Thalapathy Vijay's transition from a successful actor onscreen to a superstar politician offscreen received the stamp of the people of Tamil Nadu after
the recently held assembly elections. The 51-year-old leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) not just slayed his electoral debut by winning the ballot on May 4, but even scripted history with his party's victory. He went on to prove that his charm and mass appeal are not just restricted to films, but transcend into the real-life political arena too. For his fans, this is a reflection and a déjà vu of the several politician characters he's played in movies. As the people of Tamil Nadu celebrate his electoral success, many recall his righteous roles, which now seem like a possible motivation towards Vijay's triumph. For the unversed, Vijay has often leaned into politically charged roles over the last decade, using mainstream cinema to address governance, corruption, and public welfare. Here's a clear, structured glimpse at the political-themed roles he's played on the silver screen.
Vijay's films with themes around politics, corruption and social issues
1. Thuppakki (2012)
Vijay plays Jagadish Dhanapal, an intelligence officer in the Indian Army, who seeks to track down, destroy, and deactivate a sleeper cell after witnessing and barely escaping a bombing carried out by the cell. Not electoral politics, but deals with national security and anti-terror policy, presenting Vijay as a protector of the state.
2. Kaththi (2014)
Vijay played the role of Kathiresan, a petty thief who assumes the identity of his lookalike and attempts to lead a rebellion by farmers from the latter's village, Thanoothu. He ends up fighting against a corporation exploiting farmers' land and water resources. The movie's prime focus is on the corrupt corporate-politician nexus, agrarian crisis, and rural rights.
3. Mersal (2017)
Vijay played a triple role, including Vetri and Maaran. As Maaran, he portrays a reputed doctor who charges meagre amounts from his patients, seemingly working in a double life as a vigilante magician who is against the medical crimes. When he was arrested, his past was revealed. Mersal emerged as a success due to its sharp criticism of government healthcare policies and the privatisation of the sector.
4. Sarkar (2018)
Vijay plays the character of Sundar Ramasamy, a corporate raider-turned-politician. Sundar returns to India to vote, only to discover his vote has already been cast fraudulently. This sparks a larger battle against a corrupt political system. While the film critiques the electoral malpractice and voter rights, Vijay's character evolves into a mass leader, mobilising citizens against systemic corruption.
5. Bigil (2019)
As Michael Rayappan, Vijay plays a former footballer who gives up his dream and turns into a gangster after his father's death. He eventually ends up as the coach of a women's football team after his friend gets injured. On the way, he fights social barriers and institutional neglect in sports. It also addresses gender inequality, empowerment, and grassroots development, echoing welfare politics.
6. Master (2021)
Vijay plays an alcoholic college professor named JD, who reforms himself and takes on a three-month teaching job at a juvenile detention system controlled by a criminal mastermind. He clashes with Bhavani, a ruthless gangster, who uses the children as the scapegoats for his unlawful activities. The film highlights systemic failure in education and juvenile justice, with undertones of institutional corruption.
7. Beast (2022)
As Veera Raghavan, Vijay plays a former intelligence agent who fights terrorists during a mall hijack while exposing lapses in security systems. He seeks to rescue hostages who have been taken in by terrorists. The focus here is on state response, security policy, and media narratives.
Even in his upcoming film, Jana Nayagan, which is awaiting a release, Vijay plays an idealistic former police officer who re-enters a battle against a corrupt, authoritarian elite to protect the people, triggered by a child's fear.
