Thalapathy Vijay entered the acting field by starring in his father’s directorial project, Vetri. He soon made his mark in the entertainment industry and eventually became a household name. Before becoming everyone’s favorite action hero, Vijay acted in many romance films.
With his effortless charm, infectious smile and impeccable comic timing, he presented some of the most enduring love stories in Tamil cinema. Here are 7 must-watch romantic movies of Thalapathy Vijay to add to your weekend watchlist.
1. Sachin
- Cast: Vijay, Genelia Deshmukh, Bipasha Basu, Vadivelu, Santhanam, Raghuvaran
- Director: John Mahendran
- Where to watch: Prime Video
Sachien is a 2005 campus romance that remains a fan favorite due to its breezy atmosphere and playful confrontation between the lead characters. Vijay’s portrayal of the carefree, optimistic Sachin is pure gold. It is an adaptation of the director’s 2002 Telugu film, Neetho. This is Basu’s Tamil debut.
2. Kushi
- Cast: Vijay, Jyotika, Mumtaz, Vivek
- Director: SJ Surya
- Where to watch: Prime Video
Khushi is a film that redefined urban romance in the early 2000s. It is the story of two college friends who refuse to confess their love. While audiences loved Vijay and Jyotika’s chemistry, it also included Deva’s chart-topping soundtrack. Following its commercial success, the film was remade in Hindi as Khushi in 2003 with Fardeen Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
3. Kavalan
- Cast: Vijay, Asin, Mithra Kurian, Vadivelu
- Director: Siddiqui
- Where to watch: Jio Hotstar
Kavalan is a 2011 film about a bodyguard who falls in love with a mysterious girl over the phone. Little did he know that the woman was none other than the same woman for whom he worked as a guard. Meera develops feelings for Bhoominathan and starts calling him Ammukutty, an anonymous caller. The film was screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics. This film brought tears to the eyes of the audience.
4. Poove Unakkaga
- Cast: Vijay, Sangeeta, Anju Aravind, Nagesh
- Director: Vikraman
- Where to watch: Sun NXT, YouTube
Poove Unakkaga took Vijay to stardom. The 1996 film is a beautiful story of selfless love where the hero sacrifices his happiness to unite two families for the sake of the woman he loves. Released on 15 February 1996. The film received critical acclaim and became a commercial blockbuster. It was remade in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi as Badhaai Ho Badhaai.
5. Thullatha Manamum Thulum
- Cast: Vijay, Simran, Manivannan
- Director: Ezhil
- Where to watch: Sun NXT
Thullatha Manamum Thullum narrates the emotional journey of an aspiring singer and a girl who loses her eyesight. The soulful music and heart-touching story make this 1999 romantic film one of the most acclaimed films of his career. The musical romantic drama film became an award-winning hit. It became so popular that the film was later remade in several languages including Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and Oriya.
6. Shahjahan
- Cast: Vijay, Richa Pallod, Krishna, Vivek
- Director: Ravi
- Where to watch: Sun NXT
In the 2001 film Shahjahan, Thalapathy Vijay played the role of a love guru who helps couples unite. However, there comes a time when he falls in love with a girl who is already in love with his best friend. This is the Tamil debut film of Richa Pallod. The moderately successful film has music composed by Mani Sharma and is bankrolled by Super Good Films.
7. Priyamanwale
- Cast: Vijay, Simran, SP Balasubramaniam, Vivek
- Director: K. Selva Bharti
- Where to watch: Sun NXT
Priyamaanavale follows a man who doesn’t believe in the institution of marriage until he meets a woman who changes his perspective through her grace and patience. The film is a Tamil remake of the 1996 Telugu film Pavitra Bandham. C. Venkata Raju and G. Produced by Sivaraju, it received positive reviews and was commercially successful.
Which of these Thalapathy classics are you planning to re-watch first? let us know.
