Vijay’s Madurai rally last week was billed as a political coming-of-age moment — the Tamil cinema superstar unveiling himself not just as a screen hero, but as a potential powerbroker, a game-changer in Tamil Nadu’s fiercely competitive electoral theatre. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) second state conference was a spectacle of bravado, theatre, and unmistakable political signalling. However, the event leaves one wondering whether there is indeed a genuine political leader beneath the loud rhetoric and sharp barbs. Or was this just an extended audition for a role in an ongoing drama? Vijay shed the tentative ambiguity of his 2024 Vikravandi debut and unleashed trenchant criticism of the political establishment — branding Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “symbol of fascism,” deriding Chief Minister M K Stalin with the derisive “uncle” tag, and dismissing the AIADMK as lost in a toxic marriage with the BJP. This rhetorical offensive appeared calculated to shock, entertain, and energise his fan base. Yet, amid the crowd’s frenzy, the effect was largely superficial and the ideological scaffolding fragile.
Vijay’s politics is still at an embryonic stage. For all the spectacle, the message fundamentally boiled down to a binary: DMK as the political enemy and BJP as the ideological nemesis. This dual antagonism, while mainstream in Tamil Nadu’s current political discourse, reveals an alarming absence of intellectual coherence or visionary direction. In a state where political identity has long been anchored in the Dravidian legacy — rooted in social justice, caste equity, and linguistic pride — Vijay’s TVK risks becoming another faction in a crowded field rather than a transformative entity.
When contextualised against his “role models” MGR and Vijayakanth — the former innovatively amalgamating Dravidian ideals into a populist, welfare-centric AIADMK, while the latter positioning his DMDK as a “clean alternative” with a moral reformist agenda —Vijay’s ideological frailty is stark. His eclectic invocation of iconic figures such as Periyar and Ambedkar feels less like ideological integration and more like symbolic box-ticking. The absence of a clear and coherent political philosophy weakens his claim to leadership beyond cinematic star power.
True, Vijay’s natural showmanship is undeniable. His theatrical flourish — mocking Stalin, referencing MGR’s timeless songs, and portraying himself as a lone lion deftly navigating a den of foxes and wolves — plays perfectly to Tamil cinema’s hero-worship culture. But Tamil Nadu’s electorate today demands more than mere charisma or reel heroism replicated in real life. It has seen many cinematic heroes attempt political stardom; the successful ones moved beyond the cult of personality to build party infrastructures, articulate governance models, and engage meaningfully with the state’s deep-rooted social and economic challenges.
What emerges sharply from Madurai’s thunderous applause is Vijay’s striking deficiency in policy specifics. While he lambasted the DMK over issues like women’s safety, fishermen’s marginalisation, and TASMAC corruption, he offered no concrete solutions or systemic reforms. His critique of Modi’s policies on minorities, NEET, and Katchatheevu stopped at fiery rhetoric without a constructive roadmap. This absence of a governance blueprint — especially regarding Tamil Nadu’s complex caste equations, agricultural economy, and institutional reform — is a glaring omission that any serious political contender cannot afford. One might speculate that Vijay’s vague political stance is a deliberate strategic choice — 2026 might be a rehearsal rather than a full-fledged debut. Harnessing his cinematic popularity to galvanise supporters before developing a comprehensive political identity can be a sensible calibration in the volatile world of Tamil Nadu politics. However, this cautious soft launch harbours inherent risks. Tamil Nadu’s politically aware electorate, steeped in Dravidian values of social justice and self-respect, is unlikely to indefinitely indulge a star’s slow political awakening.
For TVK to break the entrenched DMK-AIADMK duopoly, it must transcend mere anti-incumbency slogans and symbolism. A credible challenge requires crafting a visionary, inclusive political platform addressing the real and urgent concerns of marginalised communities — Dalits, women, farmers, and fisherfolk. It demands political literacy, ideological coherence, and the patience for the arduous work of institution-building and legislative pragmatism. Until then, Vijay’s politics risk remaining an extension of his cinematic heroism rather than a vehicle for enduring political transformation.
Moreover, Vijay faces an additional and perhaps underrated challenge in surmounting public perceptions of his altruism and leadership — or the lack thereof — within his primary professional domain, the Tamil film industry. While projecting himself as Tamil Nadu’s redeemer, his record on extending leadership or advocacy within the cinematic fraternity is thin. Despite his immense stature, there is little public evidence of him championing collective industry causes, stepping up for peers in crises, or driving meaningful reforms. This disconnect between on-screen heroism and off-screen political leadership undermines his narrative of being a natural leader for the state.
The Madurai conference was a riveting theatrical performance — a blend of dramatic entrances, rhetorical one-liners, and emotional highs designed to captivate. However, political leadership in Tamil Nadu demands sustained effort, substantive policy articulation, and a strategic roadmap for governance. Vijay’s star power may have lit the stage, but the state wants a credible actor who can move beyond the spotlight to navigate the complexities of power, representation, and governance with vision and responsibility. Until that evolution is visible, Vijay remains, at best, a captivating political aspirant — a fascinating candidate for political stardom but far from the political star the moment demands.
The writer is an educator and political analyst based in Bengaluru
