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Joseph Vijay
Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar (born on June 22, 1974), better known mononymously as Vijay (Tamil: விஜய்), is a Tamil film actor and playback singer in Tamil cinema. He is the son of film producer and director S. A. Chandrasekhar. After performing in uncredited roles as a child actor in films produced by his father, he made his film debut as a lead role actor in the 1992 film Naalaya Theerpu. Since then, he acted in several films of action and romance genres. During his career in the Tamil film industry, he has won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, kalaimamani award (1998) [1]and also been nominated for one Filmfare Award. 
Vijay has starred in several romance and action films, including the commercially successful films Poove Unakkaga (1996), Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997), Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999), Kushi (2000), Priyamaanavale (2000), Ghilli (2004) and Pokkiri (2007). He was the ambassador of the Indian Premier League cricket team Chennai Super Kings and has also served several commercial companies as a brand ambassador.[2]
Early life
Vijay was born on June 22, 1974, to film producer and director S. A. Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar, a classical and a playback singer. Vijay went on to do his schooling in Balalok in Virugambakkam.
[edit] Acting career
[edit] Romance films: 1992-2002
During his childhood, Vijay performed in uncredited roles as a child actor in films produced by his father, S. A. Chandrasekhar. At the age of 18, Vijay debuted as a lead actor in the 1992 film Naalaya Theerpu, also produced by his father. In his second film, he co-stared with Vijayakanth in the film Sendhoorapandi. His following films were Rasigan and Deva. In his fifth film Rajavin Parvaiyile in 1993, he co-starred with actor Ajith Kumar. Also released that year were his romantic comedies Vishnu and Chandralekha. The following year, Vijay acted in Coimbatore Mappillai and the Vikraman-directed Poove Unakkaga. Vijay's tenth film was Vasantha Vasal which was folled by the action films Maanbumigu Maanavan and Selva. In 1997, he starred in Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen and Love Today, and Once More. In his next film, the Mani Ratnam-produced Nerukku Ner, directed by Vasanth. He wrapped up that year with Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, which was directed by Fazil and earned him a Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor. In 1998, Vijay worked in Ninaithen Vandhai, Priyamudan, and Nilaave Vaa. In 1999, he starred in the film Thulladha Manamum Thullum. The following films were Endrendrum Kadhal, Nenjinile, Minsara Kanna.
At the start of the new millennium he did Kannukkul Nilavu with Fazil. His next venture Kushi was directed by S. J. Suryah. At the end of the year, he acted in Priyamanavale. His work in 2001 included comedy film Friends, directed by Siddique, also starring Surya Sivakumar. Badri, an action and drama flick, was followed by the romance film, Shahjahan. In 2002, he starred in Thamizhan and Youth; with Bagavathi, coming out at the end of the year. The following year he released Vaseegara and Pudhiya Geethai. The action-romance flick, Thirumalai, followed, with Udhaya, a film which began filming in 2002 but became delayed, finally released at the start of 2004.
[edit] Commercial hero: 2004-2010
Ghilli, which was released in 2004. Directed by S. Dharani and produced by A. M. Rathnam, it was a remake of the Telugu film Okkadu. It was followed by Madhurey. The following year, 2005, the Perarasu-directed masala film Thirupaachi, the romantic flick, Sachin, and another masala film, Sivakasi, again by Perarasu were released. Vijay appeared in Aathi in 2006, followed by a short hiatus. He later accepted to work in Pokkiri which was directed by Prabhu Deva and released in 2007. Later that year, Vijay starred in the romantic drama film Azhagiya Thamizh Magan, and for the first time, he appeared in dual roles, as both the antagonist and protagonist. In 2008, he starred in the action film Kuruvi, again under Dharani's direction. The year 2009 started off with the action masala film Villu, which was directed by Prabhu Deva and had Vijay in dual roles for the second time in his career. Vijay's next film, Vettaikaaran, was directed by Babu Sivan, produced by AVM Productions and distributed by Sun Pictures. In 2010, Vijay's 50th film Sura, another Sun Pictures distribution, was released with mixed reviews.
[edit] Sura and the future
During the Sura soundtrack release function on 29 March 2010, Vijay stated that Sura would be his last masala film and vowed to focus on accepting roles of greater versatility.[3] Vijay is currently working with Siddique again for Kaavalkaaran, the Tamil remake of the Malayalam film Bodyguard, after which he will act in Velayutham, which will be directed by M. Raja.[4] N. Lingusamy and Ameer Sultan recently confirmed that they will be casting Vijay in their next respective films.[5]
[edit] Personal life
Vijay married Sangeetha Sornalingam[6][7] of Sri Lankan Tamil decent on August 25, 1999.[8][dead link] They have two children, a son Jason Sanjay born in 2001 in London[9], and a daughter Divya Saasha born in 2005 in Chennai.[10]
[edit] Brand endorsement
In the year 2002, Vijay was chosen as Coca Cola's brand ambassador in Tamil Nadu. He had acted in a variety of South Indian Coca Cola advertisements, along with Katrina Kaif. In January 2009, Vijay was once again chosen as the brand ambassador for Coca Cola products.[11] In 2008, Vijay was signed up as the star ambassador for the Indian Premier League cricket team Chennai Super Kings, along with actress Nayantara.
[edit] Awards and honours
- Won
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor for Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997)
- Tamil Nadu State's Kalaimamani Award in (1998) [12]
- Tamil Nadu State's M. G. Ramachandran Award in (2000)
- Madras Corporate Club Best Actor Award for Ghilli (2004)
- Dinakaran Best Actor Award for Ghilli (2004)
- Film Today Best Actor Award for Ghilli (2004)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Special Award for Best Actor for Thirupaachi (2005)
- Silver Award for Public Service Announcement (2005)[13]
- TVS Star City Superstar of Tomorrow (2006).[14]
- Vijay Award for Entertainer of the Year for Pokkiri and Azhagiya Thamizh Magan (2007)[15]
- Honorary doctorate (2007)
- Nominated
- Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award for Pokkiri (2007)
- Vijay Award for Favourite Hero for Kuruvi (2008)
[edit] Filmography
As actor
[edit] As playback singer
| Year | Song | Film | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Vaadi Vaadi | Sachin | |
| 2002 | Coca Cola | Bagavathi | |
| Ullathai Killadhae | Thamizhan | Sang with co-star, Priyanka Chopra | |
| 2001 | Ennoda Laila | Badri | |
| 2000 | Mississippi Nadhi Kulunga | Priyamanavale | |
| Sinnan Chiru | Kannukkul Nilavu | ||
| Iravu Pagalai | Kannukkul Nilavu | ||
| 1999 | Thanganirathuku | Nenjinile | |
| 1998 | Tic Tic Tic | Thulli Thirintha Kalam | Sang with singer P. Unni Krishnan |
| Roddula Oru | Periyanna | Rendered voice for Surya Sivakumar | |
| Thammadikkira Styla Pathu | Periyanna | Rendered voice for Surya Sivakumar | |
| Kalathukku Oru Gana | Velai | Rendered voice for actor Vignesh | |
| Chandira Mandalathai | Nilaave Vaa | ||
| Nilave... Nilave | Nilaave Vaa | ||
| Mowriya Mowriya | Priyamudan | ||
| 1997 | Oh Baby Baby | Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | |
| Oormilaa Oormilaa | Once more | ||
| 1996 | Chicken Karae | Selva | |
| Anjaam Number Bussil Yeri | Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen | ||
| Thiruppathy Ponaa Motta | Maanbumigu Maanavan | ||
| 1995 | Bomboi Party Shilpa Shetty | Coimbatore Maaple | |
| 1994 | Thottabetlae | Vishnu | |
| 1994 | Adadaa Alamelu Aavin Pasumpaalu | Deva | |
| 1994 | Koththagiri Kuppammaa | Deva |
