TAMIL NADU, (India): Tamil Nadu politics has a unique tradition of superstar politicians blending cinema and politics—and doing so with remarkable success. Legends like M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and J. Jayalalithaa used their charisma and popularity to build powerful political careers, both leading the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and serving as Chief Ministers.
M. Karunanidhi, a multiple-time chief minister from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), also leveraged cinema’s influence through scriptwriting, shaping Dravidian politics. Surprising as it may sound, even the current chief minister, M. K. Stalin, had a brief acting stint and so does his son Udhayanidhi Stalin.
So, is actor-turned-politician Vijay—the founder of the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)—on his way to becoming Tamil Nadu’s next MGR?
Some exit polls on Thursday suggested a dramatic turn of events in a state long dominated by the DMK–AIADMK duopoly, predicting a strong showing for TVK. The Axis My India exit poll projected an impressive debut for the newbie, giving it 98–120 seats in the 234-member Assembly, placing it as a direct challenger with the ruling DMK-led alliance. According to the pollster, Vijay could emerge as a kingmaker—or even the king—if the numbers hold. A survey on preferred chief ministerial candidates reportedly favoured Vijay over Stalin, the incumbent.
Though other pollsters have projected more modest numbers for TVK, none have entirely written Vijay off.
Tamil Nadu has seen some of its biggest cinema stars transition into politics, the prime example being MGR—the founder of AIADMK—one of the most influential political figures in the state, with a loyal fan base that continued to support his part even after his death.
MGR entered politics through the Dravidian movement, joining the DMK to advocate for Tamil identity and the welfare of the poor. Leveraging his on-screen image as a champion of the masses, he later broke away to form AIADMK in 1972 following differences with Karunanidhi.
The party went on to win the 1977 Assembly election, making MGR the first film actors in India to become a chief minister. Superstar actor Jayalalithaa, who was brought into public life by her mentor MGR, also enjoyed immense public support throughout her political career. She began her political journey in 1982, when she was appointed a member of the state’s nutritious noon meal scheme monitoring committee.
Karunanidhi, popularly known as “Kalaignar”, too, had a background as a screenwriter and playwright. Unlike MGR, whose strength was his mass appeal, observers say that Karunanidhi’s power was his pen—which he used to propagate Dravidian ideology. - The Statesman/ANN
