Career
He made his debut with the 2007 Telugu film, Yamadonga, directed by South. South. Rajamouli and has since also made appearances in films, portraying a supporting antagonist. After training as a male nurse at Stanley Medical College, Silva began working as a ward boy at hospitals in his home town of Tuticorin before joining Vijaya Health Centre in Chennai in 1990. He also pursued work as a peon in offices and dabbled in a transport business to keep a float financially.
In 2002, he met a dance choreographer from the film industry who advised him to sign up as a background dancer in films.
He took up dance lessons at Paul Raj"s school but was unable to gain access into the dancers" union and instead, as a means of making any sort of money, opted to apply for membership with the union for stuntmen. Silva then began working as an assistant to stunt choreographer Peter Hein in Run (2002) and Thirumalai (2003), and choose to leave his hospital ward boy duties.
During his time an assistant, he notably appeared as Vikram"s body double in Anniyan (2005) and helped Rajinikanth perform stunts in Sivaji (2007). He has since gone on to work in over one hundred Indian films as the lead stunt director, working with leading directors and actors.
Stunt Silva has also featured in films portraying a supporting antagonist.
After being seen as a henchman in Yamadonga (2007), Thalaiva (2013), Jilla (2014) and Veeram (2014), he portrayed the role of a gangster in Gautham Menon"s Yennai Arindhaal (2015). He was also revealed to be a playing a leading role in the sports film, Brazil, which began production in 2014. Stunt Silva was credited in films under his original name, Selvam, and also as Selva, before being mistakenly referred to as Silva in the credits of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) by Gautham Menon.
He has subsequently chosen to adapt it as a stage name, noting that the industry"s fixation with foreign stunt directors, meant that a foreign sounding name would benefit him.
As an Stunt Director and actor.
