Actor, Superstar, Thalapathy, and the GOAT: Tracing three magical decades of Vijay

1992, a pivotal year for Tamil cinema, saw 10 releases. Every top star––Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Sarath Kumar, Karthik, Sathyaraj, Prabhu, and Vijayakanth––had blockbusters. AR Rahman made his debut with Roja, forever changing the sound of Indian cinema. Rajnikanth’s iconic intro music became a part of Tamil cinema audiences’ collective consciousness. Among these milestones, a less noticed, but no less significant debut took place in December. Vijay, veteran director SA Chandrasekhar’s son, made his entry into the industry with “Naalaiya Theerpu”.

Vijay’s early years were a family affair. His mother wrote the scripts, father directed the movies and his hero-characters were named “Vijay,” like Salim-Javed’s Amitabh Bachchan heroes. However, the initial years were far from easy, and the monumental success we associate him with, was not immediate. In 1995, Vijay starred in four films with mixed results, the most notable being “Rajavin Paarvayile” (1995), the first and only time he appeared alongside his long-time competitor Ajith Kumar.

ALSO READ: The Greatest of All Time box office: ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay’s penultimate film hits Rs 16 crore in worldwide advance sales

The rise to stardom
1996-1999 

From 1996, Vijay began to show glimpses of the star he would become. In this four-year period, he appeared in 17 films, many of which became cult classics. He shed his earlier image and transformed into a family-friendly hero, a shift that resonated with audiences. Films like “Poove Unakkaaga” and “Kadhalukku Mariyadhai” established him as a romantic lead, while “Once More” and “Coimbatore Mappillai” highlighted his comedic talents. By the end of 1999, with “Thulladha Manamum Thullum,” Vijay had begun to mature as an actor, ready to take on more challenging roles. He capped the year with “Minsara Kanna,” a quintessential family drama that made the audience laugh with him, and cry and cheer for him.

2000-2001 

As The Pledge nears its final steps, the magician shows the audience something ordinary – a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He asks them to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. In cinema, real, unaltered, and normal won’t cut it. The hero has to be larger than life, and what better way to showcase this than proving how high he can rise despite how hard he falls.

Vijay had cemented his place in Tamil cinema, but he still needed that extra spark to become a true star. “Kannukul Nilavu” (2000), his 25th film, didn’t perform as expected, but Vijay delivered one of the most celebrated runs in Tamil cinema next – “Kushi” (2000). Directed by SJ Suryah, the film showcased him as a good-looking man with inherent charm, ready to dial up the charisma when needed, and established him as a romantic hero who could also excel in action. Over the next few years, films like “Priyamaanavale,” “Friends,” and “Badri” solidified this status.

Each of these films ran to packed houses, and in a wonderfully serendipitous way, there were theatres where all four films ran simultaneously at one point.  

What the magician shows the audience and asks to inspect, to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal, is of course…not! Then comes… 

The turn: Becoming the action hero

2002-2005 

After spending a decade in Tamil cinema, it was time for Vijay to up the ante. He was a lot of things, but an important aspect of stardom, action, was missing. In early 2000s, he took on roles that were more rugged and action-oriented. “Bagavathi” (2002), “Thamizhan (2002),” and “Youth (2002),” set the stage, but it was “Thirumalai” (2003) and the industry-defining “Ghilli” (2004) that elevated him to the next level.  

Vijay and Trisha in a still from Ghilli

ALSO READ: Ghilli box office collection: Vijay, Trisha’s romantic actioner breaks Avatar, Sholay records, emerges as highest-grossing re-release of the century

“Ghilli” catapulted Vijay’s stardom to the stratosphere. He wasn’t just another star, he was being groomed as the next Superstar. He was breaking records, and gaining an exponentially rising fan following. In 2005, he underscored his understanding of the commercial cinema market by turning his focus on a couple of rural subjects to attract a newer set of audience. They reciprocated by giving him two blockbusters — “Thirupachi” and “Sivakasi” — and he also satisfied his urban fandom by delivering a sleeper hit through “Sachien”. 

2006-2007 

The dizzying heights of his stardom were best showcased in “Pokkiri” (2007). It ensured he could hit a few more troughs. But, even Vijay wouldn’t have anticipated the duration of this slump.

The slump and the comeback

2008-2011 

Now, you’re looking for the secret behind the magic, but you won’t find it, because of course, you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled.

Even magicians falter, and Vijay was no exception. Between 2008 and 2011, his magic seemed to wear off. His films weren’t as successful as “Ghilli” or “Pokkiri’, and the rise of digital media meant his failures were scrutinised more harshly than ever. Films like “Kuruvi” and “Villu” failed to impress, and his 50th film, “Sura,” was a box-office disaster.

However, every great magician has a comeback, and Vijay’s came in the form of “Kaavalan” (2011). This romantic film marked his return to form, both critically and commercially. It was a significant moment as it coincided with his 20th year in the industry. Vijay was no longer just a star; he was now an underdog, fighting against the odds, which only endeared him more to his audience. 

ALSO READ: A flag and an anthem mark Vijay’s definitive entry into Tamil politics

But, you wouldn’t clap for the magician yet. Making something disappear isn’t enough, he has to bring it back. That’s why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call…

The Prestige: Reaching the pinnacle

2012-2016

Vijay’s comeback phase was marked by a series of blockbusters that established him as the reigning superstar of Tamil cinema. “Nanban” (2012) and “Thuppakki” (2012) were both massive hits, the latter becoming a trendsetter in action films.

“Thalaivaa” (2013) stirred political controversy, and it probably sowed the seeds of his political aspirations. “Jilla” (2014) had Malayalam superstar Mohanlal starring alongside Vijay, and it helped him grow deeper roots in Malayalis, who already exalted him as their own.

“Kaththi” (2014), his second outing with director AR Murugadoss, proved he could handle double roles successfully, a feat that had eluded him in the past. His collaboration with director Atlee yielded “Theri” (2016) and “Mersal” (2017), the latter being a milestone film that saw Vijay in a triple role for the first time.  

A poster of Vijay’s Thuppaakki

2017-2019 

“Mersal” film faced immense backlash owing to some intense, politically-charged dialogues, ruffling feathers nationally. Vijay was expanding his roots. He wasn’t going to be confined to being a Tamil superstar. He had pan-Indian ambitions, and “Mersal’ paved the way for the same.

Vijay followed it up with another politically-charged film, “Sarkar” (2018), his third collaboration with AR Murugadoss. Once again, Vijay’s career started reflecting his political aspirations even if he largely maintained his silence on this front. But, his demeanour was changing. His speeches in the audio launches became trending news for the next few days. His films were breaking box-office records. His films were reaching new audiences, and in many places, he was being referred to by his moniker instead of his name. He wasn’t a Vetri or a Sundar or a Kathiresan or a Jeevanandham any more. With “Bigil” (2019), his third collaboration with Atlee, Vijay ensured all the pieces of the puzzle came together. He was celebrated for his skills in action, comedy, and sentiment. He transcended his image of being a hero, a star and a superstar, to become “Anna” and most importantly, “Thalapathy”. 

ALSO READ: Rajinikanth, Jiiva, Karthi’s non-answers on Hema Committee report: Silence of the superstars, and the growing chasm between Q & A

The final act:

2020-2023 

By now, the magician had turned in the Pledge. The rabbit was out of the hat. The woman sawed in half came back in one piece. The pigeon in his sleeve was flying to the skies. But, the magic wasn’t over.

Vijay was just beginning. After playing the saviour of arbitrary people in his films, it was time to prove his real-life hero credentials. 

Vijay’s recent films, including “Master” (2021), “Beast” (2022), and “Leo” (2023), have only solidified his status as a box-office juggernaut. Despite mixed reviews, these films have broken records, proving Vijay’s enduring appeal. The theatrical success of “Master,” released during the pandemic, reaffirmed his ability to draw audiences to cinemas, even in challenging times. 

Poster of Vijay’s Master

The box-office numbers of his next three films — “Beast” (2022), “Varisu” and “Leo” (2023) — despite not-so-positive reviews and competition from films like “KGF Chapter 2” and “Thunivu,” proved to the world that here was a juggernaut who isn’t showing any signs of stopping. Vijay was creating box-office records just to break it with his next film, and the numbers thrown around were mind-boggling. He was insular to the market. He was insular to the reviews. All that mattered was a Vijay film was releasing, and people would throng to the theatres. If that isn’t the hallmark of a superstar, what is? By now, Vijay could take no wrong step in his film career. He had stepped into his 31st year as an actor, and with the blockbuster successes of his previous films, which constantly raked in hundreds of crores, it was unsure what new peak Vijay was waiting to conquer in cinema.

Everything came together for the perfect next step for Vijay in his cinema career when it was revealed that he was joining hands with director Venkat Prabhu. This collaboration made Prabhu the only director in the past 15-odd years to have directed both Vijay and Ajith. Expectations were sky high because Venkat had just delivered an intelligent blockbuster with Silambarasan TR’s “Maanaadu”. 

Then, an announcement was made. A letter was posted on Vijay’s social media accounts. It was a long letter, which basically said there were only two more films in his career. “I am entering politics, and I will have to bid adieu to my career as an actor.” Of course, actors turning politicians isn’t new in Tamil Nadu. Many of Vijay’s contemporaries and seniors have taken the political plunge before. But, not many decided to leave cinema. Suddenly, the Venkat Prabhu film became all the more important. 

ALSO READ: Will ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay disrupt Tamil Nadu politics?

The Pledge 2.0

Vijay’s penultimate film is called “The Greatest of All Time (GOAT)”. The film will release worldwide on September 5, and is already expected to break multiple records. The title does justice to the legacy of the actor, who carefully constructed every decade of his career to become a superstar nonpareil, and everyone’s beloved “Thalapathy”.

As Vijay exits the world of cinema, leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to match, the question remains: Will he be the last bonafide superstar of Tamil cinema? Only time will tell if his magic will work in the political arena. For now, Vijay stands as a testament to the power of reinvention, a magician who knows exactly when to leave his audience wanting more.

Poster of Vijay’s GOAT

In the end, Vijay has pulled off the greatest trick of all, transitioning from beloved actor to political leader. His departure from cinema leaves a void, but his entry into politics fills another. This duality, this balancing of two worlds, is perhaps the ultimate magic trick. And if he plays his cards right, Vijay could indeed become “The Greatest of All Time,” not just in cinema, but in the hearts of the people.