VIJAY IN AND AS VIJAY

How often does an actor get to play himself on screen? Not very often, one guesses. But, the closest that one can get to it is by playing characters that are namesakes of the actor himself. Very few actors have had a lot of luck in this respect. Vijayakanth has played quite a few characters named Vijay. But, the one who had it most definitely seems to be Ilaya Thalapathi Vijay. Having Amitabh Bachchan’s favorite screen name, he played out characters named Vijay in many movies. Just ahead of his birthday which is set to be celebrated with great fervor and expected to be accompanied by the official announcement of his 50th movie, we take a look at the movies that have had Vijay in and as Vijay.

Vijay’s debut film, directed by his dad S. A.Chandrashekhar. The story of a young man who is tested by life and many people around him. In 1992, when this film released with a new boy in the lead, little did people know that he would grow into today’s Ilaya Thalapathi.

One of Vijay’s first youth-oriented love stories, once again directed by dad S.A. Chandrashekhar. This film was also the only one unique occasion when Vijay, as hero, and Captain Vijayakanth came together on screen. Sendhoorapandi was one of Vijay’s first big hits, one that set him on the path to superstardom.

S.A Chandrashekhar has done a great deal in shaping the career of his son Vijay. Rasigan, the 1994 film, was another one of Vijay’s early career shaping hits. With Sanghavi as his heroine, the film had everything in it for a commercial entertainer, romance, action, thrills etc…








This is one character that Vijay would have loved playing, that of an aspiring actor. He comes to the city from the village with the ambition of making it big in cinema, but it is love that awaits him that happens after the customary face-off with the heroine in the initial stages.

Vijay and Sivaji Ganesan, this combination happened only once and people in Tamil Nadu would have loved to have it ‘once more’. Playing a typically wayward and spendthrift youngster in the movie, Vijay is mentored by Sivaji who poses as his father. Once More is also special for having the highly successful Vijay-Simran combination.

This movie is special for it marked the debut of another contemporary star of Ilaya Thalapathi, Suriya. Under Vasanth’s directio

n, both the youngsters played out a story of friendship, love and relations. The combination later went on to deliver a huge hit with Friends. Wonder why they never came together again!

Directed by Manoj Bhatnagar, this film was released in 1999. A family story with romance intertwined. The Vijay-Rambha combination was always liked and in the presence of many seasoned actors like Radharavi, Bhanup

riya and Nambiar, in good roles, the film had no difficulty becoming popular.

This is perhaps the only film that Vijay has ever done when the character had a spoilt, bad boy image, someone who did not care for his family. The Vijay-Simran pairing looked as good as ever and the audience liked the change from the usual kind of roles. A very convincing performance from Vijay indeed.

This is the only occasion till date when Vijay has played himself on screen. Making a guest appearance in his dad’s directorial venture, Ilaya Thalapathi’s mere presence sent the expectations of this movie right up to the top. In a way, it proved how long Vijay has come in his career as an actor and a star.