As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thalapathy Vijay’s political journey has been one of the biggest talking points in recent years. Before entering active politics, the actor has always given strong social and political messages through his films. Regardless of the subject – voting rights, farmers’ problems, corruption, or public welfare – many of his characters depict concerns close to the heart of the common man. On Vijay’s 52nd birthday, here’s a retrospective of five films where the actor showed audiences the future leader in him.