Vijay began his career primarily as a romantic hero, gaining significant popularity for his "boy-next-door" image.

A massive commercial success for which he won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor .

A blockbuster romantic drama that expanded his fan base into other southern states. The Action Transition (2000s): Establishing "Thalapathy"

This film is often cited as the turning point that redefined his on-screen persona as an action hero.

His debut as a lead actor, directed by his father S.A. Chandrasekhar.

His first major breakthrough, which established him as a household name in Tamil Nadu.

Below is an overview of Vijay's Tamil movie list, categorized by the phases of his career.

Major commercial successes that continued his run as a top lead.

Directed by Prabhu Deva, this film became one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of that year and cemented his "mass hero" status. The Blockbuster & Pan-India Era (2010s – 2024)