| Year | Film Title (Language) | Role | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1990 | En Kadhal Kanmani (Tamil) | Lead debut | Low-profile romance | | 1991 | Thanthu Vitten Ennai (Tamil) | | | | 1992 | Kaaval Geetham (Tamil) | Sub-inspector | Action drama | | 1994 | Pudhiya Mannargal (Tamil) | | Directed by S. Shankar | | 1996 | Akka (Tamil) | | Family drama | | 1997 | Ullasam (Tamil) | | Romantic comedy | | 1998 | Kangalin Vaarthaigal (Tamil) | | |
| Year | Film | Role | Significance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1999 | Sethu | Sethu (a violent college student turned mental patient) | Vikram’s portrayal of a man descending into madness was raw. He lived as a patient in a mental asylum for method acting. | | 2000 | Indran | Indran | Moderate success. | | 2002 | Gemini | Gemini (a rowdy) | Commercial hit, solidifying his mass appeal. | | 2003 | Dhool | Arulprakasam (a villager fighting corruption) | Action-comedy, a blockbuster. | | 2003 | Saamy | Arupandian (a fearless cop) | Superhit. The “Saamy” dialogue delivery became iconic. | | 2004 | Pithamagan | Chithan (a forest-dwelling recluse) | Critically acclaimed. He played a mute, feral man. Won the National Film Award for Best Actor. | | 2005 | Anniyan | Ramanujam/Anniyan/Remo (a man with dissociative identity disorder) | Magnum opus of this phase. Vikram played three distinct personalities in Shankar’s social thriller. Massive box office record. | vikram film list
This period was largely unremarkable. Vikram was struggling to find a foothold, often playing second fiddle to established stars. The turning point came with Sethu (1999), not listed above as it begins the next phase. Phase 2: Breakthrough and Method Stardom (1999–2005) This era defines Vikram’s legacy. He embraced psychologically intense, often tragic characters. | Year | Film Title (Language) | Role
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2017 | Vikram Vedha | Vedha (a gangster) | Reverse narrative crime drama. Remade in Hindi. | | 2018 | Saamy Square | Arupandian + son | Sequel to Saamy ; underperformed. | | 2019 | Kadaram Kondan | KK (a mysterious savior) | Action thriller; OTT release. | | 2021 | Cobra | Multiple roles (math genius with dissociative identity) | Over-ambitious; flopped. | | 2022 | Mahaan | Gandhi Mahaan (a man who rebels against his upbringing) | Direct Amazon Prime release. Critically praised. | | 2022 | Ponniyin Selvan: I (Tamil) | Aditha Karikalan (prince) | Mani Ratnam’s epic historical. Massive blockbuster. | | 2023 | Ponniyin Selvan: II | Aditha Karikalan | Concluding part; global success. | | 2024 | Thangalaan | Thangalaan (a tribal leader) | Period action drama. | | 2024 | Veera Dheera Sooran (announced) | TBA | Upcoming. | | | 2000 | Indran | Indran | Moderate success
