These films established him as a rising star and a pioneer of the "New Wave" in Tamil cinema. Thenmerku Paruvakaatru : His first lead role as Murugan. Sundarapandian : Played the antagonist Jegan, winning a Tamil Nadu State Film Award
: A massive cult hit that solidified his fame in the horror-thriller genre. Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom
: A comedy based on a real-life incident of short-term memory loss. Critical Success & Stardom (2013–2018)
During this period, he became known as "Makkal Selvan" (People's Treasure) for his unique script selections. Soodhu Kavvum : A dark comedy where he played an aging kidnapper. Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara : Famous for his "Kumaru" character. Pannaiyarum Padminiyum
: A critically acclaimed drama about a landlord and his vintage car. Naanum Rowdy Dhaan : An action-comedy that became a major commercial success. Sethupathi : His first full-fledged role as a police officer. Vikram Vedha vijay sethupathi tamil movie list
: A massive hit where he played the gangster Vedha alongside R. Madhavan. : A nostalgic romantic drama that is considered one of his best performances Seethakaathi : His 25th film, where he played an elderly stage actor. National Recognition & Multi-Starrers (2019–Present) Super Deluxe National Film Award
for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Shilpa, a trans woman.
: Played the ruthless antagonist Bhavani opposite Thalapathy Vijay. Kadaisi Vivasayi
: A National Award-winning film about the plight of an elderly farmer. These films established him as a rising star
: Played the antagonist Sandhanam in Lokesh Kanagaraj's blockbuster. Viduthalai Part 1 (2023) & Part 2 (2024) : Portrayed the elusive rebel leader Perumal (Vaathiyaar).
: His milestone 50th film, which received high praise for its screenplay and his performance. Recent and Upcoming Releases Thalaivan Thalaivii : A romantic action comedy with Nithya Menen. : An upcoming action film where he plays "Bolt" Kannan. Train (TBA) : Currently in post-production. antagonist roles specifically?
Here’s a deep, analytical look at Vijay Sethupathi’s Tamil filmography — not just a list, but a breakdown of his artistic evolution, archetypes, box office trajectory, and cultural impact.
Vijay Sethupathi (born 1978) is a versatile actor, producer and occasional writer known for his naturalistic acting and for taking diverse, often unconventional roles in Tamil cinema. Below is a concise, curated list of notable Tamil films across his career, grouped by phase, with brief notes on each title’s significance. Vijay Sethupathi — Selected Tamil Filmography & Notes
| Year | Movie Title | Role | Highlights | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2016 | Sethupathi | Inspector Sethupathi | Action drama. | | 2016 | Iraivi | Michael | Ensemble cast; Artistic hit. | | 2016 | Dharma Durai | Dharma Durai | Rural drama. | | 2016 | Aandavan Kattalai | Gandhi | Social comedy. | | 2016 | Rekka | Shiva | Commercial action. | | 2017 | Kavan | Himself (cameo) | Satire. | | 2017 | Puriyatha Puthir | Kathir | Thriller. | | 2017 | Vikram Vedha | Vedha | Blockbuster cult classic. | | 2017 | Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren | Kingu | Dark comedy. | | 2018 | Junga | Junga | Comedy heist. | | 2018 | Mercury | Deaf-mute protagonist | Silent film; Experimental. | | 2018 | Seethakaathi | Ayya | Meta-fiction drama. | | 2018 | Chekka Chivantha Vaanam | Thyagu | Mani Ratnam’s multi-starrer. | | 2018 | 96 | Ramachandran | Iconic Romantic Drama. | | 2019 | Super Deluxe | Shilpa (Transgender) | Masterpiece. | | 2019 | Nadodigal 2 | Sampath | Sequel. | | 2019 | Sindhubaadh | Thamba | Action drama. | | 2019 | Bigil | Michael Rayappan (Antagonist) | Commercial blockbuster. |
| Year | Movie Title | Role | Notes | |------|-------------|------|-------| | 2017 | Kavan | Udhay | Social thriller | | 2017 | Puriyatha Puthir | Kathir | Thriller | | 2017 | Vikram Vedha | Vedha | Cult classic | | 2017 | Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren | Nallathambi | Comedy | | 2018 | Junga | Junga | Comedy caper | | 2018 | Seethakaathi | Ayya | Meta-drama | | 2018 | 96 | Ram | Romantic drama – Blockbuster | | 2018 | Chekka Chivantha Vaanam | Rasool | Multi-starrer | | 2019 | Super Deluxe | Shilpa | Transgender role – Critical acclaim | | 2019 | Nadodigal 2 | Kasi | Drama | | 2019 | Sindhubaadh | Thiru | Action drama | | 2019 | Sanga Thamizhan | Himself | Cameo |
Before 2012, Vijay Sethupathi was a familiar face in the background, known for small roles in films like Pudhupettai and Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu. But 2012 changed the game entirely.
| Archetype | Films | Traits | |-----------|-------|--------| | The Lovable Loser | Idharkuthane…, Naanum Rowdy Dhan | Drunk, flawed, but morally upright. | | The Silent Sufferer | 96, Sethupathi | Minimal dialogue, ocean of emotion. | | The Philosophical Gangster | Vikram Vedha, Super Deluxe | Violence with ethics. | | The Experimental Weirdo | Super Deluxe, Merry Christmas | Breaks gender, genre, narrative rules. | | The Mass Villain | Jawan, Master (cameo) | Controlled chaos. |