The Gossip

Thalapathy Vijay, an internationally renowned superstar, is venturing into the intricate realm of Tamil Nadu politics. This is precisely why Vijay possesses the opportunity to thrive in a Tamil Nadu yearning for a charismatic leader with a cult-like following.

Seldom does it become more significant than being Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, the creator of Rs 1,000-crore blockbusters and the commander to millions of fans worldwide, known as Thalapathy

Tamil Nadu has consistently been characterized by cults driven by people power, and superstar Vijay stands at the pinnacle of it all.

Vijay, the 49-year-old Thalapathy, has recently made a commitment to the people of Tamil Nadu by establishing his own political party called the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). It is important to acknowledge that merely being a superstar does not guarantee triumph in Tamil Nadu politics, as demonstrated by Rajinikanth’s retreat. However, Thalapathy Vijay surpasses the status of a superstar; he is a dedicated student who has spent more than a decade studying the political landscape and history of Dravidian politics, including its triumphs and setbacks. He has learned valuable lessons from this research. With Thalapathy Vijay now prepared, Tamil Nadu eagerly awaits his political endeavors.

Vijay’s Deliberate Choice to Embark on a Political Journey

Periyar endeavored to eliminate idols in Tamil Nadu, as the desire for adoration led individuals to idolize on-screen deities.

The realm of Tamil politics has witnessed an abundance of celebrities emerging from the Kollywood film industry. Beginning with MG Ramachandran (MGR), followed by K Karunanidhi, J Jayalalithaa, Vijayakanth, Kamal Haasan, and Rajinikanth…

However, not all individuals were embraced by the voters. If the adoration of a cult-like celebrity holds significance, so does their ideology. While Kamal Haasan’s moderate stance failed to make an impact, Rajanikanth’s “spiritual politics” did not resonate with the people.

Moreover, the timing of one’s entry into politics is crucial. According to an anonymous source from Vijay’s political team, Tamil Nadu was previously known for its charismatic leaders who had a god-like following. However, there is currently a shortage of such leaders, resulting in a lack of natural crowd-pullers. The existing leaders of the DMK and the AIADMK require financial resources to mobilize their supporters.

For more than a decade, Vijay has been diligently preparing himself to venture into politics and has been actively working towards this goal.

Hence, he decided to christen his fan group as Vijay Makkal Iyekkam, signifying its essence as a people’s front rather than just a fan association. This front has been meticulously developed with a structure resembling that of political parties, boasting booth committees in 156 out of Tamil Nadu’s 234 constituencies,” reveals a member of Vijay’s political team.

Now, Vijay aims to transform his fan following into a solid electoral support base.

Over the course of the past year, Vijay Makkal Iyekkam has introduced various welfare programs named after prominent figures such as Periyar, K Kamaraj, and BR Ambedkar. This fan organization actively facilitates evening tuition classes, initiatives for eye and blood donations, as well as free breakfast programs throughout Tamil Nadu.

The member of Team Vijay asserts that Vijay is preparing his fans to become the future cadre base of his party, with a well-thought-out long-term strategy and plan in place.

In his statement released on Friday, Vijay emphasized that his ultimate goal is to participate in and emerge victorious in the upcoming 2026 assembly elections, aiming to bring about the fundamental political change that the people desire. He further clarified that he will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and will not lend his support to any other political party.

The intention behind Vijay’s actions is crystal clear – he aspires to be the dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics, rather than merely an alternative option.

Experts believe that the timing of Vijay’s endeavors is opportune, given the absence of strong Dravidian leadership in the state, the government’s autopilot mode, and the rise of Tamil chauvinistic politics led by Senthamizhan Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).

While Dravidian politics embraces and includes the Malayalam-, Kannada-, and Telugu-speaking communities of the state, Tamil nationalist politics primarily focuses on the rights of the native people and the pride associated with Tamil culture.

According to a member of Vijay’s team, Vijay intends to amalgamate the ideologies of Dravidian and Tamil nationalism, creating a unique hybrid in his political approach.

Certain factions, however, have attempted to emphasize the ‘Joseph’ aspect of Vijay for political advantages.

According to a member of Team Vijay, “Joseph Vijay does not actively practice Christianity. He belongs to the Christian Pillai caste, which brings about caste-neutrality. His mother and wife, on the other hand, are Hindu Mudaliars. This diversity is well-received in Tamil Nadu.”

Vijay’s fan base transcends caste and community boundaries. They even willingly purchase tickets to view the trailers of his films.

Vijay, who began his career as a child actor in 1984, earned the title of Ilaya Thalapathy (young commander) in the 90s. However, in 2017, Vijay and director Atlee changed the epithet to Thalapathy (commander).

The declaration that the Thalapathy had arrived was conveyed through the poster of ‘Mersal’ and occurred following the passing of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa in 2016. His fans were overjoyed and celebrated the occasion as if it were a festival.

Vijay, the superstar brand, has achieved global recognition surpassing all expectations, according to experts.

Few individuals from Tamil Nadu have ever exerted such dominance in the international market as Vijay has.

Vijay is considered to be on par with legendary figures such as MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, MGR, and Rajinikanth, who are regarded as Tamil Nadu’s first superstar. This prestigious group is known as the primary league, and in order to attain such status, one must come from a lineage connected to these iconic individuals. A member of Vijay’s team explained to IndiaToday.In that these primary superstars possess a massive and devoted fan base, akin to political cults, and hold significant influence in the commercial movie industry. With an impressive record of 36 superhit movies, as documented by IMDB, Vijay is currently one of the highest-paid actors in the country.

According to a trade expert, the Tamil Nadu film industry will suffer a significant annual loss of at least Rs 1,000 crore due to Vijay’s decision to leave acting. It is worth noting that he earns Rs 400 crore personally by starring in two films per year. Additionally, experts believe that Vijay’s choice to enter politics at the height of his career is a deliberate and calculated decision. They speculate that if Rajinikanth had entered politics at Vijay’s age in 1996, he would have become the chief minister.

Vijay has expressed his intention to retire from the film industry after completing two movies, namely ‘The Greatest of All Time’ and an untitled film, in order to pursue a career in politics. However, Vijay acknowledges that he cannot establish a successful political party on his own; he requires the support of capable leaders and organizers.

According to a member of Vijay’s political team, he plans to bring in well-known individuals with a clean reputation to join his party. Vijay has specific criteria in mind for selecting these individuals, and he intends to personally handpick approximately 20 percent of his team.

Bussy Anand serves as a prime example in this regard. Anand, a former Congress MLA with extensive political and organizational experience, has been associated with Vijay’s organization for 26 years. He played a crucial role in transforming a fan group into a people’s organization called Vijay Makkal Iyakkham (VMI), and now, he is instrumental in establishing a political outfit known as the Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The DMK has never been granted a second term by voters in Tamil Nadu, and MK Stalin’s government has not achieved much progress either. On the other hand, the AIADMK is currently experiencing a decline and is plagued by internal divisions. Therefore, Vijay stands a strong chance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, especially if he forms the right alliance. This is because there are numerous splinter groups that cater to specific voter segments. A member of Vijay’s political team points out that there is not only a leadership vacuum in Tamil Nadu but also a lack of vote share. Beyond the DMK and AIADMK, there is a 40 percent untapped vote share that remains unattracted to these parties despite their alliances with smaller parties. The future of Tamil Nadu politics could potentially revolve around Thalapathy Vijay, BJP’s Annamalai, and Udayanidhi Stalin, the son of Chief Minister MK Stalin. With a massive fan base in every household, the 2026 election is likely to be centered around Vijay. The entire state, with its population of 80 million, will be discussing their Thalapathy, and the TRPs will undoubtedly focus on Thalapathy Vijay. Whether Thalapathy Vijay will emerge as the “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) in politics remains to be seen, and we will have to wait until the 2026 screening. However, all indications suggest a potential blockbuster political entry.