Selvam

Biography:

Stunt Silva is an Indian stunt actor, action director, and stunt coordinator who has established his presence in various Indian film industries, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, and Sinhala films. His career began with the 2005 Telugu film “Chatrapathi,” directed by S. S. Rajamouli, where he not only performed stunts but also portrayed supporting antagonist roles in subsequent films.

After receiving training as a nurse from Stanley Medical College, Stunt Silva worked as a male nurse in Tuticorin before moving to Chennai’s Vijaya Health Centre in 1990. In pursuit of financial stability, he engaged in various jobs such as being a peon in offices and venturing into the transport business. His entry into the film industry came through a dance choreographer’s suggestion to become a background dancer. However, due to challenges in gaining entry into the dancers’ union, he opted to join the stuntmen’s union instead. Starting as an assistant stunt coordinator, Silva worked alongside renowned stunt choreographer Peter Hein and assisted in films like “Run” (2002) and “Thirumalai” (2003). His turning point came when he aided Rajinikanth in stunts for “Sivaji” (2007).

Director S. S. Rajamouli offered Silva the opportunity to serve as the stunt director for his fantasy film “Yamadonga” (2007), which garnered critical praise. Silva’s expertise and collaboration extended to over a hundred Indian films, where he worked closely with esteemed directors and actors. Notable achievements include his acclaimed chase sequences in “Mankatha” (2011) and consistent collaborations with director Venkat Prabhu. He gained recognition for his work on prestigious projects, marking a “career high” in 2014.

Stunt Silva’s involvement in films isn’t limited to stunt coordination; he has also appeared in supporting antagonist roles. His performances as a henchman in films like “Yamadonga,” “Thalaiva,” “Jilla,” and “Veeram” demonstrated his versatility. He portrayed a gangster character in Gautham Menon’s “Yennai Arindhaal” (2015). Additionally, he took on a leading role in the sports film “Brazil,” which commenced production in 2014.

Originally credited as Selvam and Selva in films, Stunt Silva’s name was mistakenly mentioned as Silva in the credits of “Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa” (2010). Embracing this name, he adopted it as his stage name, recognizing its foreign appeal, which could benefit his career in an industry that often values foreign stunt directors.