Guru Somasundaram
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1975-09-03
    • Born Place: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Also Known As:

    Guru Somasundaram, Guru Somasundharam

Guru Somasundaram

Guru Somasundaram (born September 3, 1975) is an acclaimed Indian actor known for his intense and versatile performances across Tamil and Malayalam cinema. A native of Madurai, he spent nearly a decade (2002–2011) honing his craft with the prestigious Tamil theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai, where he was discovered by director Thiagarajan Kumararaja. He made a powerful cinematic debut as the alcoholic Kaalaiyan in the neo-noir cult classic Aaranya Kaandam (2011), for which he underwent a significant physical transformation. He gained further popularity as the eccentric acting coach in Jigarthanda (2014) and delivered a career-defining lead performance as a self-proclaimed president in the political satire Joker (2016), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. In 2021, he achieved pan-Indian fame for his haunting portrayal of the tragic antagonist Shibu in the Malayalam superhero film Minnal Murali, a role that earned him the Asian Academy Creative Award for Best Actor. Over the years, Guru has become a "director's actor," appearing in high-profile projects like Petta (2019) alongside Rajinikanth, and as the public prosecutor in the critically acclaimed Jai Bhim (2021). As of late 2025, he continues to be one of the busiest character actors in the South, having appeared in Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 (2024) and several leading roles in independent films like Bottle Radha and Kudumbasthan (both scheduled for early 2025). He is also part of the massive ensemble cast in the upcoming period political drama Parasakthi (2026). Known for his deep immersion into his characters—often referred to as the "Heath Ledger of Kollywood"—Guru Somasundaram remains a respected figure who seamlessly bridges the gap between commercial blockbusters and meaningful parallel cinema.

Person History