The Top Tamil actors of 2012

In 2012, there were some good, though not excellent, performances by actors in Tamil films. Our pick of the best five:

Sudeep
Film: Naan Ee

Though Naan Ee is a dubbed film (it was originally made in Telugu as Eega), Sudeep's performance is so superlative and far superior to any other actor's in Tamil that it has to be termed as the best performance of the year.

Acting with an imaginary fly in front of him, Sudeep has given an award winning performance in this film.

Film: Thuppakki

Vijay surprised everyone with his suave act in Murugadoss's Thuppakki. It is Vijay's best performance so far.

Film: Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi

Siddharth plays a college-going student in this young love story and gives a good performance.

He is the producer of the film as well and as such needs to be complimented for this cute love story.

Film: Neethane Enn Ponnvasantham

He is 29, but had to act as school boy Varun Krishnan in the first half of Gautham Vasudev Menon's film. Jiiva did it so convincingly. He was endearing and charming as well.

Film: Maattrran

Suriya had to work doubly hard to play both conjoined twins in K V Anand's Maattrraan. Though not his best work, Suriya used different body language and facial expressions effectively to portray the twins.

He was the soul of the film but was let down by a weak script.