Making a list of 10 means that you have to be unsentimental, especially when it comes to edging out the ones that came really close. It would be unfair to start off with the list without mentioning all those who gave exceptional performances in 2009. Tamannah was the most popular heroine of the year, performing with zest in Kandein Kadhalai and proving her serious portrayal skills in Anandha Thandavam, while Kishore continued his ascent with a polished act as coach in Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu. Lead actors Jayam Ravi, Jiiva and Sarath Kumar surprised us with roles that were completely difeerent from their regular fare in Peranmai, SMS and Pazhassi Raja respectively. New faces Sanusha (Renigunta), Shammu (Kanchivaram), Abhinaya (Naadodigal) and Dharshana (Kunkuma Poovum Konjum Puravum) emerged as promises of the future and Krishnamurthy (Murugan in Naan Kadavul) jolted us out of our assumptions of him being only a comic caper specialist.