Actor Silambasan aka Simbu (also known as STR) gave an emotional speech at the ‘Thug Life’ audio launch held in Chennai on Saturday. For unknown, he will share the screen with Kamal Haasan in Mani Ratnam-Director, which will be released in theaters on 5 June. He was taken to tears thanking his parents and also expressed his gratitude to Kamal Haasan to have a guide light for him and many other talents in the film industry.

Simbu received the most loud cheers at the ‘Thug Life’ event at Sai Ram Engineering College. Even during his speech, he requested his fans several times to tone it so that he could continue his speech.

The actor, who has been entangled in many controversies, started his speech, thanking Madras Talkies, Suhasini Mani Ratnam and Mahendran of Raj Kamal International. He further talked about his co-stars and reserved his best speech for AR Rahman, Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan.

Thanking Rahman, he said, “Sir, I have troubled you since childhood. I still do. When my beep song came out, everyone knew that it was a annoying time. At that time, they had to travel elsewhere. But, he canceled and worked on a song. He did the Thalli Pogathe Song (Symbu’s ‘Achmhamadude’.

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“Cheka Shivantha Vamanam actor remembered the time when R Rahman gave him a chance to sing in his film:” Apart from my father (T Rajendar), if anyone was the one who called me to sing, it was that. He gave me his first chance as a singer and till now I have 150 songs in many languages. “

When he talked about Mani Ratnam, Simbu told everyone an anecdote. “He took a film called ‘Anjali’, and it acted by the children. A Telugu child artist played the lead role. I started crying after watching the film. I felt sad that I was not a part of the film despite being a child artist here. At that time, I felt that he would never call me. At that time I met the Madras of Mani Ratnam.

Simbu also revealed that Mani Ratnam told every story after ‘Cheka Shivath Vanam’. He further said, “But I could not do PS (Ponianin Selvan). Even when he brought me a ‘thug life’, I could not say yes because I was growing my hair. Later when it was introduced me once again and I knew that it was Kamal Haasan Sir, I did.

The actor of ‘Paththu Tala’ recalled Kamal Haasan’s statement how he calls himself a student of cinema. “We keep saying that we have a lot to learn from him. But he keeps calling himself a student. Even if he was a student, we will continue to learn from him. There is a scene (in a ‘thug life), for which I needed to copy Kamal Sir. I encouraged me to talk like him, and me to talk like him.

Simbu continued, “There is a shot where Kamal sir and I hold each other’s throat. I went to many people because I could not catch his throat that I could hurt him. Sorry Kamal Sir, this is because of Mani Sir. I can learn a lot from Kamal Sir.”

It was while talking about his parents that Simbu became emotional. “I want to thank my father, T Rajendra, and mother, Usha Rajendra. I thank him for doing the right acting since childhood. I felt sad to see other children leading the normal life going to school.

Repeating the famous dialogue with ‘Thug Jeevan’ – ‘Inimel inga naan dan Rangraya Sathivale (I am from now on Sakathivale) -, Simbu approved the air about him to replace Kamal Haasan in cinema.

“I have a lot of nonsense that I will take his place in particular after the release of the trailer. There is a film called ‘Thewar Magan’ starring Shivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan. Shivaji sir was a great man and ever since Kamal Sir acted in it, he cannot even take his place. I can not take them in his place, I can work hard and make them hard.

Finally, Simbu concluded his speech by thanking his fans. “My fans, I have promised you that I will be proud of you. ‘Thug Life’ is a beginning in that direction. I will make sure that I do not delay in my films.

‘Thug Life’ is ready for a grand release on 5 June.