2024-02-04 14:46:00
Vijay is not the first Tamil superstar to embark on a political career, and probably won’t be the last. 5 Chief Ministers in Tamil Nadu are associated with film industry. A look at this tradition over the decades.
Read in English: ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay launches political party: A history of film stars’ entry into Tamil Nadu politics
‘Thalapathy’ Vijay joins a long list of Tamil actors entering politics by launching his political party Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam earlier this week. In the letter written by him, he said that his party will contest in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections to be held in 2026.
In it he said: “As far as I am concerned, politics is not just another profession; It is a sacred service to the people… I want to complete my work in another film which I have already committed to and fully engage in politics for public service without interfering with party activities. This is my gratitude and duty to the people of Tamil Nadu.” He said.
Vijay is not the first Tamil superstar to embark on a political career, and probably won’t be the last. 5 Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu have connections in the film industry. Let’s take a look at this decades-old tradition.
Annadurai, the propaganda medium of cinema
Annadurai, Tamil Nadu’s first chief minister from a Dravidian party, belonged to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He was the first to use accessible and ‘mass’ films to promote an anti-caste, religious ‘self-respect movement’ associated with the party. He wrote dialogues for films like Nallathambi (1948) and Chelakkari (1949) and criticized Brahminism.
C. N. M. Karunanidhi (right) with Annadurai. Photo taken when Annadurai was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. (Express Document Photo)
Annadurai’s cinematic legacy had its roots in theatre. Robert L Hartgrave Jr. in his essay ‘Politics and Film in Tamil Nadu’ writes: “Annadurai, a young commander of the Dravidian Kazhagam, wrote many plays as vehicles for social reform and non-Brahmin self-esteem. After the establishment of DMK, Annadurai, EVK Sampath and Tamil Nadu’s most popular actor and film actor K.R. Ramasamy staged plays to benefit the party.
Hartgrave also writes that in terms of spoken language, Dravidians eliminated Sanskritic elements to emphasize their Tamil self-esteem – a linguistic trend that continued for decades. Through these films, the golden age of the Tamil empires (especially the Cholas) saw a renaissance on the silver screen. Also, Brahmins were often portrayed as villains or as stupid characters.
Karunanidhi continued this tradition
Karunanidhi succeeded Annadurai as DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. He wrote the screenplay for the film Parashakti (1952) starring Sivaji Ganesan. It is ‘one of the most controversial films in the history of Tamil cinema’, says S. Mentioned in The Eye of the Serpent: An Introduction to Tamil Cinema (1996) by Theodore Baskaran.
One of the most controversial and lengthy lines of the film is spoken by the protagonist after a priest tries to rape a woman in a temple. If you see someone worshiping an idol in a temple, you say, “Because you come and give flowers to a stone, does it become a god?” He questions.
Some sections of the society are said to have blamed the film a lot. Also, it was initially banned. In an interview, Karunanidhi said, “My aim was to inculcate the ideas and principles of social reform and justice in films and raise the status of the Tamil language as stated in the DMK principles… We say that art should be for propaganda, for the people and for the society.”
MGR (left) with Sivaji Ganesan (right). Two of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema in the 50s and 60s. (Express Document Photo)
Sivaji Ganesan, a founding member of the DMK and leading actor of Parashakti, quit the party in 1956 after being criticized for his visit to the temple town of Tirupati. His critics claimed that it was ‘against the principles of rationalism – the main tenet of Dravidian ideology. Later, he joined the Congress and the Janata Dal and started a party but could not replicate the success of his film career. He retired from politics in 1993.
MGR, Jayalalitha, ADMK
MG Ramachandran (MGR) is one of the biggest stars of Tamil cinema. He was the treasurer of the DMK and his army of fans was the reason for the party’s electoral success. MGR undertook activities such as funding orphanages and participating in disaster relief activities.
Hartgrave writes of MGR films: “MGR saw himself as the defender of the common man, and he was committed to the moral purpose of films. ‘My roles are to show how a man should live and believe.’ (quoting MGR)”. MGR’s statement in 1967 that “art and politics are two sides of the same coin” shows the continuation of DMK’s belief that cinema can influence socio-political developments in society.
After his expulsion from the DMK in 1972, due to differences with his one-time friend Karunanidhi, MGR formed the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AEDMK). Later, he acted in films such as Yara Udi Aagai (1974) and Utiyakani (1975) to spread the party’s message. He won the 1977 elections and took office as the Chief Minister. He held the first post until his death in 1987.
His wife V.N. Janaki Ramachandran and his supporter J. A political succession battle ensued between Jayalalithaa. She is a famous actress who has starred alongside him in several career-defining films. His team emerged as the real ADMK. He became the chief minister after winning the majority in the 1991 state assembly elections. Also, he served five times as Chief Minister.
Although Jayalalithaa did not actively seek political/ideological support through cinema, her popularity was influenced by MGR’s screen success. He acted with her in several influential films, including Ayirathil Oruvan (1965) and Nam Nadu (1969).
Vijayakanth, Kamal Haasan
‘Captain’ Vijayakanth, who has been in cinema for almost 3 decades, started a political party called National Progressive Dravida Kazhagam (DMK) in 2005.
Vijayakanth made his ambitions clear from the start. He once came to a rally in the blue van that MGR used for his campaign and was called “Black MGR. His roles, especially where he portrayed people from marginalized communities, his patronizing actions helped portray him as a ‘people’s leader’.
In the first assembly election in 2006, the DMDK got 8% of the votes despite Vijayakanth becoming the only MLA. In the 2011 assembly elections, the party won 29 of the 41 seats it contested. Vijayakanth became the Leader of the Opposition.
Next came actor-director Kamal Haasan, who launched his Makkal Neeti Mayyam party in 2018. “I have never performed for free. You paid to watch my films and that became my salary. But, what did I do in return?… That’s why the guilt started (taking shape inside). I decided to live for you – here. That is why I am in a hurry (and) I have decided to start a political party and see it through before my time runs out,” Kamal Haasan said at the political party launch event.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the People’s Justice Center contested 37 seats and lost all of them. The party contested again in the 2021 Tamil Nadu assembly elections and lost. Kamal Haasan lost in the contested (Coimbatore) constituency.
Now Commander Vijay
‘Thalapati’ has been hinting about Vijay entering politics for years. Some Vijay films, such as Atlee’s Mersal (2017), had references to MGR. Both were compared in terms of popularity and large fan base.
Vijay said his party would focus on commitment to transparency and non-partisan governance, and adhere to the values of Tamil culture and the Constitution of India. His words seem to have been carefully chosen to carve out a unique path for himself in the political arena. “On the one hand, there is a political culture tainted by corruption and maladministration. “On the other hand, there is a divisive political culture that tries to divide our people through caste and religious differences,” he said in the published letter.
Members of his fan club, the Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Dimitri (TVMI), have previously tasted some success in electoral politics. In 2021, members from across the state won more than 100 seats in rural local elections.
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