New Delhi: Prakash Raj, one of India’s most varied and gifted actors, celebrates his birthday on March 26. Throughout the course of his three-decade career, the National Award-winning actor has positioned himself as a significant force to be reckoned with in the Telugu and Tamil film industries, receiving critical praise and a devoted fan base for his particular strengths.
On the celebration of his 58th birthday, let us look back at five of his most memorable and powerful performances, ranging from Iruvar to Vasool Raja MBBS.
1. Iruvar (1997)
Prakash Raj plays Anandan, a journalist who goes on to become political leader, in this Tamil political drama directed by Mani Ratnam. His believable depiction of the role gained him considerable widespread praise, and he received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work.
2. Kanchivaram (2008)
Prakash Raj worked with famous filmmaker Priyadarshan on the movie Kanchivaram, which received critical praise and a National Award for Best Film. Prakash Raj played the role of a silk weaver who eventually becomes a political activist who stands up for the rights and livelihoods of his community’s members in the film. Prakash Raj’s outstanding performance helped to make the picture one of the most memorable and critically praised Tamil movies ever made.
3. Ghilli (2004)
Prakash Raj played Muthupandi, a cruel faction leader in the 2004 movie Ghilli, who opposed actor Vijay’s role in the movie. It is among Prakash Raj’s most famous roles, with his sentences “Dhanalakshmi en Saami de” and “Chellam” becoming popular with fans. The action movie Ghilli had Vijay and Trisha in prominent roles, with Prakash Raj as the enemy.
4. Anniyan (2005)
Prakash Raj played the part of an investigative police officer named Prabhakar in Shankar’s action movie Anniyan, and his portrayal in the movie was outstanding. Prakash Raj won his third Tamil Nadu State Award for Best Villain for this movie in 2005. The film was first released in Tamil, however it has since been remade in Telugu and Hindi.
5. Vasool Raja MBBS (2004)
Prakash Raj played Sneha’s father and a Medical College dean in the comedy-drama Vasool Raja MBBS, while Kamal Haasan played the lead role in the Tamil remake of the Hindi movie Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. The sequence in the film showing Prakash Raj and Kamal Haasan in a heated confrontation still has the crowd in splits.