Happy Birthday Karthi: 5 performances that helped the actor carve his own identity

New Delhi: When Karthik Sivakumar first entered the Tamil film industry in 2007, fans and critics alike looked upon him as nothing more than “Suriya’s younger brother". However, the actor soon delivered a lethal blow to his detractors, thanks to his charismatic personality and charming screen presence. Today, as Karthi turns a year older, we bring to you some of his most memorable big screen outings.

Paruthiveeran: Making an emphatic big screen debut, Karthi delivered a power-packed performance in this Ameer Sultan-directed film. Revolving around a brash young man who dreams of getting locked up in Madras Jail, 'Paruthiveeran' created quite a stir amongst movie buffs, thanks to its unique storyline and played in theatres for over a year. Interestingly, Karthi’s portrayal of the titular character received rave reviews, helping him bag a Filmfare award.

Naan Mahaan Alla: Boasting of some melodious music from Yuvan Shankar Raja, this Suseenthiran-directed thriller was based on real-life incidents. A runaway hit at the box office, 'Naan Mahaan Alla' received positive reviews, thanks to Karthi and Kajal Aggarwal’s crackling chemistry as well its riveting screenplay. Contrary to popular perception, it is not a remake of the eponymous Rajinikath starrer which released in 1984.

Paiyaa: Best remembered for the sizzling chemistry between Karthi and Tamannah, 'Paiyaa' found reasonable success at the box office, garnering some positive reviews. Revolving around the life and adventures of a carefree young man, this romantic-thriller was released in Telugu and Hindi as well. The Telugu and Hindi dubbed versions are called ‘Awara’ and ‘Aakhri Baazi’ respectively.

Siruthai: A remake of Ravi Teja’s popular Telugu film 'Vikramarkudu', this action-thriller featured Karthi in a double role. Highlighting how the lives of a petty thief and a police officer get intertwined following some unfortunate developments, 'Siruthai' opened to a terrific response at the ticket window and became one of the highest grossing Tamil movies of 2011. Incidentally, 'Vikramarkudu' was later on remade in Hindi as 'Rowdy Rathore' with Akshay Kumar playing the lead role.

Komban: Released just a few months ago, this captivating action-drama revolved around a young rowdy who takes the law into his hands and fights wrongdoers. It found tremendous commercial success, despite receiving some unimpressive reviews.