Vijay Sethupathi – The versatile and popular Tamil film actor of present times

Vijay Sethupathi is one of the top Kollywood stars of present cinema, and one of cashable actors too. After struggling in film field for many years playing extra and bit roles, he rose to fame in 2012 where he tasted the success of three films in a row – the thriller Pizza, the comedy entertainer based on real life incidents, Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom and Sundarapandian, where he played the acclaimed role of a villain. There was no turning back, and he went on to become one of the most popular actors of Tamil cinema.

Most of his films are performance oriented, and less mass entertainers with bigger than size heroes, and he has ordinary looks too quite fitting a person of Tamil neighbourhood. These are the main reasons why he could easily connect with audience and helped him to gain immense popularity within a short interval of time. Most of his films have realistic themes rather than satisfying those who love masala and mass entertainers. Though he portrayed different shades of roles on screen, his roles as innocent and ordinary man as well as his talent to handle comedy made him a sensation.

Vijaya Gurunatha Sethupathi was born in 1978 in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu. His father was a civil engineer and he has three siblings. At the age of 11, his family relocated to Chennai where he continued with his education. He was a below average student, and was not interested in sports or extra-curricular activities during his childhood. During his academic years he did many odd jobs to earn pocket money. After completing his graduation in Commerce, he took up a job to financially support the family of three brothers and later shifted to Dubai to work as an accountant because the job paid him three times more.

After he moved back to Chennai, he tried with different sorts of business and also joined Chennai-based theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai as an accountant and actor. Very soon he started working as an extra in Tamil films, and slowly graduated to character roles. He was seen in brief roles in Lee, Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu, Pudhupettai and Naan Mahaan Alla. As a lead actor Thenmerku Paruvakaatru in 2010 was his first film, and he continued playing character roles till Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom and Pizza. Though Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom included an ensemble cast, his comic timing and dialogue delivery made him an overnight sensation, and the film became a cult classic. In 2013 his movie Soodhu Kavvum cemented his position in Tamil cinema. From there on, he started signing many performance oriented projects, and registered success with most of them.

Casting Vijay Sethupathi in a lead role became a safe bet of producers after that. Some of his career best films include – Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, Sundarapandian, Pizza, Soodhu Kavvum, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, Orange Mittai, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, Sethupathi, Rekka, Aandavan Kattalai, Purampokku Engira Podhuvudamai, Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, Dharma Durai, Iraivi, 96, Seethakaathi, Pettah, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Super Deluxe, Kavan, Vikram Vedha etc.

Vijay Sethupathi – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. In the recent times, Vijay Sethupathy’s films lead among all the Kollywood heroes, in terms of receiving both critical acclaim and commercial success. Vijay makes every movie special by showcasing his versatility.

2. He started his career as an extra for Tamil cinema for more than 5 years before playing his first lead role. Many of his early roles were uncredited. Seenu Ramasamy’s Thenmerku Paruvakaatru in 2010 was his first lead role.

3. He established his production house – Vijay Sethupathi Productions in 2016 and has received a few films under this film banner. He is also known as a lyricist, playback singer and screenwriter.

4. About his personal life, he married an online friend Jessie from Kerala in 2003. He proposed her through Yahoo Chat. They had been friends for three years and he married at a very young age of 23. He met her for the first time on marriage fixing ceremony and never returned to Dubai after that.

5. He worked as a telephone booth operator and salesman during his school days.

6. After studies he worked in Dubai for a while and once returned did interior designing business and worked in marketing field before he took acting. Yet Sethupathi struggled for nearly one decade to get the real break he was waiting for.

7. His wife was initially reluctant to support his dreams in acting field. But later she realized his passion, and as she had a job she financially supported the family while Vijay was struggling to get a chance in film field. He started getting roles in movies after a son was born.

8. Versatile director Balu Mahendra felt that his face is photogenic and asked him to join films. The director was impressed by one of his performances as a junior artist.

9. His first salary as a junior artist in Tamil cinema was rupees 250, and he was associated with a few local theater troupes then. He was seen in crowd and also uncredited roles of hero’s friend in many movies.

10. He also acted in one television series, Penn and a few short films during his struggling years in cinema. Interestingly many of his roles got replaced and he was rejected as a junior artist in one movie.

11. He has dubbed for Mohanlal for Malayalam film Varavelppu to be shown on a local cable channel.

12. His real talent was spotted by Director Suseenthiran who casted him in Naan Mahaan Alla and a few more films.

13. He received Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Villain for Sundarapandian in 2012. Interestingly it was the same year he rose to the list of main league of actors with two hits as a lead hero.

14. He received Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for the roles he played in Pannaiyarum Padminiyum and 14. Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara.

15. He won Filmfare award for best actor for Vikram Vedha.

16. Though he is currently one of the celebrated stars of Tamil cinema, he has never hesitated to take projects, where he has to become a part of ensemble cast or to play a second/parallel lead. His roles in Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Pettah, Imaikkaa Nodigal, Vikram Vedha and upcoming Marconi Mathai (Malayalam debut) are the best instances.

17. His ‘kissing selfies’ are popular among his fans. He kisses on his fan’s cheek while taking selfies. He also accepts their love kisses.

18. One of his childhood mischiefs – His mother had cattle and used to sell milk to earn a living. He used to drink cow’s milk without the knowledge of his mother.  

19. He has appeared in two short films of Alphonse Puthren – Angel and Neram. He did the villain role of Vattiraja in the short film, Neram.

20. He unsuccessfully attended the audition for Maniratnam’s Raavanan, and later played an important role in his film, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam.

21. His childhood role in Naanum Rowdy Thaan was done by his elder son Surya. He has one more daughter – Sreeja.

Author’s note: During my school and college days, I used to regularly watch Tamil films – both old and new and used to follow the film updates. My father is a die-hard fan of Sivaji Ganesan movies, and we used to frequently go to nearby theatre to watch old Tamil classics. After marriage when I got busy with family life, I lost ties with Tamil movies. Only three years ago I watched two Tamil movies, Pizza and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, incidentally both are Vijay Sethupathi’s films (I didn’t know much about this actor earlier). I didn’t even think that Sethupathi starred as lead hero in both films, and that both these films played a magnificent role in his career. I just thought he is just like any other Tamil actor, but nothing special. But my whole assumptions changed after watching Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom.

I was completely bowled out by the performance of this versatile actor in both these films, especially the comic timing in Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, and this movie also made me realize I have really missed to catch some of the best Indian films in the recent past. Then I started watching Tamil movies (which I missed) with good reviews and never missed any Vijay Sethupathy film. Since I watched Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom I became addicted to his films and started watching his films one after another. What an amazing actor he is! Now he is most favourite actor among Tamil heroes, and I never take any chance to miss any of his movies. Last year I was fully impressed by his role in 96. What an amazing movie, and how beautifully he played a romantic hero onscreen. He is really versatile. Speechless! In this occasion I would like to express special thanks to Sethupathy to bring me back to Tamil films after a short break.