As Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thalapathy Vijay’s political journey has become one of the biggest talking points in recent years. Long before entering active politics, the actor often delivered strong social and political messages through his films. Whatever the subject – voting rights, farmers’ problems, corruption, or public welfare – a number of his characters portrayed worries close to the hearts of the common man. On Vijay’s 52nd birthday, here is a retrospective of five movies where the actor let viewers see the future leader in him.