T. SURIAVELAN
T. Suriavelan (born 25 June 1992) is a Singaporean filmmaker, television director, actor, composer, lyricist, and producer. Primarily associated with the Tamil entertainment industry, he has established himself across feature films, television serials, music videos, and digital productions. Known for his versatility, Suriavelan regularly handles multiple creative responsibilities within a single project, including directing, writing, producing, acting, composing, and lyric writing.
He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 360 Entertainment Productions, a Singapore-based production company involved in film production, television programming, music videos, advertisements, and digital entertainment.
Early life and education
Born on 25 June 1992 in Singapore to Tamil parents, Suriavelan was raised in a culturally grounded environment that inspired his early interest in cinema, storytelling, and the performing arts.
He completed a Diploma in Biomedical Engineering at Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore. Although his academic background was in engineering, he eventually shifted into the entertainment industry, blending his technical education with his passion for creative expression.
Television
In 2026, Suriavelan wrote and directed Must Date the Playboy, a coming-of-age romantic drama series for Mediacorp Vasantham, adapted from the Philippine novel of the same title by Imma Delos Santos. The 28-episode series also featured two original songs, Oru Murai and Thalli Pogura, both written and composed by Suriavelan.
Prior to this, he directed, wrote, produced, and acted in Naam 2 (2022), following Naam (2020), where he similarly undertook multiple creative responsibilities. During the same period, he also wrote and directed the six-episode romantic comedy Mitara (2020), produced under Singapore's Stories4SG initiative.
His directorial breakthrough came with Avathaaram (2019), following the development of Avathaaram (Pilot) through Vasantham Muthal Paarvai, a Mediacorp Vasantham initiative created to encourage original television storytelling. The series received a strong response from audiences and secured nominations in nine categories at Pradhana Vizha 2021, including Best Drama and Best Director. Suriavelan also received a nomination in the Most Popular Male Personality category.
Earlier in his career, he appeared as an actor in Bommalattam (2019), Yaar? (Season 2) (2018), Kalaba Kadhala (2018), Vetri (Season 3) (2016), and Neeya (2015). These productions were broadcast on Mediacorp Vasantham and its digital streaming platforms.
Film career
Suriavelan made his feature film directorial debut in 2017 with the Tamil film Joe: The Black Assassin.
Apart from directing, he also served as its writer, actor, producer, and lyricist. The film became one of Singapore's notable Tamil independent productions after achieving a sold-out screening in a 1,000-seat theatre and completing a theatrical run of 21 days in Singapore and 14 days in Malaysia.
Among the film's soundtrack, the song Saaral Mazhaiyaa, written by Suriavelan, received recognition for its poetic lyrics.
Music videos and music career
Suriavelan's most recent music works include Oru Murai and Thalli Pogura from Must Date the Playboy (2026), for which he served as composer, lyricist, singer, and director.
His work on the Naam series includes Kannoram (2022), Adi Penne (Reprise) (2022), Adi Penne (Duet) (2021), Adi Penne (Dad's Love) (2021), En Anbe (2021), Alli Pookal (2021), One Love One Life (2020), and Enakku Mattum (2020).
His earlier releases include Vilagathey (2019), Uyarai Kettal (2019), Sagiyae (2018), Kannu Rendum (2018), Saaral Mazhaiyaa (2017), and Usuraiya Tholaichaen (2017). While lyric writing has remained a defining feature of most of his music productions, his work as a composer and singer has expanded across television and digital projects.
Artistic style
Suriavelan is recognized for blending narrative storytelling with music-oriented themes while frequently managing multiple creative roles within the same production. His body of work is primarily created for Tamil-speaking audiences in Singapore, while also reaching viewers across Malaysia, India, and the wider global Tamil diaspora.
Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Actor | Producer | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Joe: The Black Assassin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Actor | Producer | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Must Date the Playboy | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2022 | Naam 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2020 | Naam | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2020 | Mitara | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 2019 | Bommalattam | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| 2019 | Avathaaram | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| 2019 | Avathaaram (Pilot) | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| 2018 | Yaar? (Season 2) | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| 2018 | Kalaba Kadhala | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| 2016 | Vetri (Season 3) | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
| 2015 | Neeya | — | — | ✓ | — | — |
Music videos
The table below lists Suriavelan's notable songs to date, organized by the film or series they belong to, with his specific role on each track — as lyricist, composer, and singer.
| Song | Film / Series | Year | Suriavelan's Role(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oru Murai | Must Date the Playboy | 2026 | Composer, Lyricist, Singer | ✓ |
| Thalli Pogura | Must Date the Playboy | 2026 | Composer, Lyricist, Singer | ✓ |
| Kannoram | Naam Series | 2022 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Adi Penne (Reprise) | Naam Series | 2022 | Composer, Lyricist | ✓ |
| Adi Penne (Duet) | Naam Series | 2021 | Composer, Lyricist | ✓ |
| Adi Penne (Dad's Love) | Naam Series | 2021 | Composer, Lyricist | ✓ |
| En Anbe | Naam Series | 2021 | Composer, Lyricist | ✓ |
| Alli Pookal | Naam Series | 2021 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| One Love One Life | Naam Series | 2020 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Enakku Mattum | Naam Series | 2020 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Vilagathey | Standalone Single | 2019 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Uyarai Kettal | Avathaaram | 2019 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Sagiyae | Standalone Single | 2018 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Kannu Rendum | Standalone Single | 2018 | Lyricist, Singer | ✓ |
| Saaral Mazhaiyaa | Joe: The Black Assassin | 2017 | Lyricist | ✓ |
| Usuraiya Tholaichaen | Standalone Single | 2017 | Lyricist | ✓ |
Awards and recognition
- 15th Edison Awards — Won the Standout Performer Award
- Special Digital Recognition Award 2022 — Won for Naam
- Content Creator of the Year 2022 — Won for Naam and Adi Penne
- Content of the Year 2022 — Won for Naam and Adi Penne
- Pradhana Vizha 2021 — Nominated for Best Director (Avathaaram)
- Pradhana Vizha 2021 — Avathaaram nominated for Best Drama
- Pradhana Vizha 2021 — Nominated for Most Popular Male Personality
- Joe: The Black Assassin — Achieved a sold-out screening at a 1,000-seat theatre and completed successful theatrical runs in Singapore and Malaysia.
Media coverage
- https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/audience-willing-read-subtitles-actor-t-suriavelan-1st-english-drama-come-closer-tamil-shows-wider-audience
- https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/must-date-playboy-cast-meet-greet-jul-18-585971
- https://www.channelnewsasia.com/listen/cna938-rewind/wattpad-vasantham-mediacorps-tamil-drama-must-date-playboy-6086256?page=96
- https://www.mediacorp.sg/media-releases/mediacorps-first-wattpad-adaptation-tamil-drama-must-date-playboy-attracts-over-100-million-global-views-189541
External links
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9545893/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suriavelanofficial/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suria_velan/
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