TheDaak review

Commentary

In a state that has had a long standing tradition of film stars turned politicians, the recent news of the launch of political party ‘Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam’ by Tamil superstar Vijay (Thalapathy) startled cinematic audiences as well as politicians in Tamil Nadu. Vijay, a prominent Tamil Nadu actor who is considered to be the second most popular after Rajinikanth, has recently announced his entry into politics. He revealed that his new political party will debut in the upcoming 2026 assembly polls, instead of contesting the recent Lok Sabha elections. 

This announcement was followed by spontaneous celebrations among his supporters. It is widely speculated that Vijay aims to address the political vacuum created by the demise of former chief ministers M. Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha. This development is noteworthy as it marks the entry of yet another cine-star into the political arena of Tamil Nadu, a state renowned for its strong connection between cinema and politics. Many believe that his popularity and influence would have a considerable impact on the state’s politics. The announcement of his political debut is eagerly anticipated by his supporters.

History of cine-politics 

The intertwined relationship between politics and cinema in Tamil Nadu is an exceptional feature when compared to other Indian states. The Tamil film industry has played a culturally and politically significant role in the state’s ethos. Robert Hardgrave, American scholar who followed Dravidian movement, traced ascendancy of DMK which was built upon the symbiotic relationship between political leaders and medium of films. In fact, Congress party in the state never understood the significance of the cinema as the medium. Indian Nation Congress (INC) viewed cinema as a source of moral corruption whereas DMK took films seriously as a vehicle of political mobilization. The founding fathers of DMK such as Kalaignar Karunanidhi, MG.Ramachandran, Shivaji Ganeshan who have the strongest match with cinema world, mobilised Tamil audience around the Dravidian movement.  

Therefore not to the surprise that astute politicians have effectively utilized the  medium of Tamil cinema as a means to  disseminate their ideas as well as to mobilise people who later ascended to hold prominent political offices. Most Prominent among them is MG. Ramachandran, who had triumphantly moved from silver screen to Chief Minister’s office, who then opened up way for the subsequent cine-stars such as Jayalalitha (Thalaivi) and very recently Thalapathy Vijay. This has made the Tamil film industry a powerful instrument for political propaganda and has helped shape the state’s politics.

Scrutinising the historical trajectory of film stars turned politicians in Tamil Nadu reveals an amalgamation of successes and challenges. while MGR and Jayalalitha enjoyed massive popularity and significant political influence, several others faced a long haul to sustain their political careers. Just a superstar status is no guarantee of success. Kamal Hassan, launched his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. However, the party failed to secure any seats in the election, a trend that continued in the 2021 assembly poll. Furthermore, the party’s vote share declined from approximately 3.7 percent in 2019 to 2.5 percent in 2021. MNM has never successfully emerged as a significant political force in the state. To compound matters, Kamal Hassan himself was defeated by the BJP candidate in the Coimbatore south constituency. Despite the party’s efforts, it has yet to make a significant impact in the political arena.

The distinguished actor, Sarath Kumar, has traversed the political landscape of Tamil Nadu with his affiliations between the DMK and AIADMK parties. Mr. Kumar was elected as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, representing the DMK in 2001. Subsequently, he relinquished his affiliation with the DMK and briefly joined the AIADMK before establishing his own party, the All India Samathua Makkal Katchi in 2007. Noteworthy is actor Vijaykanth, who has made one of the biggest impacts in Tamil Nadu Politics.

Future of Tamil Nadu politics?

In light of Vijay’s announcement of the upcoming state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu for the year 2026, it is worth examining the current state of politics in the region. The southern state has traditionally been a bastion of Dravidian politics, with power oscillating between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). However, the recent departure of towering political figures such as Kalaignar Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa has left a void in the political landscape. This presents an opportunity for a new leader to take the reins and emerge as a people’s representative and an icon.

The actor’s party launch was escorted by a handful of promises such as corruption free government, vision for state’s development. His popularity particularly amongst the youths might attract a substantial portion of non-DMK voters. This is of particular significance given the ongoing crisis plaguing AIADMK. Though the actor’s recent movies and statements reflects a quest for change with Dravidian ideological position, vehemently opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he has to grapple with the formidable presence of established political entities of the state. 

The renowned cinema icon Vijay is deemed to possess the potential to emerge as a political figure. However, it is imperative to acknowledge that actor Vijay should manage to surmount a number of obstacles for his political ascendency.The 39-year-old K Annamalai, serving as the BJP state president, is already being lauded as a political icon and his popularity is also increasing. Predictions suggest that the BJP is poised to secure a significant vote share in the impending Lok Sabha elections.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is also trying to present Udhayanidhi Stalin, as the prospective successor to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Given the strong political heritage of his family and the party’s entrenched position in the state, Udhayanidhi’s political career has been relatively smooth. He has been active in politics for a considerable period but unlike Vijay, he did not garner a huge fan base. While his accomplishments in the film industry may not equal those of Vijay, but his political lineage far outshines that of other young leaders in the state. Consequently, the 2026 assembly elections are expected to feature a contest between K Annamalai, Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Vijay.

It remains to be seen how Vijay’s political party will fare in the upcoming elections, and whether he can fill the void left by the passing of two prominent political figures. Nonetheless, his entry into politics will mark an exciting and noteworthy development in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. Currently Tamil Nadu state politics is dominated by the hegemonic parties such as DMK, AIADMK and their allies which control a large chunk of vote shares. Indeed 2026 will be a base test for Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam’s survival.

Malavika Baiju, Master’s degree in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Her academic pursuits have been dedicated to understanding the intricate dynamics of Tamil Nadu state politics, with a particular focus on the marginalized communities, notably Dalits. Her research interests extend to the realm of Tamil cinema, where she delves into its political impact and representation on Dalits.