Prasanth is known in Tamil filmdom and to his fans as "Kathal Ilavarasan" (the prince of love) for his success as an actor has come mostly through romantic subjects. His debut film was in 1990 when he starred in 'Vaigasi Poranthachu' and it went on to become a big hit and soon it was Prasanth in yet another hit 'Chembaruthi' directed by Selvamani. 'Vanna Pookal' by Balu Mahendra won the best regional film at the national level and gave Prasanth yet another hit.

The young actor was in demand. He signed many films which later on did not help him much in his career. Sathya movies 'Enga Thambi', Thirupur Mani's 'Unkahhe Piranthen', Manivannan's 'Raasa Maghan', Manoj Kumar's 'Senthamizh Selvan' and Selvamani's 'Kanmani'. All of these films proved to be duds at the box office. Many said that it was the end of the young actor mainly because of his bad choice. When a lot was expected of Manirathinam's 'Thiruda Thiruda' to push Prasanth's career it only pulled him down because it took one year to make and when it was released the film bombed.

And at the same time this young man was acting in an offbeat Malayalam film 'Perunthachan' which won the best film award in Kerala and he was also doing Telugu films like 'Tholi Muddu' (Divya Bharathi) 'Prema Prasantham', 'Prema Sikaram', 'Premapattam', 'Allariprema' as well in Hindi films like 'I Love You' and 'Anto Kapremyuth'. Prasanth accepting offers from other language films without even establishing himself in Tamil was considered a bad move and was a stumbling block initially.

Yet another bad move was that Prasanth had signed Shankar's 'Jeans' and for three years he was not doing any other films. This many felt was very unwise because he was putting all his eggs in one basket. The gambit paid off and the film 'Jeans' celebrated 100 days run in Singapore and Malayasia and silver jubilee runs in ten theatres in Chennai. Once again Prasanth was at the top. Today he has turned down directors like Rajiv Menon and Manirathnam because he does not like their stories. His 'Kathal Kavithai' has also become a hit. Currently he is working for Selva and has signed with Praveen Gandhi for his film 'Jodi'.

Prasanth led a sheltered life and was so innocent that he did not even know how to find his way around Chennai. His entire career was managed by his father Thiagarajan who is himself a producer-actor-director. Prasanth's father had him trained in martial arts and other forms of fighting like Silambu, Kalari and in gymnastics, roller skating, horse riding, swimming and yatching. When he entered films he was trained in all forms of sports and was also skilled in Bharatanatyam. All he needed was Lady dame Luck to smile on him and he would make it. Added to that, Prasanth had studied in Trinity College of Music, London.

'Kannithirey Thondrinal' produced by Sivasakthi Pandian is yet another film released recently and proved to be a big hit. Today he has regular producers who sign him and they are those who have the capacity to produce the film and take it to the theatres without distributors. Cheran has signed him for 'Iniya Kadhalarghal'. Now Prasanth has decided to undergo a change of image by trying out action films. He is on the lookout for subjects which are unique and offer him good scope to show his multifaceted talents. To those who are interested in talking to him on the net, access him at Tyson@md2.vpsnl.net.in. Prasanth now aged 24 has so far completed 39 films and is today all set to rise to new heights as a star under the guidance and shrewd tutelage of his father Thiagarajan.

He is the current hot flavour among teenagers. Call him lover Boy or call him chocolate hero, Prashanth has certainly floored teenagers in the South. Actor-producer-and director Thyagarajan's son certainly is a sensation: At 25years of age, he already has 43 successful films to his credit in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.

Take a look at Prashanth's resume first. A Bharatanatyam exponent, he is trained in an array of martial art forms from Kung Fu to Karate (a Black Belt no less!), and from Silambam to Kalahari. Gymnast, roller-skater, and an expert in horseriding and rowing! And if all that does not impress you, here is some morePrashanth is also a high board driver and a long distance sea swimmer. He has a penchant for music and plays several instruments. In fact, he passed third grade in music (piano) from the Trinity College of Music, London.

Prashanth captured the popular attention with his very first film. Vaigasi Poranthachi was not only a silver jubilee hit, the film won him the best new face award for 1990. From there on, it was history. For Prashanth would set landmarks down the years over the past decade. Sample a few: His second film, Balu Mahendra's Vaana Vaana Pookal, won the National Award for 1991. The super success of his fourth film, Chembaruthi, established Prashanth as one of the top heroes in the industry. His winning spree continued with Sathya Movies Enga Thambi, Thirpur Mani's Unakkaga Piranthen, Manivannan's Rasamagan, Manoj Kumar's Senthamizh Selvan, R K Selvamani's Kanmani and Mani Rathnam's Thiruda Thiruda. All this, and he was only 22 years old!

Prashanth has made forays into Bollywood with I Love You, Anokha Premyudh and dubbed hits such as Chor Chor. His first Malayalam attempt, Perunthacham, won a National Award and Prashanth was overnight popular in Kerala as well.

The actor's god show is evident in his Telugu ventures too. Tholi Muddu (with Divya Bharthi), Prema Vijayam, Laathi, Prema Sikkaram, Prema Padam, Allari Prema and Mani Rathnam's Donga Donga have put Prashanth in the Telugu big league too.

Perhaps it has something to do with the judgment Prashanth shows in selecting his films. Till date, he is yet to do a role where he might have seemed miscast, or a film that did not befit his potential.

The best of Prashanth so far certainly must be Anazhagan, directed by his father Thyagarajan. The film presented Prashanth in a very different and unexpected dimension. Maanava saw another great performance. When ace tennis star-turned-Hollywood producer, Ashok Amritraj launched Jeans, one of the costliest films ever made and starring Aishwarya Rai, Prashanth was the obvious choice. The Shankar-directed film was made in three languages, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. Jeans celebrated a silver jubilee run down south. By then, Prashanth had reached an unshakable position in the tinsel world.

The Tamil Nadu government conferred the prestigious Kalaimani Award on Prashanth. He is incidentally the youngest star to receive the honour.