Salva Mubarak Senior Features Writer

Ace action film director Lokesh Kanagaraj had the perfect gift for actor Vijay, and his legions of fans, on his 49th birthday. The first look of their much-awaited collaboration Leo is out and it has caused a frenzy amongst the fans.

In the photo, the actor can be seen wielding a bloody sledgehammer with a fierce-looking wolf flanking him. The movie also stars Trisha and Sanjay Dutt.

Ever since he made his debut in 1992, Vijay or Thalapathy Vijay, as he’s fondly called, has gone on to become one of the most bankable movie stars in the country and cemented his status as one of the top action stars too. With many of his films remade in different languages, including Hindi, and with Leo expected to make a big splash this Diwali, it’s clear that there’s no stopping him.

We decided to round up some of our favourite action movies starring Vijay that you can binge-watch to celebrate the actor’s birthday in the best way possible…

Thupakki (2012)

This film marked Vijay’s first collaboration with director AR Murgadoss. While many might think that an intelligent and massy action movie is an oxymoron, the movie managed to prove otherwise. The story followed an Indian army officer on a mission to deactivate a sleeper cell that threatens to destroy the city. The movie was smart, well-paced, and thrilling till the end. It has been remade several times, including one starring Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha in 2014.

Watch it here

Beast (2022)

Another edge-of-the-seat action thriller, Beast follows former RAW agent Veera who is forced to confront his demons when he finds himself captured by terrorists, along with several innocent civilians, in a bid to negotiate the release of their leader who was arrested years ago by Veera. The movie also marked Pooja Hegde’s return to Tamil cinema.

Watch it here

Ghilli (2004)

While not a high-octane action-thriller like the others on this list, this sports-action film is super fun. A remake of Telugu film Okkadu (2003) starring Mahesh Babu, the story follows an aspiring kabaddi player whose life changes when he rescues a girl from marrying a powerful man against her will. The movie also stars Trisha.

Watch it here

Master (2021)

Before Leo, Vijay and director Lokesh Kanagaraj collaborated on this commercially hit film, co-starring Vijay Sethupathi. The movie follows an alcoholic professor enrolled in a juvenile facility who clashes against a ruthless gangster who is using the kids as scapegoats for his nefarious activities.

Watch it here

Kaththi (2014)

This award-winning film directed by AR Murgadoss also stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Neil Nitin Mukesh. In the movie, Vijay stars in a double role with one being Kathiresan, a convict who escapes prison and Jeeva, an innocent man who gets shot by criminals in front of Kathiresan. The former convict masquerades as Jeeva to save his life but unwittingly ends up taking on Jeeva’s crusade against an evil corporation.

Watch it here