Good guys turn baddies in Tamil cinema

This is the season of screen heroes turning villains in Kollywood. After establishing himself quite well as a romantic hero, Prasanna played a gangster in 'Anjathey' and most people who watched his performance were wowed.

Popular Kannada actor Upendra, who rendered several hit films in the neighboring State as hero, has ventured to do a Tamil film 'Sathyam' alongside Vishal. His reportedly has some negative shades in his portrayal.

'Vanam Vasapadum' Karthik does the role of a baddie in 'Ninaithale Inikkum', that stars Prithviraj and Priyamani. Rumors are on that Prithviraj has been approached to do a villain in a Manirathinam flick that stars Vikram and Aishwarya Rai in lead roles. Abhisek Bachchan plays the hero in the Hindi version and Vikram replaces Prithviraj as villain.

Actor Jayaram, hero of several Malayalam and Tamil films, plays a baddie in the 'Jayam' Ravi-starrer 'Dhaam Dhoom'. Gone are the days when villains ventured to play heroes like Rajinikanth, Sathyaraj and so on. It is the other way around in Tamil Cinema now.

Remember Ajith struck stardom playing a negative role in Valee, while Vijay played a villainous character 'Azhagiya Thamizh Magan' and so did Kamal Haasan as a cold-blooded American killer in 'Dasavatharam'.

Has this trend started because so many new heroes are introduced every month pushing many others to don negative roles OR is it because audiences have started liking negative characters?