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Though an ensemble cast film, Oomai Vizhigal is often cited as the turning point that showcased Vijayakanth’s ability to anchor a serious, investigative thriller. Playing a senior police officer, his performance was understated yet impactful. The film’s gritty atmosphere and technical brilliance made it a cult classic and proved that Vijayakanth could handle intense, performance-oriented roles just as well as commercial ones. Sattam Oru Iruttarai (1981)

Vallarasu (2000): A quintessential Vijayakanth actioner involving counter-terrorism.

A heartwarming drama that showed a different side of the actor, this film focused on rural life and family values. It proved that Vijayakanth wasn't just about flying kicks and gunfights; he could also move audiences to tears with his portrayal of a dedicated family man. Pulan Visaranai (1990)

Considered one of the best investigative thrillers in Tamil cinema, Pulan Visaranai saw Vijayakanth as an honest cop tracking down a brilliant but sadistic criminal. The film was praised for its realistic portrayal of police procedures and its tight screenplay. It also featured some of the most memorable stunt sequences of that era. The Era of Social Justice and Patriotism

Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, Ramanaa is arguably the best film of Vijayakanth’s later career. He played a mild-mannered professor who leads a secret organization dedicated to eliminating corruption. The film was a massive blockbuster and resonated deeply with the youth and the working class. It was later remade in several languages, including Hindi as Gabbar Is Back. Vanathai Pola (2000)