Thalapathy Vijay is all set to bid farewell to cinema through ‘Jana Nayagan’, which is directed by H. Vinoth. Ahead of the release, ETimes readers can review some of Vijay’s most famous films that showcase the qualities that transformed him into one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars. If you’re planning to do a Vijay marathon before ‘Jana Nayagan’, these films deserve a spot on your watch list.
‘Kathy’
Released in 2014 and directed by AR Murugadoss, ‘Kathi’ remains one of Vijay’s career defining films. The actor appears in dual roles and beyond its commercial entertainment, the film tackles issues affecting farmers, land acquisition and corruption. Another aspect of the film was Anirudh’s power packed music. After ‘Thuppakki’, Ani delivered another pulse-pounding song in ‘Kathi’, which remains one of the best goosebump-inducing scores ever produced in Tollywood.
‘Thalaivaa’
Directed by AL Vijay, ‘Thalaivaa’ explores the journey of Vishwa, a man whose life changes after unexpected circumstances force him to embrace leadership. The film balances action, emotional drama and family relationships while following the evolution of its central character. Apart from the action pieces, Vijay acted in a raw and realistic style, compared to his other commercial films. “Thalaivaa’s unique blend of drama and mass elements makes it a fan favourite.
‘merald’
Now comes the most commercial film ever in Tollywood – ‘Mersal’.The Atlee directorial, released in 2017, features Vijay in three different roles. The story combines action, emotion and humor while addressing issues related to the healthcare system. The film also became popular for its great visuals, cutting-edge music and several memorable twists.From a dust-raising trailer to the full-length film, ‘Mersal’ is undoubtedly a project on how commercial cinema should be. Atlee knows how to present Vijay on screen with his full charisma and style. The same tactics were applied to SRK’s ‘Jawan’ which received good reviews from the Hindi belt.
‘Sarkar’
Vijay teamed up with AR Murugadoss for ‘Sarkar’, a political action drama focusing on elections, governance and the power of ordinary citizens. The actor plays a successful businessman who unexpectedly finds himself challenging an entire political system.Although “Sarkar” is often considered the weakest film of the AR Murugadoss–Vijay collaboration, it still delivers a relevant message about the importance of voting responsibly.