10 Best Vijay Thalapathy Tamil Movies of His Career

Why Kollywood Fans Love Thalapathy Vijay

The best part, there is something so electric about a Vijay Thalapathy film that you cannot sit in silence. For a lot of us, the FDFS(First Day, First Show) is nothing short of a festival! His career has been made up of masala and mass moments, emotional stories and those songs that get us shaking a leg, whether we’re in the theater or our living room. He has an easy style, a razor-sharp delivery in dialogue and is one of those magnetic screen presences. From romantic blockbusters to action-packed entertainers, Vijay has made a statement in each of the characters he has played. So, be it you’re a Thalapathy fan through and through or you want to find out about these epic Tamil movies, this is a much needed deep dive into the 10 best Tamil movies of Vijay (Thalapathy) which hit the screen on fire.

10 Best Vijay Movies Of His Career

1) Thuppakki (2012)

In the grander scheme of things, you’re not really a Thalapathy fan if you haven’t watched this Sujoy Ghosh helmer film. This AR Murugadoss directorial changed the face of action thrillers in Kollywood. Vijay takes on the role of Jagadish, an army Jawan who comes home on leave and uncovers a terrorist conspiracy, combining some brains to go with the brawn in true Murugadoss style. The screenplay is fast-paced, every turning point, like those famous “I’m waiting” moments, or one of the chase scenes, keeps you on the edge.

What sets Thuppakki apart is not just that action. It’s Vijay's smart and even a little cocky performance, cooled down by his grounded family man side. The interval block is of legendary status as well as the final cat-and-mouse confrontation. Vidyut Jammwal’s villainy dovetails so well with Vijay’s heroics that every confrontation is a festival. There is comic relief and romance between Jayaram, Sathyan and Kajal Aggarwal that manages to hold the story down with familiar family sentiments.

With Harris Jayaraj’s music and Santosh Sivan’s cinematography, Thuppakki appears stylish and grandeur. The “Google Google” song was playing on every speakers and that meme-worthy “This is called Mission Impossible” dialogue felt different to hear. And, more significantly, Thuppakki saw Vijay casting off his chocolate boy image to play the smart mass hero and it worked. Not only is this movie about as fan-friendly a work of popular art that has ever been made, it’s also a sterling example of how commercial movies can still excite and surprise and be for the ages. Small wonder film fans are still raving about it.

2) Ghilli (2004)

Ask any hard-core fan of Tamil cinema to recall the last time they whistled in a movie theater, nine out of 10 are likely to say “Ghilli!” This is the movie for which Vijay went from star to mass. Dharani’s “Ghilli” is a thrilling sports-action entertainer where Vijay portrays the role of Velu, an aggressive kabaddi player who becomes the protector of Dhanalakshmi (played by Trisha) from wicked Muthupandi (an evil Prakash Raj).

There is nothing minimal or staid about “Ghilli,” which is strictly a roller-coaster. Not to mention, the chase scenes from Madurai to Chennai are legendary! Remember the “Appadi Podu” dance, the one-liners and Vijay’s comic timing with his friends? This subtle and effective romance between Vijay and Trisha history, never repeats! What really steals the show, though, is Prakash Raj’s psycho villain who mouths dialogues that went on to become part of pop culture.

The movie is a master class in getting the blend of action, emotion and comedy just right. Ghilli established sports as cool, handed us a new Vijay to cheer for, and we praise it now for its fantastic screenplay along with shipping explosive mass moments. Fans even swear that you can rewatch the film today (something no Ghilli fan will deny).

3) Kaththi (2014)

When AR Murugadoss and Vijay come together you anticipate fireworks. “Kaththi” is not a comedy but a film that has conscience. The plot features Vijay in dual roles as Kathiresan and social activist Jeevanantham, with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Tota Roy Khan, Sathish and KPY Satish in supporting roles. It raised important concerns about corporate greed, farmer suicides and water theft, which are still entirely relevelant.

But the real magic of Kaththi is how it has you hooked by the emotion-laden beats, as much as it does by the punch-packed ones. The “coin fight” scene is pure mass, but it’s the meeker moments, Jeeva advocating for the rights of villagers, that have you feeling tested more than a lump in your throat. Samantha’s chemistry with Vijay is delightful and adds a few lighter moments in an otherwise serious movie.

Anirudh’s music, particularly “Selfie Pulla”, continues to be chartbuster. Its dialogues on farmers’ plight elicited applause and weeping from auditoriums. And Vijay, as Jeeva is most certainly not one to turn in a flaccid performance. It’s all raw emotion, vulnerability and anger. If you are a fan of films that mix message with masala, “Kaththi” would earn itself a top place on your list of must see movies. That's Vijay at his most visceral for a lot of fans and critics.

4) Pokkiri (2007)

Pokkiri is not just a film, it’s a mood! With Prabhu Deva helming the movie, and Vijay swaggering his way through the rough and tumble streets as Tamizh, a cop who is going undercover in mafia garb as a ruffian, this film is an assault to your senses: of the best kind. The punch dialogues, the dances, and the stylish violence is a combination that redefined “mass” for an entire generation.

Asin is refreshing and the love track has a few humorous as well as emotional moments. The comedy track of Vadivelu is truly laugh-out-loud and established as a classic combo with Vijay in dry wit! Prakash Raj’s villain adds gravitas to each of his face offs. But it’s Vijay’s swaggering, his trademark walk and those now-iconic hand movements that have made “Pokkiri” memes and GIFs part of the lingua franca well outside Tamil Nadu.

What works most in favour of Pokkiri is a film that doesn’t assume to be larger-than-life and, yet, ends up being so naturally. Each fight is as choreographed to elicit whistles, and the songs like “Vasantha Mullai” continue to be party numbers. Pokkiri gave us swaggering heroes who win not just with their fists but also with heart and humour. And it’s the most fun you’ll have watching a film, a party all right, pure FDFS energy!

5) Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999)

For fans of old-school Vijay romance, “Thulladha Manamum Thullum” is your answer. In this filw written and directed by Ezhil, Vijay plays a lovable character called Kutty who accidentally blinds the girl he loves (Simran) and helps her secretly too. It is a simple love story, but the emotions are strong and there is an emotional tug in the narrative.

The snapshot truth here is Vijay’s performance – the childlike innocence to it, the regret or unspoken duty displayed even in his confrontation, quite a contrast from how we have stereotyped him as a mass hero today. The chemistry with Simran is cute cute, and the emotional arc of the story has had even non-so- gundu Thalapathy fans crying along the way to ticket counters! SA Rajkumar’s music is pleasant and numbers such as Innisai Paadi Varum can still be heard invoking nostalgia in most playlists.

A romantic, tragic and heartwarming movie that continues to be a fan favorite for its depictions of love against all odds. Ask any kid from the 90s and they’d regale you with stories of how much this film influenced their initial perception of Vijay as more than just a hardworking singer-dancer, but an actor capable of stirring them deeply.

6) Mersal (2017)

This Atlee n Vijay combo got us over screen fireworks as well! To be sure, “Mersal” is every bit as much a Vijay vehicle as it’s a celebration for his fans. Featuring a triple role in Vetri, Maaran and Vetrimaaran, it follows the tale of medical crime, revenge and family. Each of the Vijays, and his nuance, is a delight to watch! The interval twist was like a thunderclap in theaters.

The movie is mesmerising at a visual level too: Atlee’s grand vision, beautifully captured by lensman GK Vishnu and neatly stitched by editor Ruben, merges seamlessly with chart-topping sounds of AR Rahman. The song, “Aalaporaan Thamizhan” went viral all over the nation and it is part of the celebratory moments till date. (Nithya Menen, Samantha and Kajal Aggarwal provide texture to the story but it is Vijay who steals every scene by shifting between characters.

It has the right amount of action, drama, hissable villains and is packed with solid music (ARR) and some great dialogues. The movie provoked debates about and conversations over medical ethics, but fans also indulged in raving about “mass” moments and cool heroism. An instant crowd-pleaser and one of Thalapathy’s all-time crowd pleasing charm.

No surprise that it made our list of 10 Must Watch Tamil Films That Ruled Kollywood in 2017.

7) Master (2021)

Who could forget the hurricane known as “Master”? While theaters staggered to their feet after the pandemic, master brought in audiences and crackled on screen. Vijay is JD, an imperfect but charismatic professor who takes law into his hands to save the children from a nefarious Bhavani (played with chilling menace by Vijay Sethupathi). The battle between the two Mahesh faces itself justifies your ticket price.

Vaathi coming dance, college scenes, the interval punch and the funny one-liners are typical Thalapathy style. Lokesh Kanagaraj ensures this is no ordinary hero-worship film and JD’s flaws, his addiction battle and eventual redemption are refreshing in the way they have been portrayed.

In some scenes, Anirudh Ravichander’s background score is as much a hero as Vijay. Goosebumps are all over the mass entry at the juvenile… JD’s rapport with boys, and an emotional climax by themselves. Master is raw, it’s about second chances and that even heroes go through low phases, but more importantly how they get out of them.

8) Nanban (2012)

Some of you may call it “only a remake” of 3 Idiots, but nanban remains special to a lot of hearts. Shankar gets the comedy and the emotion exactly right, as does Vijay playing Panchavan Parivendan (Kichu), in his own patented charming boyish style. The prompt friendship shares good chemistry with Jiiva and Srikanth to make it instantly very likeable and heartwarming.

The college ragging sequences, the sentimental scenes, campus romance with Ileana D’Cruz all work fine but it’s Vijay’s capacity to underplay and let the story breathe is what is impressive. He invests the character with a tender touch, specially during emotional climaxes and comic one-liners with Sathyan.

Harris Jayaraj’s music is young and catchy – songs like “Asku Laska” still enjoy monopoly at college fests. Nanban is comfort cinema, never too shouty, always open, occasionally funny and sometimes maudlin. It’s a movie that you can turn back to again and again for that warm feeling of friendship and hope.

9) Theri (2016)

Atlee and Vijay once again a winning combo! “Theri” mixes your tears and some high-octane action with a scene that is acrimonious revenge in such an adhyama and tasty manner, you simply cannot see beyond. Vijay is Joseph Kuruvilla, a caring father with a secret past as an above-the-law super-cop. He neatly offsets the sweetness (with his cute-as-a-button daughter Baby Nainika) and the rage (towards villains like Mahendran).

Theri’s brightest moments are in striking the right mass and masala note. The high-spirited portions with his young daughter, tear-jerking (Samantha) flashbacks where he plays a loving husband, and of course, the stunt-driven skirmishes. Amy Jackson for the cool, on a slab of solid support by Anupama Kumar and Radhika.

GV Prakash’s peppy music, especially “En Jeevan,” makes the tear-jerker moments stand out even more. It’s that kind of movie, the kind where you want to cheer and cry and dance all at once. A “love-revenge” drama There are essentially two narratives in Theri: one which believes it is a love story and the other that thinks it’s all about taking revenge.uring the film, you are made to sing hosannas for Vijay, the actor and superstar.

10) Poove Unakkaga (1996)

Way before all those mass movies, there was a boy-next-door Vijay charming us with films like Poove Unakkaga. Vikraman’s romantic family drama introduced Vijay in every nook and corner of the state. Playing the part of Raja, he served as a bridge between two warring families and incurred sacrifices while also showing us that he could be funny and heartfelt all along.

Simple is the operative word for the strength of this film. The love triangle, the family quarrels, the hilarious mix-ups: They all have such an everyday quality and level of relatability. Sangita and Vijay have a good chemistry. This movie puts the spotlight on Vijay’s more mellow side and is a reminder of the gamut of avatars he’d take on as his career progressed.

Ilaiyaraaja’s soft music ups the mood with soulful numbers. Poove Unakkaga is nostalgia raised beyond the usual meaning of this term. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes the soft, simple films leave behind a louder imprint. It’s still a rewatch party favorite for families for a reason.