List of All Vijay Movies every thalapathy fan must watch

A Quick Intro About Actor Vijay

From the romantic heartthrob of the 90s to the undisputed Thalapathy of mass cinema, Vijay’s three-decade journey is nothing short of a phenomenon. He didn't just find a niche, he evolved with his audience, transitioning from soft family dramas to high-voltage action blockbusters that redefined Tamil cinema. This list breaks down his entire filmography: the massive hits, the forgotten experiments, and the milestones that shaped his career, giving you a clear picture of how he became one of India's biggest superstars. Here is a look at every step of that incredible run.

List of All Movies by Actor Vijay

1. Naalaiya Theerpu (1992)

This was the big debut of Vijay as a lead hero, directed by his father S.A. Chandrasekhar. A college student turns vigilant to fight against a corrupt businessman who destroyed his family. It's a typical 90s revenge drama that served as a launchpad for Vijay, though he was still very raw here. The leads include Keerthana and Srividya, providing the emotional grounding for his first angry young man role. 

2. Sendhoorapandi (1993)

To boost the career of Vijay, Captain Vijayakanth played a major role in this film as his elder brother. Laying the plot in a village, Vijay falls in love, and trouble arises from the girl's family, until his brother comes to rescue the situation. The movie is a rural action entertainer directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar, which helped Vijay gain acceptance amongst the masses by sharing screen space with an established star.

3. Rasigan (1994)

This is actually the movie where the "Ilaya Thalapathy" title first appeared on screen. Vijay plays a carefree young guy who eventually has to step up and take revenge for his grandfather. It contains a lot of teenage romance elements and tracks with Sangita. Directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar, it wasn't a critical darling, but it helped cement his early fanbase with its songs and youth appeal. 

4. Deva (1995)

Vijay plays a young man deeply in love, with his romance entwining with village politics and a rivalry with a local heavy. Another collaboration with his father S.A. Chandrasekhar follows the standard commercial formula of songs, fights, and sentiment. Swathi plays the female lead, and the film may not have broken records but kept his momentum going as a romantic action hero. 

5. Rajavin Parvaiyile (1995)

This movie is important mainly because it features both Vijay and Ajith Kumar in a supporting role prior to them becoming huge rivals. Vijay plays a college student balancing love and friendship, but the script is somewhat aimless. As directed by Janaki Soundar, it bombed at the box office, but fans look back on it now just to catch glimpses of the two future superstars on-screen together during their youthful days. 

6. Vishnu (1995)

Vijay plays a young man trying to protect his father who has chosen a life of silence from enemies. It's a mix of family sentiment and action, directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar. The movie also stars Sangita and comedic legend Goundamani, whose tracks provided some relief from the heavier melodrama. It did decent business and showed Vijay improving his stunt work. 

7. Chandralekha (1995)

This is a slightly complicated romance in which Vijay plays a Muslim youth who falls in love with an Orthodox Brahmin girl, and the families clash. But the twist in the story is that he marries her to save her reputation, though she loves another person. Directed by Nambirajan, this was an attempt at a serious religious harmony subject, featuring Vanitha Vijayakumar. 

8. Coimbatore Mappillai (1996)

An enjoyable comedy in which Vijay plays a city guy who goes to a village, pretending to be a naive innocent, to win over a strict, man-hating grandmother. The highlight here is the comedy track with Goundamani, especially the "Jillu" scenes. Directed by C. Ranganathan, it worked well in rural centers because of the humor and Vijay's easygoing chemistry with Sangita.

9. Poove Unakkaga (1996)

This was the major turning point in Vijay's career. He plays a selfless lover who helps the girl he loves unite with someone else while healing a feud between their two families. Directed by Vikraman, the movie moved away from action and presented Vijay as soft and romantic. The climax broke all the usual tropes and thus made it a blockbuster that brought family audiences to theaters for him. 

10. Vasantha Vaasal (1996)

A college campus story in which Vijay plays a movie-obsessed guy who wants to make it big in the industry, along with a romance. Directed by M.R., the film tried to capture the 'youth' vibe of the mid-90s but suffered from a weak screenplay. It stars Swathi opposite him again, and the movie didn't really make a dent at the box office like his other hits. 

11. Maanbumigu Maanavan (1996)

Vijay plays a college student who takes a stand against political corruption meddling with education. It's an early glimpse of the social justice themes he would tackle later in his career. Directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar, it's heavy on preaching and action. The film wasn't a huge success, but it reinforced his image as a student leader on screen. 

12. Selva, 1996

Vijay plays a rough-and-tough guy living in a housing colony who protects his neighbors from local rowdies. It's an action-heavy script directed by A. Venkatesh, and while the plot of "good thug vs. bad politician" is generic, Vijay's energy carries the film. It also features Swathi and Raghuvaran, but it didn't reach the heights of his romantic hits in the same era. 

13. Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen (1997)

A rich guy falls in love with a girl who, for some reason, despises all rich people. So, he plays poor to appease her and slowly win her heart. Very much a signature 90s trope from R. Sundarrajan. The entire movie rests on the potential of its comedy tracks and that one moment of truth when she discovers his identity. Though not a blockbuster, this film sealed Vijay’s role as a romantic hero who could convey softness with the aid of Dimple. 

14. Love Today (1997)

This movie deals with the dark, obsessive side of young love. Vijay plays a guy who relentlessly chases a girl (Suvalakshmi) until he realizes that life and fatherhood are far more critical than simply romance. Directed by Balasekaran, the climax where he chooses his father over the girl was highly acclaimed and struck a chord among viewers, making it a massive hit. 

15. Once More (1997)

A comedy entertainer with Vijay sharing screen space with the legendary Sivaji Ganesan. Vijay plays a youthful businessman who gets into a tussle with a girl, Simran, only to find their families share a connection. By S.A. Chandrasekhar, the movie is breezy and fun, mostly remembered for its scenes between the young Vijay and the veteran Sivaji Ganesan. 

16. Nerrukku Ner (1997)

A Mani Ratnam presentation, this one had Vijay and Suriya, in his debut, pitted against each other as brothers-in-law entangled in a family divorce battle. Directed by Vasanth, it’s different from Vijay’s typical masala movies, as it explores urban relationships and ego with more realism. The song "Manam Virumbuthe" was a big chartbuster, while the film was a solid commercial success.

17. Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997)

A defining film for Vijay. He plays a man who falls in love with a girl (Shalini) from a different background, but they decide not to elope out of respect for their families. Directed by Fazil, the emotional climax had audiences in tears. It was a massive blockbuster that earned him the nickname of a "safe bet" family hero and won purely on sentiment and Ilaiyaraaja’s music.

18. Ninaithen Vandhai (1998)

Romantic triangle wherein Vijay falls in love with a girl he sees in his dream, only to get engaged to her sister by mistake. Director: K. Selva Bharathy A remake of the Telugu hit, it stars Rambha and Devayani and carries forward the trope of comedy of errors. It was a musical hit with great songs by Deva and kept Vijay's winning streak alive in the romance genre. 

19. Priyamudan, 1998

A rare negative role for Vijay in his early years, playing a rich, possessive guy who will do anything to get the girl he loves. With Vincent Selva at its helm, the movie was much ahead of its time for a commercial hero. It proved that Vijay had the gamut to play an anti-hero, and the tragic end made it memorable though it was away from the "good boy" image to which Vijay is used. 

20. Nilaave Vaa (1998)

Vijay plays a Hindu boy who falls in love with a Christian girl. Her strict Christian father opposes it. It is not a ghost story. It’s a straight romance that deals with inter-faith relationships. Helmed by A. Venkatesh, this movie is remembered mostly for its Vidyasagar soundtrack. It didn’t do well at the box office as the screenplay felt a bit outdated even for the 90s. 

21. Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999)

A tear-jerker where Vijay plays a struggling singer who sacrifices everything, including his own eyesight indirectly, for the girl he loves, without her knowing his identity. This movie by director Ezhil was a huge blockbuster. The songs were evergreen, and Vijay’s acting as the tragic, selfless lover won him a great female following. It is considered a cult classic in his career. 

22. Endrendrum Kadhal (1999)

A family drama where Vijay plays the eldest brother who refuses to get married to take care of his siblings, while a girl, played by Rambha, tries to change his mind. Directed by Manoj Kumar, it followed the "sacrificing brother" sentiment that was popular then. It was a moderate success, largely carried by the sentiment and the presence of huge stars like Rambha. 

23. Minsara Kanna (1999)

Vijay plays a wealthy heir who falls for a girl whose sister hates men. To win her over, he and his entire family infiltrate her house disguised as servants and bodyguards. K.S. Ravikumar directs this high-energy comedy. "Padayappa" spoof scenes and an ensemble cast-which includes Khushbu-make it a reasonably fun watch, though the story is quite over-the-top. 

24. Kannukkul Nilavu (2000)

A psychological thriller in which Vijay plays a person suffering from amnesia and psychosomatic problems. A doctor, played by Shalini, attempts to cure him. Directed by Fazil, this was an experiment for Vijay away from standard romance. His acting as a mentally disturbed individual was praised, though the dark tone meant it didn’t do great numbers at the box office. 

25. Kushi 2000

A stylish romantic comedy about two egoistic college students who are clearly in love but refuse to admit it. Directed by S.J. Suryah, the film is famous for its unique screenplay which has almost no villain other than the couple's own egos. Vijay and Jyothika's chemistry is electric here, and the " கட்டிப்புடி" (Hugging) scene is iconic. It was a massive blockbuster. 

26. Priyamaanavale (2000)

Vijay plays a modern guy who doesn't believe in marriage. So, he does a one-year contract marriage with a traditional girl, Simran, just to please his father. Directed by K. Selva Bharathy, the story follows how he eventually falls in love with his wife. It combined modern themes with traditional sentiments perfectly and became a huge hit, especially for the chemistry between the leads. 

27. Friends (2001)

A comedy drama about three childhood friends-Vijay, Suriya, and Ramesh Khanna-whose bond is tested by misunderstandings and a jealous enemy. The comedy track with Vadivelu (from the "Nesamani" contractor scenes) is by Siddique and is still viral these days. Though it gets sentimental and heavy in the second half, the movie was a super hit only because of its humor. 

28. Badri, 2001

A sports drama where Vijay plays a carefree guy who turns into a serious kickboxer to redeem himself in the eyes of his family and the girl he loves. It is directed by P.A. Arun Prasad and is a remake of the Telugu hit Thammudu. The film was the first in which Vijay appeared in a physically toned avatar, and the songs were chartbusters, drawing huge commercial success. 

29. Shahjahan (2001)

Vijay plays a love guru who helps other couples unite but fails to find love for himself. The twist comes when he helps a friend woo a girl, only to realize that she was actually in love with him. Directed by Ravi, the film is remembered mostly for the song "Sarakku Vachirukken." It was a melodrama that didn't quite land with audiences, ending as an average grosser. 

30. Thamizhan (2002)

Vijay plays a lawyer who fights against corruption and educates the public about their legal rights. This film is notable for being Priyanka Chopra’s acting début. Directed by Majith, it had a good social message but was let down by a dry screenplay. The core concept of "know your law" was well appreciated, though, and it did decent business in urban centers. 

31. Youth (2002)

A remake of the Telugu film, Vijay plays a wedding planner who falls in love with a girl engaged to someone else. Directed by Vincent Selva, it’s a breezy entertainer with good songs, like Althotta Boopathi. Although the plot was nothing new, the dance by Vijay and the comedy tracks with Vivek kept it entertaining, though not a massive blockbuster. 

32. Bagavathi (2002)

Vijay is a tea shop owner who becomes a ruthless vigilante in his quest to avenge his younger brother, killed by a corrupt politician. Directed by A. Venkatesh, this film marked Vijay's transition into heavier, "punch dialogue" driven action roles. The film features Vadivelu for comedy and acts as a bridge between his romantic hero era and his mass hero era. 

33. Vaseegara (2003)

A clean family entertainer in which Vijay plays a jobless guy staying at his brother-in-law's house, leading to hilarious misunderstandings with the new female tenant (Sneha). This K. Selva Bharathy film is remembered for its comedy. No big villains or bloody fights, just situational humor and romance. It's a comfort watch for many fans. 

34. Pudhiya Geethai (2003) 

Supernatural thriller about a man, played by Vijay, who is supposed to die at age 27. He has to overcome pre-ordained fate, as well as a villain, to change his fate. Director: K.P. Jagan Stars: Meera Jasmine, Ameesha Patel The idea was cool, but the way it was executed was sloppy, making it one of the clear flops in Vijay's repertoire for this decade. 

35. Thirumalai (2003) 

This is the movie that officially pivoted Vijay into a full-blown mass action hero. He plays a mechanic who falls for a rich girl, featuring a new look with a cigarette and stubble. Directed by Ramana, the high-voltage energy, the punch dialogues, and the fast-paced screenplay clicked massively. It resurrected his career after a few flops and set the template for his next decade. 

36. Udhaya, 2004. 

This movie was in the production hell for many years, so it finally saw the release. Vijay is again playing a college student who is involved in research. However, due to the delay, the story seems disjointed. Directed by Azhagam Perumal with music by AR Rahman, the film seems outdated since the look of Vijay keeps shifting between scenes. It was a box office failure. 

37. Ghilli (2004) 

Arguably, the biggest turning point in Vijay's life, he plays Velu, a Kabaddi player who accidentally saves a girl from a Madurai gangster and then hides her in his house. Helmed by Dharani, the movie is a non-stop adrenaline rush. With "Appadi Podu" topping the charts and Prakash Raj's iconic villainy, it was the first Tamil film to sail past the ₹50 crore mark. 

38. Madhurey (2004) 

Vijay plays a district collector who goes undercover as a vegetable vendor to root out a local mafia don. Directed by Ramana Madhesh, the film tried to capitalize on the Thirumalai mass image. While the first half is engaging with the undercover trope, the second half falls into generic action. The movie did average business but satisfied his core fans.

39. Sukran (2005) 

Technically, Vijay plays an extended cameo here though marketed as a lead. He appears as a lawyer/ vigilante who helps the actual hero Ravi Krishna get justice. Directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar, the film was a critical disaster. Vijay's portion is stylized, but the movie as a whole lacked substance and failed at the box office. 

40. Sachein (2005) 

A feel-good collegiate romance in which Vijay attempts to woo a girl who challenges him that she will never fall in love with him. Directed by John Mahendran, it is breezy, colorful, with no heavy villains. Vadivelu's comedy track is legendary here. Though it clashed with Chandramukhi, it held its own and is now considered a cult favorite for its "cool" vibe. 

41. Sivakasi (2005) 

A full-fledged commercial entertainer with Vijay playing a welder who comes back to his hometown to restore his mother's honor and punish his evil brothers. Directed by Perarasu, it's loaded with mother-sentiment, fast songs, and punch dialogues. Asin plays the lead and the film was a Diwali winner, which sent Vijay's stock high in the B and C centers. 

42. Aathi (2006) 

A remake of the Telugu film Athanokkade, Vijay plays a student who is secretly hunting down the family that killed his parents years ago. Directed by Ramana, the film was expected to be a hit like Ghilli but failed due to a lackluster screenplay and poor violence. It was a rare misstep during his peak action phase.

43. Pokkiri (2007) 

Vijay plays a ruthless thug who is actually an undercover police officer infiltrating a land mafia gang. This Prabhu Deva directorial venture was pure style. The twist in the interval, the comedy with Vadivelu, and the chartbuster songs made this a huge blockbuster. This movie gave Vijay a sleek, stylish makeover and redefined his screen presence. 

44. Azhagiya Tamil Magan (2007) 

Vijay plays dual roles for the first time: a good guy who can foresee the future, and an evil lookalike who wants to steal his life. With huge hype and great music by A.R. Rahman ("Ponmagal Vandaal"), directed by Bharathan, the confusing screenplay and the execution of the villain character did not click with audiences, making it a flop. 

45. Kuruvi (2008) 

Vijay plays a car racer who goes to illegal mining towns in Andhra to find his missing father. Directed by Dharani (the Ghilli director), expectations were sky-high, but the movie defied gravity a bit too much (literally, with a jump involving a jeep). It was panned by critics but managed to collect money due to Vijay’s star power. 

46. Villu (2009) 

Another dual role film from Vijay where he plays a father and son. The son hunts down arms dealers who betrayed his dad. Directed by Prabhu Deva, this film was criticized for chaotic scenes lifted from a number of Hollywood movies. Despite Nayanthara’s glamour and good songs, the weak plot made it a significant failure at the box office.

47. Vettaikaaran (2009) 

Vijay plays a simple guy who wants to be a police officer but turns vigilante and takes on a gangster. Direction by B. Babusivan followed a very regular template of storytelling. Nothing was pathbreaking, yet the songs ("Naan Adicha") and the energy in action satisfied the family audience well enough to make it a safe hit.

48. Sura, 2010 

This is one of the low points in his career. He plays a fisherman protecting his slum from a corrupt minister. It was directed by S.P. Rajkumar, and for its outdated logic, poor graphics, and blatant display of hero-worshipping, it flopped terribly and convinced Vijay to forge his script selection anew. 

49. Kaavalan (2011) 

Vijay stripped away the punch dialogues and slow-motion fights to play a bodyguard who falls in love with a girl via phone, not knowing it's the woman he is protecting. The emotional romantic drama directed by Siddique showed people that Vijay was a good actor, not just a stunt machine. It was a critical and commercial success. 

50. Velayudham (2011) 

In this heavily Assassin's Creed-inspired movie, Vijay stars as a village milkman mistaken for a superhero/vigilante and decides to embrace the legend to fight terrorism. Director M. Raja cast him in a solid commercial package filled with sister sentiment and comedy. It clashed with 7aum Arivu and had the winner because it was just more entertaining. 

51. Nanban (2012) 

Tamil version of 3 Idiots. Vijay played Aamir Khan’s character: the brilliant inventor who takes on the rote-learning education system. The Shankar-directed movie was a vibrant, faithful remake. It was nice to see Vijay in a role that didn’t need any fighting or villain-bashing, just pure charm and emotion. A huge blockbuster.

52. Thuppakki (2012) 

A slick thriller in which Vijay, an army captain on a visit to Mumbai, discovers a sleeper cell network. Instead of brawn, he depends upon his grey cells to dismantle the terror network. By AR Murugadoss, this movie redefined Tamil action films with its slick editing and "Jagdish" character. It propelled Vijay into the ₹100 crore club and is often quoted as his best action film. 

53. Thalaivaa (2013) 

Vijay plays a dancer in Australia who finds out his father is a godfather-like figure in Mumbai, and is forced to take over the syndicate once his father dies. Helmed by A.L. Vijay, the film was surrounded by heavy political trouble upon release and was hugely delayed in Tamil Nadu, which killed its box office potential. It’s serious, slow-burn gangster drama.

54. Jilla (2014) 

Vijay plays the adopted son of a local don, Mohanlal, who is forced to join the police force to save his father's criminal empire but later turns against him to uphold the law. It was directed by R.T. Neason. The main attraction in the film was to see these two superstars, Vijay and Mohanlal, opposite each other. It was loud, a mass entertainer that fared well at the box office. 

55. Kaththi (2014) 

Vijay plays dual roles of a communist activist fighting for water rights and also of a petty thief who looks exactly like the former. The thief eventually takes up his cause. AR Murugadoss directed this movie, in which the "coin fight" scene and an emotional flashback about farmers struck a big chord. It was the biggest blockbuster that combined social messaging with commercial elements perfectly. 

56. Puli (2015) 

An ambitious fantasy adventure where Vijay plays a warrior who fights an evil queen, played by Sridevi, in a magical world. Helmed by Chimbu Deven, the movie boasted massive CGI and budgets. Unfortunately, it did not click due to a weak storyline and execution that felt like a kids' movie. The movie was one of the biggest disappointments considering the hype it created.  

57. Theri (2016) 

Vijay plays a baker who leads a mundane life with his daughter, while in reality he is a super-cop in hiding. By Atlee, this movie was an emotional rollercoaster with a father-daughter bonding theme supported by Baby Nainika. With a chic presentation of action blocks, the "ghost" interval block made it a roaring success and sealed his market in overseas territories. 

58. Bairavaa (2017) 

Vijay plays a loan recovery agent who takes on a corrupt education baron who is scamming medical students. Directed by Bharathan, the film had a decent social message but suffered from a generic screenplay and also lacked "high" moments compared to his previous hits. It did average business purely on star power. 

59. Mersal (2017) 

Vijay does triple roles as a village head, doctor, and magician. The storyline is about medical corruption and vengeance regarding his father's death. By director Atlee, the movie is very grand, colorful, and emotional. The song "Aalaporan Thamizhan" became an anthem. Even amidst political controversies on GST dialogues, it turned out to be a colossal blockbuster. 

60. Sarkar (2018) 

A corporate monster, Vijay, arrives in Chennai to vote, only to find his vote has been fraudulently cast. So he decides to take on the entire political system. Director: AR Murugadoss Stars: Vijay A political thriller with the main theme of Section 49P election fraud. It was controversial and heavy on dialogues but had Vijay's stylish presence carry it to huge box office numbers.

61. Bigil (2019) 

Vijay plays a gangster father and his footballer son. The son is forced to coach a women's football team to fulfill his father's dream. Directed by Atlee, it’s a sports drama wrapped in a mass movie. The football scenes were criticized for logic, but the "Rayappan" character, that of the father, was loved by fans. It was the highest grossing Tamil film of the year. 

62. Master (2021) 

Vijay plays JD, an alcoholic professor who is sent to a juvenile detention centre where he clashes with a ruthless gangster played by Vijay Sethupathi. By Lokesh Kanagaraj, this was a refreshing change in a film where the hero was flawed, drunk, and vulnerable. The face-off between Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi was electric, and the film revived the industry post-pandemic. 

63. Beast (2022) 

Vijay stars as Veera Raghavan, an ex-RAW agent, stuck inside a mall hijacked by terrorists. From Nelson Dilipkumar's direction, the movie largely occurs within a single location. The song "Arabic Kuthu" became global, and even though the movie opened to mixed reviews over its flat screenplay and no emotional stakes, Vijay managed to look inordinately stylish throughout. 

64. Varisu (2023) 

A return to the 90s family sentiment genre. Vijay plays the prodigal son who returns to save his father's business empire from rivals and his own jealous brothers. Directed by Vamshi Paidipally, it's a glossy, high-production drama. While the story was old-school, families loved seeing Vijay in a light-hearted, non-violent avatar after a long time. 

65. Leo 2023 

Vijay is a café owner in Kashmir who is hunted by gangsters claiming he is "Leo Das," a former drug lord. From Lokesh Kanagaraj, it is violent, dark, and raw. The Hyena sequence and the cafe fight are technical marvels. It broke box office records, Vijay is so intense in the movie. 

66. The Greatest of All Time (2024) 

Vijay plays dual roles: that of a father and his estranged son, with the former being an elite spy. The movie deals with a past mission coming back to haunt the team, with a twist in cloning and de-aging technology. The movie, directed by Venkat Prabhu, is full of fan service, Easter eggs, and one big cameo in the climax. This is almost like celebrating his career before his political entry.