Jayabhuvaneshwari B
If you want to revisit Vijayakanth beyond the usual Ramana and Chinna Gounder, these are seven films that capture the actor in his most entertaining, larger-than-life form; from playing multiple characters to delivering mass dialogues and owning every frame.
As Sundaralingam Prabhakaran, an elder brother who takes responsibility for his sister and her life, Vijayakanth is equal parts protective brother, action hero and unlikely comedian. Engal Anna is the kind of family entertainer where Captain can go from dispensing life advice to dispensing punches without missing a beat.
As Captain Narasimha, Vijayakanth goes full-throttle action hero, taking on a terrorist network with the kind of swagger that only Captain could pull off. The film may not have the perfect screenplay, but Captain attacking the bad guys with absolute conviction is exactly the point.
Three Vijayakanths. Yes, three. Captain plays a father and his two sons in this 2000 action drama, giving you three different shades of the star in one film. The premise alone makes Simmasanam irresistible for anyone looking for a gloriously old-school masala watch.
As Thavasi and his son Boopathi, Vijayakanth gets another chance to play two generations of the same family. But what makes this one worth revisiting is the combination of family sentiment, rural drama, action and Captain's commanding screen presence. And, of course, the novelty of watching him play both father and son.
As CBI officer Kasi Viswanathan, Captain investigates the disappearance of a judge, only to discover that a mysterious lookalike is behind a series of murders. Then comes the big reveal: the lookalike is his twin brother, Perarasu, also played by Vijayakanth. A cop, a twin, revenge, political corruption and a whole lot of Captain swagger. What's not to watch?
As a protective village man caught between loyalty, violence and family, Vijayakanth is at home in this rural action drama. There's a certain old-school Captain charm here, before the political speeches and larger-than-life cop roles completely took over.
As an upright police officer determined to fight the system, Vijayakanth is in familiar territory, but this is Captain before the role became almost a genre unto itself. Straightforward, angry and righteous, with Vijayakanth's screen presence doing most of the heavy lifting.