From cinema to politics: Thalapathy Vijay has become a hero of the people

Southern cinema superstar and politician Thalapathy Vijay took a direct stand against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP at a huge political rally in Tamil Nadu's Madurai district. In the presence of lakhs of supporters, Vijay said, "Our only ideological enemy is the BJP. Today we are declaring war on the fascist BJP."

The rally was immediately filled with excitement. Vijay's own political party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) organized this mega rally. Earlier, in just 9 months after participating in its first public rally in October 2024, the party has established a strong position in South Indian politics. This time, Vijay has announced that he will contest the state assembly elections from the Madurai constituency.

Born in Chennai, Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar is affectionately called 'Thalapathy', meaning commander, by his fans. He became the most popular star in South India with one superhit movie after another. At the peak of his glittering film career, Vijay decided to become active in politics. In his words, “Politics is not a place of tolerance like cinema, it is a battlefield. I have chosen the path of fighting to stand up against injustice.”

Although most of the national media in India remained silent despite Vijay’s brave stand, the video has gone viral on local media and social media in South India. In the video, Vijay, wearing an orange-yellow scarf tied around his head and hands, is seen greeting the crowd, and the crowd is all around him cheering.

Vijay’s political stance has created a huge stir not only in India but also among his fans in Bangladesh. Netizens have commented that he has gone from being a movie hero to a real-life hero. Many say that Vijay is using his popularity to dedicate himself to serving the people, which is an indication of true leadership.

According to Thalapathy Vijay's announcement, his goal is to win the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and dedicate himself to public service. He believes, "Politics is not a profession, it is a responsibility to the people."