The year was 2005 and I was 12 years old. I did my schooling in Gujarat so watching Tamil movies was a rarity and until then I only used to watch movies that were telecasted on TV. So every year when I flew down to Chennai for my summer vacations with my cousins. One thing on top of the priority list was to make sure to catch all the latest releases that came out that year. I had watched Vijay movies before that also, but until that point like every other 90's kid, I also was a huge Rajini fan.

That summer everyone was talking about Ghilli and there was a huge craze about it. One night we decided to watch it, so after everyone slept (strict family) we cousins got together and put in the Thiruttu VCD and little did I know that my life was not going to be the same after those 3 hours...

Awwwwww my gawwwwddd!!!!! 

The character Velu was like tailor-made for Vijay. That character epitomizes Vijay's screen presence and his talents. I just couldn't get enough of Vijay. Trust me or not I  watched the movie daily at least for another week or so. I had never been so awed by something. Imitating every action of his, the body language the voice modulation. Up and until then it was Rajini,  but after that, it was Vijay Vijay and Vijay...

I have done it all waiting eagerly for the FDFS shows to fighting and arguing with other fans on social media to putting statuses regarding collection reports.

Vijay is not only an actor or a star. To be honest he is a phenomenon and more importantly he is like a big brother to all his fans.  There's a reason why fans dearly call him Vijay anna. 

Let it be being there for the family of a deceased fan or consoling parents of a dead girl or silently taking part in the Marina protest. I can say without any doubt that he is clearly the only actor who has a very close bond with his fans. I mean the love is reciprocated by both the ends. His speeches have been a really nice and touching way for him to communicate with his fans and not just his fans, lately, many people are following his orations.

If you have a serious script which requires multiple characters to go for Kamal, Ajith or Vikram,

If you have a mass script that  requires a lot of screen presence and a good sense of humor go for Rajini,

If you have a script with a lot of punch dialogues STR maybe,

If you want the script to appeal to the youth Suriya it is,

if you have a romantic script maybe try Madhavan,

But if your movie needs someone to do all this effortlessly and also dance like a dream. It has got to be the one and only Thalapathy.

"Am a ** fan, because he has come on his own, not on the back of his father's influence like others". This one statement is more than enough to get on the nerves of every Vijay fan.

Not to undermine other actors effort or hard work,  but seriously still claiming that Vijay got his success and fame at the back of his father's achievements is lame. To be honest it is actually more difficult to survive in a field or industry when you have a reputation to live up to or a previous standard set by your predecessor. And oh boy!!! he did live up to to the standards. He exceeded all the expectations and hopes and some more... 

Each and every fan that he has and all the love and affection he gets today from everyone is purely and only due to his hard work, patience and humility.

When people say he was born with a silver spoon and that he has his fathers support. None of that came into play when he was there to face his problems be it theatre owners asking for a refund or fighting a political party... Vijay has done all this and more on his own and support of his fans.

He was trolled for his below average looks and dark complexion only to see him as the face of the world's leading beverage manufacturer.

He was trolled for having a series of flops (his first 3 movies) but he came back with a string of offbeat scripts and back to back hits...

He was cornered and compelled into doing movies and had a debacle with the then ruling party of Tamilnadu, but didn't even flinch a moment and opposed the contract and went on to give a comeback hit (Kavalan) which was more than welcomed by his ardent fans despite getting less no if screens and shows...

He was trolled for acting similar kind of movies and having an average response... He not only silenced his critics but awed them with the most stylish and crisp script the Tamil industry has ever seen with Thupakki which became the first movie to break records set by Endhiran...

He was again harassed by the then ruling party for his role in Thalaivaa which had a political tone to it... he dealt with it patiently and his fans also were with him... the movie went to do well despite releasing 13 days later...

Every time he has a movie lined up for release there is some kind of a problem in one form or the other. But he has faced everything with a curve on his face and has risen above each and every one them.

Vijay has only excelled and learned from his mistakes.

He gave us sensitive subjects like Kaththi, Mersal, Sarkar, etc.

He has been an inspiration to many.

Quoting one of his famous dialogues "Vazhkai oru vattam da... Inga jeikuravan thoppan, Thokravan jeipan.."

He is going to be 45 years old tomorrow but his dedication an passion for cinema and his hunger to give fans something new and refreshing is still zealous and we are eagerly waiting to see him on the big screen... 

Am usually a very sensible and very logical guy, but when it comes to Thalapathy, that side of mine is totally gone. I scream at just a glimpse of him on the big screen. Hell, I have even danced shirtless and poured milk on his cutouts. This is something I had never imagined myself doing,  but I guess that's the reason we all are called fanatics,  that's the literal meaning of it. Thanks, Thalapathy for bringing out the fanatic in me.

He may not have the Style of Rajini, Talents of Kamal, Charm of Ajith or the acting prowess of Vikram and Suriya. But what he has is unique and special. He has a strong and emotional connect with people across all the age groups be it kids or older people and we the fans will always love him for what he is.

There's not a single adjective that could best define him. He is just Vijay. Period. For us fans its a quality that no other adjective can give

Happy 45th birthday Thalapathy.

- Jason Wesley, An Ardent Thalapathy Fan