Vijay, also known as Ilayathalapathy or Thalapathy, is one of the most popular and successful actors, producers and singers in Tamil cinema. He has acted in more than 60 films as a lead actor and has won numerous awards and accolades for his performances. He has also sung over 30 songs for his own films and other composers. He is widely regarded as a mass entertainer and a versatile actor who can excel in any genre. He has a huge fan following across India and abroad, especially among the Tamil diaspora.
| Name | Vijay |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar |
| Date of Birth | June 22, 1974 |
| Place of Birth | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Occupation | Actor, Playback Singer, Dancer |
| Years Active | 1992 – Present |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Sangeetha Sornalingam (m. 1999) |
| Children | Jason Sanjay, Divya Saasha |
| Known For | Tamil film industry, often referred to as “Thalapathy” |
| Film Debut | “Naalaiya Theerpu” (1992) |
| Awards | Numerous awards including Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, Vijay Awards, and Edison Awards |
Vijay was born as Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar on 22 June 1974 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father S. A. Chandrasekhar is a renowned filmmaker and his mother Shoba Chandrasekhar is a playback singer and carnatic vocalist. He has a Christian father and a Hindu mother, and was baptised at the age of 12. He has no siblings, as his elder sister Vidhya died when she was two years old123
Vijay started his film career as a child artist at the age of 10 in Vetri (1984), which was directed by his father. He then appeared in several other films as a child actor, such as Kudumbam (1984), Vasantha Raagam (1986), Sattam Oru Vilayaattu (1987) and Ithu Engal Neethi (1988). He also shared screen space with Rajinikanth in Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985)24
Vijay made his debut as a lead actor with Naalaiya Theerpu (1992), which was also directed by his father. He then acted in a series of films such as Sendhoorapandi (1993), Rasigan (1994), Deva (1995) and Coimbatore Mappillai (1996), which were moderately successful at the box office. He also played negative roles in films like Rajavin Parvaiyile (1995) and Priyamudan (1998)24
Vijay’s breakthrough came with Poove Unakkaga (1996), which was directed by Vikraman and became a blockbuster hit. The film established Vijay as a romantic hero and earned him critical acclaim for his performance. He then starred in several successful films such as Love Today (1997), Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Nerrukku Ner (1997), Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999) and Kushi (2000), which showcased his versatility and acting skills. He also won several awards, including the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Kadhalukku Mariyadhai24
In the early 2000s, Vijay shifted his focus to action-oriented films and collaborated with directors like Dharani, S. Shankar, A. R. Murugadoss and S. P. Muthuraman. He delivered some of the biggest hits of his career, such as Thirumalai (2003), Ghilli (2004), Thirupaachi (2005), Sivakasi (2005), Pokkiri (2007), Vettaikaaran (2009) and Thuppakki (2012). These films showcased Vijay’s mass appeal and charisma, and earned him the title of Ilayathalapathy or Junior Commander-in-Chief among his fans. He also sang several hit songs for these films, such as Appadi Podu, Vaadi Vaadi, Ennoda Laila and Google Google24
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Vijay faced some setbacks in his career with films like Azhagiya Tamil Magan (2007), Kuruvi (2008), Villu (2009) and Sura (2010), which failed to impress the critics and the audiences. He also faced some controversies, such as protests against his visit to Sri Lanka for the inauguration of a housing scheme for displaced Tamils, legal notices for using his name without his consent by some
In 2014, Vijay made a comeback with Kaththi, directed by A. R. Murugadoss, which was a blockbuster hit and dealt with the issue of farmers’ plight. He then starred in Atlee’s Theri (2016) and Mersal (2017), which were also huge hits and showcased his acting range and social awareness. He also collaborated with A. R. Rahman for the music of these films, and sang a few songs such as Selfie Pulla, Varalam Va and Aalaporaan Thamizhan. He also won the South Indian International Movie Award for Best Actor for Mersal1
In 2018, Vijay teamed up with A. R. Murugadoss again for Sarkar, which was a political thriller and a box office success. The film sparked controversy for its criticism of the ruling AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, and faced protests and legal issues from the party members. Vijay also faced income tax raids at his residence and office during the release of the film1
In 2019, Vijay starred in Atlee’s Bigil, which was a sports drama and one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of all time. He played dual roles as a father and son, and also sang a song called Verithanam for the film. The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, and won several awards, including two National Film Awards1
In 2020, Vijay starred in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Master, which was an action thriller and one of the first major releases after the Covid-19 lockdown. The film was a massive hit and broke several records at the box office. It also received critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction, performances and music by Anirudh Ravichander. Vijay played the role of a college professor who takes on a gangster played by Vijay Sethupathi. He also sang a song called Kutti Story for the film1
Vijay is currently working on his next film titled Beast, which is directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Sun Pictures. The film is expected to release in 2022. He is also rumored to be collaborating with director Shankar for his 66th film, which is yet to be officially announced1
Apart from his film career, Vijay is also known for his political aspirations and social work. He has been vocal about various issues such as interlinking of rivers, Jallikattu, Cauvery water dispute and NEET exams. He has also supported various causes such as education, health care and disaster relief through his fan club Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, which was formed in 2009. He has also been the brand ambassador of several products such as Coca-Cola, Chennai Super Kings, Sunfeast, Jos Alukkas and Tata Docomo1
Vijay has expressed his interest in entering politics several times in the past, but has not launched his own party yet. He has said that he will announce his political entry at the right time and that he will serve the people honestly. He has also faced opposition from some political parties such as DMK and AIADMK for his political ambitions. In 2021, he gave consent to his fan club members to contest in the rural local body elections held in nine districts of Tamil Nadu, and they won 115 out of 169 seats they contested. This was seen as a silent entry into politics by Vijay and a test of his popularity among the masses1
Vijay is married to Sangeeta Sornalingam, a Sri Lankan Tamil whom he met during one of his film shoots in Chennai. They got married in 1999 and have two children: a son named Jason Sanjay and a daughter named Divya Saasha. Vijay lives with his family in a bungalow in Poes Garden, Chennai. His hobbies include stunts, dancing and singing. He is fond of chicken biryani, Amitabh Bachchan and Ilayaraja. He follows Christianity but respects all religions. He is inspired by spiritual leaders like Swami Satchidananda and Sri Raghavendra.1