'If I wanted to be an actor, I had to make a film like this': Suriya names five 10/10 films

Actor Suriya has revealed the five films he considers perfect 10-on-10, explaining how each left a lasting impression on him as both an actor and a movie lover.

During an interaction with The Hollywood Reporter India, Suriya picked Sethu, Eega, Lagaan, Kaakha Kaakha and Dhurandhar as the films that earned a perfect score from him, sharing the personal stories behind every choice.

Leading his list was Bala's Sethu, starring Chiyaan Vikram. Suriya recalled being deeply moved by Vikram's performance and said it became the benchmark he wanted to achieve in his own career.

"I thought, if at all I'm going to be this actor in this industry, then I should be giving such a film. I should be this actor, I should work with this director and my audience should see something like this," he said.

His second pick was S.S. Rajamouli's Eega. Suriya said films like Eega change the way the industry thinks about cinema. While many films are made for success, fame and entertainment, he said, there are occasions when a filmmaker and a team redefine what's possible. Calling Eega one such film, he praised Rajamouli for creating a "mind-blowing" cinematic experience with a housefly as the protagonist instead of a conventional hero. He also lauded the filmmaker's faith in the concept and the extensive research and visual effects work that brought it to life.

Suriya also included Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan in his list, saying he had heard so much about the film before finally watching it in theatres. Despite its runtime of nearly three hours and 40 minutes, he described it as "one awesome entertainment" and marvelled at how the makers had pulled off such a large-scale cinematic experience.

His fourth choice was Gautham Vasudev Menon's Kaakha Kaakha, which he described as the first "cult film" he came across early in his career. Recalling the experience of working on the film, Suriya said it was also special because it marked the period when he and Jyothika fell in love and got to know each other better.

Rounding off his list was Dhurandhar. Suriya praised the film's writing, filmmaking and overall craftsmanship, saying every department excelled and that the team behind the film had made everyone "very, very proud."

The actor shared his IMDb watchlist during a wide-ranging conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, where he also reflected on his 27-year journey in cinema, discussed his upcoming projects and spoke about the evolution of his career.