A. L. Vijay

Biography:

A. L. Vijay, professionally known as Vijay, is a renowned Indian film director active in the Tamil film industry. Initially an assistant director under Priyadarshan, he marked his directorial debut with movies like “Kireedam” and the critically acclaimed “Madrasapattinam.” Subsequently, he directed films such as “Deiva Thirumagal” and “Thaandavam,” both featuring Vikram in leading roles.

Vijay hails from a family entrenched in the film industry. His father, A. L. Azhagappan, is a noted film producer and former President of the Tamil Nadu Producers Council. Notably, his brother is the actor Udhaya (Senthil Kumar). The director’s personal life includes a brief marriage with actress Amala Paul from 2014 to 2016-17, followed by a wedding with Dr. R. Aishwarya in 2019, resulting in the birth of their first child in 2020.

Before venturing into filmmaking, Vijay achieved success in the advertising field, producing over 100 ad films. He drew inspiration from prominent ad directors like Suraaj and Prahlad Kakkar. Vijay initiated his cinematic journey as an assistant director to Priyadarshan and later helmed his first feature “Kireedam” in 2007, a remake of a 1989 film. He continued with projects like “Poi Solla Porom,” which garnered favorable reviews.

“Madrasapattinam,” a period film exploring a love story in pre-independence India, was a significant project for Vijay, highlighting his storytelling abilities. He followed this with “Deiva Thirumagal,” a project that awaited actor Vikram’s availability for four years. In his diverse career, Vijay also directed concerts for music composer Harris Jayaraj.

His collaboration with actor Vijay and actress Amala Paul in “Thalaivaa” garnered praise, though its delayed Tamil Nadu release impacted its box office performance. He later directed Prabhu Deva’s multilingual film “Devi” and helmed the biographical drama “Thalaivii” based on the life of J. Jayalalithaa.

Vijay’s filmmaking style aims to immerse audiences in local culture and timeless themes, emphasizing human values. He prefers natural reactions from actors and values mentoring newcomers in the industry. With a consistent crew including cinematographer Nirav Shah and music composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, Vijay remains an influential figure in the Tamil film scene.