By Could this upcoming Friday mark another blockbuster success for Vijay? Vijay, also known as ‘Thalapathy’ (commander) Vijay to his fans, has officially entered politics by revealing the name of his party — Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam — on Friday.
In addition to his impressive box office earnings, Vijay has a significant ability to attract crowds in real life, which has been lacking in Tamil Nadu politics for some time.
The actor known as ‘Leo’ subtly suggested his intention to enter politics during the recent audio launches of his films such as ‘Mersal’ and ‘Varisu’.
The ‘Thalapathy’ initiated many audio launches with a ‘kutti kada’ (short story). In these narratives, he highlighted events in Tamil Nadu or India and emphasized the need to improve conditions on the ground for the benefit of the general public. (Also Read: Indian blockbuster “Leo” Sets A Record-Breaking Run At The Box Office And Secures A Netflix Release Date)
Vijay’s statement regarding the role of the Chief Minister
In the movie ‘Sarkar’ released in 2018, Vijay’s character is on the brink of becoming the chief minister. His dedication to understanding the responsibilities of a chief minister in real life is apparent from a conversation in 2018. At the audio launch of ‘Sarkar’, the host inquired Vijay about his thoughts on potentially assuming the role of a chief minister in reality.
“If I become the chief minister, I will never act,” Vijay responded by explaining that he perceived most political leaders as being more focused on acting rather than actually doing substantial work.
A new ‘Saviour Superstar’ following in the footsteps of Vijayakanth
Tollywood superstar Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, also known as Vijay, has consistently portrayed the role of a “saviour” in his films without deviating from it. Another prominent figure who entered Tamil politics with a similar “saviour” image was Vijayakanth, who initially gained fame for his diverse roles before forming the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) in 2005, which had a significant impact on Tamil politics.
In the 2006 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the DMDK, a Centre-Left party, participated in all seats. Despite only winning the seat that Vijayakanth contested for, the DMDK secured 10 percent of the votes, which was a significant accomplishment for a new party.
Vijayakanth’s political peak was in 2011 when he ran in the Assembly polls in partnership with J Jayalalitha’s AIADMK. Out of the 41 seats it contested, the DMDK won 29. The coalition later ousted the DMK but eventually disbanded. Following that success, Vijayakanth’s DMDK never regained that level of strength.
The Superstar Politicians in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has numerous instances of superstar politicians, beginning with MGR or MG Ramachandran in the 1950s. MGR became a member of the DMK and later established the AIADMK in 1972.
In 1982, J Jayalalithaa, a prominent figure in the Tamil Nadu film industry, became a member of the AIADMK. It is worth mentioning that Kamal Haasan, also known as ‘Ulaganayagan’ (Universal Hero), ventured into politics in 2017, but has struggled to convert his fan following into electoral success.
Despite contesting in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Kamal Haasan’s party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, failed to gain significant support and did not win any seats in either election.
Rajinikanth, widely regarded as the greatest Tamil actor, made the decision to enter the political arena in December 2017. However, he ultimately withdrew from pursuing his political ambitions in December 2020, citing health reasons.
With an undeniable fan base and immense popularity, Rajinikanth is arguably the biggest crowd-puller in the state, if not in all of India, but he never fully embraced a career in politics.
As a result, Vijay will likely become a true superstar in active politics following in the footsteps of Vijayakanth, marking a significant shift after nearly two decades.
Vijay introduces a commitment to the Tamil political landscape
Vijay has strategically developed his political aspirations up to this point. He initiated his efforts with the ‘Vijay Makkal Iyakkam’ and implemented several initiatives in favor of the people.
Vijay Makkal Iyakkam, a social welfare organization led by Vijay, has been organizing blood donation camps, supporting educational initiatives, and participating in disaster relief efforts since 2009. Vijay emphasized that for him, politics is not just a profession but a sacred responsibility towards the people. This bottom-up strategy, along with efforts to engage with the younger generation, aimed to create a meaningful influence among the voters.
The Vijay Makkal Iyakkam also backed the AIADMK alliance led by Jayalalithaa during the 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The political landscape in Tamil Nadu is definitely set for a change. The “saviour” superstar’s movies are sure to bring in significant box office revenue.
Will Vijay be able to bring that same level of certainty to his political career? We will have to wait until the next Assembly election in Tamil Nadu in 2026 to find out.
