Vijay (actor)
This article is about the Tamil film actor. For other uses see Vijay (disambiguation)
Vijay | |
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File:Joseph Vijay.jpg | |
Born | Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar |
Other names | Ilaya Thalapathy, Dr. Vijay, King of KollyWood |
Spouse | Sangeetha Vijay |
Website | http://www.vijaynet.com |
Dr.Vijay (Tamil: விஜய்), (born Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar on June 22, 1974) is a Tamil film actor and playback singer.
He began his acting career doing minor, uncredited roles as a child artist, produced by his father S. A. Chandrasekhar. He later was promoted into films as a lead actor. Post-Thirumalai, he began portraying a stereotypical and stylized acting manner, much like Rajinikanth and M. G. Ramachandran. Vijay has more recently become a charismatic film star on screen and thus developed a large fan following for himself.
Personal background
Vijay Chandrasekhar was born on June 22, 1974 to film producer and director S. A. Chandrasekhar and Shoba Chandrasekhar, a playback singer. He had a sister named Vidhya Chandrasekhar who died at the age of two. Vijay studied Visual Communications at Loyola College, but dropped out to pursue an acting career. He was interestingly classmates with Surya Sivakumar, Yuvan Shankar Raja, Karthik Raja, and Vishnuvardhan. Interestingly, one his best friends is rival actor Ajith.
He married Sangeetha after a lot of struggle and controversies on August 25, 1999. They have two children: Jason Sanjay, born on August 26, 2000 in London, and Divya Saasha, born on September 9, 2005 in Chennai.He lives in Chennai
Acting career
He began his acting career doing minor, uncredited roles as a child artist in Kollywood. Today he is known for his pacy dance sequences and his stereotypical and style-oriented acting. He is referred to as Ilaya Thalapathy, which is also always used along with his name in credits.
Vijay debuted as a lead role actor in the 1992 film Naalaya Theerpu, produced by his father. After a few other films, he co-stared with Vijayakanth in the film Sendhoorapandi. This film helped Vijay to become popular in the interior areas of Tamil Nadu. Films like Rasigan, Vishnu, and Deva followed, which all helped to increase Vijay's star value. Vijay is also one of the few lead actors of his generation to co-star with veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan. This opportunity came in the film Once More, directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar in 1994.
The year 1996 saw a blockbuster hit in the Vikraman-directed film Poove Unakkaga which helped Vijay to establish as a bankable star in Tamil films. He found more success with films that followed, which had an unorthodox climax like Love Today, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai and Priyamudan. Kadhalukku Mariyadhai made Vijay recieve that year's Tamil Nadu state Best Actor Award.
Following Thulladha Manamum Thullum, the films Endrendrum Kadhal, Nenjinile, Minsara Kanna and Kannukkul Nilavu failed to meet his previous success. He decided not to commit in films that took a year to release, which changed his trend. His next venture was Kushi which was a blockbuster of 2000. The following films like Priyamanavale, Friends and Badri were once again successful for Vijay
Later on, he starred in Shahjahan, Thamizhan, Youth, and Bagavathi which maintained Vijay's success. However, the films that followed, which were Vaseegara, Pudhiya Geethai, and his delayed film Udhaya became low grossers and flopped. This highly affected Vijay's success rate and he was looked down upon by film critics and producers.
His string of failure films was broken by Thirumalai in 2004 which had Vijay in a new facial appearance. Ghilli, which was also released in 2004, is considered to be one of Vijay's biggest hits today. Directed by Dharani and produced by A. M. Rathnam, it was a remake of the Telugu film Okkadu, and ran for 200 days in theatres in Tamil Nadu. His last hit of the year 2004 had followed, which was Madhurey. It was in this year which Vijay began to portray his current mass-hero, stereotypical acting style, giving him a major turning point in his career. The following year had other major successes such as Thirupaachi, Sachein and Sivakasi.
Vijay's only flop film since the release of Thirumalai was Aathi, which released in 2006. Aathi had created some controversy during that year and many film distributors decided on thinking twice before handling any new Vijay films. This resulted in Vijay taking a break from acting for nearly a year, until the launch of Pokkiri, directed by Prabhu Deva, which released in 2007. Pokkiri had met the same success as Ghilli did, in which Vijay was given a different style to act as. This made Vijay recieve an honourary doctorate title from the M. G. R. University. Later that year, Vijay appeared in Azhagiya Thamizh Magan, and for the first time, he appeared in dual roles. His roles in this film, as the antagonist and protagonist, made him to be considered for a Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award.
Vijay is currently acting in Villu, again under Prabhu Deva's direction. The film is expected to be released in 2009. Vijay's 50th feature film has also been announced and has been titled Vettaikaran.
Vijay has a lot of fans following him mainly from India, UK, France and other countries in Europe. His fans like his dialogues and his style in films. In all of his movies whether flop or hit, people like his comedy, action, romance and of course his style.
Playback singing
Vijay also sang several ghaana songs in his own films. He has also lent his voice for songs for other actors, which were films produced by S. A. Chandrasekhar. Vijay's songs are often of ghaana-style folk beat type. The last song Vijay sang was Vaadi Vaadi from Sachien in 2005.
Awards and honours
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor in 1997 for Kadhalukku Mariyadhai
- Roja Duke's Best Actor Award for Kadhalukku Mariyadhai
- M.G.R. Award in 2000
- Dinakaran Best Actor Award for Ghilli in 2005
- Film Today Best Actor Award for Ghilli in 2005
- Honorary doctorate in 2007
- Sunfeast Music Awards for Best Hero for Pokkiri in 2007
- Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Actor for Thirupaachi
Filmography
Discography
Year | Song | Film | Other notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Vaadi Vaadi | Sachein | |
2002 | Coca Cola | Bagavathi | |
2002 | Ullathai Killadhae | Thamizhan | Sung with co-star, Priyanka Chopra |
2001 | Ennoda Laila | Badri | |
2000 | Mississippi Nadhi Kulunga | Priyamanavale | |
1999 | Thanganirathuku | Nenjinile | |
1998 | Roddula Oru | Periyanna | Rendered voice for Surya Sivakumar |
1998 | Juddadi Laila | Periyanna | Rendered voice for Surya Sivakumar |
1998 | Thammadikkira Styla Pathu | Periyanna | Rendered voice for Surya Sivakumar |
1998 | Kalathukku Oru Gana | Velai | Rendered voice for actor Vignesh |
1998 | Chandira Mandalathai | Nilaave Vaa | |
1998 | Nilave... Nilave | Nilaave Vaa | |
1998 | Mowriya Mowriya | Priyamudan | |
1997 | Oh Baby Baby | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | |
1997 | Akhila Akhila | Nerrukku Ner | |
1997 | Oormilaa Oormilaa | Once more | |
1996 | Chicken Karae | Selva | |
1996 | Anjaam Number Bussil Yeri | Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen | |
1996 | Thiruppathy Ponaa Mottai | Maanbumigu Maanavan | |
1995 | Bomboi Party Shilpa Shetty | Coimbatore Maaple | |
1994 | Thottabettaa Rottu Melae | Vishnu | |
1994 | Adadaa Alamelu Aavin Pasumpaalu | Deva | |
1994 | Koththagiri Kuppammaa | Deva | |
1994 | Bomboi City Sukkha Rotti | Rasigan |