Stunt Silva

Stunt Silva
Born (1973-06-06) June 6, 1973
OccupationsAction Director, Actor
Years active1997 – present

Stunt Silva is an Indian stunt actor, action director and stunt co-ordinator who has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Nepali, Hindi films. 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).[3]

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

Year Nominated Movie Language Award Category Results
2011 Mankatha Tamil South Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMA &

Vijay Television Awards

Best Action Choreography Nominated
2012 Vettai Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Stunt Coordinator Won
3 South Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMA &

Vijay Television Awards

Best Action Choreography Nominated
2013 Vettai South Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMA Best Action Choreography Nominated
2014 Veeram Vijay Television Awards Best Stunt Director Nominated
Jilla Vijay Television Awards Best Stunt Director Nominated
Anjaan South Indian International Movie Awards — SIIMA Best Fight Choreographer Nominated
2015 Baji Marathi International Marathi Film Festival Awards — IMFFA Best Action Won
Vedhalam Tamil Edison Awards Best Action Choreography Won
2022 Chithirai Sevvanam Edison Awards Best Debut Director Won

Filmography

Stunt director, and director

Year Title Language Notes
2007 Yamadonga Telugu
2008 Pourudu Telugu
Yaaradi Nee Mohini Tamil
Homam Telugu
Hare Ram Telugu
Souryam Telugu
Saroja Tamil
Arai Enn 305-il Kadavul Tamil
2009 Kadhalna Summa Illai Tamil
Eeram Tamil
Sankham Telugu
Drona Telugu
Rechipo Telugu
2010 Police Police Telugu
Shambo Shiva Shambo Telugu
Ye Maaya Chesave Telugu
Kedi Telugu
Goa Tamil
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Tamil
Panchakshari Telugu
Vamsam Tamil
2011 Anaganaga O Dheerudu Telugu
Nadunisi Naaygal Tamil
Vaanam Tamil
Venghai Tamil Nominated for SIIMA Award
Mankatha Tamil Nominated for SIIMA and Vijay Awards
Osthe Tamil
Velayutham Tamil
2012 Ek Deewana Tha Hindi
The King & the Commissioner Malayalam
Murattu Kaalai Tamil
3 Tamil
2013 Naayak Telugu
Thalaivaa Tamil
Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Tamil
Biriyani Tamil
2014 Jilla Tamil Nominated for Vijay Awards
Veeram Tamil Nominated for Vijay Awards
Mr. Fraud Malayalam
RajadhiRaja Malayalam
Bramman Tamil
Anjaan Tamil Nominated for Vijay Awards
Oru Oorla Rendu Raja Tamil
2015 Yennai Arindhaal Tamil
Baji Marathi
Vai Raja Vai Tamil
Maari Tamil
Yatchan Tamil
Loham Malayalam
Kaaval Tamil
Idhu Enna Maayam Tamil
Thani Oruvan Tamil
Uppu Karuvaadu Tamil
Thanga Magan Tamil
Vedalam Tamil
Massu Engira Masilamani Tamil
2016 Style Malayalam
Oppam Malayalam
Oozham Malayalam
Kasaba Malayalam
Rajini Murugan Tamil
Chakravyuha Kannada
Thozha Tamil
Kodi Tamil
Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada Tamil
2017 Kuttram 23 Tamil
Power Paandi Tamil
Vanamagan Tamil
Ivan Thanthiran Tamil
Yuddham Sharanam Telugu
Masterpiece Malayalam
Oxygen Telugu
Jawaan Telugu
2018 Street Lights Malayalam
Kammara Sambhavam Malayalam
Diya / Kanam Tamil / Telugu
Parole Malayalam
Abrahaminte Santhathikal Malayalam
Lakshmi Tamil
2.0 Tamil
Saamy Square Tamil
Maari 2 Tamil
2019 Lucifer Malayalam
Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel Malayalam
Oru Yamandan Premakadha Malayalam
LKG Tamil
Boomerang Tamil
Watchman Tamil
Love Action Drama Malayalam
Aruvam Tamil
Enai Noki Paayum Thota Tamil
2020 Big Brother Malayalam
Shylock Malayalam
Dagaalty Tamil
Mookuthi Amman Tamil
2021 Master Tamil
Tughlaq Durbar Tamil
Thalaivii Tamil / Hindi
MGR Magan Tamil
Maanaadu Tamil
Thalli Pogathey Tamil Uncredited role
Chithirai Sevvanam Tamil Released on Zee5; Also writer and director
2022 Maaran Tamil
Thiruchitrambalam Tamil
Godfather Telugu
Monster Malayalam
Kaapa Malayalam
Ottu Malayalam
Rendagam Tamil
Malikappuram Malayalam
2023 Rudhran Tamil [8]
Chengiz Bengali
2024 Mission: Chapter 1 Tamil
12 Gaun Nepali
DNA Malayalam
Baby John Hindi
2025 Paranthu Po Tamil [9]
L2: Empuraan Malayalam
Bazooka Malayalam
Thudarum Malayalam
Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 Telugu
They Call Him OG Telugu [10]
Diesel Tamil

As an actor

Year Title Role Language Notes
2002 Naya Anubhav Hindi Uncredited appearance[11]
2004 7/G Rainbow Colony Tamil / Telugu
2005 Chatrapathi Telugu
2005 Anniyan Passerby Tamil
2006 Ashok Telugu
2006 Bommarillu Rajesh Telugu
2007 Yamadonga Telugu
2010 Kedi Telugu
2010 Panchakshari Telugu
2011 Margazhi 16 Tamil
2011 Velayutham Tamil
2012 Murattu Kaalai Tamil
2013 Thalaivaa Tamil
2013 Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya Kolaveri David Tamil
2014 Jilla Tamil
2014 Veeram Tamil
2014 Mr. Fraud Malayalam
2014 Oru Oorla Rendu Raja Hitman Tamil
2015 Yennai Arindhaal Matthew Tamil
2015 Baji Marathi
2015 Yatchan Tamil
2015 Massu Engira Masilamani Prince Tamil
2016 Style Malayalam
2017 Kuttram 23 Tamil
2017 Power Paandi Tamil
2017 Ivan Thanthiran Tamil
2018 Street Lights Malayalam
2018 Diya / Kanam Tamil / Telugu Uncredited role
2018 Maari 2 Tamil
2019 Watchman Tamil
2019 Aruvam Tamil
2020 Dagaalty Tamil
2021 Maanaadu Tamil
2021 Thalli Pogathey Tamil Uncredited role
2022 Thiruchitrambalam Tamil
2023 Karungaapiyam Tamil
2024 12 Gaun Drug Dealer Nepali
2024 DNA Malayalam

References

  1. ^ "Silva Interview". behindwoods.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
  2. ^ Paitandy, Priyadarshini (3 June 2014). "Lord of the stunts". The Hindu.
  3. ^ a b "In the Line of Fire: The Stunt Silva interview". 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b "- Tamil News". Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Stunt Sliva on a career high after 'Jilla' and 'Veeram'". Sify. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Ajith has the habit of taking risks, says Stunt Silva". Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  7. ^ "- Tamil News". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  8. ^ Rudhran First Look Wall Poster, retrieved 30 June 2022
  9. ^ Kumar, Akshay (23 May 2025). "Aju Varghese makes his Tamil debut with Ram's Paranthu Po". Cinema Express. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  10. ^ Entertainment, DVV (22 September 2025). "They Call Him OG Trailer - Pawan Kalyan, Emraan Hashmi, Sujeeth, Thaman S, DVV Danayya". Youtube. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Naya Anubhav (2002) | Hindi Movie | Anuradha, Rosy, Chitra, Kamala". YouTube. 10 August 2014.