — Don
2015 Baji Marathi Stunt Director & Actor
2015 Vai Raja Vai Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Maari Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Yatchan Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2015 Loham Malayalam Stunt Director
2015 Kaaval Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Idhu Enna Maayam Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Thani Oruvan Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Uppu Karuvaadu Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Thanga Magan Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Vedalam Tamil Stunt Director
2015 Massu Engira Masilamani Tamil Stunt Director & Actor As Prince
2016 Style Malayalam Stunt Director & Actor
2016 Oppam Malayalam Stunt Director
2016 Oozham Malayalam Stunt Director
2016 Rajini Murugan Tamil Stunt Director
2016 Chakravyuha Kannada Stunt Director
2016 Thozha Tamil Stunt Director
2016 Kodi Tamil Stunt Director
2016 Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada Tamil Stunt Director
2017 Kuttram 23 Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2017 Power Paandi Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2017 Vanamagan Tamil Stunt Director
2017 Ivan Thanthiran Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2017Yuddham SharanamTeluguStunt Director
2017 Masterpiece Malayalam Stunt Director
2017OxygenTeluguStunt Director
2017JawaanTeluguStunt Director
2018 Street LightsMalayalam / Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2018Kammara SambhavamMalayalamStunt Director
2018 Diya / KanamTamil / Telugu Stunt Director
2018ParoleMalayalamStunt Director
2018LakshmiTamilStunt Director
2018 2.0 Tamil Stunt Director
2018 Saamy Square Tamil Stunt Director
2018 Maari 2 Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2019 Lucifer Malayalam Stunt director
2019 Oru Yamandan Premakadha Malayalam Stunt Director
2019 LKG Tamil Stunt Director
2019 Boomerang Tamil Stunt Director
2019 Watchman Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2019Love Action Drama Malayalam Stunt Director
2019 Aruvam Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2019 Enai Noki Paayum Thota Tamil Stunt Director
2020 Big BrotherMalayalam Stunt Director
2020 ShylockMalayalam Stunt Director
2020 Dagaalty Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2020 Mookuthi Amman Tamil Stunt Director
2021 Master Tamil Stunt Director
2021 Tughlaq Durbar Tamil Stunt Director
2021 Thalaivii Tamil / Hindi Stunt Director
2021 MGR Magan Tamil Stunt Director
2021 Maanaadu Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2021 Thalli Pogathey Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2022 Maaran Tamil Stunt Director
2022 Thiruchitrambalam Tamil Stunt Director & Actor
2022 Godfather Telugu Stunt Director
2022 Rudhran Tamil Stunt Director Releasing on 25 December 2022
2022 Monster Malayalam Stunt director
2022 Kaapa Malayalam Stunt director
2022 Ottu Malayalam Stunt director
2022 Rendagam Tamil Stunt director
2022 Malikappuram Malayalam Stunt director 2022 Release
2023 Karungaapiyam Tamil Actor
2024 Tamil Stunt Director 2024 Release
TBA Diesel Tamil Stunt director 2023 Release
TBA Malayalam Stunt director
Director

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Silva Interview . behindwoods.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140112004107/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-stunt-choreographer/silva/silva-interview.html . 2014-01-12.
  2. News: Lord of the stunts. The Hindu. 3 June 2014. Paitandy. Priyadarshini.
  3. Web site: In the Line of Fire: The Stunt Silva interview. 23 September 2014.
  4. Web site: - Tamil News. https://web.archive.org/web/20150530004353/http://www.indiaglitz.com/ig-exclusive-interview-with-masss-stunt-choreographer-silva-master-tamil-news-133782.html. dead. 30 May 2015.
  5. Web site: Stunt Sliva on a career high after 'Jilla' and 'Veeram'. https://web.archive.org/web/20150912172947/http://www.sify.com/movies/stunt-sliva-on-a-career-high-after-jilla-and-veeram-news-tamil-ocikW0hhhgbsi.html. dead. 12 September 2015. .
  6. Web site: Ajith has the habit of taking risks, says Stunt Silva. 26 May 2015. 14 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714130645/https://www.nowrunning.com/ajith-has-the-habit-of-taking-risks-says-stunt-silva/105940/story.htm. dead.
  7. Web site: - Tamil News. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075129/http://www.indiaglitz.com/brasil-a-tamil-film-on-foot-ball-tamil-news-109213.html. dead. 24 September 2015.
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvRHm5lgPRU&t=166s