Vijay: You, the people, are the kings and I am your Thalapathi 

After a successful, two week run in the theatres, the makers of Leo conducted a grand success meet at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai. While the fans were disappointed that they couldn't get to hear their Thalapathy Vijay's speech at the audio launch, the actor made up more than enough for it with his speech at the success meet.

 Taking the stage among the uproarious cheers of the fans, Vijay begun his speech by singing a few lines from 'Naa Ready'. The energy levels in the venue went through the roof when he said his catchphrase, "En nenjil kudiyirukkum, en anbana nanba nanbigal" (To those who live in my heart; my friends, brothers, and sisters). He then continued, "I thought it was I who have kept you in my heart but it seems that it is you who have kept me in your heart instead." After saying, "Your heart is the temple I live in," he immediately follows it up with, "if you're wondering if i'm just spouting filmy lines, let me tell you that this comes from the bottom of my heart." The actor wonders how he will ever repay the kindness of his fans. He then gets emotional, "The one thing I can do is to be true to you till the day I die," Vijay then uses a line from Leo, "You guys are bloody sweet."

The speech then becomes a personal dialogue between Vijay and his fans as he points out how his fans have been angry on social media a lot these days. He then kindly requests, "We don't need this brothers and sisters, we have a lot of work to do." Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Vijay says, "Non-violence is more powerful than violence, so stay cool and calm."

The moment every fan has been waiting for finally arrived, Vijay gets ready to tell his 'Kutty Story'. "Two guys go to hunt in a forest, which has deers, rabbits, elephants, crows, and eagles." he says before continuing. "One of them hunts with a bow and arrow, catches a rabbit and returns to the village while the other man, who has a spear, aims for an elehpant but returns empty handed." He then stops to question who is the bigger man before asserting, "It is the one who went for the elephant because he aimed for something bigger. Achieving what you can easily achieve is no big deal but to try at something much bigger than you is the real success." Imploring his fans to dream bigger, the actor quotes Tamil poet Bharathiyar, "Perithinum perithu kel" (Ask for something bigger than big). He also quotes former President APJ Abdul Kalam, "Small aim is a crime".

Vijay then brings the speech back to the film. He addresses the censorship of the lines from Leo's Naa Ready, which hints at smoking and drinking. He says, "The 'fiery ember between the fingers' line in the song could also mean a pen that could change a verdict. And the 'bottle' could also mean a 'bowl of ragi porridge'. However, the actor adds, "I could use all of these excuses to dodge censorship but I don't want to do that. Look at cinema as cinema alone." Vijay then further elaborates his point, "Everybody knows a film is for entertainment and that the reality is heightened in the film through dialogues and scenes to show the contrast between a hero and the villain. I know for a fact that you won't follow the bad things shown in films. I know you are not that immature."

The crowd roared into applause when Vijay says, "You could find plenty of liquor shops on your way to the school but that doesn't mean students take a peg or two before sitting down for class." He then adds, "The youngsters these days are very clever. They have all the love for me but even they won't watch a bad film just beacuse I did it." 

The actor then took the time to thank his fans who indulge in philanthrophy and altruism. He says its not just the fans in Tamil Nadu but also the ones from Kerala, Mumbai, Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh, Sri Lanka, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore. The speech then touches upon what could be percieved as Vijay declaring his wish to enter politics. "Years ago when producer AVM Saravanan sir was travelling in his car, he spotted an old woman on the road and offered her some money. The woman in return says, 'Bless you MGR.' Such was the legacy of MGR at the time that any good done was immediately thought of as done by MGR himself." Vijay points how he too wishes to leave such a legacy. 

Actor Vijay finally comes to his Leo crewmates and takes his time to thank everyone, including Trisha, Sajay Dutt, and Arjun. "It is not a big deal if a girl becomes a heorine at the age of 20 but it is a whole another deal if she maintains her stardom even twenty years later," says Vijay, about Trisha. He then looks at Sanjay Dutt to say, "The number of obstacles he has overcome to achieve what he has achieved is such an inspirational story to us all that they made a biopic out of him called Sanju." Vijay then recollects Arjun's films like Gentleman, Sevagan, Prathap, and says he is an 'Action king forever.' Fondly remembering the on-set conversations he had about Arjun's memory of working with comedian Goundamani on Jai Hind, Vijay reminds Arjun that they both need to get together for a dinner with Goundamani and Lokesh Kanagaraj. Vijay then showered praise and appreciation for directors Mysskin and Gautham Vasudev Menon, who appeared in brief cameo roles in Leo. 

Coming to director Lokesh kanagaraj, Vijay lists out the levels of appreciation that the director has accrued over the years and then declares, "Next is Hollywood I guess." He then adds, "I am so happy for you man." Actor Vijay elucidates his producer Lalit Kumar's love for cinema by recollecting how he waited out the pandemic to release Master in the theatres. 

After thanking composer Anirudh, stunt choreorgaphers Anbariv, and other technicians, Vijay goes on to wrap up the speech with a declaration. He says, "In all the stars that the Tamil cinema has given us over the years, there is only one Puratchi Thalaivar, there is only one Nadigar Thilagam, there is only one Puratchi Kalaignar Captain, there is only one Ulaga Nayagan, there is only one Superstar... just like that, there is only one Thala." 

Addressing his own star title, the actor says, "You know what Thalapathi means. It means the commander and commanders serve under a king. You, the people, are the kings and I am your Thalapathi. You command and I will do as you say."