Contents · உள்ளடக்கம்
- Key Takeaways
- Vijay movies list from 1992 to 2011
- Vijay movies list from 2012 to 2026
- Which Vijay films were career milestones?
- Jana Nayagan: the final film
- How his career is usually divided
- Nicknames and name changes
- Directors Vijay worked with most
- Release pace by phase
- Reading his career in context
- Vijay movies list: frequently asked questions
- Where to go next
This Vijay movies list follows the actor from his first lead role in Naalaiya Theerpu to his final film, Jana Nayagan. It is organised by year, with directors and short notes on the milestones. The list is complete for 2012 onward. For the 1990s and 2000s it covers the major lead films, not every credit, and we say so clearly instead of padding the table.
Key Takeaways
- Vijay appeared as a child actor in Vetri (1984) and made his first lead appearance in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992).
- Jana Nayagan is described as his final film as an actor, a political drama directed by H. Vinoth.
- Poove Unakkaga (1996), Ghilli (2004), Thuppakki (2012) and Master (2021) are the usual career milestones.
- Hollywood Reporter India reports that he later became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May.
- Jana Nayagan streams on ZEE5.
Vijay movies list from 1992 to 2011
These are the major lead films of his early and rising years. Directors are shown where we could confirm them.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Naalaiya Theerpu | S. A. Chandrasekhar |
| 1994 | Rasigan | S. A. Chandrasekhar |
| 1996 | Poove Unakkaga | Vikraman |
| 1997 | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | Fazil |
| 1999 | Thulladha Manamum Thullum | Ezhil |
| 2000 | Kushi | S. J. Suryah |
| 2001 | Friends | Siddique |
| 2003 | Thirumalai | Ramana |
| 2004 | Ghilli | Dharani |
| 2005 | Sivakasi | Perarasu |
| 2006 | Aathi | Ramana |
| 2007 | Pokkiri | Prabhu Deva |
| 2008 | Kuruvi | Dharani |
| 2009 | Villu | Prabhu Deva |
| 2010 | Sura | S. P. Rajkumar |
| 2011 | Velayudham | M. Raja |
Vijay movies list from 2012 to 2026
This part of the list is complete, based on Wikipedia’s filmography for the period.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Nanban | Shankar |
| 2012 | Thuppakki | A. R. Murugadoss |
| 2013 | Thalaivaa | A. L. Vijay |
| 2014 | Jilla | R. T. Neason |
| 2014 | Kaththi | A. R. Murugadoss |
| 2015 | Puli | Chimbu Deven |
| 2016 | Theri | Atlee |
| 2017 | Bairavaa | Bharathan |
| 2017 | Mersal | Atlee |
| 2018 | Sarkar | A. R. Murugadoss |
| 2019 | Bigil | Atlee |
| 2021 | Master | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| 2022 | Beast | Nelson Dilipkumar |
| 2023 | Varisu | Vamshi Paidipally |
| 2023 | Leo | Lokesh Kanagaraj |
| 2024 | The Greatest of All Time | Venkat Prabhu |
| 2026 | Jana Nayagan | H. Vinoth |
He also made a guest appearance in the Hindi film Rowdy Rathore in 2012, in the song Chinta Ta.
Which Vijay films were career milestones?
Hollywood Reporter India picks five films that shaped his journey. Moreover, each one marks a different step.
| Film | Year | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Poove Unakkaga | 1996 | First major breakthrough; ran over 270 days in theatres |
| Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | 1997 | Won him his first Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor |
| Ghilli | 2004 | First Tamil film to gross over ₹50 crore domestically; its 2024 re-release earned around ₹30 crore |
| Thuppakki | 2012 | First Vijay film, and first non-Rajinikanth Tamil film, to enter the ₹100 crore club |
| Master | 2021 | First major tentpole release during the pandemic |
Jana Nayagan: the final film
Jana Nayagan is described as Vijay’s last film as an actor. It is a political drama, and the trailer showed him as a police officer seeking revenge against Bobby Deol’s character. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music, including Thalapathy Kacheri. You can read about his work in our guide to Anirudh Ravichander songs.
The path to release was bumpy. The film was first planned for 9 January for Pongal. A dispute between the producers and the censor board delayed it, and the full film leaked online on 9 April. After certification was cleared, it released in late July. ZEE5 then confirmed a streaming debut on 21 August. For earnings, see the Tamil box office collection page.
How his career is usually divided
- The beginnings (1984 to 1995). A child actor first, then early lead films directed largely by his father, S. A. Chandrasekhar.
- The romance years (1996 to 2003). Poove Unakkaga, Kushi and Friends built a family audience.
- The mass-hero years (2004 to 2011). Ghilli, Pokkiri and Aathi turned him into a large-scale action star.
- The blockbuster years (2012 to 2019). Thuppakki, Theri, Mersal and Bigil made big openings routine.
- The final phase (2021 to 2026). Master, Leo and Jana Nayagan, with politics moving to the centre.
This grouping is our own framework, so other writers may draw the lines differently.
Nicknames and name changes
The film Rasikan in 1994 gave him the title Ilayathalapathy. From Mersal in 2017, he was usually called simply Thalapathy. That is why you will see both names across posters and news reports.
Directors Vijay worked with most
From the tables above, a few names stand out.
| Director | Vijay films |
|---|---|
| A. R. Murugadoss | Thuppakki, Kaththi, Sarkar |
| Atlee | Theri, Mersal, Bigil |
| Lokesh Kanagaraj | Master, Leo |
| Prabhu Deva | Pokkiri, Villu |
| Dharani | Ghilli, Kuruvi |
| Ramana | Thirumalai, Aathi |
| S. A. Chandrasekhar | Naalaiya Theerpu, Rasigan |
Murugadoss and Atlee shaped his 2010s blockbuster phase. Lokesh Kanagaraj defined the early 2020s. In other words, each phase of his career has a clear creative partner.
Release pace by phase
The 2012 to 2019 stretch has 11 films in eight years, which is about one and a half a year. From 2021 to 2026, the list has only six films in six years. Therefore, his output slowed as budgets, publicity and politics grew. The last stretch also contains the longest wait in the list, between The Greatest of All Time in 2024 and Jana Nayagan in 2026.
For fans who want to catch up, a sensible route is to watch one film from each director above. That covers his main styles without repeating the same formula.
Reading his career in context
A flat list hides how unusual this career is. In just over three decades, Vijay moved from romantic dramas to large-scale action, then to politics. Consequently, his final film carries more weight than a usual farewell. It is also why the box office run of Jana Nayagan drew so much attention from trade trackers.
However, a list is only a start. If you want to understand a particular era, pick a milestone film and watch it alongside the director’s other work. For example, Thuppakki and Kaththi show Murugadoss at his peak, while Master and Leo show the Lokesh style. Meanwhile, Ghilli remains the easiest entry to his mass-hero phase.
Vijay movies list: frequently asked questions
What was Vijay’s first film?
He appeared as a child actor in Vetri in 1984. His first lead role as an adult was Naalaiya Theerpu in 1992.
What is Vijay’s last movie?
Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth, is described as his final film as an actor.
Which Vijay film was the first to cross ₹100 crore?
Thuppakki, directed by A. R. Murugadoss in 2012, was the first Vijay film to enter the ₹100 crore club, as Hollywood Reporter India notes.
Where can I watch Jana Nayagan?
ZEE5 streams it in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi, since 21 August 2026.
Who directed Leo and Master?
Lokesh Kanagaraj directed both films.
How many films has Vijay done with Atlee?
Three: Theri (2016), Mersal (2017) and Bigil (2019).
Is Vijay now a politician?
Hollywood Reporter India reports that he founded Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May after the April assembly elections.
Is this Vijay movies list complete?
It is complete from 2012 onward. Earlier years show major lead films only.
Where to go next
If you want to start his catalogue, begin with a milestone film from each era: Poove Unakkaga, Ghilli, Thuppakki and Master. Then finish with Jana Nayagan for the full arc. Explore more in the cast and crew section, compare his 2026 release with others on our best Tamil movies 2026 list, or head back to the homepage.
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