MGR to Vijay: Tamil Nadu’s changing equation with representative politicians

One of the biggest names in Tamil cinema, Vijay was at the peak of his film career when he announced his involvement in politics.

The son of film director SA Chandrashekar and playback singer Shobha Chandrashekhar, Vijay, also known as Thalapathy (leader), is among the highest-paid actors in the Tamil industry. But in 2024, he did something that perhaps only a few expected. He launched the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), a political party and tried to become the Prime Minister of the country Tamil Nadu state, the southernmost state of India.

Tamil Nadu is scheduled to vote on April 23 to elect members of the state assembly and the next person to head the state. The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will be Vijay’s first direct foray into electoral politics. It may even emerge as a dark horse and continue to carve out space for itself in the space, which has been largely dominated by two parties, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), for decades.

Although he is not the first hero to venture into the political arena in the state, the equation of voters with actors-turned-politicians has changed dramatically.

Here’s a look at some of those from the Tamil film industry who have jumped onto the political bandwagon and how they have fared over the years.

J Jayalalithaa: She was a delight on screen, and one of her most successful pairings was with MGR. J Jayalalithaa followed MGR’s footsteps and joined his party AIADMK. She was never considered the political heir to MGR, but the Iron Lady, as she came to be known, became a longtime leader of the party and the country after MGR’s death. For a party that had anti-Brahmin principles, Jayalalithaa was the President of Tamil Nadu a record five times.

Vijayakant: Captain Vijayakant, as he was known, was a popular Tamil star who had a huge fan following. Vijayakant appeared in many patriotic films in which he played the role of an army captain and a police officer, which gave him a certain image with the audience. Like MGR, he wanted to be seen as someone who worked for the poor, for his state and country, and in 2005, he founded the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). While Vijayakant never became the President of Tamil Nadu, his party was a factor in deciding whether the DMK or AIADMK would finally form the government.

Sarathkumar: For a long time, it did not seem that actor Sarathkumar would be the one to launch his own party. He joined the DMK and contested on their behalf in Tirunelveli in 1998 but lost the elections. From 2001 to 2006, he was a Member of Parliament for the DMK, but in 2007 he launched his own party, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK). Sarathkumar’s party did not enjoy much popularity in the state, and in 2024, it merged with the BJP.

Kamal Hassan: Kamal Haasan has always been vocal about his political views, but he never joined the DMK or the AIADMK, criticizing both for their flawed principles and actions. After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, the ruling AIADMK was crumbling, and politics in the state was in turmoil. Kamal Haasan decided to launch his own party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), in 2018 as an alternative to the BJP (which had become more popular in Tamil Nadu) and the Dravidian forces. He wanted a rational party that supported the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, but unfortunately, the Indian National Movement was not successful in the state.

Khushboo Sundar: She entered the world of cinema as a child artist and is now a popular actress and politician in Tamil Nadu. Khusru Sundar’s entry into politics does not seem to have been planned, but rather a situation where she had to stand against misogyny and patriarchy. In 2005, her comments about premarital sex did not go down well with many political parties in the state, and in 2010, she joined the DMK. She is currently in The BJP, until recently, was a member of the National Commission for Women.

Sivaji Ganesan: Sivaji Ganesan was a popular Tamil star, but he never reached the status that MGR did. Periyar EV Ramasamy’s ideology attracted him, and in fact, it was Periyar who gave him the nickname Sivaji after watching one of his performances. The Tamil star joined the DMK when Annadurai launched it, but in 1962 he began supporting the Congress and was appointed as an MP by Indira Gandhi. In 1988, he decided to create his own party, Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani, when the Congress formed an alliance with the AIADMK. A year later, when his party lost the elections, he merged it with the Janata Dal.

Napoleon: From playing a villain in Tamil films, Napoleon became a political figure thanks to his uncle, senior DMK leader KN Nehru. The actor contested the 2001 state elections from Villivakkam and became a DMK MLA. He lost the subsequent elections but won in 2009 and was appointed a minister in the DMK government. When he was sidelined by the DMK for being a Ahazagiri sympathizer, Napoleon joined the BJP in 2014.

Seaman: Seeman entered the Tamil film industry as a director in 1996, but his films were not successful at the box office. He then decided to turn into an actor, but it was his political ideology that brought him into politics full-time. In 2006, he campaigned for the DMK alliance, which included the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). His political career took a turn in 2008 when he met LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. His speeches were pro-LTTE and against the killing of Tamils, and he was arrested under the NSE Act. In 2009, he and other activists founded Naam Kamilar Katchi (NTK). NTK is active in the political arena, but Siman has been plagued by controversies.

Karunas: When he appeared on screen and did his antics, the Tamil audience laughed. However, Karunas, like others from Tamil cinema, entered active politics when he contested for the AIADMK in Thiruvadanai constituency in the 2016 state assembly elections. He won the seat but later formed his own party, Mukulathur Pulipadai, which enjoys Thevar’s support.