33 years ago today, actor Vijay made his debut as a lead with Naalaiya Theerpu, after working on six films as a child artist. Helmed by his father, SA Chandrasekhar, and produced by his mother, Shoba Chandrasekhar, the film opened to negative reviews, but it marked the beginning of the rise of a star, Vijay, whose career has now spanned 3 decades and 69 films.
As Vijay fans celebrate the milestone, we remember the time when Cinema Express recognised the young talent for his debut performance through our awards. In 1993, in the 13th edition of the Cinema Express Awards, Vijay was recognised with the Best New Face Actor award for his performance in Naalaiya Theerpu. The award was presented to him by actor and cinematographer Suresh Menon. Cinema Express identified a young talent long before he became a star.
Naalaiya Theerpu revolves around a businessman who faces the consequences of his actions when his wife, despite his abuse, becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son who seeks revenge against his father's wrongdoings. The film also starred Keerthana and Easwari Rao, with Srividya, Radha Ravi and Sarath Babu in supporting roles.
Now, the actor is awaiting the release of his swansong, Jana Nayagan, following which he is to shift his focus entirely to politics. The film is written and directed by H Vinoth.
Jana Nayagan is said to revolve around Vijay’s role as a police officer, with Pooja Hegde and Bobby Deol essaying pivotal roles. The ensemble cast further features Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, Priyamani, Mamitha Baiju, and others. Interestingly, speculation is also rife about cameo appearances by directors Atlee, Nelson Dilipkumar, and Lokesh Kanagaraj, though nothing has been confirmed.
As Jana Nayagan prepares for its Pongal 2026 release on January 9, it is set for a clash at the box office with Sivakarthikeyan’s period drama Parasakthi, directed by Sudha Kongara, which hits screens on January 14, 2026.
