What Makes Vijay An "Illaya Thalapathy"

“Sathyamoorthy” of” Pokkiri”, “Muthappa” of “Sivakasi”, “Sachein” of “Sachein’, “Sivagiri” of “Thirupachi” and “Saravanavel” of Ghilli---------what is the common thread that links all these unforgettable characters? When you ponder over it for a few minutes, the answer is very obvious- they are the names of the characters that Vijay has portrayed in his films, and they are all funny, endearing, mischievious, impulsive and romantic guys, with a larger- than -life appeal.
Vijay is today heralded as-“ILLAYATHALAPATHY VIJAY”, (a name given to him by his fans) because of his choice of roles which the common man and the mass audience are able to relate to and empathize with. Vijay’s movies always rely on the universal doctrine of “Victory of good over evil” which again is very well received by his fans. Seldom does he change his appearance, be it in the form of clothing or hairstyles, yet each character he portrays remains etched in our memories forever. He knows exactly what his fans want from him and how to deliver just that and more with a lot of spunk and panache.
Vijay’s dazzling screen presence, his naughty smirk, his fiery eyes spewing anger, his amazing comic timing and his signature dance style, enthrall the audience and keep them glued to their seats. He is a one man show, being able to act, sing, dance and do comedy, making it all look like a piece of cake. On the personal front, he is a man of few words, courteous, extremely simple and very down-to-earth. His whole world revolves around his parents, wife, kids and of course all his fans. He himself is a die-hard Rajini fan and brushes off all comparisons made between him and the Superstar, saying that there is only one superstar and he reigns supreme, no one else can take his place. Rajinikanth on the other hand is known to possess a special liking to Vijay and affectionately addresses him as “Thambi”.
Vijay lives up to his screen persona of a Good Samaritan by rendering himself to social causes like education, food, and clothing for the poor and needy. He also constantly encourages his fan clubs to reach out to the less fortunate and to get involved in social service and charity. Vijay’s charisma transcends all age and sex barriers, his fans range from little kids to college students to married couples to grandparents. Every movie release is like a major festival in and around Chennai and its suburbs. It is always a big celebration of sorts complete with fireworks, music, dance and thronging crowds of eager fans who just want a glimpse of their hero.
I myself became an ardent fan of Vijay after I saw “Ghilli”, and I have watched every one of his movies ever since. What I like best about him is his flawless dialogue delivery—no matter what kind of scene it is, his every word is packed with so much sincerity, conviction and resolve. Another question which constantly plagues me is how he manages to look younger by the day….what is your secret Vijay?? “Illayathalapathy” essentially means “young leader” or “youth icon” and Vijay definitely is one in every sense of the word. On recently being conferred an honorary doctorate for his tremendous contribution to Tamil cinema and all the social causes that he supports, we at Behindwoods wish him more success, power, glory, claps and whistles.