‘Thalapathy’ Vijay launches political party: A history of film stars’ entry into Tamil Nadu politics (2024)

Vijay is not the first, and probably won’t be the last Tamil superstar to embark on a political career. Five Chief Ministers from the state have had links to the film industry. We take a look at the decades-long tradition.

Annadurai and cinema as the medium of propagation

Annadurai, Tamil Nadu’s first CM from a Dravidian party, belonged to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He was also the first to utilise the accessible and ‘mass’ medium of movies to promote the anti-caste, anti-religion ‘Self-respect Movement’ associated with the party. Writing scripts for films such as Nallathambi (1948) and Vellaikaari (1949), he critiqued Brahminism.

M Karunanidhi (R) with C Annadurai as he took oath as the CM of Tamil Nadu. (Express archive)

Annadurai’s cinematic legacy had its roots in theatre. In his essay, ‘Politics and the Film in Tamil Nadu’, Robert L Hardgrave Jr writes: “As a young lieutenant of the Dravida Kazhagam, Annadurai had written a number of dramas as vehicles for social reform and non-Brahmin self-respect. After the DMK was founded, Annadurai, E V K Sampath, and K R Ramaswamy, then Tamil Nadu’s most popular actor and film star, staged dramas in benefit performances for the party.”

Hardgrave also writes that in terms of the language being spoken, Dravidians’ Tamil was “purged of Sanskritic elements” as an assertion of self-respect – a linguistic trend that would continue for decades. Through these films, the golden age of Tamil kingdoms (the Cholas in particular) saw a resurrection on the silver screen. Also, Brahmins were often depicted as villains or foolish characters.

Karunanidhi continues the legacy

M Karunanidhi succeeded Annadurai as DMK chief and Tamil Nadu CM. He wrote the screenplay for the Sivaji Ganesan-starrer Parasakthi (1952), termed “one of the most controversial films in the history of Tamil cinema” in S Theodore Baskaran’s book The Eye of the Serpent: An Introduction to Tamil Cinema (1996).

One of the most controversial and enduring dialogues of the film is delivered by the protagonist after a priest attempts to rape a woman in a temple. When he sees someone praying to the temple idol, he questions, “Just because you came around chanting names and offered flowers to the stone, would it become a god?”

Sections of society reportedly took great offence at the film, and it was even banned initially. In an interview, Karunanidhi said, “My intention was to introduce the ideas and policies of social reform and justice in the films and bring up the status of the Tamil language as they were called for in DMK policies… We say that art should be for propaganda,for the people and for society”.

MGR (L) with Sivaji Ganesan (R). They were the two biggest stars of Tamil cinema in the 50s and 60s. (Express archive)

Parasakthi’s lead actor Ganesan, also a founding member of the DMK, left the party around 1956 after being criticised for a visit to the temple town Tirupathi. His critics said this went “against the stated ideals of rationalism” – a core tenet of Dravidian ideology. Later joining the Congress and the Janata Dal, and even forming his party, he was unable to replicate his film career’s success. He eventually left politics in 1993.

MGR, Jayalalithaa and AIADMK

M G Ramachandran (MGR) was one of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema. He was also the DMK party treasurer and his legions of fans factored in the party’s electoral success. Offscreen, MGR undertook activities like financing orphanages and participating in disaster relief measures.

Hardgrave writes of his films: “MGR sees himself as the “protector” of the common man and is convinced of the moral purpose of his films. ‘My roles have been to show how a man should live and believe.’ (quoting MGR)”. In 1967, MGR said, “Art and politics are the two sides of the same coin”, showing a continuity of the DMK belief that cinema can and will influence socio-political developments in society.

After his expulsion from DMK in 1972, due to differences with his one-time friend Karunanidhi, MGR formed the All India Anna Munnetra Dravida Kazhagam (AIADMK). He then starred in films like Netru Indru Naalai (1974) and Idhayakkani (1975) to spread the party message. In the 1977 elections, he came to power as the CM. He would continue in the post till his demise in 1987.

A succession struggle ensued between his wife V N Janaki Ramachandran and his protege J Jayalalithaa, who was a popular actress and his co-star in several career-defining films. Her faction emerged as the “real” AIADMK. She became the CM after winning a comfortable majority in the 1991 State Assembly elections and would serve five more terms.

While Jayalalithaa did not actively seek political/ideological support through cinema, her popularity was impacted by MGR’s on-screen success. She starred in several influential films with him, including Aayirathil Oruvan (1965) and Nam Naadu (1969).

Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan

In 2005, after nearly three decades in the film industry, ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth started his political party Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK).

Right from the launch, Vijayakanth made his ambitions clear. He arrived at the rally in a blue van once used by MGR for his campaigns and was dubbed “Karuppu MGR (Dark MGR)”. His roles, especially where he portrayed people from marginalised communities, and his philanthropic efforts helped portray him as a ‘people’s leader’.

The DMDK earned 8% of the vote share in its very first Assembly election in 2006, despite only Vijayakanth becoming an MLA. In the 2011 Assembly elections, the party won an impressive 29 of the 41 seats contested.

Next came actor-director Kamal Haasan, who launched his Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2018. “I never used to act for free. You paid money to watch the films I acted in, and that became my salary. But what did I do in return?…. That is why a feeling of guilt started (taking shape inside). I decided to live for you – hereon. That is why I am in hurry (and) I decided to launch a political party and see it before my time ends,” he said at the launch event.

The party contested 37 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and lost all of them. This was repeated in the 2021 TN Assembly elections, where Kamal also lost the constituency he contested from (Coimbatore South).

And now, Thalapathy Vijay

‘Thalapathy’ (meaning commander in Tamil) Vijay has been hinting at this entry into politics for many years. Some Vijay films, like Atlee’s Mersal (2017), have contained references to MGR. The two have been compared in terms of popularity and massive fanbases.

Vijay said his party will focus on a commitment to transparency and non-partisan governance, and adhere to the values of Tamil culture and the Indian Constitution. His words seem carefully chosen to carve a distinct path for himself in the political arena. “On one side, there is a culture of politics tainted with corruption and administrative malpractices, while on the other, there is a divisive political culture striving to fragment our people through caste and religious differences,” his letter said.

Members of his fan club, the Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (TVMI), have previously tasted some success in electoral politics. In 2021, members across the state won over 100 seats in the rural local body polls.