From movies to the polling booth – my long‑run watching of Thalapathy Vijay’s political rise
I have been a fan of Thalapathy Vijay since the days when his dance numbers used to play on every TV channel in my house. Over the years, I noticed that his fan base was not just cheering for his films; they were organising blood‑donation camps, cleaning drives and other social work. Little did I know that these activities were the seedlings of something much larger – a political journey that would stretch well beyond the silver screen.
When I first heard about Vijay Makkal Iyakkam in 2009, I thought it was just another fan club. But as the years went by, the organisation grew a lot – from a handful of volunteers in Chennai to a network that spanned the whole of Tamil Nadu. This transformation from a casual fan group to a structured entity set the stage for what would later become Thalapathy Vijay’s serious entry into politics.
Early Foundations: Vijay Makkal Iyakkam and the fan‑to‑grassroots shift
Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (VMI) was officially formed in 2009. The very name – “People’s Movement” – hinted at a purpose beyond movie promotions. In the beginning, we mostly organized charity events – distributing food packets during festivals, helping students with school supplies, that kind of thing.
Gradually, VMI started getting involved in local civic issues. I remember a neighbour in Coimbatore telling me how VMI volunteers helped clean up a polluted lake and later pressed the municipal council for better waste‑management. Those small wins gave the group a sense of real influence.
The real litmus test came during the 2021 Tamil Nadu local body elections. VMI-backed candidates, many of whom were ordinary fans turned community leaders, contested in several wards and actually won. Seeing local supporters of Thalapathy Vijay on the council benches was a surprise for many of us who thought it was just fan‑fare. It showed that VMI had the organisational capacity to field candidates, mobilise voters and register victories – the basic ingredients of a political party.
Public Positioning and Issue‑Based Engagement (2019–2023)
Between 2019 and 2023, I started noticing Thalapathy Vijay’s voice coming out on bigger national topics. He didn’t suddenly become a politician overnight; rather, he began expressing his views on policies that affected the common man. For example, when the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed, Thalapathy Vijay openly criticised it, saying it could marginalise minorities. That statement was covered widely in the media and sparked debates among his fans.
Another issue that caught my attention was his stance on the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). Thalapathy Vijay argued that NEET, as it stood, placed an unfair burden on students from rural backgrounds and economically weaker sections. He talked about this at several college campuses, meeting students who were worried about their chances. Those interactions made it clear that his concerns were not just surface‑level; they were rooted in the lived experiences of Tamil Nadu’s youth.
During those years, Thalapathy Vijay’s public engagements felt more like a socially‑conscious celebrity using his platform responsibly, rather than a full‑blown politician. But the pattern was unmistakable – a gradual shift from movie promotions to speaking on governance, policy and social justice.
February 2024: The launch of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)
Then, on February 2, 2024, everything changed. Thalapathy Vijay officially launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). I was watching the live telecast on my phone, sitting in a tea stall in Madurai, and the atmosphere was electric. He announced that TVK would not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections – the reason given was that the party wanted to focus all its energies on the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which would be its first real test at the state level.
The decision not to rush into national politics struck a chord with many of us who felt that a strong state‑level foundation was essential. It also meant that TVK could spend the next two years building a solid grassroots structure, identifying leaders, and shaping its policy platform without the pressure of an immediate election.
Ideology and Policy Positioning
Right after the launch, Thalapathy Vijay outlined the core ideas that would guide TVK. He spoke of social justice, secularism and equality as the pillars of the movement. These were not just buzzwords – in his speeches, he repeatedly cited examples from his own film narratives where the underdog rises against oppression, linking those stories to real‑world policies.
One of the most talked about policy positions was his opposition to NEET. Thalapathy Vijay argued that the exam’s current format disadvantaged students from poor families, especially those who could not afford expensive coaching. He promised that TVK would work towards a more inclusive system of medical admissions.
When asked about the political landscape, Thalapathy Vijay identified the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as an ideological opponent, mainly because of its perceived communal leanings, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) as a direct political rival in Tamil Nadu. This clear positioning helped supporters understand where TVK stood in relation to the existing parties.
2025: Expanding the organisation and reaching out across the state
2025 was a whirlwind for me. TVK went from being a name on the news to a visible presence in almost every district. The party announced plans to appoint a large number of booth‑level agents – essentially volunteers who would be the first point of contact for voters in each polling booth. I even met a few of these agents while traveling on a bus to Tiruchirappalli; they were enthusiastic youngsters carrying pamphlets and explaining TVK’s vision to elders in the market.
The outreach programmes were not limited to political rallies. TVK organised health camps, educational workshops and even small skill‑training sessions for women in villages. These activities served a dual purpose – they addressed genuine community needs and also built a network of people who were familiar with the TVK brand.
Thalapathy Vijay himself started appearing at protests that were unrelated to elections – for instance, he joined a march demanding better water supply in Kanyakumari and another rally against price rise of essential commodities in Madurai. His presence added a lot of media attention, but more importantly, it signalled that TVK was willing to take up issues that mattered to the common person.
Rallying up for 2026: The road to the Assembly polls
As the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections draw nearer, TVK’s campaign machinery is in full swing. Large public rallies have become a regular feature in cities like Chennai, Salem and Vellore. I attended one such rally in Chennai’s Marina Beach; the crowd was a sea of posters, flags and chants of “Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam”. The energy was reminiscent of the fervour I used to feel at Thalapathy Vijay’s movie premieres.
During these events, TVK has been clear about contesting the elections independently – no alliances with existing parties. This decision, while bold, is rooted in the belief that the party has built enough grassroots strength to go it alone. The party is now finalising its list of candidates, selecting people who have a strong connection with their constituencies, often coming from the VMI volunteer base.
What stands out to me is the consistency of the message. From the early days of Vijay Makkal Iyakkam’s social work to the present massive rallies, the core idea is the same: give a voice to the ordinary Tamilian, fight against any form of discrimination, and ensure that policies like NEET are made fair.
What the upcoming election means for Thalapathy Vijay and TVK
The 2026 Assembly elections will be Thalapathy Vijay’s first major electoral test. All the groundwork – the fan‑derived VMI network, the local body wins in 2021, the public stances on national issues, the launch of TVK, and the massive outreach in 2025 – points to a well‑prepared party. Whether TVK can translate that preparation into votes remains to be seen, but the journey itself tells a fascinating story of how a movie star’s fan base can morph into a political force.
For me, watching this transformation has been like seeing a favorite actor grow up on screen and then step out onto a bigger stage. There are still uncertainties – the political landscape in Tamil Nadu is crowded, and the DMK and AIADMK have deep roots. But the fact that TVK is contesting independently, that it has a clear ideological stance, and that it continues to engage with everyday issues gives me hope that the party could become a serious player.
In the end, whether TVK wins big or not, the impact of Thalapathy Vijay’s political venture will likely be felt for years to come. It has already pushed other parties to pay more attention to youth issues, to rethink their outreach strategies, and perhaps most importantly, it has shown that a well‑organised fan movement can indeed step into the realm of governance.
