| Year | Film | Role | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2017 | Vikram Vedha | Vedha (a gangster) | Reverse narrative crime drama. Remade in Hindi. | | 2018 | Saamy Square | Arupandian + son | Sequel to Saamy ; underperformed. | | 2019 | Kadaram Kondan | KK (a mysterious savior) | Action thriller; OTT release. | | 2021 | Cobra | Multiple roles (math genius with dissociative identity) | Over-ambitious; flopped. | | 2022 | Mahaan | Gandhi Mahaan (a man who rebels against his upbringing) | Direct Amazon Prime release. Critically praised. | | 2022 | Ponniyin Selvan: I (Tamil) | Aditha Karikalan (prince) | Mani Ratnam’s epic historical. Massive blockbuster. | | 2023 | Ponniyin Selvan: II | Aditha Karikalan | Concluding part; global success. | | 2024 | Thangalaan | Thangalaan (a tribal leader) | Period action drama. | | 2024 | Veera Dheera Sooran (announced) | TBA | Upcoming. |
| Year | Film | Role | Significance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1999 | Sethu | Sethu (a violent college student turned mental patient) | Vikram’s portrayal of a man descending into madness was raw. He lived as a patient in a mental asylum for method acting. | | 2000 | Indran | Indran | Moderate success. | | 2002 | Gemini | Gemini (a rowdy) | Commercial hit, solidifying his mass appeal. | | 2003 | Dhool | Arulprakasam (a villager fighting corruption) | Action-comedy, a blockbuster. | | 2003 | Saamy | Arupandian (a fearless cop) | Superhit. The “Saamy” dialogue delivery became iconic. | | 2004 | Pithamagan | Chithan (a forest-dwelling recluse) | Critically acclaimed. He played a mute, feral man. Won the National Film Award for Best Actor. | | 2005 | Anniyan | Ramanujam/Anniyan/Remo (a man with dissociative identity disorder) | Magnum opus of this phase. Vikram played three distinct personalities in Shankar’s social thriller. Massive box office record. | vikram film list
This period was largely unremarkable. Vikram was struggling to find a foothold, often playing second fiddle to established stars. The turning point came with Sethu (1999), not listed above as it begins the next phase. Phase 2: Breakthrough and Method Stardom (1999–2005) This era defines Vikram’s legacy. He embraced psychologically intense, often tragic characters. | Year | Film | Role | Notes
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2006 | Majaa | Arivumathi | Commercial entertainer; average response. | | 2008 | Bheemaa | Bheemaa (a gangster) | Underperformed despite intense performance. | | 2009 | Kanthaswamy | Kanthaswamy (a vigilante) | Sci-fi comedy; moderate success. | | 2011 | Raavanan (Tamil) | Veera (a tribal outlaw) | Acclaimed art-house action film by Mani Ratnam. | | 2012 | Thaandavam | Shiva (a blind vigilante) | Commercial hit. | | 2013 | David (Bilingual) | David (a gangster) | Anthology film; limited release. | | 2014 | I | Lingesan (a deformed bodybuilder) | Vikram spent 3 years on the makeup/prosthetics. Mixed reviews but box office success. | | 2015 | 10 Endrathukulla | Shakti (a car driver) | Action thriller; underperformed. | | | 2019 | Kadaram Kondan | KK
Abstract Vikram, often hailed as one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema, has built a filmography that defies easy categorization. From romantic leads to method-acting transformations, his career spans over three decades. This paper provides a complete chronological list of Vikram’s films, analyzes key phases of his career, and examines how his choice of roles has redefined the archetype of the Tamil hero. Introduction Born in 1966, Vikram began his career with small roles in the late 1980s before rising to superstardom in the late 1990s and 2000s. Known for his willingness to undergo extreme physical transformations (earning him the nickname “Chiyaan,” meaning “emperor”), his filmography serves as a case study in artistic risk-taking within a commercial film industry. This list includes all his leading roles, notable cameos, and films that marked turning points in his career. Phase 1: Debut and Early Career (1990–1998) Vikram’s initial films saw him in supporting or forgotten leading roles. His first lead was in En Kadhal Kanmani (1990), but it was not until the late 1990s that he gained recognition.
In six years, Vikram went from unknown to a national award winner. His willingness to de-glamorize himself (e.g., losing weight for Pithamagan , gaining muscle for Anniyan ) set a new standard. Phase 3: Experimentation and Mixed Results (2006–2015) Post- Anniyan , Vikram chose ambitious but often flawed projects, leading to some failures alongside notable successes.