India's Biggest Star

 by Kavin Kajendran

When it comes to Indian cinema you think of Bollywood movies. But there are different types of cinema in India itself booming across the world becoming more well known to all types of people. One very famous industry is called Kollywood where the language Tamil is being spoken. This isn't a history article but Tamil is the oldest and still spoken language in the world which is what makes the industry special. 

Right now considerably the number one actor in India  is Vijay or Thalapathy Vijay.

He is the most paid actor in Tamilnadu (Indian state) and in India itself. One of the reasons why Vijay is India's biggest star is his versatility. He has played a wide range of roles, from action hero to romantic lead, and has excelled in each one of them. His ability to connect with audiences through his performances is what sets him apart from other actors. People are crazy about his brilliant acting in South India and worldwide. Today Vijay is one of the number one superstars of Indian cinema. He has millions of fans who love him immensely.

Vijay started working in films at the age of 10 as a child artist, and he acted in many films before doing his first film as the lead actor. He did his first film as a lead actor when he was only 18. This first film as a lead actor was Naalaiya Theerpu, released in 1992. This film was directed by Vijay's father, S. A. Chandrashekhar, and produced by his mother, Shoba Chandrashekhar, but this film did  not do well at the box office and was a flop.After the film Naalaiya Theerpu, his second film came in 1993. The name of this film was Sendhoorapandi, and Vijayakanth also acted in this film. Vijayakanth is one of the most well-known actors in Tamil cinema. This film did well compared to his previous film at the box office. After this, in 1994, Vijay's other film Rasigan was released, and this film was very successful at the box office, but the critics did not like this film. Still, he became very popular among the youth because of this film, and people started liking him. Due to this movie, Vijay also got the title of Ilaya Thalapathy which means young commander in English. Vijay had established himself in the Tamil cinema industry as a romantic hero by the mid-1990s. After the success of the film Rasigan, he got offers from many films. After the film, Vijay  acted in many successful films like Deva,  Vishnu, and Coimbatore Mappillai, and almost all of his films were liked by both the audience and the critics. Vijay used to give very different and unique performances in each of his films which was well appreciated by all. Another movie by Vijay was released in 1996, named Poove Unakkaga. This movie made him more famous and popular than earlier.Vijay became a big star in the Tamil industry, and after the film Poove Unakkaga, Vijay worked in many other films. Out of which, many films proved to be super hits at the box office, and many more got the tag of a cult classic. Vijay's film Thulladha Manamum Thullum which was released in 1999, ran for more than 200 days at the cinema, and this film also won the award for best movie. After the year 2000, most of his movies proved to be super hits at the box office. By the year 2000, Vijay had worked in more than 25 movies. Also, after the year 2000, he started getting offers from more films than before.

This picture is of Vijay In his first movie:

He later on changed his lover boy approach in movies to an action superstar. Bhagavathi is the first movie where Vijay portrays his hero type character. However, it was the big hit movie of Thirumalai which gave Vijay the action hero look. Vijay's entry into the film industry was through romantic roles, and by now he was known for his boy-next-door charm . He then had a   major action film which  was "Ghilli," (risk taker)released in 2004, which became a massive commercial success. The film showcased Vijay's physical prowess and agility, and he impressed audiences with his stunning fight sequences. From then on, Vijay has been a consistent presence in the action genre, delivering one blockbuster after another. Some of his notable action films include "Pokkiri," "Thuppakki," "Kaththi," and "Theri." In these films, Vijay has played a range of characters, from an undercover cop to a vigilante fighting for social justice. He has also experimented with different types of action, such as parkour and hand-to-hand combat, showcasing his versatility as an actor.Vijay is such a popular action hero is his dedication to his craft. He takes his physical training very seriously, and he spends hours in the gym and on the practice floor perfecting his moves. He also works closely with his stunt coordinators to create fight sequences that are both visually stunning and realistic. His attention to detail and commitment to his performances are evident in every action sequence he performs.

 In conclusion, Vijay has cemented his place as one of the most successful action heroes in Indian cinema. He has proven his mettle time and again, delivering blockbuster after blockbuster and setting new standards for action films.

Here shows that Vijay is the most popular actor in India and arguably in his peak in cinema: