The question we have used as a headline is probably in the minds if not on the lips of many a lover of Tamil cinema. When Jiiva was first introduced by his father, R. B. Chowdhary in Aasai Aasaiyai` in 2003, people dismissed him as just another producer son and even denounced him for his Saitu paiyan` looks.

One more film and a couple of years later when the launch posters of Ameer`s Raam` were pasted all over nobody guessed the actor and when the film hit the screens people were stunned into silence by the brilliant performance unfolding on the screens. A great performer was born and was christened Best Actor at the Cyprus International Film Festival, a feat that was achieved only once before by a certain actor called Sivaji Ganesan. Need we say more?.

Jiiva followed up Raam` with Dishyum` in which he lived the role of Bhaskar a movie stunt man. He walked straight into the hearts of the audiences in the role of Jaikumar the tragic army man in Aran`. Then came E` which one can say quite confidently is a role that has never been attempted in South Indian cinema at least for S.P. Jananathan`s Easwaran will not think twice about lending his lover (Nayanthara) to anyone who can pay a sum to him or betray his closest friend for the same reason. Yet this undesirable character was played with such conviction Jiiva that the audience rooted for him in the end when his character arc takes place.

After a forgettable Pori` came Katradhu Tamizh` the masterpiece by director Ram in which Jiiva again gave a riveting performance as Prabhakar the Tamil fanatic who suffers from dementia. Praises poured from all quarters and all of a sudden the actor disappeared and in his place stood a wannabe star dabbled in such disasters as Thenavettu` and Rameshwaram`.

M. Rajesh woke Jiiva up and again the actor came to life in Siva Manasula Sakthi` which has now become a cult classic and who else could have done better justice to the role of the local courier boy.

Kacheri Arambam`, Singam Puli`, Rowthiram, Vandhaan Vendraan`, Mugamoodi`, Neethaane En Ponvasantham` and Yaan`, too many bad choices that weigh down Ko` and the brilliantly emoted Endrendrum Punnagai`.

Jiiva is easily the best actor among his generation as evidenced by the extraordinary characters with different shades that he has portrayed which no other actor can claim. His performances, even in bad films (NEP` comes to mind) is flawless. One hopes that Jiiva starts making the right choices from now on as Tamil cinema needs a good natural actor (we have a truck load of entertainers we can live with). We are badly in need of someone like Rama Krishnan, Easwaran, Bhaskar, Prabhakar, Siva, Sevarkodi Senthil, David and Gowtham Sridhar who can touch us and move us without seeming to do so.

IG wishes Jiiva the Special Actor the very Best for his forthcoming Thirunaal` and Kavalai Vendaam` which we hope will bring us back the Real Jiiva.