Vijay, who first appeared on screen as a child artist, gradually found his way into lead roles starting with the film “Naalaiya Theerpu,” which didn’t initially fare well. However, as the 1990s progressed, Vijay steadily carved out a niche for himself, winning audiences over with a string of quality films. By the end of the decade, he’d become well-known as a romantic hero and a beloved “chocolate boy” of Tamil cinema. His journey in the 90s laid the foundation for Vijay’s more recent movies, where his screen image evolved even further.
Now lets dive in to the list
Top 8 Vijay Movies from 1990–2000
Rajavin Parvaiyile (1995)
Even though Rajavin Parvaiyile is not a commercial success or a critically acclaimed movie, it is worth mentioning just because of the star cast of this movie.
The two future superstars of Tamil cinema, who will be known as Thala and Thalapathy — Thalapathy Vijay and Thala Ajith — both acted in this movie together, early in their career.
Watch this movie just for the nostalgia.
You can watch Raajavin Paarvayile in Youtube
Poove Unakkaga (1996)
90s are the time when Tamil cinema gave some OG feel-good movies, and Poove Unakkaga from Thalapathy Vijay is one of his finest.
There are these two old friends from different religions whose families were very close. Their children fell in love and got married, but because of the difference in religion, the families ended up fighting and not accepting the marriage.
Years later, their grandson, Raja, wants to bring peace between his grandparents. Even though the older generation is ready to reconcile, the grandparents are still angry. So Raja makes up a lie that he’s married to a Christian woman just to calm everyone down and reunite the family. But then something unexpected happens that turns his whole life upside down.
This feel-good drama is directed by Vikraman, who went on to make many more heartwarming family films. And the music is by S.A. Rajkumar, and it’s considered one of his finest albums.
You can watch “Poove Unakkaga,” it’s actually available for free on YouTube
Love Today (1997)
This is not the recently released Love Today.
This is the OG Love Today, starring Thalapathy Vijay, a film that was way ahead of its time with its bold emotional core and not-so-typical happy ending.
Ganesh, a carefree youngster with a loving, easy-going father, falls in love with Sandhya the daughter of a strict police officer. Her father is strongly against love, and because of this, Sandhya always tries to control her feelings for Ganesh, living in constant fear of her father.
However, when her father notices something suspicious, he immediately intervenes and forces Sandhya to move away to another place. A determined Ganesh sets out on a journey to find her but when he finally returns home, a life-changing incident turns his world upside down and puts a huge question mark on his love story.
The film also marked the arrival of newcomer music composer Shiva, whose songs like “enna Azhagu” and “En Penn Endru” became massive chartbusters.
Watch Love Today on SunNXT.
Once More (1997)
This Thalapathy Vijay blockbuster, directed by his father S. A. Chandrasekhar, brings together an unforgettable combination, Vijay and the legendary Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan. Once More was a massive hit, collecting huge profits and later getting remade in multiple languages.
Vijay plays a young businessman whose carefree attitude leads to a huge financial loss. Just when his father is about to scold him, tragedy strikes, his father dies in a plane crash. Devastated and directionless, Vijay is left shattered.
Since only his father’s signature can save the business, his uncle suggests an unusual idea, bring in someone to act as his father until all the business issues are resolved. What Vijay doesn’t realize is that this decision will completely transform his life and change him as a person.
Watch Once More on Amazon Prime Video.
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997)
And here comes Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, the film that truly cemented Thalapathy Vijay’s name in the industry. It was a massive hit, became a cultural phenomenon, with blockbuster songs and brilliant performances.
Jeeva, a B.Com graduate, wants to pursue his M.O.A and is not interested in marriage. But the moment he sees Mini, he falls for her instantly and slowly tries to win her love. Eventually, both of them fall deeply in love.
But because they belong to different religions, Mini’s three brothers thrash Jeeva and tell him to forget her. A relentless Jeeva elopes with Mini, but at some point both of them begin questioning their own decisions.
Watch this classic masterpiece Kadhaluku Mariyadhai from the well-known Malayalam director Faasil (yes, the father of Fahadh Faasil) on Amazon Prime Video.
Nerrukku Ner (1997)
After Rajavin Parvaiyile, two big names of Tamil cinema shared screen space again in Nerrukku Ner — Vijay and Suriya.
This film marked Suriya’s debut, while Thalapathy Vijay was already an upcoming star. It was also the directorial debut of Vasanth.
The story revolves around the enmity and ego clash between two co-brothers, Vijay (Vijay) and Suriya (Suriya), because of an issue between their respective spouses.
Will they put aside their ego and save their siblings from the problem? Or will their stubbornness make things even worse?
Watch Nerrukku Ner on Amazon Prime Video.
Thulladha Manamum Thullum (1999)
1999 was one of the best years in Thalapathy Vijay’s career. He delivered back-to-back super hits — from Thulladha Manamum Thullum to Minsara Kanna. Both remain personal favourites for many fans.
In Thulladha Manamum Thullum, Vijay plays Kutty, an innocent guy who accidentally becomes the reason for Rukku (Rukmini) losing her eyesight. Since she had seen Kutty just before the incident, she assumes he is the reason behind her tragedy and begins to resent him deeply.
To make amends, Kutty decides to help Rukku in every possible way without revealing his true identity. He does everything he can to help her see the world again. But when she finally regains her vision… Kutty is nowhere to be found.
Watch this 90s kids’ favourite on SunNXT and Youtube for Free.
Minsara Kanna (1999)
Minsara Kanna is a typical 90s feel-good movie — another solid KTV favourite. When K. S. Ravikumar and Vijay came together for the first time, they delivered this funny, emotional, and thoroughly entertaining film that many 90s kids still cherish.
In the story, Kasi joins as a driver in Indra Devi’s household, shocking everyone because Indra strongly dislikes men due to a past incident. Her younger sister, Aishwarya, returns from Germany after her studies and instantly hates Kasi’s attitude. But the truth is something else entirely — Kasi is not who he pretends to be.
Critics were quite disappointed with the film and even pointed out Vijay’s performance as a weak point, especially reviews from magazines like Ananda Vikatan and Kalki. But the audience felt completely different. Viewers loved the movie, appreciated Vijay’s charm, and especially celebrated Deva’s music — with Un Per Solla Aasai still remaining a nostalgic favourite on many 90s YouTube hit playlists.
Where to watch? You can watch Minsara Kanna on Sun NXT.
Conclusion
The 1990s were truly the golden years in shaping Thalapathy Vijay into the beloved star he is today. From soft romantic dramas to emotional family entertainers, each of these films played a major role in building his identity as Tamil cinema’s ultimate “chocolate boy” and later, a mass hero, “Thalapathy”
At Weekend Watcher, we celebrate not just movies, but memories — and Vijay’s 90s filmography is filled with moments that defined an entire generation of Tamil cinema lovers. If you’re planning a nostalgic binge, this list is the perfect place to start. So grab your snacks, switch on your favourite streaming app, and dive into the magic of vintage Vijay!
