Long before the term “pan-India” became the buzzword, collaborations in Indian cinema happened without fuss or fanfare. Especially in the Tamil film industry, actors came together organically, driven by scripts and stories not stardom. One such iconic pairing was Suriya and “Thalapathy” Vijay.

Their journey began with ‘Nerrukku Ner’ (1997), the debut film of Suriya, where Vijay already a rising star shared equal billing. The film, directed by Vasanth, was a commercial success and instantly established Suriya as a talent to watch.

They reunited again in ‘Friends’ (2001), a remake of Siddique’s Malayalam hit playing inseparable best friends. The film became a blockbuster and further cemented their status as crowd-pullers. Although the duo hasn’t appeared together in a feature film since, their off-screen camaraderie has remained strong, rooted in mutual respect and a shared journey from film families into stardom.

But here’s something many may not know: Suriya and Vijay shared screen space once more not in a big-budget feature, but in a powerful short film that left a lasting impact.

In ‘Herova? Zerova?’, a short docudrama produced by Suriya’s Agaram Foundation in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Ministry of Education, the two actors were joined by Jyotika and R Madhavan, playing themselves in a campaign that urged the importance of education. Directed by Priya V, and backed by a dream team, KV Anand (cinematography), Harris Jayaraj (music), Sreekar Prasad (editing), and Na. Muthukumar (lyrics), the short film highlighted how child labour robs children of their basic rights.

In just a few minutes, the short film tells a heart-wrenching story. As students’ names are called during school attendance, the film cuts to reveal the reality: one boy breaking stones, a girl tending to household chores while holding a baby. These children are missing school, and losing out on a future.

Suriya, Vijay, Jyotika, and Madhavan step in as messengers of hope, encouraging these children to embrace education. Their collective message was clear: education turns you from ‘zero to hero’.

Suriya, speaking about the initiative, once said:

“I can’t reach every child in person, but if this short film inspires even one person to support a child’s education, it’s worth it.”







He added:


“We named our foundation ‘Agaram’, the first letter of the Tamil alphabet because every beginning starts with knowledge.”

The impact? More than words.

During the shoot of ‘Singam’, Suriya began reaching out to his circle to raise funds for students. That effort alone brought in Rs. 1 crore. What began as support for 100 students grew to 160 and eventually, to over 6,000 young lives transformed.

Suriya’s humble efforts and sincere belief in giving back have helped 6,378 students receive an education through Agaram Foundation. Of these, 4,800 are first-generation learners, the first in their families to step into a classroom with dreams in their eyes.

In an industry that often celebrates glamour, Suriya chose to celebrate growth, dignity, and education. And in doing so, he gave thousands of children the chance to smile, to learn, and to hope.

Source / Image Credit : Cinema Express , IMDb