Pasupathy (born 18 May 1969) is an Indian actor. He appeared in critically acclaimed roles in many noted films in Tamil cinema, playing supporting, antagonistic, comedic as well as protagonistic roles. He has won a Tamil Nadu State Film Award and Two Filmfare Awards South.
His performance in E (2006) earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain. He also won an ITFA Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Kuselan (2008). He has also appeared in Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada films.
Early life Pasupathy Ramasamy was born on 18 May 1969, to Ramasamy Aarsuthiyaar at Vannandurai, a southern neighbourhood Chennai, India in a Kallar (Thevar) family. In 1984, he joined the Chennai-based theatre group "Koothu-P-Pattarai" where he was there till 1997. He studied and grew up there till he started to act in films. He became friends with actor Nassar who was in the film institute and later joined the Koothu-P-Pattarai. Thirumangalakottai in Thanjavur, a village from which their family originates.
Career
Pasupathy started his career as a radio jockey and a newsreader. He also acted in many television serials before entering the film industry. Pasupathy made his debut with House Full in 1999. This was a Tamil action thriller directed by R. Parthiban. In this film he played the role of a corrupt cop.
When he was working in Marudhanayagam, Nassar asked him whether he was interested in films. Pasupathy was then introduced to Kamal Haasan and he was given the villain role in Marudhanayagam. Pasupathy stated "That was the first time I was before the camera". Marudhanayagam was shelved and Nasser's Mayan which he was also part of was his first release.
Pasupathy plays an LTTE commander in Mani Ratnam directorial Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). He got his first major recognised role in Virumaandi (2004). He later began appearing in negative roles in a number of films such as Sullan (2004), Madhurey (2004) and Thirupaachi (2005). He later branched out into comedy with Mumbai Xpress (2005) and Majaa (2005). His first lead role was in the National Film Award winning film Veyyil (2006).
Pasupathy has indeed made an impression in Malayalam with his earlier roles in films like Big B (2007) and Vairam: Fight For Justice (2009). After a break he returns to Mollywood playing the lead for the movie No. 66 Madhura Bus (2012).
He further played lead roles in Raman Thediya Seethai (2008), in which he appeared as a blind radio jockey, and Kuselan in which he was seen as a village barber. In Aravaan (2012), a period-based action drama, he played Kombhoodhi, the warrior head of a village in the 18th century, for which he had trained at the gym for six months. He appeared in different roles in many hit films. His performances in supporting characters, mostly as an antagonist, were appreciated most of the time by the audiences.
He acted in an independent English film called The Last Vision (2012), made by youngsters from Kerala for festivals. His role in the 2013 Tamil film Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara won critical accolades. In 2014, Pasupathy played Aditya Karikalan in a theatrical adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan. He playing the role of a lawyer in the bilingual psychological thriller Ma Chu Ka (2017). He has joined Vetrimaaran’s Asuran in 2019.
In the sports action film Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), Pasupathy takes on the role of Rangan, a boxing instructor who runs a clan. Pasupathy's character is a seasoned coach and a former boxer who mentors the protagonist. Pasupathy's portrayal received praise for the authenticity and depth, he brought to the character. He acted in the lead role as constable in the comedy drama Thandatti (2023). He was cast in the supporting role in Pa. Ranjith's Thangalaan (2024). Pasupathy plays Veeran in the Telugu epic science fiction Kalki 2898 AD (2024).
Filmography Tamil films Denotes films that have not yet been released Year Film Role Notes1999 House Full Corrupt cop Uncredited2001 Maayan Dominic Raj 2002 Kannathil Muthamittal Pasupathy 2003 Dhool Aathi Iyarkai Father Stephen 2004 Virumaandi Kothalathdevar Arul Gajapathy Machi Narayanan Sullan Soori Madhurey K. T. R. 2005 Thirupaachi Pattasu Balu Mumbai Xpress Chidambaram Majaa Aadhi 2006 Veyil Murugesan E Nellai Mani Filmfare Award for Best Supporting ActorTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain 2007 Manikanda 2008 Raman Thediya Seethai Nedumaran Kuselan Balakrishnan ITFA Best Supporting Actor Awardhttp://forum.indya.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30492&d=12428132002009 TN-07 AL 4777 Mani Vedigundu Murugesan Murugesan 2012 Aravaan Komputhi 2013 Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara Annachi 2014 Nee Enge En Anbe Ajmad Ali Khan Mosakutty 2015 India Pakistan Kaattamuthu Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka Kasimedu Deva 10 Enradhukulla Das 2016 Anjala Muthirulandi 2017 Nagarvalam Guest appearance Karuppan Mayee Kodiveeran Villangam Vellaikkaran 2019 Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu 2 Saamy Asuran Murugesan 2021 Sarpatta Parambarai Rangan Vaathiyar Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor2022 Sakunthalavin Kadhalan 2023 Thandatti Subramani 2024 Thangalaan Gengupattar 2025 Bison Kaalamaadan Velusamy
Other language films Year Film Role LanguageNotes 2003 Veede Swarnakka's younger brother Telugu 2004 Nenunnanu JP's Henchman 2005 Sye Inspector Mosale Kannada2007 Big B Balaji Sakthivel Malayalam 2009 Vairam: Fight For Justice Sivarajan 2012 Outsider Komban Lawrence No. 66 Madhura Bus Varadarajan The Last Vision English 2014 Anaamika Ajmad Ali Khan Telugu 2016 Malupu Kasimedu Deva Oozham Captain Malayalam 2017Ma Chu Ka ArivazhakanBilingual film 2018 Kinar Shakthivel 2021 Raja Vikramarka Guru Narayan Telugu 2024 Kalki 2898 AD Veeran
Theatre Year Film Role Language Notes2014 Ponniyin Selvan Aditya Karikalan Tamil
Streaming television Year Title Role(s) Language OTT Platform Notes 2021November Story Kulandhai Yesu TamilDisney+ Hotstar Debut Web Series 2023 Dhootha Konidela Sathya Murthy Telugu Amazon Prime Video 2024 Bujji and Bhairava Veeran TeluguAmazon Prime Video2025Kuttram Purindhavan: The Guilty One BhaskarTamilSonyLIV
References
External links
! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Filmfare Awards South