For many who have been closely tracking Vijay's filmography, not just his die-hard fans, the actor's transition from cinema to politics wasn't a surprise. They saw it coming from a mile away. After all, Tamil Nadu has a history of actors-turned-politicians. Political undertones were present in his movies even as far back as the early 2000s, albeit to a smaller degree, and were noted.
However, political statements made directly or indirectly through his movies reached a notable escalation in the last decade, beginning from 2013, leading up to the 2024 launch of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Let's look back on five films where the messaging came through loud and clear.
Thamizhan
Released in 2002, saw him playing an "angry young man" — an idealistic lawyer fighting legal and executive corruption. In the film, Vijay played Surya, a crusader compelled to act when his brother-in-law is killed by a corrupt politician (GK). Surya fights to educate the public on legal rights and takes on legal battles to break the hold of criminal elements on the community. In one of the key events, Surya attempts to shut down a factory for violating safety norms and tries to bring the corrupt politician to justice, while encountering threats to his own family.
Thalaivaa
Introduced politics with the tagline "Time to Lead," which led to its temporary ban in Tamil Nadu by the then AIADMK government. An action-drama, “Thalaivaa” revolves around an Australia-based dancer, Vishwa (Vijay), who takes over his father Ramadurai's (Sathyaraj) Mumbai-based crime syndicate and crime-fighting legacy after the latter is killed. The film follows Vishwa's transformation from a carefree dance troupe head into a respected, reluctant leader of the Tamil community in Mumbai. The film, which has shades of "The Godfather", explores a plethora of emotions and themes such as revenge, love, and gang politics.
Kaththi
One of Vijay's biggest blockbusters, the film focused on farmer suicides and corporate exploitation. It featured Vijay as a petty criminal named Kathiresan, who impersonates his social activist doppelganger, Jeevanandham, who has been fighting corporate greed. The film addressed issues of farmer suicides and corporate takeover of agricultural land and saw the hero waging a battle to save a village and its groundwater. Directed by A.R. Murugadoss and co-starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Neil Nitin Mukesh, it was noted for its strong social message and intense action. It was one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2014.
Mersal
Three years later, in another Atlee reunion, Vijay criticised the GST policy, in a film that saw him essaying triple roles — a father and his two estranged sons (a doctor and a magician). While embarking on a vengeance-driven path, the two sons strive to expose corruption in India’s medical industry, including high GST rates, the commercialisation of healthcare, and the need for affordable treatment. The film sparked some controversy, given some of its dialogues critical of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Sarkar
Another Murugadoss reunion, the film addressed electoral fraud and voter rights, sparking intense debates. A political action-thriller, "Sarkar" had Vijay in the role of Sundar Ramaswamy, a powerful NRI businessman who, upon returning to India to vote, realises that his vote was cast illegally by another person. He then begins a battle against voter fraud and corrupt politicians in an attempt to revamp the government, launching a campaign against a corrupt ruling party. He fights for ethical governance and runs in the election to empower citizens.
Bigil
A sports action film directed by Atlee, it marked the third collaboration between Vijay and the filmmaker. It repeated the director's trademark of having one actor playing multiple roles, with Vijay playing a dual role as father and son — a gangster (Rayappan) and his son, Michael, a football player-turned-coach. Michael coaches a women's football team to victory, fulfilling his father's dream while fighting crime. It blends action with sports drama, with women's empowerment at its core. Another major commercial success, the film earned over Rs 300 crore.
Meanwhile, his 69th film, "Jana Nayagan", is awaiting a theatrical release. Said to be his final movie before focusing entirely on his political career, the big-budget action spectacle stars Vijay as a cop named Thalapathy Vettri Kondan (TVK).
