The changing times of Vijay

Vijay bashing in media, particularly online and mobile media, is being now considered a fashion by many. What started as a pass time during Aadhi and ATM days has now become a serious game with the announcement of Vijay playing a scientist in ‘3 Idiots’ remake.It’s totally unfair to demean an actor who has given stupendous hits in the past but facing some difficult terrain now. Rising and falling is part of life’s journey and there is nothing un-natural about it.

How many funny jokes were developed when successive movies of other actors failed at the box office recently? In fact if you dig up facts in history, you will find many actors who had worse flops run than Vijay and yet managed to reclaim their position at the top of the ladder.Tamil film fans, most of them if not all, are polarized much to the characteristic of the land and customs. MGR-Sivaji, DMK-ADMK, Rajini-Kamal, Thayir Sadham-Nattu Kozhi Kuzhambu etc. etc. But there exits many things in between the pole stars. And they are as good as the extremes.

If you say ‘Sura’ is a crap, you must have the nerve to say ‘Pokkiri’ is good. While talking about the shortcomings of ‘Vettaikaran’, you should also talk about the high merits of ‘Ghilli’ as well.Remember an actor cannot climb to a place as high as where Vijay is today if he doesn’t have talent. So with all trust be assured that Ilaya Thalapathi Vijay is still in the race. And he knows how to do it. Just like all super stars even he had come up the hard way. People who had seen Vijay in films like Naalaya Theerpu, Sendhoorapandi, Rasigan, Deva, Vishnu and Coimbatore Maaple in his early days wouldn’t have believed him to reach a place on top as he is today. Pat came ‘Poove Unakkaga’ and things changed.

Director Vikraman in a way mellowed Vijay’s fiery image by making a good boy next door. With this film Vijay contrasted his image showed he too can perform if given a role of substance. Again with soft romances like Love Today, Priyamudan, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, Thulladha Manamum Thullum and Kushi, Vijay reaffirmed that he is a good actor provided he is given a good script and an able director handling it.

Wouldn’t you appreciate the characteristic way with which Vijay also succeeded in doing action flicks at the same time doing his soft romances also? How about the year 2001 in which Vijay majestically carried himself in three films - Friends, Badri and Shahjahan - which are from corner to corner different from each other. And all were hits you see.Again Vijay rises fast in the same speed he falls. A unique characteristic. Remember what the Super Star said at the launch f his ‘Chandramukhi’ after the unpleasant ‘Baba’? He said that he is not an elephant which takes time to get up but a horse which gets up quickly as it falls. Vijay who has moulded himself upon the image of the Super Star knows what it means.

If a ‘Vaseegara’ lets him down he jumps back with ‘Thirumalai. If a ‘Udhaya’ disappoints there is a ‘Ghlli’ to straighten the record. If an ‘Aadhi’ goes down there is a monstrous hit ‘Pokkiri’ comes to reaffirm the faith.So it’s definitely not too much time Vijay had given a hit. Few flops in a row don’t erode away Vijay’s popularity and his stature in the industry. True, he is having some bad time after ‘Pokkiri’ but if you go by his current projects it is clear Vijay is all set to shake off his adversities. He has now understood where things went wrong.Vijay is taking smart moves for the future and his forthcoming films Kavalan, Velayudham and 3 idiots remake will surely put him back on the track. He doesn’t want to repeat a ‘Sura’. For the ongoing projects Vijay has chosen proven writers and established directors. Siddique is a craftsman and he has proved that in his earlier film with Vijay. ‘Friends’ film in the combination of Siddique and Vijay was a 200 days film.

Similarly ‘Jayam’ Raja who knows the pulse of Tamil audience is handling Vijay in ‘Velayudham’. The story of ‘Velayudham’ is of Robin Hood type which suits Vijay best. And his role ‘3 Idiots’ is meaty and Shankar will surely shape him well. In fact Vijay was considered first for ‘Mudhalvan’ and that shows Shankar was ready to direct Vijay long time ago.Here another interesting point to note is that Vijay still hasn’t lost his confidence on remakes but he has cleverly got seasoned directors to direct the film. It’s like having the best of both worlds.

With proven stories in hand and skillful directors handling him, Vijay will rock again.