I. EARLY LIFE AND BACKGROUND
-
Full Name: Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar
-
Date of Birth: June 22, 1974
-
Place of Birth: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
-
Parents:
-
Father: S. A. Chandrasekhar – noted Tamil film director and writer
-
Mother: Shoba Chandrasekhar – playback singer
-
-
Siblings:
-
Younger sister Vidhya, who passed away at age 2. Vijay has often mentioned this loss had a profound emotional impact on him.
Education
-
Schooling: Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Virugambakkam, Chennai
-
College: Loyola College, Chennai – Visual Communications (dropped out mid-way to pursue acting full-time)
II. FILM CAREER
Child Actor (1984–1988)
-
Acted in over 9 films as a child actor under the direction of his father.
-
First screen appearance: Vetri (1984)
-
Known for roles in Kudumbam, Vasantha Raagam, and Naan Sigappu Manithan
Early Struggles (1992–1995)
-
Debuted as a lead actor in Naalaiya Theerpu (1992). The film flopped, but he persisted.
-
Notable early films:
-
Sendhoorapandi (1993)
-
Rasigan (1994)
-
Deva (1995)
-
Breakthrough (1996–2003)
-
Poove Unakkaga (1996) – directed by Vikraman; first commercial hit and turning point
-
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997) – won Vijay a Tamil Nadu State Film Special Prize
-
Other major hits: Thulladha Manamum Thullum, Kushi, Friends, Badri, Priyamaanavale
Mass Hero Status (2003–2010)
-
Thirumalai (2003) – new mass image, change in appearance and acting style
-
Ghilli (2004) – one of the biggest hits in Tamil cinema
-
Other hits: Thirupaachi, Sivakasi, Pokkiri (2007, a major milestone)
-
Experiments like Azhagiya Tamil Magan showed range, though not box office successes
Mixed Phase (2010–2011)
-
Films like Sura (2010) underperformed
-
Kaavalan (2011) – emotional role brought critical acclaim
Golden Phase & Social Messaging (2012–2023)
-
Collaborations with AR Murugadoss, Atlee, and Lokesh Kanagaraj
-
Key films:
-
Thuppakki (2012) – played an army officer; first Rs. 100 crore grosser for Vijay
-
Kaththi (2014) – dual roles; addressed farmer suicides and corporate land grabbing
-
Theri (2016) – police officer with emotional depth
-
Mersal (2017) – triple role; criticized GST and medical corruption
-
Sarkar (2018) – based on electoral malpractice; faced political backlash
-
Master (2021) – clash between teacher and gangster; one of the first post-COVID hits
-
Beast (2022) – mixed reviews but strong initial box office
-
Varisu (2023) – family entertainer
-
Leo (2023) – part of Lokesh Kanagaraj Cinematic Universe (LCU); highest-grossing Tamil film for Vijay
-
III. POLITICAL CAREER
Political Leanings
-
Through movies like Mersal and Sarkar, Vijay often voiced anti-establishment and reformist messages, which led to government scrutiny and IT raids.
-
Known for speeches that subtly criticize systemic issues.
Formation of Party
-
In February 2024, Vijay launched his political party:
-
Name: Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK)
-
Focus: Education reform, anti-corruption, youth empowerment
-
-
Announced he would fully quit cinema after his 68th film to focus on politics
-
Aims to contest Tamil Nadu state elections in 2026
IV. PERSONAL LIFE
-
Wife: Sangeetha Sornalingam (married in 1999), a fan from the UK
-
Children:
-
Jason Sanjay – interested in directing; studied in Canada
-
Divya Sasha – appeared briefly in Theri
-
V. PHILANTHROPY
-
Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (VMI): His fan club turned service movement
-
Blood donation, food distribution, education scholarships
-
Disaster relief work during floods, cyclones, and COVID-19
-
-
He often visits families of deceased fans, supports education for the poor, and donates anonymously
VI. CONTROVERSIES & CHALLENGES
-
Tax raids after politically sensitive films like Mersal and Sarkar
-
Sarkar scenes were altered after objections from the ruling AIADMK party
-
Films often seen as politically charged, leading to intense debate
VII. HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
-
Awards:
-
3 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
-
8 Vijay Awards
-
SIIMA Awards, Edison Awards, and more
-
-
Regularly featured in Forbes India's Top 100 Celebrities list
-
Has one of the largest fan bases in Tamil Nadu and globally
VIII. FUTURE PROSPECTS
-
Thalapathy 68: Directed by Venkat Prabhu, set to be Vijay’s final film
-
Focus will shift entirely to political leadership through TVK
-
Eyes a Chief Ministerial role in the future if political entry is successful
No comments:
Post a Comment