Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has been leading in many constituencies on the day of counting of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. As the star makes his electoral debut, here are five films where he fought for the common man and their issues.
The star, who plunged into politics in 2024, rose to stardom in Tamil cinema by peppering his films with the three most important commercial elements – dance, action, and comedy. But beyond the entertainment, many of his movies carried strong social and political messages.
1. Sarkar (2018)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | AR Murugadoss |
| Theme | Electoral reform, opposition to NOTA |
| Political Message | Critiqued the electoral system and the misuse of NOTA |
In Sarkar, Vijay played a wealthy NRI who returns to India and gets drawn into politics after facing bureaucratic hurdles. The film directly took on the electoral system and became a political talking point upon release.
2. Mersal (2017)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Atlee |
| Theme | Healthcare accessibility, medical scams |
| Political Message | Criticised the government’s handling of the medical industry |
Mersal featured Vijay in a triple role and included a segment that critiqued the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and healthcare policies. The film sparked real-world political controversy, with the BJP demanding a disclaimer.
3. Kaththi (2014)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | AR Murugadoss |
| Theme | Corporate greed, farmers’ rights, water crisis |
| Political Message | Highlighted the exploitation of farmers by corporations |
Kaththi is widely regarded as one of Vijay’s most politically charged films. It told the story of a corporate takeover of farmland and the struggle to return water to a drought-hit village.
4. Thuppakki (2012)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | AR Murugadoss |
| Theme | Terrorism, national security |
| Political Message | Patriotism and the role of the armed forces |
While primarily an action thriller, Thuppakki carried strong undertones of patriotism and civic duty. Vijay played an army officer hunting down sleeper cells in Mumbai.
5. Theri (2016)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Atlee |
| Theme | Judicial system, corruption, justice for the common man |
| Political Message | Highlighted flaws in the legal system |
Theri told the story of a former police officer seeking justice for wrongs committed against his family. The film resonated with audiences through its depiction of systemic corruption.
Other Notable Mentions
- Master (2021): Vijay played a professor-turned-reformist in a juvenile detention centre, taking on a powerful villain.
- Bigil (2019): Focused on women’s empowerment in sports, addressing issues of land grabbing and gender discrimination.
