From cinema to Chief Minister – MGR! From cinema to Chief Minister – Vijay!

MGR's political journey, from Congress to DMK and finally AIADMK, marks a monumental era. His unique history of transitioning from cinema to Chief Ministership remains unparalleled. In 1972, he was expelled from the DMK due to internal conflicts—a decision whose repercussions the then DMK leader Karunanidhi failed to foresee, but it sent shockwaves among the masses.

No other party has achieved victory in its debut election and seized power—a feat yet to be replicated. Many actors, unaware of this reality, have dreamt of launching parties and capturing power, only to crumble. The list is long, from actor-turned-politician Sivaji Ganesan to Bhagyaraj, T. Rajendar, and Vijayakanth.

Even Rajinikanth was speculated to enter politics during the 1996 wave, but age ultimately led him to retreat.

In an unexpected turn, Kamal Haasan launched Makkal Needhi Maiam in Madurai, contesting all 234 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections but faced defeat.

Among actors who came closest to power was DMDK leader Vijayakanth. After becoming Opposition Leader in 2011 through an alliance with AIADMK, his subsequent decisions altered his political trajectory.

Actor Vijay, post-film shoots, has been engaging with his fan club administrators. In June 2023, he honored top-performing 10th and 12th-grade students across all 234 constituencies with certificates and cash rewards—a move that sparked political discourse. Recently, Seeman of NTK expressed support if Vijay enters politics, while Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin stated, "We won’t be affected if Vijay joins politics."

Vijay’s father, S.A. Chandrasekhar, floated a party in his name in 2021, which Vijay later disowned. Now, Vijay is reportedly strategizing his next political move, including night-school initiatives for rural students. His existing welfare efforts—free eateries, blood and eye donations—have garnered public goodwill. Speculations suggest he may contest the 2026 Assembly polls.

Will Vijay retreat like Rajini or emerge as "the people’s leader"? Time will tell. Currently, he has launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), positioning himself to fill the void left by MGR and Vijayakanth.

At the party launch, Vijay declared, "I’ve entered politics after observing my predecessors. I understand its depth and will navigate it carefully." While his cinematic lineage traces back to his father, his political success isn’t guaranteed.

No successor has matched Vijay’s stardom—Tamil cinema’s first ₹200-crore earner. Unlike MGR, who balanced cinema and politics to become CM, Vijay risks a Kamal Haasan-like outcome if he straddles both. MGR’s cinematic appeal was pivotal in DMK’s rise, leveraging his star power to unseat Congress in Tamil Nadu.

Launching a party and capturing power was plausible then, but today’s fragmented landscape—with alliances and two dominant parties ruling for 50 years—makes it daunting. Political analysts debate if Vijay’s exit from cinema is strategic. Both DMK and AIADMK have entrenched grassroots networks, posing a challenge for newcomers.

Whether Vijay ascends the throne depends on transcending financial, organizational, and structural hurdles. Only time will reveal his destiny!