| Rank | Movie (Year) | Director | Rationale from Filmibeat | |------|--------------|----------|--------------------------| | 1 | (2013) | Suseenthiran | Called his “career-best” – raw, realistic action; Vishal as an undercover cop. | | 2 | Thupparivaalan (2017) | Mysskin | Just released before the article; praised for slick action and Sherlock-inspired role. | | 3 | Madha Gaja Raja (2013) | Sundar C | Commercial entertainer; comedy+action, fan favorite despite delayed release. | | 4 | Samar (2013) | Thiru | Underwater action sequences and a rugged avatar; noted for stunts. | | 5 | Naan Sigappu Manithan (2014) | Thiru | Action drama about narcolepsy; praised for blending disability with revenge action. | | 6 | Paayum Puli (2015) | Suseenthiran | Cop story with emotional father-son track; high-energy fight choreography. | | 7 | Vedalam (2015 – cameo) | Siva | Though Ajith’s film, Vishal’s cameo as a ruthless cop was highlighted. | | 8 | Poojai (2014) | Hari | Mass masala action; Vishal as a village strongman – typical Hari-style speed narration. | | 9 | Avan Ivan (2011) | Bala | Ensemble action-drama; Vishal’s negative/anti-hero role showed versatility. | | 10 | Thaamirabharani (2007) | Hari | Early career breakout; family action drama that cemented his mass image. |
A landmark film in Vishal's career, this action-packed thriller directed by N. Linguswamy cemented his status as a "Mass Hero". Playing the role of Balu, Vishal’s performance in this village-based action drama was a major commercial success. 2. Pandiya Naadu (2013) | Rank | Movie (Year) | Director |
Based on Filmibeat’s editorial style and Vishal’s filmography up to mid-2017, the following films were almost certainly included (in probable order of ranking): | | 4 | Samar (2013) | Thiru
Following the success of Sandakozhi , Thimiru further solidified his action persona. The film featured intense action sequences and a high-energy performance that resonated with the masses. 4. Avan Ivan (2011) | | 7 | Vedalam (2015 – cameo)
Filmibeat’s August 29, 2017, list provided a snapshot of Vishal’s action-hero career up to that point, highlighting Pandiya Naadu as his finest, and Thupparivaalan as the promising new entry. For fans and researchers, the list reflects how Tamil digital media curated action cinema before the rise of data-driven aggregates like IMDb or BookMyShow.
Directed by the acclaimed Bala, this film showcased Vishal’s incredible versatility. To play the character Walter, he donned a squint-eyed look and studied real-life cases to portray a complex role that was worlds away from his usual action avatar.