Snehan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1stExecutive committee member of MNM | |
| Assumed office 2018 | |
| President | Kamal Haasan |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sivaselvam (1978-06-23)23 June 1978 (age 46) Pudhukariyapatti,Tamil Nadu,India |
| Political party | Makkal Needhi Maiam |
| Spouse | Kannika Ravi |
| Occupation | Tamil Poet, Tamil lyricist, Tamil actor, Tamil playback singer, Tamil politician |
| Website | Official website |
Snehan (bornSivaselvam) is the 1stexecutive committee member ofMakkal Needhi Maiam party. In the year 2018 he entered politics with Makkal Needhi Maiam and contested in the Lok Sabha election. In2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, he contested on behalf of Makkal Needhi Maiam as a candidate for Virugambakkam Constituency. Born as the eighth son in a farmer family with 6 elder brothers and 1 elder sister, Snehan, a qualified Intermediate teacher, started to write songs in the year 2000. After serving as an assistant to poetVairamuthu, he began working as a lyricist in the filmPutham Pudhiya Poove and has written lyrics for more than 2500 songs and has worked in more than 750 films. Snehan has since also appeared in films as an actor and made his acting debut withYogi (2009).[1]
Sivaselvam was born in a small village in theThanjavur district, the youngest of 8 sons into anagricultural family.[2] He later changed his name to Snehan, because it translates literally to "man of love"[3]
Moving toChennai, Snehan first worked as a protégé to noted poet and lyricistVairamuthu for five years. Later, he worked as the editor of Ilanthendral, a monthly magazine for three years. At the book release function of his worksMudhal Adhyayam andInnum Pengal Azhaga Irukkirargal in 1995, he was asked byK. Balachander to write songs in films and he got the chance from music directorS. A. Rajkumar to write lyrics for the filmPutham Puthu Poove, which eventually did not have a theatrical release. He has since written more than 2500 songs for more than 500 films, working with various directors and music composers in theTamil film industry.[2] He first garnered acclaim for his songs in the art filmPenngal (2000) and the dubbed filmKandein Seethaiyai (2001), before making a breakthrough with his song "Avaravar Vazhkaiyil" fromCheran's family dramaPandavar Bhoomi (2001). Other successful early songs written by Snehan were from the albumDhaya and the dance number "Chumma Chumma" inCharlie Chaplin (2002) which was picturised onPrabhu Deva andGayathri Raghuram.[2] He received further acclaim in the early 2000s with his collaboration withAmeer andYuvan Shankar Raja inMounam Pesiyadhe (2002) and then for the "Kalyanamdhaan Kattikittu" song inHarris Jayaraj's albumSaamy (2003).[2] His work in Ameer'sRaam (2005) also won critical acclaim, with the song "Aarariro" earning him plaudits.[3] He later released more books includingIppadium Irukkalam andPuthagam.[3]
He then turned actor for the film action dramaYogi, for which he has also written all the lyrics, as his friend and lead actor of the film,Ameer Sultan, gave him the opportunity. For the same film, Snehan became a playback singer as well, lending his vocals to a song. Portraying a rustic character named Sadayan, the character was well received by audiences.[4] Following his appearance inYogi, Snehan chose to pursue a career as an actor and looked for roles where he would play the protagonist.[5] In order to prepare for his stint as an actor, he trained under stunt choreographer Power Pandian to practise action scenes and learnt salsa dancing.[6] His next release, the crime thrillerUyarthiru 420 (2011), saw him appear in the lead role in which his voice was dubbed bySanjeev oppositeMeghana Raj but the film fared poorly at the box office and received negative reviews. In regard to his performance, a critic fromSify wrote, "the chemistry between the lead pair is zero" and added, "though Snehan attempts and succeeds to be stylish in the songs, his wooden face, long hair, patchy makeup and dark glasses in almost every frame is a big let down".[7][8]
In 2013, Snehan began working on a historical film titledRaja Raja Chozhanin Porval directed by R. S. Amudheswar, which would feature music byIlaiyaraaja. The team began shoot in mid-2013 and planned to bring in actressesShriya Saran,Sneha and newcomer Naatiya to play leading female roles opposite Snekan. However, the film was subsequently shelved after it ran into financial trouble.[9] In 2015, he then started work on a film titledBommi Veeran directed by Ramesh Maharajan, where he would portray akattaikkuttu dancer. Like his previous film, the film ran intro financial trouble and the shoot remains on hold.[10]
In 2017, Snehan took part in the Tamil reality television showBigg Boss hosted byKamal Haasan and finished as the runner-up.[11] During the show, Snehan announced a proposal to build a library in interior Tamil Nadu with the prize money, if the audience were to vote for him to win the show. Despite his failure to win the show, he began work on the library in Tanjore during November 2017.[12] He later announced that he would appear in the lead role in a film titledPanangkaattu Nari opposite his fellow Bigg Boss contestant,Oviya, but the project did not develop.[13]
Later in 2022, he returned as a contestant inBigg Boss Ultimate (season 1) which is one of theUltimate series ofBigg Boss Tamil.
On 21 February 2018, during the launch ofKamal Haasan's political partyMakkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) at the Othakadai Grounds inMadurai, Snehan officially joined the party and became the party's executive committee member. Snehan made his speech and said, "The crowd in front of me has gathered only for the love of Kamal Haasan. This is the real, Thaanaa Serndha Koottam. Kamal sir, will be the best friend for every citizen in the State.Yaadhum Oorey, Yaavarum Keleer. Let us spread love to all with the fullest happiness".[14][15] Snehan wrote the lyrics of the party's anthem "Idhu Nammavar Padai".[16] At the2019 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, he contested fromSivaganga as a candidate of the Makkal Needhi Maiam.[17]
In 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, he is contesting on behalf of Makkal Needhi Maiam as a candidate for Virugambakkam Constituency
Snehan electoral performances in the Indian general elections (Lok Sabha).
| Year | Election | Party | PC Name | Result | Votes gained | Vote % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 17th Lok Sabha | Makkal Needhi Maiam | Sivaganga | 5th place | 22,951 | 2.1 | |
